Experimental investigation of loading effects on compressor trailing-edge flowfields

This article describes an experimental investigation of the flowfield development in the trailing-edge region of a simulated compressor airfoil having pressure-to-suction surface loading. The study represents a continuation of an effort to study turbulent, separated airfoil trailing-edge flows. Previously experimentation had addressed airfoil trailing-edge separation phenomena in the absence of pressure loading. The objective of the current study was to explore the effects of loading and thereby to provide a more realistic simulation of the compressor airfoil flow environment. The present approach was to conduct a large-scale cascade simulation of the airfoil trailing-edge flowfield for both a nominal design condition and a higher loading off-design condition.