Probabilistic Analysis of a Turbofan Secondary Flow System

Abstract

This paper documents a probabilistic analysis of the secondary flow system in a modern commercial turbofan engine. The purpose of this analysis is to investigate the variability in the high and low rotor bearing loads and total secondary flow due to the inherent uncertainty in manufacturing processes and engine performance. In addition to quantifying the variability in bearing load and secondary flow, the sensitivity of the parameters to individual input variables is determined. The system was found to behave linearly, resulting in negligible mean shifts due to input variation. The importance of correlation among the performance parameters will be addressed, as well as the effects of different correlations. Methods used to reduce the time required for the analysis will also be discussed. This type of analysis has many applications in cost reduction, engine design, optimization, and root cause analysis that will be covered in this paper.