A Three-Dimensional Theory for Calculating Circulation in Axial Turbomachines (Direct Problems)

In this work the steady-state spanwise circulation distribution of thin, slightly cambered radial blades of finite length is calculated using the method of singularities. The analysis extends the method of Scholz [1] for two-dimensional cascades to the three-dimensional case of radial blades of finite length. The effect of the casing enclosing the cascade is introduced by the method of images. The present analysis uses the generalized cylindrical coordinates without the restriction of the Prandtl lifting line theory. Comparisons show that for large hub-tip ratios, the use of the lifting line approximation will result in large errors. For small tip clearance or large length-chord ratio the present results reduce to the two-dimensional cascade solution.