DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY FOR TESTING TURBINE ROTOR DESIGNS IN A NON-ROTATING ANNULAR CASCADE

This thesis addresses the development and implementation of an experimental methodology for turbine rotors which enables experiments to be performed in the stationary frame. This method enables measurements with increased spatial resolution and reduced probe blockage effects while also reducing the cost and complexity of the experimental apparatus. Adding this experimental method to the turbine designer’s toolbox will enable more rapid design evaluation and iteration, resulting in faster and less expensive development cycles for new turbine designs. To demonstrate the viability of this new methodology it has been used to evaluate a family of high-lift, high-diffusion turbine geometries in a rainbow ring in the Big Rig for Aerothermal Stationary Turbine Analysis (BRASTA) facility at Purdue University.