Methodology to Expedite Mechanical Component Design and Analysis in Gas Turbine Engines
Abstract Advances in computer technology have enabled the utilization of sophisticated computer software to assist in mechanical design and analysis in various fields. CAD/CAM/CAE software, such as CATIA, UG (Unigraphic), CV (Computervision), ANSYS, NASTRAN, ABAQUS, Hypermesh and Tgrid, have proven to be effective tools for aiding designers and analysts. The challenges offered by these software improvements, are an efficient engineering design and analysis process, and the need for broader training of the designers and analysts conducting these processes. In the past these processes were often done sequentially and proved to be very time consuming. At Honeywell International Inc., a methodology has been established to synchronize CATIA®, CAD-fix®, ANSYS®, Hypermesh® and Tgrid® in the design and analysis of gas turbine engine components to speed the design analysis process. This paper describes the techniques used on such complex parts as the combustor case, the front frame support and the turbine nozzle to reduce cycle time in the design and analysis process. Modeling process techniques described in this paper include the implementation of cyclic symmetric boundary conditions, data transfer between CATIA and ANSYS using CAD-fix, and mesh control and sizing through the used of Hypermesh and Tgrid.