High-Fidelity Sliding Mesh Method for Moving Geometries in Turbomachinery Applications
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power, vol. 11 (2026)
@article{ye-2026,
author = {Ye, Junjie and Vivarelli, Guglielmo and Isler, João and Moxey, David and Sherwin, Spencer and Cantwell, Chris},
title = {High-Fidelity Sliding Mesh Method for Moving Geometries in Turbomachinery Applications},
journal = ijtpp,
volume = {11},
year = {2026},
number = {4},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2504-186X/11/4/40},
abstract = {The accurate, high-fidelity modeling of moving geometries involving translation and rotation is important in fluid mechanics applications, particularly turbomachinery. These simulations facilitate the analysis of various turbomachinery stages, where complex movements are integral to their functionality. We integrated a sliding mesh capability into the iLES/DNS compressible Navier–Stokes solver within Nektar++, which is a spectral/hp element open-source framework. Static and moving regions of the finite element mesh are coupled across a non-conformal interface using a point-to-point interpolation method (PTPM). The solver is verified on two canonical benchmarks, the isentropic vortex and Couette flow, and validated on the T106A low-pressure turbine cascade with an upstream translating bar that generates inflow wakes, emulating rotor–stator interaction. This paper aims to provide robust validation of the new solver developments and supply a tool to understand how the upstream bar motion influences the downstream blade efficiency, which is crucial for enhancing turbomachinery design and performance.},
doi = {10.3390/ijtpp11040040}
}
Simulating a turbomachinery stage means letting one part of the mesh move past another, so that wakes shed by a moving row reach the stationary row behind it. This paper adds a sliding mesh capability to the compressible Navier-Stokes solver in Nektar++, coupling the moving and static regions across a non-conformal interface by point-to-point interpolation. It is verified against an isentropic vortex and Couette flow, then validated on a T106A low-pressure turbine cascade with a translating upstream bar that emulates rotor-stator interaction.
Abstract
The accurate, high-fidelity modeling of moving geometries involving translation and rotation is important in fluid mechanics applications, particularly turbomachinery. These simulations facilitate the analysis of various turbomachinery stages, where complex movements are integral to their functionality. We integrated a sliding mesh capability into the iLES/DNS compressible Navier–Stokes solver within Nektar++, which is a spectral/hp element open-source framework. Static and moving regions of the finite element mesh are coupled across a non-conformal interface using a point-to-point interpolation method (PTPM). The solver is verified on two canonical benchmarks, the isentropic vortex and Couette flow, and validated on the T106A low-pressure turbine cascade with an upstream translating bar that generates inflow wakes, emulating rotor–stator interaction. This paper aims to provide robust validation of the new solver developments and supply a tool to understand how the upstream bar motion influences the downstream blade efficiency, which is crucial for enhancing turbomachinery design and performance.