Non-linear flutter in fan stator vanes with time dependent fixity
A new mechanism for fan stator vane failure in turbofan engines at high speed and high loading has been identified and reported in this paper. Highly destructive vane failures have been encountered at Honeywell in one of the development fans with composite stator vanes. Measured data indicated non-linear high amplitude vibratory response in fan stator vanes on stall side of the fan map at high speeds. Analysis showed that under certain vane steady loading vane fixity at hub could change, significantly reducing the vane natural frequency. At lower natural frequency the vane was found to be aeroelastically unstable and calculated response exhibited behavior observed during failure. An engine test was conducted to validate the role of hub fixity in vane failures. Test results showed failure to be a self-excited phenomenon and not driven by an external source of excitation. It was also shown that failures occur in vanes that are not rigidly fixed, validating the role of hub fixity in vane failures. Test results along with the analysis confirm the role of time dependent hub fixity leading to the highly destructive flutter responsible for vane failures. Copyright © 2010 by ASME.
