New Test Facility for Forced Blade Flutter Research

Blade flutter problems will become more serious in the near future for large power generating turbines as unavoidable consequences of the increasing share of power generated by renewable energy sources. The Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IT CAS) was awarded a grant to initiate a blade flutter research program. The main thrust of the IT CAS role in this program is to pursue advancements in experimental technique applications and to establish a reliable experimental database of blade mutual aerodynamic interactions during the blade flutter onset for the sonic and transonic flow regimes in particular. A new sophisticated test section for transonic blade flutter research was designed and being manufactured to fulfill such requirements. Experience gained while working with the NASA Transonic Flutter Cascade facility resulted in new innovative features included in the new design. The new facility will be delivered to the High-Speed Laboratory in Novy Knin by the end of September 2020.