Reconnections of vortex filaments

The process of break-down and reconnection of vortex filaments is considered by the method of three-dimensional vortex singularities (vortons) in various situations, including oblique interaction of a vortex ring with a boundary in shear flow, shedding of a vortex ring from a horseshoe vortex, instability of elliptic vortex ring, Crow instability of two perturbed antiparallel vortex filaments, merging and subsequent splitting of vortex rings. Special attention is paid to the global integrals (vorticity, momentum, angular momentum) and to the inviscid dissipation of energy. The visualization of the effective vortex core, created by the interference of the vorticity fields of vortons, is presented. The comparisons with other methods of simulation of three-dimensional vortex interactions and with the observations have been made.     

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of a vortex ring impacting a bump

A vortex ring impinging on a three-dimensional bump is studied using large eddy simulation for a Reynolds number Re = 4 × 10⁴ based on the initial translation speed and diameter of the vortex ring. The effects of bump height on the vortical flow phenomena and the underlying physical mechanisms are investigated. Based on the analysis of the evolution of vortical structures, two typical kinds of vortical structures, i.e., the wrapping vortices and the hair-pin vortices, are identified and play an important role in the flow state evolution. The circulation of the primary vortex ring reasonably elucidates some typical phases of flow evolution. Furthermore, the mechanism of flow transition from laminar to turbulent state has been revealed based on analysis of turbulent kinetic energy.     

A Ring-Shaped Plastic Zone at an Elliptic Crack under Triaxial Axisymmetric Loading

The paper addresses a three-dimensional problem for an elliptic crack with a ring plastic zone under uni- and triaxial loading at infinity. The normal stresses in the plastic zone are found from the conditions that the stresses are constrained and the plane strain is local and from the yield criterion for the given material. The size of the elliptic ring is calculated by Rice's variational formula. It is shown that the constraint ratio for plastic strains under triaxial loading may be greater than that under loads close to hydrostatic tension. The contour of the plastic zone is confocal to the initial crack     

Steady Vortex Ring with Isochronous Flow in the Vortex Core

Steady-state solutions to the problem of a thin vortex ring in an inviscid incompressible fluid in infinite space are investigated. The Fraenkel procedure is used to construct the steady-state solutions. In this procedure a given vorticity distribution in plane flow with circular streamlines is transformed into a steady vortex ring using an expansion in the ring thinness parameter. For example, a two-dimensional vortex of constant vorticity is transformed into a steady vortex ring with the uniform distribution in which the absolute value of vorticity is proportional to the distance from the axis of symmetry. The principal aim of our study is to construct the algorithm of finding the flow for an isochronous vortex ring in which the periods of revolution are the same for all the liquid particles in the vortex core. The problem is that the two-dimensional distribution which goes over in the isochronous ring in accordance with the Fraenkel procedure is unknown in advance. In particular, the ring with the uniform distribution is not isochronous despite the isochronism of the initial two-dimensional flow. In this connection the Fraenkel procedure is significantly modified so that the initial two-dimensional vorticity distribution is determined in each of the steps of the iteration procedure. The solution for the vortex ring with the uniform distribution obtained in the present study is significantly used to construct the isochronous solution. The necessary corrections to the former solution are calculated in each step. Obtaining of the isochronous flow is the key step for the investigation of stability of three-dimensional oscillations of the vortex ring since the oscillation spectrum of this flow is discrete.     

Numerical solution of 2D and 3D turbulent internal flow problems

The paper describes a method for solving numerically two-dimensional or axisymmetric, and three-dimensional turbulent internal flow problems. The method is based on an implicit upwinding relaxation scheme with an arbitrarily shaped conservative control volume. The compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a two-equation turbulence model. All these equations are expressed by using a non-orthogonal curvilinear co-ordinate system. The method is applied to study the compressible internal flow in modern power installations. It has been observed that predictions for two-dimensional and three-dimensional channels show very good agreement with experimental results.     

An experimental study of a turbulent vortex ring: a three-dimensional representation

This paper presents a reconstruction of the three-dimensional velocity field of a turbulent vortex ring by means of Taylor’s hypothesis. Stereoscopic PIV is used to acquire three velocity component information on a plane. The accuracy of the Taylor’s hypothesis for this particular flow pattern is first discussed, and the three-dimensional velocity and vorticity information are then presented. This study also introduces an azimuthally averaging method in order to give a mean structure in cylindrical coordinates from a single realization and from which turbulent stresses and production can be estimated. The azimuthally averaged quantities are then compared with the ensemble-averaged results from the previous planar (two-dimensional and stereoscopic) PIV experiments.     

Volumetric three-component velocimetry measurements of the turbulent flow around a Rushton turbine

Volumetric three-component velocimetry measurements have been taken of the flow field near a Rushton turbine in a stirred tank reactor. This particular flow field is highly unsteady and three-dimensional, and is characterized by a strong radial jet, large tank-scale ring vortices, and small-scale blade tip vortices. The experimental technique uses a single camera head with three apertures to obtain approximately 15,000 three-dimensional vectors in a cubic volume. These velocity data offer the most comprehensive view to date of this flow field, especially since they are acquired at three Reynolds numbers (15,000, 107,000, and 137,000). Mean velocity fields and turbulent kinetic energy quantities are calculated. The volumetric nature of the data enables tip vortex identification, vortex trajectory analysis, and calculation of vortex strength. Three identification methods for the vortices are compared based on: the calculation of circumferential vorticity; the calculation of local pressure minima via an eigenvalue approach; and the calculation of swirling strength again via an eigenvalue approach. The use of two-dimensional data and three-dimensional data is compared for vortex identification; a ‘swirl strength’ criterion is less sensitive to completeness of the velocity gradient tensor and overall provides clearer identification of the tip vortices. The principal components of the strain rate tensor are also calculated for one Reynolds number case as these measures of stretching and compression have recently been associated with tip vortex characterization. Vortex trajectories and strength compare favorably with those in the literature. No clear dependence of trajectory on Reynolds number is deduced. The visualization of tip vortices up to 140° past blade passage in the highest Reynolds number case is notable and has not previously been shown.     

Numerical simulations of laminar flow over a 3D backward-facing step

A numerical investigation of laminar flow over a three-dimensional backward-facing step is presented with comparisons with detailed experimental data, available in the literature, serving to validate the numerical results. The continuity constraint method, implemented via a finite element weak statement, was employed to solve the unsteady three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible laminar isothermal flow. Two-dimensional numerical simulations of this step geometry underestimate the experimentally determined extent of the primary separation region for Reynolds numbers Re greater than 400. It has been postulated that this disagreement between physical and computational experiments is due to the onset of three-dimensional flow near Re ≈ 400. This paper presents a full three-dimensional simulation of the step geometry for 100⩽ Re⩽ 800 and correctly predicts the primary reattachment lengths, thus confirming the influence of three-dimensionality. Previous numerical studies have discussed possible instability modes which could induce a sudden onset of three-dimensional flow at certain critical Reynolds numbers. The current study explores the influence of the sidewall on the development of three-dimensional flow for Re greater than 400. Of particular interest is the characterization of three-dimensional vortices in the primary separation region immediately downstream of the step. The complex interaction of a wall jet, located at the step plane near the sidewall, with the mainstream flow reveals a mechanism for the increasing penetration (with increasing Reynolds number) of three-dimensional flow structures into a region of essentially two-dimensional flow near the midplane of the channel. The character and extent of the sidewall-induced flow are investigated for 100⩽Re⩽ 800. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three-dimensional photographic method for measurement of phase distribution in dilute bubble flow

A three-dimensional photographic method has been developed to measure phase distributions in bubbly flow in a pipe. In this method a mirror was used to reflect a side view of the flow into the front-view direction, and then flow images in both views were taken simultaneously by one camera. After three-dimensional position and size of each bubble in the flow field were determined by matching the two bubble images in the side and front views, the phase distributions were obtained for the bubbly flow. Received: 25 April 2000 / Accepted: 21 June 2001 Published online: 29 November 2001     

Application of photogrammetry to surface flow visualization

The construction of three-dimensional surface flow fields is an extremely difficult task owing largely to the fragmented information available in the form of 2D images. Here, the method of photogrammetric resection based on a comprehensive camera model has been used to map oil flow visualization images on to the surface grid of the model. The data exported in the VRML format allow for user interaction in a manner not possible with 2D images. The technique is demonstrated here using the surface oil flow visualization images of a simplified landing gear model at low speed in a conventional wind tunnel without any specialized rigs for photogrammetry. The results are not limited to low-speed regimes and show that this technique can have significant impact on understanding the flow physics associated with the surface flow topology of highly three-dimensional separated flows on complex models.     

Scattered-light flow-optic relations adaptable to three-dimensional flow birefringence

The scattered-light method has been studied with the aim of developing a flow-optic relation which can be used for the analysis of three-dimensional flow problems of Newtonian fluids utilizing flow birefringence. A set of flow-optic relations which potentially can be adapted to three-dimensional scattered-light birefringent analysis has been developed on a phenomenological basis for the aqueous suspensions of Milling Yellow. Good agreement with theoretical solutions was obtained when these relations were applied to flows through channels of three different geometries.     

电磁膨胀环实验设计的关键因素

为了更好地研究电磁膨胀环实验加载技术,利用带有电磁模块的LS DYNA三维动力学有限元程序对电磁膨胀环加载过程进行三维数值模拟。分析了螺线圈绕法、加载电流波形、膨胀环截面尺寸和轴向位移对电磁膨胀环实验结果的影响。计算结果表明,连接带缺口螺线圈的圆圈绕线方法优于均匀过渡绕法,加载电流峰值与膨胀环径向速度峰值近似成线性关系,适当增加膨胀环截面轴向的宽度可提高膨胀环运动稳定性,双螺线圈模型可有效减小膨胀环轴向位移。     

A potential-flow,deformable-body model for fluid–structure interactions with compact vorticity: application to animal swimming measurements

This paper presents an approach to quantify the unsteady fluid forces, moments and mass transport generated by swimming animals, based on measurements of the surrounding flow field. These goals are accomplished within a framework that is independent of the vorticity field, making it unnecessary to directly resolve boundary layers on the animal, body–vortex interactions, or interactions among vortex lines in the wake. Instead, the method identifies Lagrangian coherent structures in the flow, whose dynamics in flows with compact vorticity are shown to be well approximated by potential flow concepts, especially the Kirchhoff and deformation potentials from deformable body theory. Examples of the application of these methods are given for pectoral fin locomotion of the bluegill sunfish and undulatory swimming of jellyfish, and the methods are validated by analysis of a canonical starting vortex ring flow. The transition to a Lagrangian approach toward animal swimming measurements suggests the possibility of implementing recently developed particle tracking (vis-à-vis DPIV) techniques for fully three-dimensional measurements of animal swimming.     

Cycle resolved multi-planar flow measurements in a four-valve combustion engine

The non-reacting flow in a one-cylinder four-valve combustion engine is measured via cycle resolved two-component/two-dimensional (2C/2D) particle-image velocimetry (PIV). The three-dimensional structure of the velocity field is analyzed based on the flow field measured in eight planar planes within the cylinder for several crank angles during the intake and compression phase. Using the mean and statistical values of the single planes quasi three-dimensional flow fields are reconstructed for crank angles of 80°, 160°, and 240° atdc. This enables the detailed analysis of the spatial distribution of the large and small scale flow structures, e.g., by visualizing large vortical structures and the distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy. It was found that two ring vortices evolving beneath the inlet valves are the dominant large scale structures that seem to be of major concern for the mixing process in the cylinder of a four-valve combustion engine operated at 1500 rpm. Furthermore, the temporal evolution of the flow field within the symmetry plane of the cylinder, measured for crank angles between 40° and 320° atdc in steps of 20°, is discussed. The results give new insight into the complex three-dimensional flow in the combustion chamber of a one-cylinder four-valve combustion engine. That is, the tumble vortex only seems to be of secondary importance for the flow concerning the mixing process at 1500 rpm. This is an essential result for future work considering the fluid mechanics of fuel-air-interaction processes and mixing principles in combustion engines.     

Modeling Three-Dimensional Groundwater Flows by the Body-Fitted Coordinate (BFC) Method: II. Free and Moving Boundary Problems

This paper presents a methodology and solution procedure of the time-dependent body-fitted coordinate (BFC) method for the analysis of transient, three-dimensional groundwater flow problems characterized by free and moving boundaries. The technique consists of numerical grid generation, time-dependent body-fitted coordinate transformation, and application of the finite difference method (FDM) to the transformed partial differential equations. Based on the time-dependent BFC method, a three-dimensional finite-difference computer code, BFC3DGW, was developed and used to solve two unconfined flow problems. The code was verified by comparing numerical results with analytical solutions for a steady-state seepage problem. In order to demonstrate capability of the method in dealing with flow problems with irregular and moving boundary surfaces, an unconfined well-flow problem was solved by the developed code. Difficulties associated with the free and moving irregular boundary have been successfully overcome by employing this method.     

Slitting Measurement of Residual Hoop Stresses Through the Wall-Thickness of a Filament Wound Composite Ring

The slitting method was used to determine residual hoop stress profile along the thickness of a filament wound carbon/epoxy ring. The method involves measuring strains at the inner surface of the ring, while a narrow axial slit is cut progressively from the outer surface. In order to calculate the residual hoop stress profile over the entire ring thickness, pulse method was used, which assumes that stress in each depth increment is uniform. Besides, Tikhonov regularization was employed to stabilize the stress results and reduce its sensitivity to strain measurement errors. Regarding the fact that Tikhonov regularization is not appropriate for computing solutions with discontinuities, pulse method coupled with Tikhonov regularization was used separately for each layer of the composite ring.     

Viscous flow through microfabricated hyperbolic contractions

We study the flow of a Newtonian fluid through microfabricated hyperbolic contractions followed by a sudden expansion, with the aim of investigating the potential of this geometry to serve as an extensional microrheometer. A set of planar converging geometries, with total Hencky strains ranging from 1.0 to 3.7, were fabricated in order to produce a homogeneous extensional flow field within the contraction. The velocity field in various planes of the hyperbolic contraction was quantified by means of microparticle image velocimetry (μPIV) and the pressure drop across the converging geometry was also measured and found to vary approximately linearly with the flow rate. Additionally, an extensive range of numerical calculations were carried out using a finite-volume method to help assess the performance of this geometry as a microfluidic elongational rheometer. The measured velocity fields in the contraction and associated pressure drops compare very well (to within 10%) with the numerical predictions. For the typical dimensions used in the microfluidic devices, the steady viscous flow through the contraction is shown to be three-dimensional and it is demonstrated that regions with nearly constant strain rate can only be achieved using geometries with large total Hencky strains under Hele–Shaw (potential-like) flow conditions.     

Verification of three-dimensional laser Doppler velocimeter measurements

An experimental comparison method is proposed for the verification of mean flow and turbulence measurements obtained with a three-dimensional laser Doppler velocimeter system. Such measurements can include large errors caused by problems unique to three-dimensional systems. Direct comparisons of laser and hot cross-wire measurements obtained in two-dimensional flows, as is the common practice, will not bear out all the errors associated with three-dimensional laser systems. It is proposed here that the errors may be adequately quantified by making the direct comparisons in a weakly three-dimensional turbulent shear flow. The weak three-dimensional flow ensures high accuracy of the cross-wire data while still generating sufficiently strong secondary mean flow and Reynolds shear stresses so that all the laser measurements may be fully verified. This type of shear flow is easily generated by introducing a weak streamwise vortex into a nominally two-dimensional turbulent shear layer.     

Three-dimensional particle imaging with a single camera

A new approach to the instantaneous three-dimensional mapping of flow fields is introduced. A single camera system uses defocusing in conjunction with a mask (three pin holes) embedded in the camera lens to decode three-dimensional point sources of light (i.e., illuminated particles) on a single image. The sizes and locations of the particle image patterns on the image plane relate directly to the three-dimensional positions of the individual particles. Using sequential images, particles may be tracked in space and time, yielding whole-field velocity information. Calibration of the system is straightforward, whereas the self-similarity of the particle image patterns can be used in automating the data-extraction process. The described technique was used to obtain particle trajectories in the flow field of a vortex ring impinging on a wall.