Simulation of the dynamic behaviour of a group of blades with friction contacts

In order to investigate the non linear dynamic behaviour of groups of shrouded blades with different contact pressures and with different excitations, a test rig has been designed. The test rig, which accommodates a group of 4 shrouded blades of a low pressure steam turbine, has been accurately analysed by means of linear and non linear finite element analyses, in order to explore different operating conditions that the blades could experience during operation. The main results of this analysis are here presented.