Separated Flow Transition on an LP Turbine Blade With Pulsed Flow Control

Flow measurements were made on a highly loaded low pressure turbine blade in a low-speed linear cascade facility. The blade has a design Zweifel coefficient of 1.34 with a peak pressure coefficient near 47% axial chord (mid-loaded). Flow and surface pressure data were taken for Re_c = 20,000 with 3% inlet freestream turbulence. For these operating conditions, a large separation bubble forms over the downstream portion of the blade suction surface, extending from 59% to 86% axial chord. A Single-element hotfilm measurements were acquired to clearly identify the role of boundary layer transition in this separated region. Higher-order turbulence statistics were used to identify transition and separation zones. Similar measurements were also made in the presence of unsteady forcing using pulsed vortex generator jets just upstream of the separation bubble (50% c_x). Measurements provide a comprehensive picture of the interaction of boundary layer transition and separation in this unsteady environment. Similarities between pulsed flow control and unsteady wake motion are highlighted.