Results are presented from an experimental investigation of a linear, supersonic compressor cascade tested in the supersonic cascade wind tunnel facility at the DFVLR in Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany. The cascade was derived from the near-tip section of a high-throughflow axial flow compressor rotor and has a design relative inlet Mach number of 1.61. Test data were obtained over the range of inlet Mach numbers from 1.30 to 1.17. Side-wall boundary layer suction was used to reduce secondary flow effects within the blade passages and to control the axial-velocity-density ratio (AVDR). Flow velocity measurements showing the wave pattern in the entrance region were obtained with a laser anemometer. The unique-incidence relationship for this cascade, relating the supersonic inlet Mach number to the inlet flow direction, is discussed. The influence of static pressure ratio and AVDR on the blade performance is described, and an empirical correlation is used to show the influence of these (independent) parameters for fixed inlet conditions on the exit flow direction and the total-pressure losses.

Similar to jet engine development, modern design methods are used today to improve the performance of industrial compressors. In order to verify the loading limits, a cascade profile representative for the first rotor hub section of an industrial compressor has been designed by optimizing the suction surface velocity distribution using a direct boundary layer calculation method. The blade shape was computed with an inverse full potential code and the resulting cascade was tested in a cascade wind tunnel. The experimental results confirmed the design intent and resulted in a low loss coefficient of 1.8 percent at design condition and an incidence range of nearly 12 deg (4 percent loss level) at an inlet Mach number of 0.62.

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Experiments have been performed in a supersonic cascade facility to elucidate the fluid dynamic phenomena and loss mechanism of a strong shock-wave turbulent boundary layer interaction in a compressor cascade. The cascade geometry is typical for a transonic fan tip section that operates with a relative inlet Mach number of 1.5, a flow turning of about 3 deg, and a static pressure ratio of 2.15. The strong oblique and partly normal blade passage shock-wave with a preshock Mach number level of 1.42 to 1.52 induces a turbulent boundary layer separation on the blade suction surface. The free-stream Reynolds number based on chord length was about 2.7 × 106. Cascade overall performance, blade surface pressure distributions, Schlieren photographs, and surface visualizations are presented. Detailed Mach number and flow direction profiles of the interaction region (lambda shock) and the corresponding boundary layer have been determined using a Laser-2-Focus anemometer. The obtained results indicated that the axial blade passage stream sheet contraction (axial velocity density ratio) has a significant influence on the mechanism of strong interaction and the resulting total pressure losses.

A transonic compressor rotor blade cascade was tested in order to elucidate the flow behavior in the transonic regime and to determine the performance characteristic in the whole operating range of a rotor blade section. The experiments have been conducted in a transonic cascade wind tunnel, which enables tests even at sonic inlet velocities. The influence of the upstream Mach number between 0.8 and 1.1 and the inlet flow angle between choking and stalling of the blade row was investigated. The effect of the axial velocity density ratio (AVDR) could be studied by applying an endwall suction device. Furthermore, the level of the shock losses was determined from a wake analysis. A final comparison of cascade losses and those of the corresponding rotor blade element shows good agreement which underlines the applicability of the cascade model in the design of axial flow turbomachines.