On the development of a harmonic balance method for aeroelastic analysis

Abstract

To efficiently simulate time-periodic, non-linear flows in turbomachinery a Harmonic Balance (HB) method has recently been developed within the framework of DLR’s compressible, Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier- tokes (URANS) solver TRACE. As a hybrid time- and frequency-domain method, that solves directly for the complex valued solution harmonics of the URANS equations, the approach allows both the integration of highly accurate non-reflecting boundary conditions and the efficient resolution of non-linear flow phenomena. In the current work the HB-solver is extended and applied to investigate the aeroelastic problem of flutter in turbomachinery. Within this context the HB-method is developed, under consideration of the Geometric Conservation Law (GCL), to support deforming meshes. To validate the approach the well documented aeroelastic test case Standard Configuration 10 is simulated and results are compared to those obtained with an inhouse time-linearized solver and reference datafrom the literature.