Experimental measurements of out-of-plane vibrations of a simple blisk design using Blade Tip Timing and Scanning LDV measurement methods

The study of dynamic properties of rotating structures, such as bladed discs, can be conveniently done using simple bladed discs where the blades do not have staggering angles. Simplified design, although not truly representative of real structures, can be easy and economic to manufacture and, still, very helpful for studying specific dynamic properties. An example of this can be called as mass mistune blisk study. Experimental measurements of vibrations of bladed discs under rotating conditions can be performed using Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer (SLDV) systems. However, in the aerospace industry, the vibrations of complex bladed discs must be measured under operating conditions which are more hostile than laboratory simulations. The Blade Tip Timing (BIT) measurement method is a measurement technique, which can be used to measure vibrations of bladed discs of an engine aircraft under operating conditions. However, the BIT technique is ineffective when used with a flat bladed disc whose blade vibrations cannot be measured. This can be detrimental when the use of controlled dynamic parameters, such as those obtained from a simple bladed disc design, can improve the confidence for the validation of post-processing software. This paper presents a work about experimental measurements of a simple bladed disc design whose vibrations were measured synchronously by Scanning LDV and BIT measurement systems. A rotating test rig and its mechanical modifications for the installation of the BIT probes are introduced. Implications of rotating a specimen inconsistently are presented so as solutions to obtained constant revolving speed. The experimental comparisons of forced response vibrations measured synchronously at one blade are presented and explained. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.