Separation of Up and Downstream Forced Response Excitations of an Embedded Compressor Rotor

The aerodynamic interaction of upstream and downstream blade rows can have a significant impact on the forced response of the compressor. Previously, the authors carried out the forced response analysis of a three-row stator-rotor-stator (S1-R2-S2) configuration from a 3.5-stage compressor. However, since the stator vane counts in both the stators (S1 and S2) were the same, it was not possible to separate the excitations from both the rows as they excited the rotor at the same frequency. Hence, a new configuration was developed and tested in which the stator 1 blade count was changed to 38 and stator 2 blade count was maintained at 44 in order to study the individual influences of the stator on the embedded rotor. By using this method, the excitations from both rows can be determined, and the excitations can be quantified to determine the row having the maximum influence on the overall forcing. To achieve this, two sets of simulations were carried out. The three-row stator-rotor (S1-R2-S2) simulation was carried out at both the 38EO (engine order) and 44EO crossings at the peak efficiency (PE) operating condition. The two-row stator-rotor analysis (S1-R2) was carried out at the 38EO crossing, and the other two-Row (R2-S2) analyses were carried out at the 44EO crossing. The steady aerodynamics was preserved in both the cases. A study was done to determine the contribution of wave reflections from the stator inlet and exit planes to the forcing function. Two conclusions drawn from this study are as follows: (1) the modal force value decreased after the upstream stator was removed, which proved that wave reflections from this stator were significant and (2) the increase in modal force was in-line with experimental observations.