On Hysteresis in a Variable Pitch Fan Transitioning to Reverse Thrust Mode and Back

Abstract

A novel hysteresis phenomenon during the transition to and back from the reverse thrust mode in a Variable Pitch Fan (VPF) is identified and characterised in this work. This is done by using a three-dimensional (3D) fully transient Unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier?Stokes (URANS) with the transitioning fan blade aerofoils simulated by an adaptation of the mesh displacement method. The VPF is modelled to be transitioning in a modern 40000 lbf geared high bypass ratio turbofan engine architecture at "Approach Idle" engine power setting in a typical twin-engine airframe with the flaps, slats, and spoilers set for an aircraft touchdown airspeed of 140 knots. The transition to reverse thrust mode involves flow starvation into the engine, formation of recirculation zones in the bypass duct and the establishment of the reverse stream, all of which occurs in the opposing presence of the free stream flow at aircraft touchdown velocity. The transition back to forward flow mode involves the gradual re-establishment of the free stream which is opposed by the presence of the reverse stream within the engine. It is quantified that in the transition to reverse thrust, the blockage develops with a larger time delay than the disappearance of the blockage during the transition back due to the interplay of the temporal dynamics of fan blade motion and flow field response. The hysteresis phenomena described in this work are critical in properly developing control schedules to adapt for potential bi-stable flow field development during the landing run.