A parametric blade design system: Part I & II

A complete 3-D Parametric Blade geometry design system for industrial design project applications is presented. The system generates a 3-D free-form surface of an axial compressor or turbine blade by means of individual definition of quasi 2-D stream surface blade profiles. These profiles are then stacked relative to a reference point for each section along a so-called "stacking line". All design properties both for the quasi-2-D profiles and the 3-D stacking line are parametrised in a problem-adapted way to support the understanding of the aerodynamic engineer. These parameters are then transformed into a fully CAD-compatible B-spline representation. The geometry engine is completed with a CFD-code integration, a blade profile optimising package, a parametric database and a correlation utility to find good starting solutions for new design tasks based on existing proven technology. Abbildung 1 BR715 Turbine Blades The complete design systems offers a number of project-related advantages to the user: the system is fully integrated into the complex engineering design process for turbomachinery modules like a multistage compressor or turbine. It offers a bi-directional data exchange between different design disciplines such as stress & mechanical analysis, aerodynamics, checking of mechanical constraints, thermal analysis and CAD-design for platform, root, shrouds etc. The system is completed with optimisation strategies based on parametric free-form-solids generation. It is linked to an engineering database and into an EDM/PDM system.