Tip-leakage flow modelling in axial compressors

Abstract

This PhD develops a multi-fidelity framework to model the tip-leakage flow in axial compressor and fan rotors. A three-dimensional low-order solver combining the panel method and the vortex-lattice method, together with a dedicated iterative tip-leakage model, predicts the inviscid rotor flow in seconds — enabling broad design-space exploration at the earliest design stages. The approach is verified and validated against RANS simulations and experiments for both the mean flow and the tip-leakage characteristics. The work was carried out at the LMFA (École Centrale de Lyon) in partnership with Safran Aircraft Engines, and defended on 11 June 2025.

Valentin Caries

Research Engineer @ IFPEN · PhD · Scientific Python | CFD | Simulation

I build fast, reliable scientific software for fluid mechanics — from CFD and reduced-order models to data pipelines and machine-learning surrogates.