The Time-Variant Aerodynamic Response of a Stator Row Including the Effects of Airfoil Camber

An experimental investigation was conducted to quantitatively determine the validity and applicability of state-of-the-art transverse gust cascade analyses. This was accomplished by obtaining fundamental time-variant forced response data at realistic values of key parameters in a large-scale, low-speed, single-stage research compressor. The forcing function, the velocity defect created by the rotor blade wakes, was measured with a crossed hot-wire probe. The resulting time-variant aerodynamic response was measured by means of flush mounted high response pressure transducers on both flat plate and cambered airfoil stator vane rows over a wide range of incidence angles. These dynamic data were then analyzed to determine the chordwise variation of the unsteady pressure difference in terms of a dimensionless dynamic pressure coefficient and an aerodynamic phase lag referenced to a transverse gust at the leading edge of the vanes. These dimensionless pressure difference data were all correlated with predictions obtained from a state-of-the-art compressible transverse gust, flat plate cascade analysis. Correlation of the classical flat plate unsteady data with the predictions permitted the range of validity of the analysis to be assessed in terms of incidence angle. Correlation of the cambered vane unsteady data with those for the flat plate and with the predictions allowed the effects of airfoil camber as well as the applicability of the flat plate prediction to realistic cambered airfoils to be quantitatively determined.