A detailed experimental analysis of the flow in a highly loaded fixed compressor cascade: the iso-cascade co-operative programme on code validation

The ISO-Cascade programme, involving IHI, Snecma and ONERA, has been undertaken to perform a thorough experimental investigation of a highly loaded compressor cascade in order to validate Navier–Stokes solvers used in turbomachinery bladings design. The aim of this study was to reproduce in a two-dimensional fixed geometry the main physical features of the flow in a real compressor, including strong viscous effects. The flow produced in the ISO-Cascade has been qualified by surface flow visualisations, schlieren pictures, surface pressure and skin friction measurements, surveys by multi-hole pressure probes and extensive explorations with a three-component LDV system. The large amount of results thus obtained has allowed a consistent description of the flow topology and the constitution of an unrivalled data bank to validate computer codes.