## 7.2. Expand Profile Data

When setting up a boundary profile for a turbomachinery case (for example, involving an inlet disturbance or blade flutter), it is sometimes necessary or convenient to expand a profile around the machine axis so that it can be used for a boundary condition that contains all passages of interest (more passages than in the original profile).

Given an existing profile data file that describes, in Cartesian coordinates, a section that possesses rotational periodicity around a Rotation Axis, you can use the Expand Profile Data dialog box to obtain a new profile file that contains a profile with multiple copies of the section, rotated around the axis, extending to as many passages as required (up to a full wheel). The input profile is replicated about the specified axis in the positive rotational direction (according to the right-hand rule). The number of replications required is either specified directly or, if Expand to Full Circle is selected, given by the ratio of the specified values for Passages in 360 and Passages in Profile.

In the expanded profile data file, a sector number will be added to account for the number of passages in the expansion. Sector number is correctly identified starting from 1 and counting up the maximum number of passages in the expansion. For single passages per sector, the sector number corresponds directly to the passage number. Sector numbers will not be added to profiles that contain gaps within the expansion.

To expand profile data:

1. Select Tools > Expand Profile Data.

   The Expand Profile Data dialog box appears.

2. Set Data File to Expand to the name of the current profile file.

   You may use the file browser for this purpose, by clicking Browse .

3. Set Write to Profile to the name of the file that will hold the expanded profile.

   You may use the file browser for this purpose, by clicking Browse .

4. If your original contains variables that require phase shifting during expansion (for example, Mode Shapes from ANSYS Mechanical cyclic symmetry analysis), the Use Profile Instancing option will be available (and selected by default). This option is available only for a profile that has been exported by ANSYS Mechanical and that contains a complex mode shape, including the Harmonic Index parameter.

   Expanding the profile using instancing takes proper account of the phase shift between the blade passages.

5. Set Rotation Axis to the rotation axis around which the profile rotates.

6. Set Passages in Profile to the number of passages that the current profile models.

7. Set Passages in 360 to the number of passages in a complete 360° revolution.

8. By default, the profile is expanded to wrap completely around the machine axis. If this is not wanted, then clear the Expand to Full Circle check box and specify the required number of passages for the expansion (Pass. in Expan.).

9. Specify a non-zero Theta Offset value to carry out the expansion starting from a rotated version of the original profile.

10. Click OK to begin the operation.

11. When finished, click Close to close the dialog box.

Release 18.2 - © ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.