This paper is the first part of a two-part paper that presents a comprehensive study of the higher-order mode mistuned forced response of an embedded rotor blisk in a multistage axial research compressor. The resonant response of the second-stage rotor (R2) in its first chordwise bending (1CWB) mode due to the second harmonic of the periodic forcing of its neighboring stators (S1 and S2) is investigated computationally and experimentally at three steady loading conditions in the Purdue Three-Stage Compressor Research Facility. State-of-the-art numerical methods applicable in an industrial design environment are used to construct a 1.5-stage stator/rotor/stator configuration for the prediction of the aerodynamic forcing function of the rotor. The time-averaged component of these simulations provides a good prediction of the compressor performance, rotor tip leakage flow (TLF), and characteristics of the stator aerodynamic disturbances. The contribution of the rotor TLF on the rotor forcing function is small, responsible for less than 5% of the total modal force in amplitude. Moreover, the individual contributions of the upstream and downstream stators to the rotor modal force are separated via a linear forcing decomposition approach. It is shown that the upstream stator provides the dominant forcing function with an amplitude almost 6 times that of the downstream stator, and is mostly due to the impulse-like appearance of the upstream stator wakes which have significant higher-harmonic (including the second-harmonic) contents. An excellent prediction of the tuned 1CWB resonant response amplitudes is achieved with only 35%, 4%, and 7% difference to the measured values at three loading conditions.

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This paper is the second part of a two-part paper that presents a comprehensive study of the higher-order mode (HOM) mistuned forced response of an embedded rotor blisk in a multistage axial research compressor. The resonant response of the second-stage rotor (R2) in its first chordwise bending (1CWB) mode due to the second harmonic of the periodic passing of its neighboring stators (S1 and S2) is investigated computationally and experimentally at three steady loading conditions in the Purdue three-stage compressor research facility. A nonintrusive stress measurement system (NSMS, or blade tip-timing) is used to measure the blade vibration. Two reduced-order mistuning models of different levels of fidelity are used, namely, the fundamental mistuning model (FMM) and the component mode mistuning (CMM), to predict the response. Although several modes in the 1CWB modal family appear in frequency veering and high modal density regions, they do not heavily participate in the response such that very similar results are produced by the FMM and the CMM models of different sizes. A significant response amplification factor of 1.5–2.0 is both measured and predicted, which is on the same order of magnitude of what was commonly reported for low-frequency modes. In this study, a good agreement between predictions and measurements is achieved for the deterministic analysis. This is complemented by a sensitivity analysis which shows that the mistuned system is highly sensitive to the discrepancies in the experimentally determined blade frequency mistuning.

The betterment of the turbine performance plays a prime role in all future transportation and energy production systems. Precise uncertainty quantification of experimental measurement of any performance differential is therefore essential for turbine development programs. In this paper, the uncertainty analysis of loss measurements in a high-pressure turbine vane are presented. Tests were performed on a stator geometry at engine representative conditions in a new annular turbine module called BRASTA (Big Rig for Annular Stationary Turbine Analysis) located within the Purdue Experimental Turbine Aerothermal Lab. The aerodynamic probes are described with emphasis on their calibration and uncertainty analysis, first considering single point measurement, followed by the spatial averaging implications. The change of operating conditions and flow blockage due to measurement probes are analyzed using CFD, and corrections are recommended on the measurement data. The test section and its characterization are presented, including calibration of the sonic valve. The sonic valve calibration is necessary to ensure a wide range of operation in Mach and Reynolds. Finally, the vane data are discussed, emphasizing their systematic and stochastic uncertainty.

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