A Quasi-Three-Dimensional Blade Surface Boundary Layer Analysis for Rotating Blade Rows

Abstract

A quasi-three-dimensional, finite difference boundary layer analysis for rotating blade rows has been developed which uses pressure distribution and streamline position data from a three-dimensional Euler equation solver. This analysis uses as coordinate lines the blade normal vector, the local inviscid streamline direction and a crossflow coordinate tine perpendicular to both normal and streamline coordinate lines. The equations solved may be determined either by assuming the crossflow velocity to be small or that its variation in the crossflow direction is small. Thus the analysis would not apply to a region where the boundary layer character changes rapidly such as a corner but could be expected to provide good results away from hub or tip casing boundary layers. Modified versions of Keller’s box scheme are used to solve the streamwise and crossflow momentum equations as well as the energy equation. Results are presented for a high-tip speed, low aspect ratio rotor designed by NASA Lewis Research Center which show that the three-dimensional boundary layer separates significantly sooner and has a much larger influence on rotor performance than would be expected from a two-dimensional analysis.