FLUTTER STABILITY OF A DETUNED CASCADE IN SUBSONIC COMPRESSIBLE FLOW

A mathematical model is developed to predict the unsteady aerodynamics of a detuned two-dimensional flat plate cascade in subsonic compressible flow. Aerodynamic detuning is introduced by nonuniform circumferential spacing and chordwise offset. Combined aerodynamic-structural detuning is accomplished by replacing alternate airfoils with splitter blades. A torsion mode stability analysis that considers aerodynamic and combined aerodynamic-structural detuning is developed by combining the unsteady aerodynamic model with a single degree-of-freedom structural model. The effect of these detuning techniques on flutter stability is then demonstrated by applying this model to a baseline unstable 12-bladed rotor and detuned variations of this rotor. This study demonstrates that detuning is a viable passive flutter control technique.