An approach to investigate thermomechanical effects on turbine disks

Abstract

Structural deformations play a vital role in aero engines in general, and thus also in the engine's Secondary Air System (SAS). The optimization of secondary airflow necessitates detailed consideration of Secondary Air Components (SAC) throughout all design phases, as well as during engine production and maintenance processes. These components operate under high thermal and mechanical loading fluctuations during operations. These material temperature and pressure variations may lead to thermal expansion, which then affects clearance between stator and rotor parts of the SAC. Accurately capturing these effects is essential for optimizing component design, system behavior, and ensuring long-term reliability. This poster presents a novel concept of a coupled-thermomechanical simulation methodology for analyzing the behavior of turbine disks including seals. Using CalculiX as the primary solver, the concept accounts for quasi-static simulations incorporating fluid points from a 1D fluid network to define boundary conditions. Monitoring points are used to evaluate deformation, allowing us to capture the gaps between rotating and static components. The goal is to automate the process of applying boundary conditions in iterative transient simulations, enabling the accurate prediction of thermal state and deformation of turbine disks over a flight cycle. Although demonstrated specific use-case for turbine disks, the developed methodology is designed to be modular and flexible, allowing implementation in other components, such as compressor disks, without extensive reconfiguration.