Numerical Analysis of Stress on Pump Blade by One-Way Coupled Fluid-Structure Simulation

A mixed-flow pump with an unshrouded impeller was computed by a one-way coupled fluid-structure simulation to evaluate a prediction accuracy of stress and analyze a flow pattern which caused the largest stress. The stress occurring around a blade root was predicted by a numerical simulation and compared with an experimental one. Five flow rates, Q/Qbep=0,40,70,100 and 120% were simulated and the predicted stresses at all flow rates agreed with the experimental ones within -11∼+6% accuracy. The largest stress occurred around a blade root on a pressure side of blade surface at all flow rates. The stress became largest at 70% flow rate. A flow pattern around the blade was analyzed to investigate how the largest stress occurred at 70% flow rate. It was found in this study that a flow separation occurred around a leading edge on a suction side of blade surface at 70% flow rate and the largest load was acting on an outside region of blade.