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Impact of leading-edge orientation and shape on performance of a compressor blade

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited / This thesis presents a Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of the aerodynamic performance of circular and elliptical leading edges of compressor blades, with a range of leading-edge droop angles. Specifically, simulations were conducted, with a free stream Mach number of 0.65 to quantify the change in pressure distributions and boundary layer momentum thickness in the leading edge region for a range of incidences on a flat plate with various leading-edge ellipticity ratios, ranging from unity (circular) to 5.5. In addition, the impact of drooping the leading edge was analyzed over a range of incidence angles from zero to 13 degrees. Pressure distributions indicate that elliptical leading edges can eliminate separation bubbles at zero incidence. The results indicated that the minimum loss occurred at an ellipticity ratio of about 3 and elliptical leading edges with a droop slightly greater than the average incidence can significantly decreased aerodynamic losses over a wider range of incidences.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/1867
Date06 1900
CreatorsPowell, Jonathan D.
ContributorsMillsaps, Knox, Hobson, Garth, Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)., Department of Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering
PublisherMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Source SetsNaval Postgraduate School
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatxviii, 75 p. : ill. (some col.) ;, application/pdf
RightsApproved for public release, distribution unlimited, This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States Code, Section 105, may not be copyrighted.

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