In the area of engines, increasing the power density and efficiency is a major goal. For compressors and turbines, this is generally achieved by increasing the pressure ratio while reducing the number of stages. For high-pressure turbines, increasing the inlet temperature is an additional option. But in general, these measures make the flow more complex. Consequently, more complex unsteady methods for flutter and forced response analysis are needed. An optimal aeroelastic design to prevent blade damage requires a combined experimental/numerical approach, even for the new Blisk construction. Only then it is possible to increase the predictive accuracy of the aerodynamic damping.
The Institute has been focusing on these challenges in the context of the aeroelasticity of turbomachines in the areas of:
Structural dynamics
Unsteady aerodynamics
Aeroelastic stability / flutter
Forced response