Inlet Condition Effects on the Tip Clearance Flow With Zonal Detached Eddy Simulation

In the present study, the influence of the inlet condition on the tip clearance flow of an axial compressor is investigated. Two different ZDES computations are carried out and compared to RANS and URANS computations as well as to experimental data. A rotating distortion map of the flow cartography is set as inlet condition for the first ZDES computation. An azimuthally averaged inlet condition is used for the second one and uncouples the rotor tip-leakage vortex flutter phenomenon, which stems from the arrival of the Inlet Guide Vane wake, from the behaviour inherent to the rotor tip-leakage vortex. In the studied configuration, the Inlet Guide Vane tip vortex reveals to lower the effects from double leakage on the rotor. The topology of the rotor tip-leakage vortex is described and its development is analysed.