Investigating CURVIC coupling behavior by utilizing two- and three-dimensional boundary and finite element methods

This work investigates the behavior of CURVIC(R) (CURVIC is a trademark of The Gleason Works, 1000 University Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14603, USA) coupl ings through two- and three-dimensional boundary and finite element models. The CURVICs are used to couple multiple rotors in an aircraft engine compr essor, and are subjected to rotational loading. The models generated includ e a geometrically complex three-dimensional linear elastic body with curved surfaces, and are analyzed with the BEASY(R) (BEASY is a registered tradem ark of Computational Mechanics BEASY Ltd, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampt on S04 2AA, England) boundary element and ANSYS(R) (ANSYS is a registered t rademark of Swanson Analysis Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 65, Houston, PA 15342, USA) finite element software packages. The following comparisons are made between BEASY and ANSYS: Three-dimensional modeling capabilities, the effor t required to generate the models, the accuracy of results and the ability to adequately post-process the results into meaningful data. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.