Introduction

The study of the dynamic behavior of turbine bladed disks vibration is still a topic of great importance. When the excitation frequency is close to a natural frequency of the system, within the engine speed working range, the vibration amplitude can lead to high-cycle fatigue failure. Friction damping devices such as UPDs are typically included into turbine design to limit these resonant vibrations (03, 05). Each damper is pressed against the blade platforms by the centrifugal force. When relative motion takes place between damper and blade platform, the generated nonlinear friction forces lead to the dissipation of vibrational energy. From an industrial point of view, it is fundamental to have effective tools for the design and performance prediction of UPDs. In the last 20 years different authors worked on this topic and proposed several numerical models, they can be found, among the others, in the papers by (22, 26, 11, 14).

The basic idea is that the calculation of the nonlinear forced response is performed by coupling the UPD to the blades modelled through FE. This coupling is achieved by inserting a contact element between blades and UPD. The contact element is characterized by four parameters, which must be chosen by the user: the friction coefficient, the normal contact stiffness and the tangential contact stiffness in two perpendicular directions.

The problem of solving the nonlinear equation of the forced response in presence of contact forces, depending on the structure displacement, is nowadays completely overcome. The nonlinear forced response can be calculated with high computational efficiency in the frequency domain using the harmonic balance method (HBM) (23, 09, 10, 24, 14, 27, 25).

Being the calculation method well-established, the still open question is how to choose the contact parameters (friction coefficient, normal and tangential contact stiffness) in order to obtain reliable predictions of the forced response. In literature contact parameters are usually tuned by matching the computed forced response function (FRF) with the measured one. This method, however is not a viable procedure at the design stage, where experimental FRFs are not yet available.

This paper presents the numerical results obtained by a numerical code where the damper model, the contact model and the method for solving the equations are aligned with the state of the art. The attention is here focused on the procedure adopted for choosing contact parameters: only those procedures which do not rely on curve fitting between experimental and numerical FRFs are considered. The present paper adopts two such alternative ways to estimate contact parameters: the first is an established analytical model from the literature and the second is based on direct experimental measurements (i.e. hysteresis cycles) on UPDs on a dedicated test rig. The chosen test case is a bladed disk carrying cylindrical UPDs. The comparison between measured FRFs and simulated ones will highlight strengths and limitations of each method used for contact parameter estimation.

Bladed disk with underplatform dampers

The test case analyzed in this paper is the bladed disk (blisk) shown in Figure 1. The bladed disk carries between each couple of blades a cylindrical UPD, sketched in Figure 2 and shown in Figure 10. This blisk and the UPDs were chosen as a test case since they are part of a test rig (Octopus test rig) (04, 13) that provides experimental forced response of blisks with UPDs under controlled conditions.

Figure 10.

(a) Wear marks on the damper. (b) Selection of contact nodes.

Figure 2.

(a) Contact model for a cylindrical UPD. (b) Elastic contact between damper and platform.

Figure 1.

(a) Bladed disk. (b) FE model of a bladed disk sector.

Analytical calculation of the contact stiffness values

Normal contact stiffness

The normal load N at the contact line causes an elastic deformation δN due to the elastic contact stiffness kn. The calculation of the normal contact stiffness can be performed applying formulas found in literature. The well-known Harris (18) empirical formula allows the calculation of the normal elastic penetration δN occurring when a cylinder is pressed against a flat surface (steel on steel):

(8)

δN−Harris=3.84⋅10−5N0.9L0.8

where N is the value of the normal contact force and L is the length of the cylinder minus possible recesses. The same contact condition was more recently studied by 07 who established that the normal elastic penetration for the single contact is obtained as:

(9)

δN−B=4.05⋅10−5N0.925L0.85

01and02 use the pressure distribution to compute the normal relative displacements of the contact surfaces by means of the Cerruti potential theory (19):

(10)

δN−Allara=2(1−ν2)πENL[1+ln|2Lb|2]

where b is the half-width of the contact area, E is the Young’s modulus and ν is the Poisson’s ratio.

The value of the normal contact stiffness is obtained by taking the derivative of the normal penetration δN with respect to N:

(11)

1kn(N)=dδNdN

Hence,

(12)

kn−Harris(N)=109L0.83.84⋅10−5N0.1

(13)

kn−B(N)=10.925L0.854.05⋅10−5N0.075

(14)

kn−Allara(N)=πEL2(1−ν2)ln(2Lb)2

In the last equation, the dependence on the normal load N is hidden in b, half-width of the contact area, function of N.

(12)–(14), are here applied to the cylindrical UPD of Figure 2 where the length is L = 27.6 mm and the radius of the cylinder is R = 5 mm. The length of contact corresponds to the nominal length of the UPD, as shown by the wear marks (see Results section). The half-width of the contact area b can be calculated by the standard Hertz formulas (18, 01). Figure 3 shows the plot of the normal contact stiffness calculated according to the (12)–(14) versus the normal load N.

Figure 3.

Normal contact stiffness as a function of the normal load for different analytical models.

Figure 3 shows that the three analytical models lead to three different plots. It will be observed later however that this discrepancy does not significantly influence the calculated FRFs of blades with damper: it leads to a difference lower than 1.5% in the frequency value of the blades with damper when the different kn are used. For all the subsequent calculations it was then decided to use one of them, Brändlein’s formulation of kn ((13)) was chosen.

Tangential contact stiffness

The cylindrical UPD, in contact with the blade platforms, undergoes contact forces and displacements in the tangential direction.

01and02 found the analytical expression for the monotonic loading curves and hysteresis cycles (i.e. contact forces vs. relative displacement) of a filleted flat punch pressed against an infinite half-plane. The flat punch can be customized with material properties and contact area width, length and fillet radius. As shown in Figure 4 this parameter setting can be used to reproduce the case of a cylinder pressed against a plane moving alternatively along the x direction (Figure 4) and the y direction (Figure 4) to determine respectively ktx and kty.

Figure 4.

Allara flat punch model.

Experimental estimation of the contact stiffness values

Contact stiffness values kn,ktx  are here derived from measurements using a test rig (17, 15) purposely developed for the direct experimental investigation of the contact stiffness in UPDs. The experimental evidence used here comes from an experimental campaign on a three-point laboratory damper, shown in Figure 5. This three-point damper shares with the cylindrical damper of the Octopus test rig the same material, curvature radius and contact pressure. Contact stiffness values can therefore be safely deduced using the experimental evidence on the three-point damper.

Figure 5.

Damper test rig set up and relevant quantities.

The test rig shown in Figure 6, developed over the years by the AERMEC laboratory (see 17 for a detailed description), is designed aiming at:

Figure 6.

(a) Damper test rig photo and measured quantities, displacements in white, forces in blue. (b) Example of hysteresis cycle time evolution.

• 1. imposing user-defined in-plane displacements simulating the so-called In-Phase (IP, vertical) and Out-of-Phase (OOP, horizontal) relative motion between the blades platforms by means of two piezo-actuators connected to the left dummy platform;

• 2. measuring the forces transmitted between the two platforms through the damper by means of two load cells connected to the right dummy platform.

Please notice that all measured quantities are reported both in Figure 5 and in Figure 6. Relative platforms displacements, measured using a laser head, are plotted against the corresponding component of the contact force (“h_LP vs. H_R” in case of OOP motion and “w_LP vs. W_R” in case of IP motion) in the global damper hysteresis cycle. The evolution of a typical OOP hysteresis cycle is shown in Figure 6. The slope k_H highlighted in Figure 6 keeps constant throughout the evolution approximately equal to and corresponds to specific contact state: all contact points (R, L1 and L2) are repeatedly in stick condition, as confirmed by additional experimental evidence and numerical results in 0 (17). The fitted slope k_H is therefore a composite effect of normal and tangential stiffness values at all contacts kH=f(kn,ktx). Similarly, the fitted slope kV links w_LP to V_R in case of IP motion. The method to extract the values of kn and ktx is described in detail in (15). and here it is summarized in Appendix A. The obtained results are reported in the second row of Table 2.

Table 2.

Total contact stiffness.

Method	kn	ktx	kty
Analytical	5.50·108	5.71·108	6.07·108
From measurements	5.53·108	1.70·107	1.70·107

The procedure described above does not provide an estimate of the tangential contact stiffness kty aligned with the axis of the cylinder. The authors therefore decided to investigate the effect that different values of kty had on the position and amplitude of the peak of the full-stick FRF. Table 1 lists the results of this investigation (each value was obtained using ktx and kn estimated starting from measurements as described above). Sensitivity is even lower when frequency peaks of blades/UPDs systems undergoing slip are considered.

Table 1.

Frequency values in stuck condition using contact stiffness values estimated experimentally.

kty Tentative value	Stuck peak frequency (Hz)	Stuck peak amplitude (m/s/N)
kty=0.1⋅ktx	143.8	0.548
kty=ktx	144.9	0.531
kty=10⋅ktx	150.3	0.528

It can be observed that the sensitivity of frequency and amplitude of the stuck peak to variations of kty is low (a variation of two orders of magnitude on kty produces an increment lower than 4.5% and 3.5 % respectively), especially if compared to variations of k_tx (see Table 2 and Figure 12 vs. Figure 14). Since the effect of the dispersion of experimental data (considering both repeatability and blade-to-blade difference) is comparable in terms of peak frequency and much larger in terms of amplitude, the lack of knowledge on kty is considered not critical for the investigation of the first bending mode. Its influence may be stronger if a torsional mode was considered. In that case an additional experimental investigation to determine the true value of kty will be needed. In the present case it was decided to set kty=ktx.

Figure 14.

Comparison between experimental and numerical FRFs. Fext = 0.4 N. Contact stiffness values estimated through direct experiments on dampers.

Figure 12.

Comparison between experimental and numerical FRFs. Fext = 0.4 N. Contact stiffness values estimated analytically.

Description of the test rig

Figure 7 shows the Octopus test rig. The bladed disk (1), is fixed to a support (2). The arm structures (3) hold one pulley each, they are mounted on the external ring (4) equally spaced around the circumferential disk direction. The simulation of the centrifugal force on each UPD is obtained by means of two wires (5), which pass over the arms and are connected through the pulley to a dead weight. The excitation system is a non-contact travelling wave generated by electromagnets below each blade as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7.

(a) The test rig Octopus. (b) Detail of the excitation system.

The electromagnets can be activated with a given phase shift in time in order to generate the required EO type excitation. The dynamic response of the disk is carried out by means of a laser scanning vibrometer. An example of measurement is shown in Figure 8 which shows the FRFs of the 24 blades excited by EO = 2, excitation force on each blade F_ext = 0.3 N (where F_{ext =} |FE| of (5)) and centrifugal force on each UPDs CF = 147 N, for two sets of different measurements (Measure I and Measure II). The second set of measurements (Measure II) is repeated after mounting and dismounting of the damper.

Figure 8.

FRFs of the 24 blades, EO = 2, Fext = 0.3 N CF = 147 N, for two sets of measurements.

Results and discussion

The numerical procedure described in the previous sections has been applied for the calculation of the forced response of the first bending mode (excitation type EO = 2) of the bladed disk. A numerical model becomes predictive thanks to a combination of factors. A representative FE model, the faithful representation of the boundary conditions and a numerical solver adequate to the application are considered as prerequisites. The soundness of the techniques mentioned above is demonstrated by the good matching between the numerical and experimental response of the disk without UPDs (i.e. linear case in Figure 9).

Figure 9.

Comparison between experimental and numerical FRFs. EO = 2. Bladed disk without UPDs.

Other factors such as a trustworthy representation of contact conditions, achieved only through a deep knowledge of the contact parameters requires instead a novel approach, which is the focus of this paper.

The calculation with the UPDs requires the selection of contact nodes to which macroslip elements (contact forces) are applied. From the observation of the wear marks on the damper (as shown in Figure 10) it was deduced that the contact was along all the contact line cylinder-platform. The contact nodes were then selected along a line on the platform as shown in Figure 10. A contact model like that shown in Figure 2 was then applied to each contact node. The crucial point is the choice of the correct contact parameters since a wrong choice could lead to completely wrong results. As stated before the value of friction coefficient was assumed as 0.6 from previous measurements on a dedicated test rig (Lavella et al., 2013). The analytical set of contact stiffness assumed in the calculation is shown in the first row of Table 2. These contact stiffness values have still to be divided by the number of contact points. The value of k_n in the first row of Table 2 is calculated by applying (13) (07). The value of k_tx and k_ty were calculated according to the Allara’s flat punch model of Figure 4. The calculation of the contact stiffness values requires the value of the contact normal load. During operation the normal load N at the damper contact will oscillate around its static component N¯. It is here chosen to select the value of kn corresponding to a normal load equal to N¯. This choice is later justified by the results of the simulation: the first harmonic component of N is one order of magnitude smaller than the static component N¯. N¯ can be estimated under the assumption that the static components of the tangential contact force T¯x and T¯y are close to zero (a reasonable assumption given the inversion of motion the damper undergoes during harmonic oscillation). As shown in Figure 2, N¯ is expressed as a function of the centrifugal force CF applied to the damper center of mass and of the platform angle α:

On the same Table 2 in the second row, the contact stiffness values, coming from the data treatment of the measurements on the rig of Figure 6, are listed. The value of k_ty was assumed equal to k_tx since it was not measured on the test rig. It can be observed that the calculated normal stiffness (k_n) value matches with the measured value. On the contrary, the calculated tangential stiffness (k_tx) is an order of magnitude lower the measured one. The FRF calculation results using as input the calculated stiffness values (first row of Table 2) are shown in Figure 11. The other input parameters are: centrifugal force on the damper is CF = 147 N, EO = 2, first bending mode, excitation force on each blade F_ext = 0.2 N.

Figure 11.

Comparison between experimental and numerical FRFs. Fext = 0.2 N. Contact stiffness values estimated analytically.

Figure 12 shows the results for the same case but with F_ext =0.4 N. It can be observed how the calculated value of contact stiffness leads to FRFs where the resonance frequency is largely overestimated. The calculated FRF does not match with the experimental FRFs neither in terms of frequency nor in terms of amplitude. On the other hand, if the contact stiffness values coming from the measurement (second row of Table 2) are used as input in the calculation, the FRFs of Figure 13 and Figure 14 for the same two cases are obtained.

Figure 13.

Comparison between experimental and numerical FRFs. Fext = 0.2 N. Contact stiffness values estimated through direct experiments on dampers.

It can be observed how in this case the calculated FRFs match quite satisfactorily their experimental counterparts in terms of amplitude, shape of the peak and peak frequency. The main difference is in the value of k_tx. The measured value of k_tx.is one order of magnitude lower than that calculated analytically and it proves to be the correct value. The analytical method, which simulates a flat punch with a fillet radius pressed against a plane, is not fit to simulate a cylindrical contact since it gives a too high tangential contact stiffness value. This may be due to the fact that the method does not allow for micro-rotation or to the fact that it does not allow for variation of normal load. Both phenomena are instead encountered by the UPD during working condition.

Conclusions

The paper investigates two different ways to choose the contact stiffness values for the contact model of an UPDs. (1) The calculation of the contact stiffness values from the analytical models available in literature. (2) The derivation of the contact stiffness values from measurements on a dedicated test rig with a laboratory damper, but with similar working conditions of the damper under study.

The investigation is completed by the comparison of the calculated FRFs using the different values of contact stiffness with the experimental FRFs of a blisk with cylindrical UPDs. It should be noted that in this paper experimental/numerical comparison of FRFs is not used as a mean to tune the model, but as a separate and independent tool to evaluate different methods for contact parameter estimation.

Regarding the normal contact stiffness k_n the analytical calculation values (Brändlein, Harris, Allara) and the value derived from measurements on the laboratory damper agree. The small discrepancies between the obtained values have negligible effects over the forced response (i.e. well below the experimental FRF dispersion).

Regarding the tangential contact stiffness k_tx (in the plane perpendicular to the damper axis), Allara’s analytical method gives a value of the tangential contact stiffness k_tx one order of magnitude higher than the value obtained by the derivation from measurements on the laboratory damper. In the calculation of the FRF this k_tx value leads to a discrepancy >50% between the measured and simulated peak frequency. Allara’s analytical method, which simulates a flat punch with a fillet radius pressed against a plane, is clearly not fit to simulate a cylindrical contact. On the contrary the method, based on direct measurements of k_tx on a dedicated test rig with a laboratory damper, produces a value of k_tx one order of magnitude lower than that calculated analytically, This value of measured k_tx, given to the calculation code, was successful in producing matching numerical FRFs.

In these authors opinion, the method was successful because the working conditions of the two dampers, the one tested on the dedicated test rig and the one under study, are comparable (same contact geometry, pressure, material and kinematics) and the data processing technique takes into account the difference of position and number of contact points.

These authors are therefore confident on the determination of the contact stiffness, rather than through analytical model, though careful and direct measurements on dedicated test rigs.

The results obtained here proved that measurements of contact stiffness on laboratory dampers under controlled conditions can be exported and used on other dampers.

Appendix A

It is here summarized how the values of the contact stiffness kn and ktx are derived from the experimental measurements on the test rig of Figure 6.

Consider the damper equilibrium in stick condition:

where MD is the damper mass matrix, h={h,w,β} is the vector of damper displacements in global coordinates, FE−D={0,CF,0} is the vector of external forces, FC={TR,NR,TL1,NL1,TL2,NL2} is the vector of contact forces and T is a 6x3 transformation matrix. It should be noted that the notation in (16) is compatible with that in (6) and (7). In (16) however only 3 out of 6 rigid body motion parameters are considered to reproduce the in-plane damper test rig set up (see Figure 7).

The vector Fc in case of full stick can be expressed as:

Using transformation matrices T’ and T_P’ to switch between local and global coordinate system of damper and platforms respectively:

The equilibrium (16) can be transformed in its incremental form:

By neglecting the damper variation of inertial forces (ΔFC=0) it is possible to express the damper displacements as a function of the platform displacements. With reference to (18), it holds:

Let us now express the variation of contact forces as a function of the variation of platform displacements by substituting (20) in (18):

The last step involves isolating the horizontal and vertical components of the right contact force (H_R and V_R) using a transformation matrix termed here T_HV.

The analytical expression of entries (1,1) and (1,3) of matrix K̂ are set equal to the fitted slope kH in Figure 6, while entries (2,2) and (2,4) are set equal to kV. The solution of the system

is unique and allows determining k_n and k_tx. The values thus obtained are then normalized by the length of contact of the three point damper and multiplied by L, the length of contact of the cylindrical damper. The stiffness for each contact point can then be determined by dividing the obtained values by the number of the chosen contact points.