Impact of geometric variability on compressor repeating-stage performance

The impact of geometric variability on compressor performance is investigated using a compressor repeating-stage model based on well-known correlations for profile losses, endwall blockage, deviation, and the onset of stall. Previous computations with a quasi-twodimensional cascade analysis code are used to link geometric variability to performance deviations. Performance variability is then introduced probabilistically through random perturbations to tip clearances, profile losses and turning. For the variation input, at design incidence, the mean efficiency is found to decrease by 1%, mostly due to the mean shift in profile losses, and the mean pressure rise is reduced by 2.5%, mostly because of the mean shift in turning. A parametric study for compressor stages of different designs shows a lower degradation of mean performance and a lower performance variability for stages which have higher work coefficient, lower degree of reaction, and higher blade aspect ratio. It was found that the influence of blade profile effects was well represented, but the impact of tip clearance variation was not well captured when compared to three-dimensional computations. It is concluded that to address the effects of tip clearance variability, emphasis should be placed on development of models which both can include the alteration of end-wall displacement thickness within the compressor stage and are appropriate for probabilistic description. Thesis Supervisor: Edward M. Greitzer Title: H.N. Slater Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics