An advanced experimental method and test rig concept for investigating the dynamic blade-tip/casing interactions under engine-like mechanical conditions

Abstract When solving technological challenges in jet engine components, it is essential to test under realistic engine-like mechanical conditions. Testing compressor blades in such conditions is an important part in order to analyse, prove and validate different existing, as well as novel, solution concepts and methods. A blade rub-in test rig was designed and built to investigate the occurring phenomena and behaviour of rotor blades during well-defined contact interactions between the blades and the casing of real engine components under engine-like mechanical conditions. A special feature of the presented rig is the possibility to increase the number of casing segments within the chamber, which allows more than one rub per revolution. This paper discusses the test rig and its components, the experimental procedure as well as exemplary results. The occurring phenomena e.g. liner material removal as well as tip bluing are presented.