Research Group - Aeroacoustics, Aeroelasticity and Wind Energy

In aeroacoustics, sound propagation and generation mechanisms in turbines and compressors are experimentally investigated and numerically simulated. In this context, new aeroacoustic measurement methods are developed. At the institute a broad range of experimental facilities are available, including an aeroacoustic wind tunnel for turbomachinery applications. Both commercial and research codes are used for simulations in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational aeroacoustics (CAA). In addition to sound transport mechanisms in turbomachines, acoustic resonance phenomena in compressors, and the sound generating mechanisms of wind turbines are being investigated in this group.

The aeroelasticity research focuses on both numerical simulations and experimental studies of axial turbines and compressors. Currently the major phenomena blade flutter and forced response are investigated with respect to their sensitivity to geometric variances introduced during maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Additionally the experimental quantification of aerodynamic damping—the key parameter for flutter vibration—is an objective of the group's research.

In this field a close collaboration with the turbine group of the Institute of Dynamics and Vibration Research exists.

Design of ever longer and slimmer rotor blades of wind turbines, aeroelastic issues are becoming increasingly important. In order to further improve the reliability and safety of wind turbines in the future, the focus of the working group is on aeroelastic modeling and simulation. Simplified models for the overall turbine simulation are developed as well as probabilistic methods are used to investigate the influence of uncertainties in the design. To validate the aeroelastic simulations, an optical measurement system is also being developed to record rotor blade deformations during operation in the free field. In addition, two- and three-dimensional numerical flow simulations are performed for aerodynamic investigations.