Tip-Timing Measurements and Numerical Analysis of Last-Stage Steam Turbine Mistuned Bladed Disc During Run-Down

Abstract

Abstract Background This paper presents the experimental and numerical studies of last-stage low-pressure (LP) mistuned steam turbine bladed discs during run-down. Methods The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the turbine bladed disc were calculated using an FE model. The influence of the shaft on the modal properties, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes, was considered. The tip-timing method was used to find the mistuned bladed disc modes and frequencies. Conclusions The experimental results from the tip-timing analysis show that the mistuning in combination with shaft coupling suppresses pure nodal diameter type blade vibrations associated with the fundamental mode shape of a cantilevered blade. Vibration modes emerge when even a single blade is vibrating due to the well-known mode localization caused by mistuning. The numerical results confirm this.