Engineering topics

Adamczyk, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Adamczyk, J. J..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2001

Segmented Domain Decomposition Multigrid For 3-D Turbomachinery Flows

A Segmented Domain Decomposition Multigrid (SDDMG) procedure was developed for three-dimensional viscous flow problems as they apply to turbomachinery flows. The procedure divides the computational domain into a coarse mesh comprised of uniformly spaced cells. To resolve smaller length scales such as the viscous layer near a surface, segments of the coarse mesh are subdivided into a finer mesh. This is repeated until adequate resolution of the smallest relevant length scale is obtained. Multigrid is used to communicate information between the different grid levels. To test the procedure, simulation results will be presented for a compressor and turbine cascade. These simulations are intended to show the ability of the present method to generate grid independent solutions. Comparisons with data will also be presented. These comparisons will further demonstrate the usefulness of the present work for they allow an estimate of the accuracy of the flow modeling equations independent of error attributed to numerical discretization.

Celestina, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1993

The effect of unsteadiness on the time-mean thermal loads in a turbine stage

Two steady numerical analysis methods and one unsteady method are used to study the viscous three-dimensional flow in the middle stage of the Pratt & Whitney alternate design Space Shuttle Main Engine fuel turbine. The principal characteristic of this flow is that the secondary flows generated in the rotor blade reconfigure a radial inlet total temperature distortion into one with a pitchwise exit hot streak distortion. Secondary flows in the following vane redistribute the radial variation while unsteadiness causes a segregation of hot and cold flow from the hot streak within the vane. Such redistribution and segregation can lead to unexpected thermal loads and reduced durability. The physical phenomena and the ability of a steady analysis to capture them are investigated by performing a numerical experiment whereby the results of the two steady analysis methods are compared to the time-mean of the unsteady simulation. The flow physics related to the segregation and mixing of total temperature are discussed.

Kirtley, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical simulation of compressor endwall and casing treatment flow phenomena

A numerical study is presented of the flow in the endwall region of a compressor blade row, in conditions of operation with both smooth and grooved endwalls. The computations are first compared to velocity field measurements in a cantilevered stator/rotating hub configuration to confirm that the salient features are captured. Computations are then interrogated to examine the tip leakage flow structure since this is a dominant feature of the endwall region. In particular, the high blockage that can exist near the endwalls at the rear of a compressor blade passage appears to be directly linked to low total pressure fluid associated with the leakage flow. The fluid dynamic action of the grooved endwall, representative of the casing treatments that have been most successful in suppressing stall, is then simulated computationally and two principal effects are identified. One is suction of the low total pressure, high blockage fluid at the rear of the passage. The second is energizing of the tip leakage flow, most notably in the core of the leakage vortex, thereby suppressing the blockage at its source.

Crook, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A mathematical constraint placed upon inter-blade row boundary conditions used in the simulation of multistage turbomachinery flows

A number of researchers have suggested using an inter-blade row boundary condition to extend isolated blade row flow solvers to multiple blade row configurations. This suggestion is worth consideration for it appears to result in codes that are computationally more efficient than those based on other schemes that were suggested to accomplish the same task. The work is concerned with the development of a mathematical constraint which this boundary condition must satisfy to insure the proper transfer of momentum and vorticity across the plane. Using experimental data, the work quantifies the error in the time-averaged vorticity field which results from simply requiring continuity across the boundary plane of the momentum based on the time-averaged velocity fields associated with a multiple blade row configuration.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The role of tip clearance in high-speed fan stall

A numerical experiment has been carried out to define the near-stall casing endwall flowfield of a high-speed fan rotor. The experiment used a simulation code incorporating a simple clearance model, whose calibration is presented. The results of the simulation show that the interaction of the tip leakage vortex and the in-pasage shock plays a major role in determining the fan flow range. More specifically, the computations imply that it is the area increase of this vortex as it passes through the in-passage shock, which is the source of the blockage associated with stall. In addition, for fans of this type, it is the clearance over the forward portion of the fan blade which controls the flow processes leading to stall.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Three-dimensional analysis of the Pratt and Whitney alternate design SSME fuel turbine

The three dimensional viscous time-mean flow in the Pratt and Whitney alternate design space shuttle main engine fuel turbine is simulated using the average passage Navier-Stokes equations. The migration of secondary flows generated by upstream blade rows and their effect on the performance of downstream blade rows is studied. The present simulation confirms that the flow in this two stage turbine is highly three dimensional and dominated by the tip leakage flow. The tip leakage vortex generated by the first blade persists through the second blade and adversely affects its performance. The greatest mixing of the inlet total temperature distortion occurs in the second vane and is due to the large leakage vortex generated by the upstream rotor. It is assumed that the predominant spanwise mixing mechanism in this low aspect ratio turbine is the radial transport due to the deterministically unsteady vortical flow generated by upstream blade rows. A by-product of the analysis is accurate pressure and heat loads for all blade rows under the influence of neighboring blade rows. These aero loads are useful for advanced structural analysis of the vanes and blades.

Kirtley, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Numerical analysis of secondary flow in a two-stage turbine

The three-dimensional viscous average passage flow in the Pratt and Whitney alternate design Space Shuttle Main Engine fuel turbine has been simulated. The effect of secondary flows generated by upstream blade rows on the performance of downstream blade rows is studied. The numerical results are compared to the design intent to validate improved models in the average passage equations. Analysis of the results centers on the primary spanwise mixing mechanism in this low aspect ratio turbine. A multigrid method has also been incorporated to improve the overall convergence rate of the numerical algorithm.

Kirtley, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The numerical simulation of multistage turbomachinery flows

The need to account for momentum and energy transport by the unsteady deterministic flow field in modeling the time-averaged flow state within a blade row passage embedded in a multistage compressor is assessed. It was found that, within the endwall regions, large-scale three-dimensional unsteady structures existed which caused significant transport of momentum and energy across the time-averaged stream surface of a stator flow field. These experiments confirmed that the tranport process is dominated by turbulent diffusion in the midspan region. A model was then proposed for simulating this transport process, and a limited study was undertaken to assess its validity.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of the unsteady flow field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. I - Measurement and analysis technique

This two-part paper presents laser anemometer measurements of the unsteady velocity field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. The objective is to provide additional insight into unsteady blade-row interactions within highspeed compressors which affect stage efficiency, energy transfer, and other design considerations. Part 1 describes the measurement and analysis techniques used for resolving the unsteady flow field features. The ensemble-average and variance of the measured velocities are used to identify the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteadiness, respectively. (Rotor wake generated unsteadiness refers to the unsteadiness generated by the rotor wake velocity deficit and the term unresolved unsteadiness refers to all remaining contributions to unsteadiness such as vortex shedding, turbulence, mass flow fluctutions, etc.). A procedure for calculating auto and cross correlations of the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteady velocity fluctuations is described. These unsteady-velocity correlations have significance since they also result from a decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations. This decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations resulting in the velocity correlations used to describe the unsteady velocity field will also be outlined in this paper.

Suder, K. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of the unsteady flow field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. II - Results and discussion

Unsteady velocity field measurements made within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan are presented. Measurements were obtained at midspan for two different stator blade rows using a laser anemometer. The first stator row consists of double circular-arc airfoils with a solidity of 1.68. The second features controlled-diffusion airfoils with a solidity of 0.85. Both were tested at design-speed peak efficiency conditions. In addition, the controlled-diffusion stator was also tested at near stall conditions. The procedures developed here are used to identify the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteadiness from the velocity measurements (rotor wake generated unsteadiness refers to the unsteadiness generated by the rotor wake velocity deficit and unresolved unsteadiness refers to all remaining unsteadiness which contributes to the spread in the distribution of velocities such as vortex shedding, turbulence, etc.). Auto and cross correlations of these unsteady velocity fluctuations are presented to show their relative magnitude and spatial distributions. Amplification and attenuation of both rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteadiness are shown to occur within the stator blade passage.

Hathaway, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of the unsteady flow field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. 1: Measurement and analysis technique

This two-part paper presents laser anemometer measurements of the unsteady velocity field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. The objective is to provide additional insight into unsteady blade-row interactions within high speed compressors which affect stage efficiency, energy transfer, and other design considerations. Part 1 describes the measurement and analysis techniques used for resolving the unsteady flow field features. The ensemble-average and variance of the measured velocities are used to identify the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteadiness, respectively. (Rotor wake generated unsteadiness refers to the unsteadiness generated by the rotor wake velocity deficit and the term unresolved unsteadiness refers to all remaining contributions to unsteadiness such as vortex shedding, turbulence, mass flow fluctuations, etc.). A procedure for calculating auto and cross correlations of the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteady velocity fluctuations is described. These unsteady-velocity correlations have significance since they also result from a decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations. This decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations resulting in the velocity correlations used to describe the unsteady velocity field will also be outlined in this paper.

Suder, K. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of the unsteady flow field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. Part 2: Results and discussion

Hathaway, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A numerical simulation of the inviscid flow through a counterrotating propeller

The results of a numerical simulation of the time-averaged inviscid flow field through the blade rows of a multiblade row turboprop configuration are presented. The governing equations are outlined along with a discussion of the solution procedure and coding strategy. Numerical results obtained from a simulation of the flow field through a modern high-speed turboprop will be shown.

Celestina, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A new approach for solving the three-dimensional steady Euler equations. I - General theory

The present iterative procedure combines the Clebsch potentials and the Munk-Prim (1947) substitution principle with an extension of a semidirect Cauchy-Riemann solver to three dimensions, in order to solve steady, inviscid three-dimensional rotational flow problems in either subsonic or incompressible flow regimes. This solution procedure can be used, upon discretization, to obtain inviscid subsonic flow solutions in a 180-deg turning channel. In addition to accurately predicting the behavior of weak secondary flows, the algorithm can generate solutions for strong secondary flows and will yield acceptable flow solutions after only 10-20 outer loop iterations.

Chang, S.-C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A model for closing the inviscid form of the average-passage equation system

A mathematical model is proposed for closing or mathematically completing the system of equations which describes the time average flow field through the blade passages of multistage turbomachinery. These equations referred to as the average passage equation system govern a conceptual model which has proven useful in turbomachinery aerodynamic design and analysis. The closure model is developed so as to insure a consistency between these equations and the axisymmetric through flow equations. The closure model was incorporated into a computer code for use in simulating the flow field about a high speed counter rotating propeller and a high speed fan stage. Results from these simulations are presented.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Unsteady transonic flow over cascade blades

An attempt is made to develop an efficient staggered cascade blade unsteady aerodynamics model for the neighborhood of March 1, representing the blade row by a rectilinear two-dimensional cascade of thin, flat plate airfoils. The equations of motion are derived on the basis of linearized transonic small perturbation theory, and an analytical solution is obtained by means of the Wiener-Hopf procedure. Making use of the transonic similarity law, the results obtained are compared with those of other linearized cascade analyses. A parametric study is conducted to find the effects of reduced frequency, stagger angle, solidity, and the location of the pitching axis on cascade stability.

Surampudi, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Simulation of Multistage Turbine Flows

The numerical simulation of turbine flows serves to enhance the understanding of the flow phenomena within multistage turbomachinery components. The direct benefit of this activity is improved modeling capability, which can be used to improve component efficiency and durability. A hierarchy of equations was formulated to assess the difficulty in analyzing the flow field within multistage turbomachinery components. The Navier-Stokes equations provides the most complete description. The simplest description is given by a set of equations that govern the quasi-one-dimensional flow. The number of unknowns to be solved for increases monotonically above the number of equations. The development of the additional set of equations needed to mathematically close the system of equations forms the closure problem associated with that level of description. For the Navier-Stokes equation there is no closure problem. For the quasi-one-dimensional equation set random flow fluctuations, unsteady fluctuations, nonaxisymmetric flow variations, and hub-to-shroud variations on the quasi-one-dimensional flow must be accounted for.

Celestina, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Model equation for simulating flows in multistage turbomachinery

A steady, three-dimensional average-passage equation system is derived for use in simulating multistage turbomachinery flows. These equations describe a steady, viscous flow that is periodic from blade passage to blade passage. From this system of equations, various reduced forms can be derived for use in simulating the three-dimensional flow field within multistage machinery. It is suggested that a properly scaled form of the averaged-passage equation system would provide an improved mathematical model for simulating the flow in multistage machines at design and, in particular, at off-design conditions.

Adamczyk, J. J.↗