C.P. No.

1196

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVE)

AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH
COUNCIL
CURREN
J PAPERS

Calculation of the Annulus Wall Boundary

Layers in Axial Flow Turbomachines

BY

J. H. Horlock
Cambridge University
and
D. Hoadley,
Central ElectricityGenerating Board

LONDON: HER MAJESTY‘S STATIONERY OFFICE

1972

Price 38p net

 CALCULATIONOF THE ANNULUSWALL BOUNDARY
LAYXRS IN AXIAL FLOWTURBOMACHINrlS

- By -

J. H. Horlock,
Cambridge University
and
D. Hcadley,
Central Electricity Generating Board

SUMMARY

An integral method for calculating the turbulent wall boundary

layers in axial flow turbomachines is described. The method is applied to
flow through annular cascades and sjngle and multistage machines. Agreement
between prediction and experiment is good provided lift coefficients ad
flow deflections of the blade rows sre small.

Nomenclature/

Al

_---- --e__I_______ -M-----d

*Replaces A.R.C.31 9%
 -2-

Nomenclature

velocity in boundary layer

velocity at edge of boundary layer L

wall shear stress coefficient, TJ&C2

blade force

static pressure

flow angle relative to axial direction

absolute thickness of boundary layer

displacement thickness

momentum thickness

difference between a et the wall and a at the edge of the

boundary layer

3.1416
Coles' wake faator
density

shear stress

shear stress at wall

wall shear stress parameter, JcfJi

co-ordinates, x axial, y tangential, e perpendicular to wall

co-ordinates, 9 streamline, n normal to streamline, s perpendicular

to wall

I./
 -3-

1. Introduction

Several attempts have been made to calculate the development of the

annulus wall boundary layer in axial flow turbomachines. Three approaches
may be followed:-

(i) An inviscid approach, following an entry shear flow through the

machine, oalculatlng the angle variations by secondary flow
analysis and using these angles in a three-dimensional flow
calculation, (e.g., Horlock (I 963)).

(ii) A boundary layer approach, in which integral momentum equations

are written for the boundary layer, the blade force being
eliminated by subtraotion of the free stream momentum equation
from the boundary layer momentum equation before integration,
(e.g., Railly and Howard (I 962) and Stratford (1967)).

(iii) Use of empirical data for the growth of the bounda layer aoross
s blade row, (e.g., Hanley (1968) and Smith (1970) 7 .

Gregory-Smith (1970) has shown that the first approach gives

accurate estimates of the atidal velocity proflles for flow through an
isolated rotor, if the exit boundary layer distribution is known (from which
the secondary flow anglxstribution and loss distribution may be
determined). However, the problem of making a first estimate of this
exit profile remains.

The approach followed here is essentially similar to that followed

by Railly and Howard. The analysis, leading to two momentum integral
equations (written In s, n co-ordinates, along and normal to the streamline
outside the boundary layer) was outlined by Horlook (1970), and is
reproduced briefly in the Appendix. Railly and Howard used axial (x) and
tangential (y) co-ordinates, as &.a Hansen and Herzig (1956); Stratford
simply writes the x momentum equation assuming collateral flow. In all
these cases it is assume6 that the blade 9oroe may be eliminated in the
formation of the momentum integral equations.
It should be explained that the validity of these equations, and
indeed of the form of the "difference" momentum equation (A5) (see Appendix)
before integration,

1 a;
-- = (C.v) c -(Z.v)i
P d=
where C and c are mean velocities across the blade pitch, is limited by the
assumption that various terms are neglected in the momentum equations
averaged aoross the pitch (Al, A2). Essentially, this amounts to assuming

(i) That variations in flow across the blade pitch are small, which
may be shown to imply that the local blade lift coefficient is
small (C,/4<<1).

(ii) That variations in flow through the boundary layer are also small.
This implies that the change of the flow angle from free stream
to wall is small.

(iii) That tip clearance effects may be ignored.

Thus/
 -4-

Thus not only is the bounder-y layer assumption made (the pressure
distribution is determined by the ma=" stream and transmitted through the
boundary layer) but also the idea of a small flow perturbation from the
mainstream flow is implied, which is essentw.lly the basic assumption of
secondary flow analysis.

These are quite severe restrlctrons on the program that has been
developed. But several important points result from the calculations that
have been made, end thesa are discussed in detail below.

2. Analysis

The method of analysis is essentially a variation of a

three-dimensional boundary layer analysis developed by Hoadley (1970) for
swirling flow in a conice;. diffuser. (This in turn was a" extension of a
two-dimensional boundary layer analysis described by Lewkowicz et al.
(1970).)

Hoadley wrote the momentum integral equations along t'he s (streamline)

and n (normal) dlrectlons, for axisymmetric flow. By (justifiably)
assuming axlsymmetrlc flow he could express each of these two equations in
terms of one inde endent variable x, with the flow angle outside the
boundary layer (a P known as a functlo" of x. Using also the entrainment
equation derived by Cumpsty and Head (1967) and Coles' (1956) expression
for the wall shear stress, he obtained four differential equations. By
assumz."g the streamwise flow could be represented by Coles' velocity profile,
and that the cross flow could be represented by the Mager (1952) profile, all
four differential equations could be expressed in terms of four dependent
variables,
6 (boundary layer thickness)
n (Coles' wake factor)
(skin friction coefficient>
Cf
E (the difference between flow angle at the wall
w and flow angle in the mainstream)

Simultaneous solution of the equations by a Runge-Kutta method gave

fair predictions of the swirling flow observed by Hoadley in the conical
diffuser.

A similar approach has been followed in tackUng the problem of

the flow through a blade row. Equation (A5) is valid for the averaged
boundary layer flow in the blade passage within the assumptions listed above.
Integration of this equation yields the momentum integral equations (A6, A7)
of the Appendix, but it IS important to note that since the mean tangentlal
velocity (Cy) changes in the flow through a blade row, a" extra term (due to
ai?
the blade forces and represented by the "smeared" vorticity c = 2)
dx
appears in the equation, compared with Hoadley's original form. A similar
term arlses ic the entrainment equation, but the wall shear stress law is
assumed to be unchanged from Hoadley's formation.

The/
 -5-
The differential equations for solution are thus a simple
mpdification of Hoadley's original equations. The input has been simplified
considerably, so that the only data required are starting values for 6, ll,
0 and 6w, together with free stream data for Cx(x) (mean velooity) and
2
a(x) (mean flow angle). Values of the dependent parameters are oalculated
at downstream stations, and from these the streamwise and cross flow profiles
are determined, together with the axial displacement and momentum thicknesses,

One.important point is that by specifying Ex and G(X) (mean

axial velocity and mean absolute flow angle) there is no requirement to say
whether the blade row through which the fluid flows is stationary or rotating.
Equation (A4) is written in absolute oo-ordinated, as are the momentum
integral equations, and all are valid within the limits of the skated
assumptions for the averaged flow through rotors of stators. Stagnation
pressure changes do take place in rotors where the dot product of blade
force and velocity (P.c) is non-sero, but this does not change equation (A5).
Thus the boundary layer flow through a turbine stator row with given E (x)
x-
a_nd i(x) is the same as that through a compressor rotor row with the same
Cx(x) ana a(x).

3. Calculations

Attempts have been made to calculate three separate boundary layer

flows:-

(a) the flow through an isolated rotating cascade (described by

Gregory-Smith (1970)). The annulus wall boundary layer on
the casing is studied.

(b) The casing bounde,ry layer flow through a complete compressor

stage of three rows (experiments described by Horlock (1963)).

(c) the flow through a multi-stage Rolls-Royce axial compressor.

3(a) Flow through an isolated rotating cascade

Fig.1 shows the axial velocity and angle variations through the
boundary layer at exit from Gregory-Smith's isolated rotor. The entry
boundary layer was assumed to be a flat plate boundary layer (ll = 0.55)
and from the measured displacement thickness So, the skin friction cf and
the "thickness" 6 were derived from the Coles profiles using the equations

s* = 6 2 (1 + n)/o.41
J 2

2
and - = & loge ( ye": y) + 5.0 + &
J- Of

where %* is the Reynolds number based on displacement thickness.

Gregory-Smith/
 -6-

Gregory-Smith had calculated the angle and axial velocity variations

at the casing from the Wu/Marsh program (Marsh_ (1268)) assuming that the
annulus was running full; and his values of Cx, cc(x) were used as input
to the program.
Agreement between theory and experiment on axial velocity profiles
is good, and the cro_ss-flow is predicted quite well, although the assumption
that the value of a(x) at the casing is the angle outside the boundary
layer mars the cross flow prediction. The prediction of displacement and
momentum thickness growth is shown in Fig.2 and a small improvement ever
Stratford's method can be seen.

It should be emphasised that this flow is one of small bverall

deflection, and that the limiting assumptions listed in the introduction are
not excse&2a in this calculation.

j(b) Flow through an axial compressor stage

The boundary layer flow through a single stags - guide vane,

rotor, stator - was measured by Horlock (1963). Results for a calculation
of this flow are given in Figs.3 and 4 (axial velocity profiles and angle
variations). Although Il becomes negative it does not drop below -1 in the
calculations and the Coles profile still has validity. Many "aerodynamic"
boundary layer experiments achieve negative values of ll in accelerating
flow, such as those of Herring and Norbury as shown by Coles and Hirst (1968).
The axial velocity profiles are quite well predicted, but.the
cress flow predictions are not as good. Clearly the Mager cress flow
profile is not adequate to describe cress flows in turbomachine stages with _
large deflection. (Note that for the purpose of these calculations, free
stream values of i(x) and Gx(x) were taken from the experimental data,
the edge of the boundary layer being assumed to be at the point of maximum ,
stagnation pressure.)

It is of interest to note that gude vans and rotor produce

effectively a double "acceleration", dropping II progressively. The sta%or
diffuses the flow, increasing ll back to about zero, (i.e., the boundary
layer is virtually logarithmic). In view of the large changes in H
produced by the rapid changes in free stream conditions it is remarkable that
the axial-velocity profiles are so well predIcted. The large changes in
Ew and a produce the peak and subsequent decrease in the calculated axial
displacement thickness shown in Fig.5.

3(c) Flow through a multi-stage compressor

Rolls-Royce provided .a streamline curvature calculation of the

flow through a four-stage Avon compressor. The values of i(x) &nd Cx(x)
at the casing were used to calculate the values of 6,*, Il. cf and SW
through the four stages. 6x* and H are shown in Fig.6, for the first
three rows.

Again the pattern of "double acceleration" in guide vane and first

rotor was apparent, but the calculation then loses validity because H
drops below -1. Values of 6x* for a Stratford calculation are also shown.

4./
 -7-

4. Discussion

Within the limitations initially stated - small variations of

flow across the pitch (small lift coefficient), small variations through the
boundary layer (small overall deflection), and negligible effects of tip
clearance - the present method for calculating boundary layers through blade
rows gives reasonable results. For example, the flow through Gregory-Smith's
rotor is well predicted. However in conditions of large overall deflection
and lift coefficient, (as exist in turbine blade rows or large deflection
guide vane,rows), the validity of the method is open to doubt.

The most striking feature of the compressor calculations described

in Sections 3(b) and 3(c) is that the boundary layers never appear to be
subjected to conditions which produce large values of the Coles wake
parameter Il. This is in conflict with the conditions observed by Hanley (1968)
in cascades (rapidly increasing Sx*, giving a wall stall at large n).
However, the cross flow model used in the present calculation method does not
allow for the under turning near the outer edge of the boundary layer which
was present in Hanley's experiments.

There is room for several improvements in the analysis described

here:-

' (i) A better model for the cross flow should be used. It is known
that the ceoss flow proflle depends on the blade aspeot ratio
and pitch-chord ratio (see Hawthorne (1955)). Use of a
semi-analytical form for the cross flow profile in line with
seoondar.. flow predictions was suggested by Mellor and Wood (1970).

(ii) The lxnitatlons of small lift coefficient and small deflection

should be removed. Marsh (1970) suggests that equation (A5)
is valid on a mean stream surface but that the averaged momentum
integral equations (A6, A7) should contain an extra body force
term which was overlooked into the present analysis. The
significance of this term is currently being assessed.

(iii) The effects of tip clearance should be allowed for.

(iv) Alternative entrainment assumptions should be tested, especially

under conditions of rapid acceleration.

5. Conclusions

A boundary layer calculation method! for determining the end wall

flow through blade rows of an axial turbomachlne, has been compared with a
range of experiments. For small deflection flows through blades of low
lift coefficient, the method works satisfactorily. But for flows through
blades of large deflection, the cross flow is poorly predicted and this
leads to iiicorrect prediction of displacement thickness. It is expected
that the calculation method would be improved if .a more realistic cross flow
model is used.

References/
 -a-
References

p.& Author(s1 Title. etc.

1 D. E. Coles The law of the wake in the turbulent

boundary layer.
J. Fluid Meoh., 1 (2), PP.IYI-225.
I
(1956).

2 D. E. Coles and
E. A. Hirst Compiled data.
Proc. 1968 AFOSR-IFP-Stanford.
Conference on Computation of Turbulent
Boundary Layers, Vo1.2.
(1968).
N. A. Cumpsty and The calculation of three-dimensional
M. R. Head turbulent boundary layer?.
(1) Flow over the rear of an infinite
sweut winfx.
Aerb. Quart, l& Feb., pp.55-84.
(1967).

4 D. G. Gregory-Smith An investigation of annulus wall

boundary layers in axial flow
turbomachines.
Trans. ASME, J. Eng. Power, 92A (4),
pp.369-379.
(1970).

5 W. T. Hanley A correlation of end-wall losses in

plane compressor cascades.
Trans. ASME, J. Eng. Power, gOA (J),
pp.251 -257.
(1968).

6 A. G. Hansen and On possible similarity solutions for

H. 2. Herzig three-dimensional incompressible
laminar boundary layers.
I. Similarity with respect to
stationary rectangular co-ordinates.
NACA Tech-Note 3768.
(1956).

W. R. Hawthorne Some formulae for the calculation of

secondary flow in cascades.
A.R.C.17 519.
(1955).

M. R. Head Entrainment in the turbulent boundary

layer.
ARC R & M 3152.
(2958).

9 D. Hoadley Three-dimensional turbulent boundary

layers in an annular diffuser.
Ph.D. thesis, Cambridge University.
(1970).
 -9-
& Author(s1 Title, etc.

IO J. H. Horlock Annulus wall bounaary layers in axial

flow compressor stages.
Trans. ASME, J. Basic Eng., a (I),
p.55-65.
P1963).
11 J. H. Horlock Boundary layer problems in axial
turbomachlnes.
Proc. Brown Boverl Sympsium on
FLOWResearch on Bladzng, pp.3~360,
Ed. L. S. Dzung, Elsevier Pub. Co.
(1970).

12 A. K. Lewkowicz, A family of integral methods for

D. Hoadley, predicting turbulent boundary layers.
J. H. Horlock and AIAA Journal, g (I), pQ.&-51.
H. J. Perkins (1970).

13 A. Mager A generalisation of boundary layer

momentum integral equations to
three-dimensIona flows including
those of rotating systems.
NACA Report No. 1067.
(1952).
14 H. Marsh A digital computer program for the
through-flow fluid mechanics in an
arbitrary turbomachlne using a matrix
method.
ARC R & M 3509.
(1968).

15 H. Marsh The through flow analysis of axial

flow compressors.
Report CUED/A-Turbo/TRll,
Engineering Department, Cambridge
University.
(1970).

16 G. L. Mellor and An axial compressor end-wall boundary

G. M. Wood layer theory.
ASNZ Paper No. 70-GT-80.
(1970).

. 17 J. W. Railly and Velocity profile development in

J. H. G. Howard axial-flow compressors.
J. Mech. Eng. Sci. & (2), pp.166-176.
(1962).

18 L. H. Smith Casing boundary layers in multi-stage

axial compressors.
Proc. Brown Boveri Symposium on Flow
Research on Blading, pp.275-304,
Ed. L. S. Dzung, Elsevier Pub. Co.
(1970).
 - IO -

Author(el Title, etc.

B. S. Stratford The use of boundary layer techniques to

calculate the blockage from the annulus
boundary layers in a oompressor.
ASK3 Paper No.@-ViA/GT-7.
(1967).

APPENDIX/
 -14 -

APPXNDIX
Horlock (1970) has derived momentum integral equations for the
averaged boundary layer flow.

If the local velocities within the layer in an x, y, co-ordinate

system are c , then the equations of motion averaged across the pitch S
c*' Y
of the blade sre given by

aFx 1 a; - P,) aGx a;

----- (PP tan ab = Cx - + 0 -5 a.. (Al)
az P b PS ax ' a2

a; (Pp - P,) tan ob

-+ Y = G 3.; 2 . . . W)
a2 PS x ax ’ az

where TX* Tz are the shear stress, p the pressure, subscripts p and s
indicate pressure and suction surfaces and a superscript - indicates an
average across the pitch. (The blades are assumed to be thin and defined
by the angle o,h).

Neglect of second order terms in the above equations in comparison

with those retained involves assuming that ratios of terms such as

are small, where c;, "$ are the maximum variations of the axial and
,
tangential velocities from the mean values (i.e., ox = Dx + cx,

0 + 0').
"Y = Y Y

0’
x may be shown to be of order (F 2 p cx2 seo2abb) where
- Fy
0
y/
x
is the tangential force b (P, - p,) dx and b is the blade axial chord.
I 0
This implies that cpx' C#+ and
is of similar cf/s
order of
magnitude. It may be shown that X is or order CJ4. This is satisfied
by lightly loaded compressor blades but not by highly loaded turbine blades.

With/
 - 12 -

With x and similar terms small equations (Al) and (A2) may be
written

1 a- v-
--I + T - -Et = (E.v)G . . . (A3)
P as P

,where vector quantities ars now mean across the pitch, and

P = pP - ps set
'b . . . (AA)
PS
In the main stream

? - 5 = (E.V)E . . . 04)
P
and subtraction of (A4) from (A3) yields

1 a-
-2 + (E.v)E = (,.v), ... (A5)
P de
A mere general discussion of this problem for a mean stream surface,
without the Bssumption of x small, is given by Marsh (1970).

From integration of (A5) between s = 0 and fl = 6, the

momentum equations may be derived in the form

3+ dei2+--1 dC
+ 6$ - K, (e,, - ,e2*)
(281 i
as an c ( as > n

c
- - + 62+) = 5 2 ocls SW . . . (A6)
c (*e,2
PC

2+ de22
2 dC I dC

dS
-+-
an C ( 1 -
da n
e21 + c
(
d,
)
s (e,, + e,, + hi*)

- 2K,e2, + E CO,, + ii,+ - e,,) = 5 2 sin s

W
PC
where momentum and displacement thickness are
 - 13 -

and C is the resultant velocity at the edge of the boundary layer, K, is

the convergence/divergence of the streamlines at the edge of the layer, and
t; is the vortioity at the edge in the z direction.

For an axisymmetrio flow, these equations may be written in terms

of the single independent variable x, the flow angle a(x), and the axial
velocity cx(x) outside the boundary layer.

The entrainment equation may be written

a6 I dC
” (6 - 6,*) - -2' = F (Hs - 6*) - (6 - ST) - - _ K,
dS an c as

-- 62't; . .. b3)
c

6 - $0
where F is Head's (1958) entrainment function and H6 - 6* =
ell

The wall shear stress equation in differential form is

I d6 2dl 1 dC
--+ -+ -- . . . (A9)
6 as ds c as

where

Writing the streamwise velocity profile in Coles' form

c - 0 5x2 z
s =- 1 + 003 - - log, - . . . (AIO)
C 6 6_-I

and the cross flow velocity profile in Mager's form

C/
 - 14 -

equation8 (A6 - (A9) may be reduced to the farm

d6 an dC
dcf
Ai d, + Bi d, + Ci ; + = EL
Di 2

where i = 1, 2, 3, 4 and Ai, Bi, Ci,,Di and El ace functions of

6,n, Cf’ ew9 Ii(x) and E,(x). (AIL?) may be solved by Runge-Kutta techniques.

PAC
 - EXPERIMENT (GREGORY - SMITH)
PRESENT ANALYSIS c

20 29
RADIUS (inches)

FIG.1. OUTER WALL FLOW AT EXIT FROM ISOLATED ROTOR

 I I I

0 EXPERIMENT (GREGORY-SMITH)
W-B STRATFORD

0.02- PRESENT ANALYSIS

8 ff
(:I

POSITION
OF
% 0.02 1 ROTOR

(ft)
__-----
0.01 --- -‘I-- 0
0

0 I I I
0 1.0 2.0 3.0

AXIAL DISTANCE x (ft)

FIG.2. OUTER WALL BOUNDARY LAYER GROWTH THROUGH ISOLATED ROTOR

 I I 1 I I I I
200 --o-o-
ENTRY

COLES PROFILE

r
200

200

200

150

100 -o-o- EXPERIMENT (HORLOCK)

-.-•- CALCULATED COLES PROFILE

50

0
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.1
DISTANCE FROM OUTER WALL (inches)

FIG.3. FLOW THROUGH AXIAL COMPRESSOR STAGE

50
b’ ’ ’ ’ ” ’

45
\ -o-o- EXPERIMENT (HORLOCK)

\ - .-. - CALCULATED
40 .

35

30

25
o-o-o-

GUIDE VANE EXIT

45

40

35

30

25
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

DISTANCE FROM OUTER WALL (inches)

FIG.4. FLOW THROUGH AXIAL COMPRESSOR STAGE
 I I I I I I I
I
0 EXPERIMENT (HORLOCK)

CALCULATED

O.OOB

0.006
0 0
0.006 kG
o.oo4°

GUIDE VANE ROTOR STATOR

0.002 -

i
0, I I I 1 I 1 I
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
AXIAL DISTANCE x (Inches)

FIG.5. OUTER WALL BOUNDARY LAYER GROWTH THROUGH AXIAL COMPRESSOR STAGE
 1.0,
I I I I I

WAKE iAs:& .--.-.

He/
m&e.--+- -(
0.5 r
l-r/ •-$~;p~~~~~~~ THICKNESS

.-.-
o- I I I I , l
I \:
(1 0.1 I I
0.2 0.3 0.4 \ 0.6 0.5
0.7 0.8 0.9 II.C ’
AXIAL DISTANCE THROUGH COMPRE+OR (feet)

4 1.5- GUIDE VANE ROTOR STATOR

h

-1 .O- -+-..+- STRATFORD I

INVALID /-
--•- PRESENT ANAL’&
t . /
.
-1 .5-

, y I
-2 .0, I I I I I

FIG.6. FLOW THROUGH AVON COMPRESSOR (BASED ON ROLLS ROYCE DATA)

 C.P. No. 1196

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