Experimental and Numerical Flow Analysis of an Engine Realistic State-Of-The-Art Turbine Rear Structure

Abstract This paper presents experimental and numerical CFD studies of the aerodynamics a turbine rear structure (TRS). The TRS test geometry is an engine-realistic state-of-the-art design with polygonal outer case, recessed engine mount bumps, three different vane types: regular vanes, bump vanes in sectors, thick vanes. Using sector types simultaneously was found to be crucial for inlet boundary conditions. Experiments were performed modern rotating facility LPT stage upstream TRS. A Reynolds number 350,000 used, representative narrow-body geared turbofan engine. performance analyzed both at on- off-design conditions thorough side-by-side comparison experiments performed. Static-pressure-distributions, turning outlet flow-angles, wakes losses, surface-flow visualizations total pressure contours are presented. showed good aerodynamic performance, similar vane. For vane, bumps generate additional local separations secondary flows, resulting extra losses. In regions strong flows over-predicts wakes, whereas around midspan, where have smaller influence, predicted well.