TURBINE BLADE WITH CONTOURED TIP SHROUD

摘要

A turbine blade (10) includes a generally elongated airfoil (32) extending span-wise along a radial direction, and a circumferentially extending shroud (70) coupled to a radially outer tip (24) of the airfoil (32). The shroud (70) includes an upstream edge (72) and a downstream edge (74) spaced apart axially. The shroud (70) further includes a radially inner surface (76) adjoining the tip (24) of the airfoil (32) and a radially outer surface (78) generally opposite to the radially inner surface (76). The radially inner surface (76) and the radially outer surface (78) are connected at the upstream edge (72) and at the downstream edge (74). In circumferential cross-section, the shroud (70) has a shape of an aerodynamic lifting body (60, 62) defined by a contour of the radially inner surface (76) and that of the radially outer surface (78). The shape of the aerodynamic lifting body (60, 62) is configured such that a radially inward acting lift force (L) is exerted on the shroud (70) by a generally axial fluid flow (F) over the shroud (70).