Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 March 2006
This paper presents a procedure whereby three-dimensional inviscid flow through a highly loaded turbomachinery cascade of lifting lines can be treated by methods corresponding to classical aerodynamic theory. In contrast to earlier linearized (thin airfoil) three-dimensional theory, the present study allows analysis of the flow corresponding to the large turning and/or large pressure ratios induced by practical rotors or stators. For the sake of simplicity, the present paper is limited to incompressible flow through a highly loaded rectilinear cascade and to the design problem, i.e. given blade loading. Formulae are derived for both the mean and the three-dimensional components of the flow; in particular, the velocities at the blades induced by the trailing vorticity associated with nonuniform blade circulation are determined.