Non-Uniform Time Sampling for Multiple-Frequency Harmonic Balance Computations

A time-domain harmonic balance method for the analysis of almost-periodic (multi-harmonics) flows is presented. This method relies on Fourier analysis to derive an efficient alternative to classical time marching schemes for such flows. It has recently received significant attention, especially in the turbomachinery field where the flow spectrum is essentially a combination of the blade passing frequencies. Up to now, harmonic balance methods have used a uniform time sampling of the period of interest, but in the case of several frequencies, non-necessarily multiple of each other, harmonic balance methods can face stability issues due to a bad condition number of the Fourier operator. Two algorithms are derived to find a non-uniform time sampling in order to minimize this condition number. Their behavior is studied on a wide range of frequencies, and a model problem of a 1D flow with pulsating outlet pressure, which enables to prove their efficiency. Finally, the flow in a multi-stage axial compressor is analyzed with different frequency sets. It demonstrates the stability and robustness of the present non-uniform harmonic balance method regardless of the frequency set

Multi-frequential harmonic balance approach for the computation of unsteadiness in multi-stage turbomachines

In turbomachines, the relative motion of fixed and rotating blades gives rise to deterministic unsteady interactions at frequencies termed BPFs (Blade Passing Frequencies). In a multi-stage turbomachine, a row sandwiched between two other rows is submitted to (at least) two BPFs, hence the need for multiple frequency methods. Initially developed for single frequency problems, harmonic methods have been extended to account for multiple frequencies. All the variations of the Harmonic Balance (HB) technique proposed in the literature rely on a uniform time sampling of the longest period of interest (though the number of samples can differ). This can compromise the efficiency of the method, as too many time samples are computed. Besides, as demonstrated in the present contribution, uniform time sampling can also raise stability issues. To overcome these computational limitations, a new approach using non-uniform time sampling is proposed in the present contribution. This paper will be organized as follows: first, the multi-frequency HB methods is presented, and the impact of time sampling on numerical stability is discussed. Then, algorithms for an automatic choice of the time samples are presented and compared. The proposed non-uniform sampling is assessed for a model problem (i.e. a pulsating channel). Finally, a section is dedicated to the application to a turbomachinery configuration, with emphasis on the choice of frequencie

Convergence of Fourier-based time methods for turbomachinery wake passing problems

The convergence of Fourier-based time methods applied to turbomachinery flows is assessed. The focus is on the harmonic balance method, which is a time-domain Fourier-based approach standing as an efficient alternative to classical time marching schemes for periodic flows. In the literature, no consensus exists concerning the number of harmonics needed to achieve convergence for turbomachinery stage configurations. In this paper it is shown that the convergence of Fourier-based methods is closely related to the impulsive nature of the flow solution, which in turbomachines is essentially governed by the characteristics of the passing wakes between adjacent rows. As a result of the proposed analysis, a priori estimates are provided for the minimum number of harmonics required to accurately compute a given turbomachinery configuration. Their application to several contra-rotating open-rotor configurations is assessed, demonstrating the practical interest of the proposed methodology

Time-Domain Harmonic Balance Method for Turbomachinery Aeroelasticity

The present paper investigates a time-domain harmonic balance method as an alternative to classical time-marching schemes for stability studies of turbomachineries toward flutter. A weak-coupling approach is applied, which requires computing the fluid response to prescribed harmonic motions of the structure. The harmonic balance method, formulated in the arbitrary Lagrangian/Eulerian framework, is adapted to single-passage reduction using phase-lag boundary conditions expressed purely in the time domain. Validation against experimental data for the 11th standard configuration for aeroelasticity is performed, showing good agreement. Finally, an industrial test case is presented: a fan designed by Safran Snecma. The results show the good accuracy of the proposed harmonic balance method as well as significant reductions in computational time

Multi-frequential Harmonic Balance Approach for the Simulation of Contra-Rotating Open Rotors : Application to Aeroelasticity

La mécanique des fluides numérique a permis d'optimiser de nombreux systèmes dont, notamment, les moteurs d'avions. Dans l'industrie aéronautique, les calculs numériques d'écoulements sont principalement limités à des approches stationnaires de par le coût prohibitif des simulations instationnaires. Néanmoins, les écoulements qui se développent dans les machines tournantes, à savoir les principaux composants d'un moteur d'avion, sont majoritairement périodiques en temps. En partant de cette hypothèse de périodicité temporelle, des approches dites spectrales en temps ont vus le jour il y a plus de quinze ans. Elles restent principalement limitées à des écoulements mono-fréquentiels, à savoir composés d'une seule fréquence de base et de ses harmoniques. Récemment, une méthode d'équilibrage harmonique multi-fréquentielle a été développée et implémentée dans le code de calcul elsA, élargissant le champ des applications possibles. En particulier, l'étude de l'aéroélasticité des machines tournantes multi-étagées devient alors envisageable.Cette thèse se propose d'appliquer la méthode d'équilibrage harmonique multi-fréquentielle pour étudier l'aéroélasticité d'une configuration nouvelle de moteur d'avion: les doublets d'hélices contra-rotatives. La méthode est tout d'abord validée analytiquement et numériquement sur des cas tests linéaires et non-linéaires avec succès. Deux problèmes sont soulevés pour l'utilisation d'une telle méthode sur des configurations aéroélastiques arbitraires: le conditionnement du terme source et la convergence de la méthode. Des approches originales ont été développées afin d'améliorer le conditionnement et de fournir une estimation a priori du nombre d'harmoniques nécessaire pour obtenir un certain niveau de convergence. La méthode d'équilibrage harmonique est ensuite validée sur un cas standard d'aéroélasticité des machines tournantes et montre des résultats très proches de ceux expérimentaux. L'applicabilité de la méthode est finalement démontrée pour la simulation de l'aéroélasticité des doublets d'hélices contra-rotatives.Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has allowed the optimization of many configurations among which aircraft engines. In the aeronautical industry, CFD is mostly restricted to steady approaches due to the high computational cost of unsteady simulations. Nevertheless, the flow field across the rotating parts of aircraft engines, namely turbomachinery blades, is essentially periodic in time. Years ago, Fourier-based time methods have been developed to take advantage of this time periodicity. However, they are, for the most part, restricted to mono-frequential flow fields. This means that only a single base-frequency and its harmonics can be considered. Recently, a multi-frequential Fourier-based time method, namely the multi-frequential Harmonic Balance (HB), has been developed and implemented into the elsA CFD code, enabling new kinds of applications as, for instance, the aeroelasticity of multi-stage turbomachinery.The present PhD thesis aims at applying the HB approach to the aeroelasticity of a new type of aircraft engine: the contra-rotating open rotor. The method is first validated on analytical, linear and non-linear numerical test problems. Two issues are raised, which prevent the use of such an approach on arbitrary aeroelastic configurations: the conditioning of the multi-frequential HB source term and the convergence of the method. Original methodologies are developed to improve the condition number of the simulations and to provide a priori estimates of the number of harmonics required to achieve a given convergence level. The HB method is then validated on a standard configuration for turbomachinery aeroelasticity. The results are shown to be in fair agreement with the experimental data. The applicability of the method is finally demonstrated for aeroelastic simulations of contra-rotating open rotors

Méthode d'Équilibrage Harmonique Multi-Frequentielle pour la Simulation des Doublets d'Hélices Contra-Rotatives : application à l'aéroélasticité

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has allowed the optimization of many configurations among which aircraft engines. In the aeronautical industry, CFD is mostly restricted to steady approaches due to the high computational cost of unsteady simulations. Nevertheless, the flow field across the rotating parts of aircraft engines, namely turbomachinery blades, is essentially periodic in time. Years ago, Fourier-based time methods have been developed to take advantage of this time periodicity. However, they are, for the most part, restricted to mono-frequential flow fields. This means that only a single base-frequency and its harmonics can be considered. Recently, a multi-frequential Fourier-based time method, namely the multi-frequential Harmonic Balance (HB), has been developed and implemented into the elsA CFD code, enabling new kinds of applications as, for instance, the aeroelasticity of multi-stage turbomachinery.The present PhD thesis aims at applying the HB approach to the aeroelasticity of a new type of aircraft engine: the contra-rotating open rotor. The method is first validated on analytical, linear and non-linear numerical test problems. Two issues are raised, which prevent the use of such an approach on arbitrary aeroelastic configurations: the conditioning of the multi-frequential HB source term and the convergence of the method. Original methodologies are developed to improve the condition number of the simulations and to provide a priori estimates of the number of harmonics required to achieve a given convergence level. The HB method is then validated on a standard configuration for turbomachinery aeroelasticity. The results are shown to be in fair agreement with the experimental data. The applicability of the method is finally demonstrated for aeroelastic simulations of contra-rotating open rotors.La mécanique des fluides numérique a permis d'optimiser de nombreux systèmes dont, notamment, les moteurs d'avions. Dans l'industrie aéronautique, les calculs numériques d'écoulements sont principalement limités à des approches stationnaires de par le coût prohibitif des simulations instationnaires. Néanmoins, les écoulements qui se développent dans les machines tournantes, à savoir les principaux composants d'un moteur d'avion, sont majoritairement périodiques en temps. En partant de cette hypothèse de périodicité temporelle, des approches dites spectrales en temps ont vus le jour il y a plus de quinze ans. Elles restent principalement limitées à des écoulements mono-fréquentiels, à savoir composés d'une seule fréquence de base et de ses harmoniques. Récemment, une méthode d'équilibrage harmonique multi-fréquentielle a été développée et implémentée dans le code de calcul elsA, élargissant le champ des applications possibles. En particulier, l'étude de l'aéroélasticité des machines tournantes multi-étagées devient alors envisageable.Cette thèse se propose d'appliquer la méthode d'équilibrage harmonique multi-fréquentielle pour étudier l'aéroélasticité d'une configuration nouvelle de moteur d'avion: les doublets d'hélices contra-rotatives. La méthode est tout d'abord validée analytiquement et numériquement sur des cas tests linéaires et non-linéaires avec succès. Deux problèmes sont soulevés pour l'utilisation d'une telle méthode sur des configurations aéroélastiques arbitraires: le conditionnement du terme source et la convergence de la méthode. Des approches originales ont été développées afin d'améliorer le conditionnement et de fournir une estimation a priori du nombre d'harmoniques nécessaire pour obtenir un certain niveau de convergence. La méthode d'équilibrage harmonique est ensuite validée sur un cas standard d'aéroélasticité des machines tournantes et montre des résultats très proches de ceux expérimentaux. L'applicabilité de la méthode est finalement démontrée pour la simulation de l'aéroélasticité des doublets d'hélices contra-rotatives

High Fidelity Simulation of the Turbulent Flow in a Transonic Axial Compressor

The present work proposes to use LES in a 3D transonic axial compressor configuration, the NASA Rotor 37. Three meshes are investigated: a 10 million, a 25 million and a 100 million grid points mesh. The convergence criteria, the choice of the numerical schemes and the determina- tion of the time-step are investigated to propose a methodology for LES calculations. The time needed to compute such simulations and comparison with the experimental results are given. Finally, an analysis of the mesh dependency for LES is assessed

The impact of pimavanserin on psychotic phenotypes and tau phosphorylation in the P301L/COMT– and rTg(P301L)4510 mouse models of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Introduction Psychosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with grave clinical consequences including a precipitous cognitive decline and a hastened demise. These outcomes are aggravated by use of existing antipsychotic medications, which are also associated with cognitive decline and increased mortality; preclinical models that would develop new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. The current report evaluates the ability of the neoteric antipsychotic, pimavanserin, to normalize hyperkinesis and sensorimotor gating in the novel catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) deleted P301L/COMT– and rTg(P301L)4510 models of psychotic AD, and the impact of pimavanserin on tau pathology. Methods Female P301L/COMT– mice were behaviorally characterized for abnormalities of locomotion and sensorimotor gating, and biochemically characterized for patterns of tau phosphorylation relative to relevant controls utilizing high‐sensitivity tau enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Female P301L/COMT– and rTg(P301L)4510 mice were randomized to pimavanserin or vehicle treatment to study the ability of pimavanserin to normalize locomotion and rescue sensorimotor gating. Additionally, high‐sensitivity tau ELISA was used to investigate the impact of treatment on tau phosphorylation. Results P301L/COMT– mice evidenced a hyperlocomotive phenotype and deficits of sensorimotor gating relative to wild‐type mice on the same background, and increased tau phosphorylation relative to COMT‐competent P301L mice. Pimavanserin normalized the hyperkinetic phenotype in both the P301L/COMT– and rTg(P301L)4510 mice but had no impact on sensorimotor gating in either model. Pimavanserin treatment had little impact on tau phosphorylation patterns. Discussion These data suggest that pimavanserin ameliorates tau‐driven excessive locomotion. Given the morbidity associated with aberrant motor behaviors such as pacing in AD and lack of effective treatments, future studies of the impact of pimavanserin on actigraphy in patients with this syndrome may be warranted