Modeling Tip Clearance Efects in Multi–Stage Axial Compressors

Abstract

A variety of techniques for simulating the effects of rotor tip clearances in multi–stage axial compressors is discussed. Proper recognition of stage coupling and re–matching effects is shown to be key to successful modeling of the overall behavior of actual engine compression systems. The application of a relatively simple 1–D unsteady row–by–row systems analysis is presented and shown to compare well to test data from several engine compressors.