Effect of unsteady wakes on aerodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of a turbine blade in a cascade were analyzed both experimentally and theoretically. Comprehensive aerodynamic data were collected for different wake passing frequencies that are typical of turbomachinery. Hot-wire probes were used for collection of boundary layer data on suction and pressure surfaces of the turbine blade. Heat transfer measurements were made using steady liquid crystal techniques. Boundary layer data were analyzed through intermittency function to get insight into the transition process under unsteady wake flow conditions. The experimental and theoretical results presented in this paper confirm the general validity of the unsteady boundary layer transition model developed by Chakka and Schobeiri (1997). This model is based on a relative intermittency function, which accounts for the effects of periodic unsteady wake flow on the boundary layer transition. Three distinct quantities are identified as primarily responsible for the transition of an unsteady boundary layer. These quantities, which exhibit the basis of the transition analysis presented in this paper, are: (1) relative intermittency, (2) maximum intermittency, and (3) minimum intermittency. To validate the developed transition model, it is implemented in an existing boundary layer code, and the resulting heat transfer coefficients are compared with the experimental data.Copyright © 1998 by ASME

The aerodynamic effects of trailing edge ejection on mixing losses downstream of cooled gas turbine blades were experimentally investigated and compared with an already existing one-dimensional theory by Schobeiri (1989). The significant parameters determining the mixing losses and, therefore, the efficiency of cooled blades, are the ejection velocity ratio, the cooling mass flow ratio, the temperature ratio, the slot thickness ratio, and the ejection flow angle. To cover a broad range of representative turbine blade geometry and flow deflections, a General Electric power generation gas turbine blade with a high flow deflection and a NASA-turbine blade with intermediate flow deflection and different thickness distributions were experimentally investigated and compared with the existing theory. Comprehensive experimental investigations show that for the ejection velocity ratio μ = 1, the trailing edge ejection reduces the mixing losses downstream of the cooled gas turbine blade to a minimum, which is in agreement with the theory. For the given cooling mass flow ratios that are dictated by the heat transfer requirements, optimum slot thickness to trailing edge thickness ratios are found, which correspond to the minimum mixing loss coefficients. The results allow the turbine aerodynamicist to minimize the mixing losses and to increase the efficiency of cooled gas turbine blades.

The results from an experimental investigation of unsteady boundary layer behavior on a linear turbine cascade are presented in this paper. To perform a detailed study on unsteady cascade aerodynamics and heat transfer, a new large-scale, high-subsonic research facility for simulating the periodic unsteady flow has been developed. It is capable of sequentially generating up to four different unsteady inlet flow conditions that lead to four different passing frequencies, wake structures, and freestream turbulence intensities. For a given Reynolds number, two different unsteady wake formations are utilized. Detailed unsteady boundary layer velocity. turbulence intensity, and pressure measurements are performed along the suction and pressure surfaces of one blade. The results display the transition and development of the boundary layer, ensemble-averaged velocity, and turbulence intensity.

The development of a wake flow downstream of a cylindrical rod within a curved channel under zero streamwise pressure gradient is theoretically and experimentally investigated. The measured asymmetric wake quantities such as the mean velocity and turbulent fluctuations in longitudinal and lateral directions as well as the turbulent shear stress are transformed from the probe coordinate system into the curvilinear wake eigen-coordinate system. For the transformed non-dimensionalized velocity defect and the turbulent quantities, affine profiles are observed throughout the flow regime. Based on these observations and using the transformed equations of motion and continuity, a theoretical frame work is established that generally describes the two-dimensional curvilinear wake flow. The theory also describes the straight wake as a special case, for which the curvature radius approaches infinity. The comparison of the theory with the experimental data pertaining to the curvilinear and straight wakes demonstrate the general validity of the theory.

Development of steady and periodic unsteady wake flows downstream of stationary and rotating cylindrical rods within a curved channel under zero longitudinal pressure gradient is theoretically and experimentally investigated. Wake quantities such as the mean velocity and turbulent fluctuations in longitudinal and lateral directions, as well as the turbulent shear stress, are measured. For the nondimensionalized velocity defect, affine profiles are observed throughout the flow regime. Based on these observations and using the transformed equations of motion and continuity, a theoretical frame work is established that generally describes the two-dimensional curvilinear wake flow. To confirm the theory, development of steady and periodic unsteady wakes in the above curved channel are experimentally investigated. The detailed comparison between the measurement and the theory indicates that the complex steady and unsteady wake flows are very well predicted.

The unsteady boundary layer behavior on a turbine cascade is experimentally investigated and the results are presented in this paper. To perform a detailed study on unsteady cascade aerodynamics and heat transfer, a new large-scale, high-subsonic research facility for simulating the periodic unsteady flow has been developed. It is capable of sequentially generating up to four different unsteady inlet flow conditions that lead to four different passing frequencies, wake structures, and freestream turbulence intensities. For a given Reynolds number, three different unsteady wake formations are utilized. Detailed unsteady boundary layer velocity, turbulence intensity, and pressure measurements are performed along the suction and pressure surfaces of one blade. The results presented in the temporal-spatial domain display the transition and further development of the boundary layer, specifically the ensemble-averaged velocity and turbulence intensity.