Numerical Study of Turbine Housing Divider Wall Using Two-Dimensional Model 2019-01-0817

Turbine housing divider wall design is critical to guarantee a sufficient lifetime. A numerical simulation is a necessary step toward the understanding of behaviors of divider wall subjected to cyclic thermal loading. Calculating the temperature and plastic strain distribution at the divider wall, steady state and transient, can predict crack initiation. A two-dimensional finite element model for divider wall has been developed, which takes into account transient state film heat transfer convection, temperature-dependent strain hardening behavior and cyclic thermal loads. A three-dimensional model is also presented to validate this model. Simulation results include temperature and plastic strain at divider wall are compared. The paper also studies the influences of turbine housing wall thickness, divider wall thickness and the connection angle between both walls on divider wall. Serial designs are created and simulated with the two-dimensional model under same thermal boundary conditions. The simulation results at the divider wall for each design are also compared and analyzed. This design study provides a knowledge base for the design and use of divider wall and can raise the design quality of turbine housing in the preliminary design stage.