Axial and radial turbines are types of turbomachinery used in various engineering applications, such as power generation, aerospace, and chemical processing. Axial turbines have blades that rotate around a central axis, while radial turbines have blades that rotate around a radial axis.
However, the empirical loss models (correlations for incidence losses, windage, and clearance losses) described in texts like Moustapha's remain vital. They provide the initial "1D sizing" necessary before running complex 3D simulations. Understanding the physics—such as how a radial turbine's efficiency is highly sensitive to the incidence angle at the rotor inlet—is the prerequisite for successful digital design.