Calculation of a Laminar-Turbulent Two-Dimensional Turbine Blade Boundary Layer Including Surface Curvature Effects

Summary

An experimental pressure distribution along the suction side of a turbine blade [1] was used to calculate a boundary layer including second order surface curvature effects. The surface curvature is generally large on turbine blades. This gives rise to study this second order effect. Comparisons of first and second order calculations with a finite difference method [2] resulted in small changes of the location of the laminar or turbulent separation points. A comparison with an integral method [3] indicated differences in the location of the separation points but generally good agreement can be seen.