Simulation of the Effects of Shock Wave Passing on a Turbine Rotor Blade

The unsteady effects of shock waves and wakes shed by the nozzle guide vane row on the flow over a downstream turbine rotor have been simulated in a transient cascade tunnel. At conditions representative of engine flow, both wakes and shock waves are shown to cause transient turbulent patches to develop in an otherwise laminar (suction-surface) boundary layer. The simulation technique employed, coupled with very high-frequency heat transfer and pressure measurements, and flow visualization, allowed the transition initiated by isolated wakes and shock waves to be studied in detail. On the profile tested, the comparatively weak shock waves considered do not produce significant effects by direct shock-boundary layer interaction. Instead, the shock initiates a leading edge separation, which subsequently collapses, leaving a turbulent patch that is convected downstream. Effects of combined wake- and shock wave-passing at high frequency are also reported.