Turbine blade fir-tree root design optimisation using intelligent CAD and finite element analysis

Song, Wenbin, Keane, Andy, Rees, Janet, Bhaskar, Atul and Bagnall, Steven (2002) Turbine blade fir-tree root design optimisation using intelligent CAD and finite element analysis. Computers & Structures, 80 (24), 1853-1867. (doi:10.1016/S0045-7949(02)00225-0).

Abstract

This paper is concerned with automation and optimisation of the design of a turbine blade fir-tree root by incorporating a knowledge based intelligent computer-aided design system (ICAD) and finite element analysis. Various optimisation algorithms have been applied in an effort to optimise the shape against a large number of geometric and mechanical constraints drawn from industrial experience in the development of such a structure. Attention is devoted to examining the effects of critical geometric features on the stress distribution at the interface between the blade and disk using a feature-based geometry modelling tool and the optimisation techniques. Various aspects of this problem are presented: (1) geometry representation using ICAD and transfer of the geometry to a finite element analysis code, (2) application of boundary conditions/loads and retrieval of analysis results, (3) exploration of various optimisation methods and strategies including gradient-based and modern stochastic methods. A product model from Rolls-Royce is used as a base design in the optimisation.

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Contributors

Author: Andy Keane

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