A Tool to Improve the Prediction of Resonant Stress in Turbine Components

ABSTRACT: This SBIR project proposes to develop a computational aeroelasticity tool for improving the prediction of both aerodynamic forcing and aerodynamic damping and thereby resonant stresses in turbine components. This will be achieved by developing an interface between our CFD software, FlowSimulatorTM, and a commercially available FEM software, ANSYS. The validity of this computational aeroelastic approach for accurate prediction of resonant stresses in turbine components will be demonstrated with the measured unsteady pressures on the blade surface and vibratory strains for the TFE731 turbine case. BENEFIT: Design engineers in engine manufacturers like Honeywell Engines, GE Engines, Pratt Whitney, and Rolls-Royce can use the developed tool for turbine design and analysis. Design engineers in GE Energy, Vestas, etc. can use the developed tool for wind turbine design.