PLIF imaging of mean temperature and pressure in a supersonic bluff wake

 Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of seeded nitric oxide was used to obtain mean 2-D temperature and pressure fields in the near-wake region of a thick flat plate in a Mach 3 flow. A two-line ratio technique was used to obtain the temperature field, while an image obtained at the limit of low quenching rate was used to infer the pressure field. An analysis shows that these time-average measurements can suffer from significant weighted averaging bias errors in regions where there are large temperature fluctuations; however, these bias errors can be minimized by judicious selection of the absorption lines used. The resulting temperature field reveals the warm upstream boundary layer, the temperature jump across the recompression shocks and the expected minimum and maximum temperatures in the expansion and recirculation regions, respectively. The pressure measurements indicate a uniform low pressure in the base region, a rapid increase near reattachment, followed by a gradual approach to the free stream value farther downstream. Received: 25 July 1996 / Accepted: 11 September 1997     

Assessing the practical utility of the hole-pressure method for the in-line rheological characterization of polymer melts

The most promising method capable of providing accurate measurements of the first and second normal-stress differences in shear flows at shear rates typical of polymer processing is the so-called hole-pressure method, but its use has not been as widespread as would be expected, namely due to the experimental difficulties associated with performing such experiments accurately. In this work, we use a small-scale modular slit die to assess the practical utility of the method for in-line monitoring of polymer melt flow. We provide a quantitative analysis of intrinsic error sources and use state-of-the-art data acquisition tools to minimize errors associated with pressure transducers. Our results demonstrate that the method can be used to accurately measure the viscosity and first normal-stress difference in melts but probably not the second normal-stress difference because the intrinsic errors are too high, even when the influence of all the potential error sources is minimized or eliminated.     

THE EFFECT OF FLOW PULSATIONS ON CORIOLIS MASS FLOW METERS

It has been reported that the accuracy of Coriolis mass flow meters can be adversely affected by the presence of pulsations (at particular frequencies) in the flow. A full analysis of the transient performance of a commercial Coriolis meter is only possible using finite element techniques. However, this is a transient, nonlinear problem in which the space and time variables are not (strictly) separable and the finite element techniques for tackling such problems make it desirable to have an analytical solution for a simplified meter, against which the finite element solution can be compared. This paper reports such a solution. The solution will also provide guidance for experiments. Existing analytical solutions for the performance of Coriolis meters in steady flow (a complex eigenvalue problem) are not easily extended to the transient flow case. The paper thus begins with the presentation of an alternative solution for steady flow through a simple, straight tube, Coriolis meter and it is notable that this solution gives a simple analytical expression for the experimentally observed small change in the resonant frequency of the meter, with flow rate, as well as an analytical expression for the meter sensitivity. The analysis is extended to the transient case, using classical, forced vibration, modal decomposition techniques. The solution shows that, unlike the steady flow case where the detector signals contain components at the drive frequency and the second mode frequency (Coriolis frequency), for pulsatile flow the detector signals will in general contain components involving at least four frequencies. It is demonstrated that the meter error depends on the algorithm used to estimate the phase difference from the detector signals. The particular flow pulsation frequencies which could possibly lead to large meter errors are identified.     

The use of orthogonal X-wire arrays for structure investigation in a turbulent boundary layer

This note focuses on details of the experimental technique used to obtain simultaneous velocity measurements from two orthogonal arrays of X-wires and its potential for extracting information on various aspects of the organized motion. The experiments were carried out in a rough wall turbulent boundary layer in an attempt to obtain some insight into the 3-D nature of the large scale motion. Although information is only obtained in two orthogonal planes, it is shown that the technique can provide useful information about the 3-D nature of the large structures. Relative to large scale structure detections in the (x, y) plane, the most probable pattern in the (x, z) plane consists of counter-rotating vortical motions of approximately equal strength. Co-rotating patterns are strongly asymmetrical.     

Filtering errors when a rigid wheel is used to measure ground roughness

Measurement of ground roughness is needed for a very wide range of studies concerning vehicles traversing rough ground. Where a rolling wheel is used to follow a profile of rough ground during measurement there is the problem that short wavelength components of a profile may be attenuated, a wheel acting like a low-pass filter. Previous attempts to analyse the complete frequency response of a wheel filter have not been adequate to quantify the measurement errors it introduces. This paper presents a universal graph for estimating a cut-off wavelength of a wheel filter so enabling the probable effect of measurement errors to be judged. It is expected that, apart from ground roughness measurement, the graph will be used in metal surface measurement.     

On the uniqueness and sensitivity of indentation testing of isotropic materials

Instrumented indentation is a popular technique to extract the material properties of small scale structures. The uniqueness and sensitivity to experimental errors determine the practical usefulness of such experiments. Here, a method to identify test techniques that minimizes sensitivity to experimental erros is in indentation experiments developed. The methods are based on considering “shape functions,” which are sets of functions that describe the force–displacement relationship obtained during the indentation test. The concept of condition number is used to investigate the relative reliability of various possible dual indentation techniques. Interestingly, it was found that many dual indentation techniques can be as unreliable as single indentation techniques. Sensitivity analyses were employed for further understanding of the uniqueness and sensitivity to experimental errors of indentation techniques. The advantage of the Monte Carlo approach over other procedures is established. Practical guidelines regarding the selection of shape functions of force–displacement relationship and geometric parameters, while carrying out indentation analysis are provided. The results suggest that indentation experiments need to be very accurate to extract reliable material properties.     

Experimental study of pre-swirl flow effect on the heat transfer process in the entry region of a convergent pipe

Experiments have been performed to study the heat transfer process of swirling flow issued into a heated convergent pipe with a convergent angle of 5° with respect to the pipe axis. A flat vane swirler situated at the entrance of the pipe is used to generate the swirling flow. During the experiments, the Reynolds number ranges from 7970 to 47,820, and the swirl number from 0 to 1.2. It is found that the convergence of the pipe can accelerate the flow which has an effect to suppress the turbulence generated in the flow and reduce the heat transfer. However, in the region of weak swirl (S = 0-0.65), the Nusselt numbers increase with increasing swirl numbers until S = 0.65, where turbulence intensity is expected to be large enough and not suppressible. In the region of strong swirl (S > 0.65), where recirculation flow is expected to be generated in the core of the swirling flow, the heat transfer characteristic can be altered significantly. At very high swirl (S ? 1.0), the accelerated flow in the circumferential direction is expected to be dominant, which leads to suppress the turbulence and reduce the heat transfer. The Nusselt number is found proportional to the swirl number. Correlations of the Nusselt numbers in terms of the swirl number, the Reynolds number and the dimensionless distance are attempted and are very successful in both the weak and the strong swirl regions.     

THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL-DIRECTION STENCIL ON GRADIENT AND HIGH-ORDER DERIVATIVES RECONSTRUCTION OF UNSTRUCTURED FINITE VOLUME METHODS 1)

模板选择方式对非结构有限体积方法的计算准确性会产生显著影响. 在之前的工作中, 基于局部方向模板存在的问题, 我们探索了一种更加简单有效的全局方向模板选择方法, 并将其应用于二阶精度非结构有限体积求解器. 基于该方法找到的模板单元均沿着壁面法向与流向, 可有效捕捉流场变化, 反映流动的各向异性, 并且模板选择过程脱离了对网格拓扑的依赖, 避免了局部方向模板选择方法中复杂的阵面推进与方向判断过程, 克服了在大压缩比三角形网格上模板单元偏离壁面法向的现象, 同时在二阶精度求解器上得到了较高的计算精度与计算准确性. 为了进一步验证全局方向模板在高阶精度非结构有限体积方法中应用的可行性, 本文初步测试了该模板对变量梯度及高阶导数重构的影响. 经检验, 在不同类型的网格上, 采用全局方向模板得到的变量梯度与高阶导数误差明显低于局部方向模板, 同时也低于共点模板的计算误差. 此外, 在高斯积分点处由全局方向模板得到的变量点值与导数误差同样在三种模板中最低. 因此该模板选择方法在非结构有限体积梯度与高阶导数重构方面具有较好的数值表现, 具备在高阶精度非结构有限体积求解器中应用并推广的可行性.     

全局方向模板对非结构有限体积梯度与高阶导数重构的影响

模板选择方式对非结构有限体积方法的计算准确性会产生显著影响. 在之前的工作中, 基于局部方向模板存在的问题, 我们探索了一种更加简单有效的全局方向模板选择方法, 并将其应用于二阶精度非结构有限体积求解器. 基于该方法找到的模板单元均沿着壁面法向与流向, 可有效捕捉流场变化, 反映流动的各向异性, 并且模板选择过程脱离了对网格拓扑的依赖, 避免了局部方向模板选择方法中复杂的阵面推进与方向判断过程, 克服了在大压缩比三角形网格上模板单元偏离壁面法向的现象, 同时在二阶精度求解器上得到了较高的计算精度与计算准确性. 为了进一步验证全局方向模板在高阶精度非结构有限体积方法中应用的可行性, 本文初步测试了该模板对变量梯度及高阶导数重构的影响. 经检验, 在不同类型的网格上, 采用全局方向模板得到的变量梯度与高阶导数误差明显低于局部方向模板, 同时也低于共点模板的计算误差. 此外, 在高斯积分点处由全局方向模板得到的变量点值与导数误差同样在三种模板中最低. 因此该模板选择方法在非结构有限体积梯度与高阶导数重构方面具有较好的数值表现, 具备在高阶精度非结构有限体积求解器中应用并推广的可行性.      

Anisotropic hardening and non-associated flow in proportional loading of sheet metals

Conventional isotropic hardening models constrain the shape of the yield function to remain fixed throughout plastic deformation. However, experiments show that hardening is only approximately isotropic under conditions of proportional loading, giving rise to systematic errors in calculation of stresses based on models that impose the constraint. Five different material data for aluminum and stainless steel alloys are used to calibrate and evaluate five material models, ranging in complexity from a von Mises’ model based on isotropic hardening to a non- associated flow rule (AFR) model based on anisotropic hardening. A new model is described in which four stress–strain functions are explicitly integrated into the yield criterion in closed form definition of the yield condition. The model is based on a non-AFR so that this integration does not affect the accuracy of the plastic strain components defined by the gradient of a separate plastic potential function. The model not only enables the elimination of systematic errors for loading along the four loading conditions, but also leads to a significant reduction of systematic errors in other loading conditions to no higher than 1.5% of the magnitude of the predicted stresses, far less that errors obtained under isotropic hardening, and at a level comparable to experimental uncertainty in the stress measurement. The model is expected to lead to a significant improvement in stress prediction under conditions dominated by proportional loading, and this is expected to directly improve the accuracy of springback, tearing, and earing predictions for these processes. In addition, it is shown that there is no consequence on MK necking localization due to the saturation of the yield surface in pure shear that occurs with the aluminum alloys using the present model.     

Performance of a three-component vorticity probe in a turbulent far-wake

  A new four X-wire vorticity probe has been developed to measure all three components of the vorticity fluctuation vector simultaneously. The performance of this probe is tested in a turbulent far-wake. The measured Reynolds stresses agree with those obtained previously from simpler hot wire configurations. The variances of the lateral vorticity components agree within ±15% with those measured with a one-component vorticity probe. The variances of the streamwise vorticity component are also in reasonable agreement with those inferred from two X-wires. At high wavenumbers, the measured vorticity spectra agree with those obtained by direct numerical simulation (DNS) in the central region of a turbulent channel flow. The comparison of measured high-order moments of vorticity on the wake centerline with local isotropy also suggests the probe performs satisfactorily. Received: 31 December 1997/Accepted: 6 January 1999     

Experimental validation of a two equation RANS transitional turbulence model for compressible microflows

Laminar-to-turbulent flow transition in microchannels can be useful to enhance mixing and heat transfer in microsystems. Typically, the small characteristic dimensions of these devices hinder in attaining higher Reynolds numbers to limit the total pressure drop. This is true especially in the presence of a liquid as a working medium. On the contrary, due to lower density, Reynolds number larger than 2000 can be easily reached for gas microflows with an acceptable pressure drop. Since microchannels are used as elementary building blocks of micro heat exchangers and micro heat-sinks, it is essential to predict under which conditions, the laminar-to-turbulent flow transition inside such geometries can be expected. In this paper, experimental validation of a two equations transitional turbulence model, capable of predicting the laminar-to-turbulent flow transition for internal flows as proposed by Abraham etal. (2008), is presented for the first time for microchannels. This is done by employing microchannels in which Nitrogen gas is used as a working fluid. Two different cross-sections namely circular and rectangular are utilized for numerical and experimental investigations. The inlet mass flow rate of the gas is varied to cover all the flow regimes from laminar to fully turbulent flow. Pressure loss experiments are performed for both cross-sectional geometries and friction factor results from experiments and numerical simulations are compared. From the analysis of the friction factor as a function of the Reynolds number, the critical value of the Reynolds number linked to the laminar-to-turbulent transition has been determined. The experimental and numerical critical Reynolds number for all the tested microchannels showed a maximum deviation of less than 12%. These results demonstrate that the transitional turbulence model proposed by Abraham etal. (2008) for internal flows can be extended to microchannels and proficiently employed for the design of micro heat exchangers in presence of gas flows.     

Optimizing experimental design for coupled porous media flow studies

It is important in specific cases to know if and when coupling occurs during the flow of immiscible fluids in and through porous media. Unless special laboratory design precautions are taken, however, even small errors in the measurement of the experimental variables can adversely camouflage the very effects that are under investigation. Here a novel remedy is proposed that involves the use of a least squares optimization algorithm for the selection of the most favorable constraint conditions to be imposed.     

Evaluation of aero-optical distortion effects in PIV

Aero-optical distortion effects on the accuracy of particle image velocimetry (PIV) are investigated. When the illuminated particles are observed through a medium that is optically inhomogeneous due to flow compressibility, the resulting particle image pattern is subjected to deformation and blur. In relation to PIV two forms of error can be identified: position error and velocity error. In this paper a model is presented that describes these errors and particle image blur in relation to the refractive index field of the flow. In the case of 2D flows the model equations can be simplified and, furthermore, the background oriented schlieren technique (BOS) can be applied as a means to assess and correct for the optical error in PIV. The model describing the optical distortion is validated by both computer simulation and real experiments of 2D flows. Two flow features are considered: one with optical distortion normal to the velocity (shear layer) and one with optical distortion in the direction of the flow (expansion fan). Both simulation and experiments demonstrate that the major source for the velocity error is the second derivative of the refractive index in the direction of the velocity vector. The aero-optical distortion effect is less critical for shearing interfaces in comparison with compression/expansion fronts, the most critical case being represented by shock waves. Based on the results from the simulated experiments, it is concluded that for the 2D flow case the BOS method allows a measurement of the mean velocity error in PIV and can reduce it to a large extent.     

Magnitude Estimations for Line Bisection Under Lateral Visuo-Spatial Neglect

Human subjects can bisect a line, with error, even when they have neglect on one side. How this skill, even though inefficient, can be represented in nonlinear psychophysical theory is explored here. A problem for previous theoretical explanations of lateral neglect bisection, where the errors of bisection are reversed in sign for brain-damaged subjects, when very short lines are used as stimuli, is shown not in fact to be a problem for N(onlinear) P(sychophysical) D(ynamics) theory at all, but is exactly what is expected to arise when sensitivities are biassed on one side. It is suggested that an imbalance in channel inputs in a nonlinear system representation has results which do not follow from a more conventional connectionist approach.     

Construction of hybrid 1D-0D networks for efficient and accurate blood flow simulations

The one-dimensional (1D) modeling of blood flow in complex networks of vessels and cardiovascular models can result in computationally expensive simulations. The complexity of such networks has significantly increased in the last years, in terms of both enhanced anatomical detail and modeling of physiological mechanisms and mechanical characteristics. To address such issue, the main goal of this work is to present a novel methodology to construct hybrid networks of coupled 1D and 0D vessels and to perform computationally efficient and accurate blood flow simulations in such networks. Departing from both the 1D and lumped-parameter (0D) nonlinear models for blood flow, we propose high-order numerical coupling strategies to solve the 1D, 0D, and hybrid coupling of vessels at junctions. To effectively construct hybrid networks, we explore different a-priori model selection criteria focusing in obtaining the best possible trade-off between computational cost of the simulations and accuracy of the computed solutions for the hybrid network with respect to the 1D network. The achievement of the expected order of accuracy is verified in several test cases. The novel methodology is applied to two different arterial networks, the 37-artery network and the reduced ADAN56 model, where, in order to identify the best performing a-priori model selection criteria, the quantitative assessment of CPU times and errors and the qualitative comparison between results are carried out and discussed.     

Effects of confinement,geometry, inlet velocity profile,and Reynolds number on the asymmetry of opposed-jet flows

The opposed-jet counterflow configuration is widely used to measure fundamental flame properties that are essential targets for validating chemical kinetic models. The main and key assumption of the counterflow configuration in laminar flame experiments is that the flow field is steady and quasi-one-dimensional. In this study, experiments and numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the behavior and controlling parameters of counterflowing isothermal air jets for various nozzle designs, Reynolds numbers, and surrounding geometries. The flow field in the jets’ impingement region was analyzed in search of instabilities, asymmetries, and two-dimensional effects that can introduce errors when the data are compared with results of quasi-one-dimensional simulations. The modeling involved transient axisymmetric numerical simulations along with bifurcation analysis, which revealed that when the flow field is confined between walls, local bifurcation occurs, which in turn results in asymmetry, deviation from the one-dimensional assumption, and sensitivity of the flow field structure to boundary conditions and surrounding geometry. Particle image velocimetry was utilized and results revealed that for jets of equal momenta at low Reynolds numbers of the order of 300, the flow field is asymmetric with respect to the middle plane between the nozzles even in the absence of confining walls. The asymmetry was traced to the asymmetric nozzle exit velocity profiles caused by unavoidable imperfections in the nozzle assembly. The asymmetry was not detectable at high Reynolds numbers of the order of 1000 due to the reduced sensitivity of the flow field to boundary conditions. The cases investigated computationally covered a wide range of Reynolds numbers to identify designs that are minimally affected by errors in the experimental procedures or manufacturing imperfections, and the simulations results were used to identify conditions that best conform to the assumptions of quasi-one-dimensional modeling.     

Using Stability Theory to Analyse Configurations of Pulsed Jets for Flow Control

During the last decade, efforts for simulating active flow control behavior by the use of pulsating jets have multiplied. In the present work, a URANS is used mostly for simulation, where the resulting flow characteristics can be reproduced with fair but adequate accuracy for engineering applications. This computational tool provides information concerning the effect on the flow, of the flow control. An additional computational tool is introduced, that of flow stability analysis, which allows to optimize the frequency and the position of the actuators (here pulsating jets). This tool will be developed through flow stability arguments. Both tools will be used within the context of the present paper and for reasons explained below, for suppressing only flow separation in internal flow cases. Once the computational tools are described/developed, they will be applied to a specific case. The optimization procedure will be demonstrated and discussed.