A method for designing low-speed linear turbine cascades for the experimental investigation of viscous effects in transonic axial turbines

This thesis describes a systematic method for the design of low-speed linear turbine cascades that can be used for the experimental investigation of viscosity-based phenomena in transonic cascade flows. The design method involves the use of two optimization algorithms (a genetic algorithm and a gradient-based optimizer) and two direct flow solvers (a panel method solver and a Navier-Stokes solver). Seven tests of the method demonstrate its performance and reveal limitations. The method was found to work reasonably well for subsonic to transonic turbines with shock-free flows.