Current problems in turbomachinery fluid dynamics

A multi-investigator effort on problems of current interest in turbomachinery fluid dynamics is being carried out in the Gas Turbine and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory of MIT. Within the overall program four different tasks having to do with a wide range of design and off-design flow fields have been identified. These are: (1) investigation of fan and compressor design point fluid dynamics (including formulation of design procedures using current three dimensional transonic codes and development of techniques for instantaneous measurements in transonic fans); (2) studies of compressor stability enhancement (including basic investigations of the fluid dynamics of rotor casing treatment); (3) fluid mechanics of gas turbine engine operation in inlet flow distortion (including inlet vortex distortion); and (4) investigations of three dimensional flows in highly loaded turbomachines (including actuator duct theory and blade-to-blade flow analysis) and linearized analysis of swirling three dimensional flows in turbomachines. This interim report summarizes progress made to date as well as indicates the direction of future efforts on the various tasks.