Optimization of Intentional Mistuning Patterns for the Reduction of the Forced Response Effects of Unintentional Mistuning: Formulation and Assessment

The focus of the present investigation is on the use of intentional mistuning of bladed disks to reduce their sensitivity to unintentional random mistuning. The class of intentionally mistuned disks considered here is limited, for cost reasons, to arrangements of two types of blades (A and B, say). A two-step procedure is then described to optimize the arrangement of these blades around the disk to reduce the effects of unintentional mistuning. First, a pure optimization effort is undertaken to obtain the pattern(s) of the A and B blades that yields small/the smallest value of the largest amplitude of response to a given excitation in the absence of unintentional mistuning. Then, in the second step, a pattern screening technique based on a recently introduced measure of localization is used to determine which of the patterns does have a large/small sensitivity to random unintentional mistuning. In this manner, expensive Monte Carlo simulations can be eliminated. Examples of application involving both simple bladed disk models and a 17-blade industrial rotor clearly demonstrate the significant benefits of using this class of intentionally mistuned disks.