Case Study: University of Cincinnati uncovers aircraft engine coolant flow physics with Tecplot 360

University of Cincinnati - Customer Case Study

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Aerospace Engineering-Gas Turbine Simulation Laboratory needed to better understand the flow physics of coolant inside aircraft engine blades and how that flow affected cooling performance. Using Tecplot, Inc.’s Tecplot 360 alongside CFD++ analysis, the team studied coolant behavior through holes, plenums, and over the blade surface to investigate why some designs created hot spots and uneven cooling.

Tecplot, Inc.’s Tecplot 360 was used to visualize contours, streamlines, and temperature profiles from the CFD results, revealing how coolant jets mixed with the hot main flow, coalesced, and sometimes detached from the surface. These plots helped the researchers identify design issues, run a second simulation with more coolant, and understand why increased coolant could worsen performance by lifting off the blade surface. The visualizations were also shared with other students and with industry, academia, and government labs to support broader learning and research.

University of Cincinnati

Paul Orkwis

University of Cincinnati