First model tests by Benoit Dussault

A brand-new measurement campaign is being launched by Benoit Dussault, a doctoral student at the Heki Center under the direction of Yves St-Amant and the co-direction of Sébastien Houde. His work aims to study the dynamic response of a rotating structure subjected to rotor-stator interaction during speed variations, such as a turbine runner during start-up. To this end, Benoit designed and instrumented a runner with known deformation modes. This structure is now installed on the laboratory’s second test loop, which was previously adapted to allow precise control of acceleration and deceleration sequences. The first tests will enable the identification of operating conditions conducive to the observation of resonances while avoiding the appearance of potentially damaging mechanical stresses.