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Fluid‐induced rotordynamic forces and instabilities
Author(s) -
Brennen Christopher E.,
Acosta Allan J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
structural control and health monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.587
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1545-2263
pISSN - 1545-2255
DOI - 10.1002/stc.145
Subject(s) - engineering , mechanical engineering , fluid dynamics , vibration , rotordynamics , structural engineering , aerospace engineering , mechanics , physics , rotor (electric) , quantum mechanics
In the late 1970s, the authors began a collaboration with our colleague Tom Caughey that helped define a new set of fluid–structure interaction phenomena in turbomachines, namely fluid‐induced rotordynamic forces and instabilities. That collaboration and the 31 joint ‘ABC’ papers it produced epitomized Tom Caughey's genius and we reprise it here in his honor. The design of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) pushed beyond the boundaries of many known technologies. In particular, the rotating speeds and operating conditions of the high speed liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen turbopumps were extreme and early testing revealed a whirl instability whose magnitude exceeded expectations and allowable limits. It was suspected and later proven that fluid‐induced rotordynamic effects were a contributing factor and yet very little was known of such phenomena. As one of the efforts seeking understanding, we constructed a facility to measure fluid‐induced rotordynamic forces. This was subsequently used in a broad range of investigations. Initially, the effort was directed to understanding the source and parametric variations of destabilizing fluid forces. Later various components of the flow in a high speed turbopump were investigated. And finally, some ameliorative measures and their effectiveness were examined. This paper reviews this body of knowledge and the lessons learnt along the way. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.