Dynamic modeling of a multilayer rotating blade via quadratic layerwise theory

A novel dynamic model for a multilayer rotating blade mounted at an arbitrary stagger angle using a quadratic layerwise theory is developed to study structural dynamics of the blade, particularly damping properties, using various coating layer configurations. A reduced two-dimensional (2D) model is used to describe the dynamic behavior of each layer in the weak form, while the quadratic layerwise theory is applied to interpolate the transverse shear stresses along the thickness direction. Results of numerical simulations with the reduced 2D model are compared to the full three-dimensional (3D) model showing an excellent agreement, comparable to the cubic layerwise theory, for both modal analysis and frequency response calculations. Moreover, damping analyses are performed on two types of multilayer blades: two-layer (free damping) and three-layer (constrained layer), in both non-rotating and rotating situations, and, parametric analyses with varying coating thickness and rotation speed are carried out. It is shown that damping decreases as the rotation speed increases due to inertial and Coriolis effects. Furthermore, frequency loci veering as a result of the rotation speed is observed. The proposed model gives an efficient and accurate way to study the dynamic behavior of rotating multilayer structures, such as compressor blades. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.