A study of the flow field characteristics around star-shaped artificial reefs

In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical model is devised to calculate the unsteady flow field around star-shaped artificial reefs. The model is based on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations embedded within a renormalization group (RNG) k–ε turbulence model. The RANS equations are solved using the finite volume method (FVM) with an unstructured tetrahedral mesh. The pressure and velocity coupling is solved at each time step with the SIMPLEC algorithm. Non-invasive particle image velocimetry (PIV) laboratory measurements are employed to verify the simulation results. Good agreement is found between the simulation and experimental results with respect to the major flow fields. Based on the flow-field verification, the influence of arrangement and spacing on the flow field of one and two artificial reefs are discussed in light of the numerical method. A large-scale slow flow region is obtained when the reef is arranged in the second form. In the parallel combination, a slight mutual effect exists between the two reefs when the spacing is larger than 3.0L. In the streamwise combination, the interaction of two reefs is at its strongest at spacings of 3.0L to 4.0L.     

Instantaneous flow field above the free end of finite-height cylinders and prisms

The flow above the free ends of surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinders and square prisms was studied experimentally using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Cylinders and prisms with aspect ratios of AR = 9, 7, 5, and 3 were tested at a Reynolds number of Re = 4.2 × 10⁴. The bodies were mounted normal to a ground plane and were partially immersed in a turbulent zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer, where the boundary layer thickness relative to the body width was δ/D = 1.6. PIV measurements were made above the free ends of the bodies in a vertical plane aligned with the flow centreline. The present PIV results provide insight into the effects of aspect ratio and body shape on the instantaneous flow field. The recirculation zone under the separated shear layer is larger for the square prism of AR = 3 compared to the more slender prism of AR = 9. Also, for a square prism with low aspect ratio (AR = 3), the influence of the reverse flow over the free end surface becomes more significant compared to that for a higher aspect ratio (AR = 9). For the circular cylinder, a cross-stream vortex forms within the recirculation zone. As the aspect ratio of the cylinder decreases, the reattachment point of the separated flow on the free end surface moves closer to the trailing edge. For both the square prism and circular cylinder cases, the instantaneous velocity vector field and associated in-plane vorticity field revealed small-scale structures mostly generated by the separated shear layer.     

Three-dimensional flow structure measurements behind a queue of studied model vehicles

The three-dimensional flow structures of a queue of studied model vehicles (i.e., one-, two- and three-vehicle cases) were investigated comprehensively in a closed-circuit wind tunnel using particle image velocimetry (PIV) for the typical urban vehicle speeds (i.e., 10, 30 and 50 km/h). In this three-dimensional vehicle wake, a pair of longitudinal vortices is characterized by counter-rotating and moving downstream at relatively low velocity than their surrounding flow. The flow structures of multiple studied model vehicles are dominated by the wake generated from the last studied model vehicle but the preceding studied model vehicle(s) also has/have some minor effects. Cross-sectional turbulence distribution is non-uniform in the far-wake region for all studied cases. The lowest turbulence occurs at the center part of the vehicle wake while high turbulence occurs at its two sides. As such, it may lead to considerable underestimation in turbulence magnitude if the measurement is only taken along the centerline of the vehicle wake.     

A study of the flow characteristics in micro-abrasive jets

An experimental study of particle velocities in micro-abrasive jets by using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique is presented. It has been found that the particle jet flow has a nearly linear expansion downstream. The particle velocities increase with air pressure, and the increasing rate increases with nozzle diameter within the range considered. The instantaneous velocity profile of the particle flow field in terms of the particle velocity distribution along the axial and radial directions of the jets is discussed. For the axial profile in the jet centerline downstream, there exists an extended acceleration stage, a transition stage, and a deceleration stage. For the radial velocity profiles, a relatively flat shape is observed at a jet cross-section near the nozzle exit. Mathematical models for the particle velocities in the air jet are then developed. It is shown that the results from the models agree well with experimental data in both the variation trend and magnitude.     

The effect of mixed convection on the structure of channel flow at low Reynolds numbers

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of bottom wall heating on the flow structure inside a horizontal square channel at low Reynolds numbers (Re) and high Grashof numbers (Gr). The flow field was found to be complex and three-dimensional due to the interactions of buoyancy-induced rising plumes of warm fluid, falling parcels of cold fluid and the shear flow. The mean streamwise velocity profiles were altered by bottom wall heating; and back flow was induced in the upper half of the channel when Gr/Re² > 55. The bottom wall temperatures were found to have more significant influence on the turbulent velocity magnitudes than the flow rate. The Reynolds stress became negative in the channel core region indicating the momentum transfer from the turbulent velocity field to the buoyancy field. The POD analysis revealed the presence of convective cells primarily in the lower half of the channel.     

Effects of body shape and viscoelasticity on the slow flow around an obstacle

A study was made of the motion of axisymmetrical objects in viscous and viscoelastic fluids within a cylindrical tank with the assumption of negligible inertial effects. A numerical treatment based on the Stokes equations of motion and an optimization technique enabled the details of the velocity and rate-of-deformation fields for a Newtonian fluid to be predicted. The influence of the shape of various bodies, some even with concave surfaces, was examined. The corresponding experiments were carried out with viscous and viscoelastic fluids using a visualization technique. A correlation between the main flow characteristics and the rheological behaviour of the fluids was established.     

Low- and high-speed structures in the outer region of an adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer

Large- and very large-scale structures in the form of elongated regions of low and high streamwise momentum have been studied in the outer region of a turbulent boundary layer subjected to a strong adverse pressure gradient. Large sets of streamwise–spanwise instantaneous velocity fields are acquired by particle image velocimetry at three wall-normal positions (0.2δ, 0.5δ, 0.8δ) at three different streamwise locations and at 0.1δ at the last streamwise location which allows us to study the wall-normal and streamwise variations of the structures. Subsequently, a pattern-recognition method and a classification scheme are employed in order to detect, classify and characterize the structures in an efficient and rigorous manner. Like in the case of zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers, long meandering streaky regions of low and high momentum are observed in the outer region of the present flow but they appear less frequently; especially in the lower part (at 0.1δ and 0.2δ) of the large-velocity-defect zone, i.e. near detachment. The dimensions of these large structures scale on boundary-layer thickness (δ) and are generally comparable to those previously reported for such structures in the overlap region of zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers. Interestingly, the adverse pressure gradient does not significantly affect the dimensions and arrangement of the large-scale structures in the upper part (at 0.5δ and 0.8δ) a segment of the outer region where the scaled Reynolds stresses also remain fairly self-similar.     

The effect of a wake-mounted splitter plate on the flow around a surface-mounted finite-height circular cylinder

The influence of a wake-mounted splitter plate on the flow around a surface-mounted circular cylinder of finite height was investigated experimentally using a low-speed wind tunnel. The experiments were conducted at a Reynolds number of Re=7.4×10⁴ for cylinder aspect ratios of AR=9, 7, 5 and 3. The thickness of the boundary layer on the ground plane relative to the cylinder diameter was δ/D=1.5. The splitter plates were mounted on the wake centreline with negligible gap between the base of the cylinder and the leading edge of the plate. The lengths of the splitter plates, relative to the cylinder diameter, ranged from L/D=1 to 7, and the plate height was always equal to the cylinder height. Measurements of the mean drag force coefficient were obtained with a force balance, and measurements of the vortex shedding frequency were obtained with a single-component hot-wire probe situated in the wake of the cylinder–plate combination. Compared to the well-studied case involving an infinite circular cylinder, the splitter plate was found to be a less effective drag-reduction device for finite circular cylinders. Significant reduction in the mean drag coefficient was realized only for the finite circular cylinder of AR=9 with intermediate-length splitter plates of L/D=1–3. The mean drag coefficients of the other cylinders were almost unchanged. In terms of its effect on vortex shedding, a splitter plate of sufficient length was able to suppress Kármán vortex shedding for all of the finite circular cylinders tested. For AR=9, vortex shedding suppression occurred for L/D≥5, which is similar to the case of the infinite circular cylinder. For the smaller-aspect-ratio cylinders, however, the splitter plate was more effective than what occurs for the infinite circular cylinder: for AR=3, vortex shedding suppression occurred for all of the splitter plates tested (L/D≥1); for AR=5 and 7, vortex shedding suppression occurred for L/D≥1.5.     

大跨屋盖结构非高斯风场的快速模拟算法研究

针对屋盖结构风压场的非高斯特性,本文提出一种多变量平稳非高斯风压场模拟的新方法。文中首次采用四参数指数函数表达风压过程和高斯过程之间的转换关系,推导出关于指数函数所含参数的非线性方程组,利用双变量联合高斯分布的特性获得相关函数的转换关系。通过上述方法,将非高斯风压场表达为虚拟高斯过程的函数,从而采用谐波合成法生成风压时间序列。工程实例表明,本文算法计算效率和模拟精度高,适合实际工程应用。     

Non-linear dynamics of semi-dilute polydisperse polymer solutions in microfluidics: A study of a benchmark flow problem

The complex flow behaviour of semi-dilute (15 < c/c^* < 22.5) polydisperse polyethylene oxide (PEO) aqueous solutions flowing through a planar microfluidic geometry with an 8:1:8 contraction-expansion is systematically studied. The molecular weight and distribution of the PEO samples are analysed by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). Full rheometric characterizations using various techniques including piezoelectric axial vibrator (PAV) measurements at frequencies as high as 6700 Hz are carried out for one semi-dilute PEO solution. Complex flows over a wide range of elasticity numbers (20 ? El ? 120), Weissenberg numbers (7 ? Wi ? 121) and Reynolds numbers (0.08 ? Re ? 4.5) are characterized using micro-particle image velocimetry (μ-PIV) and pressure drop measurements. The evolution of vortex formation and dynamics has been visualized through a step-flow-rate experiment. The effect of El on vortex stability has been studied. Various flow dynamics regimes have been quantified and are presented in a Wi-Re diagram. The experimental results reveal that the elastic behaviour of polymer solutions is very sensitive to high molecular weight polymer in the polydisperse polymer samples, and the contraction ratio and the aspect ratio of flow geometry are the important design parameters in controlling the non-linear dynamics of semi-dilute polymer solutions in microfluidics.     

A dispersion force approach to modelling the effect of lift forces on fibre dispersion

Wood fibres suspended in air were studied whilst flowing through a throttle. Measurements of volume fraction and velocity were compared with results from a two-fluid model simulation. Results from earlier work have shown that the lift forces acting on the individual fibres are of importance for the dispersion of volume fraction. Since the orientation of the individual fibres cannot be determined, a dispersion force was utilised to model the dispersing effect of the lift forces. The addition of a lift dispersion model significantly improved the agreement between measurement and model data.     

Pressure measurements on the impingement surface of sonic and sub-sonic jets impinging onto a flat plate at inclined angles

The flow field associated with a jet impinging onto a surface at an inclined angle is investigated using pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) and particle image velocimetry. The PSP yields continuous measurements of pressure on the jet impingement surface. The jet footprint on the impingement surface is visualized using the half-maximum pressure contour. The results indicate that the impingement angle of the jet is the dominant parameter in determining the footprint of the jet on the impingement surface. This contour is similar in shape to an ellipse that is created by projecting the nozzle through the impingement surface. The ellipse is centered at the location of maximum pressure and the width of the minor axis is just over one jet diameter. The location of maximum pressure is found upstream of the geometric impingement point and this location is a strong function of the impingement angle. A curve fit for the location of maximum pressure can be constructed using an exact solution of the Navier–Stokes equations for a non-orthogonal stagnation flow. The maximum value of pressure is a function of impingement angle and varies as the sine of the impingement angle squared; the maximum pressure is also a function of jet impingement distance. Using these results, a simple procedure for predicting the overall structure of the jet on the impingement surface is presented.     

Experimental and computational studies on the flow fields in aortic aneurysms associated with deployment of AAA stent-grafts

Pulsatile flow fields in rigid abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models were investigated numerically, and the simulation results are found in good agreement with particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. There are one or more vortexes in the AAA bulge, and a fairly high wall shear stress exists at the distal end, and thus the AAA is in danger of rupture. Medical treatment consists of inserting a vascular stent-graft in the AAA, which would decrease the blood impact to the inner walls and reduce wall shear stress so that the rupture could be prevented. A new computational model, based on porous medium model, was developed and results are documented. Therapeutic effect of the stent-graft was verified numerically with the new model. The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10672090). The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

Flow induced on a salt waterbody due to the impingement of a freshwater drop or a water source

The particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) techniques are used to study the flow induced on the surface of a body of saltwater when a drop impinges on its surface or when a source is present on the surface. The measurements show that the impingement of a fresh water drop causes a strong axisymmetric solutocapillary flow about the vertical line passing through the center of impact. The fluid directly below the center of impact rises upward, and near the surface it moves away from the center of impact. The flow, which develops within a fraction of second after the impact, persists for several seconds. In comparison, when a freshwater drop falls on a body of freshwater, the flow induced on the surface is much weaker and persists for a relatively shorter duration of time and the volume of water circulated is two orders of magnitude smaller. Similarly, when a fresh water source is present on a body of saltwater there is a solutocapillary flow which on the surface is away from the source and below the surface is towards the source.     

空间异型双曲面钢屋盖缺陷稳定性分析及试验研究

南通体育会展中心钢屋盖为空间异型双曲面,结构高跨比和矢跨比均较小,稳定性分析是其设计中的一个关键问题。本文在体育馆缩尺模型试验基础上,对其钢屋盖结构进行了几何非线性和双非线性稳定分析,分别采用实测缺陷法、一致缺陷模态法、改进随机缺陷法考虑结点位置偏差缺陷的影响。结果表明：实测缺陷法双非线性分析结果是评估体育馆屋盖结构实际安全性的重要依据;一致模态法的临界荷载概率可靠度较低。通过改进随机缺陷法,对该屋盖结构的稳定性能有了比较全面的认识,并定量分析了设计临界荷载和一致模态法分析的临界荷载的可靠性。     

The effect of a splitter plate on the flow around a finite prism

The effect of a wake-mounted splitter plate on the flow around a surface-mounted finite-height square prism was investigated experimentally in a low-speed wind tunnel. Measurements of the mean drag force and vortex shedding frequency were made at Re=7.4×10⁴ for square prisms of aspect ratios AR=9, 7, 5 and 3. Measurements of the mean wake velocity field were made with a seven-hole pressure probe at Re=3.7×10⁴ for square prisms of AR=9 and 5. The relative thickness of the boundary layer on the ground plane was δ/D=1.5–1.6 (where D is the side length of the prism). The splitter plates were mounted vertically from the ground plane on the wake centreline, with a negligible gap between the leading edge of the plate and rear of the prism. The splitter plate heights were always the same as the heights of prisms, while the splitter plate lengths ranged from L/D=1 to 7. Compared to previously published results for an “infinite” square prism, a splitter plate is less effective at drag reduction, but more effective at vortex shedding suppression, when used with a finite-height square prism. Significant reduction in drag was realized only for short prisms (of AR≤5) when long splitter plates (of L/D≥5) were used. In contrast, a splitter plate of length L/D=3 was sufficient to suppress vortex shedding for all aspect ratios tested. Compared to previous results for finite-height circular cylinders, finite-height square prisms typically need longer splitter plates for vortex shedding suppression. The effect of the splitter plate on the mean wake was to narrow the wake width close to the ground plane, stretch and weaken the streamwise vortex structures, and increase the lateral entrainment of ambient fluid towards the wake centreline. The splitter plate has little effect on the mean downwash. Long splitter plates resulted in the formation of additional streamwise vortex structures in the upper part of the wake.     

Vortex structure generation on the frontal surface of a cylinder set transversely in a hypersonic flow

The problem of formation of spatially periodic structures on the frontal surface of a cylindrically blunted body set transversely in a hypersonic flow is studied. Within the framework of the model adopted, a possible mechanism of vortex structure generation on the frontal surface of the blunt body is proposed and confirmed by calculations; in this mechanism, the curved bow shock produces a vortex flow, while in its turn the vortex, which persists under weak dissipation, acts on the shock thus maintaining its curved shape. It is shown that the spatially periodic mode of hypersonic flow past a cylinder can exist in the case of a uniform incident flow and under homogeneous boundary conditions on the body surface.     

Numerical and experimental study of the fine structure of a stratified fluid flow over a circular cylinder

The fine structure of the flow field of a continuously stratified fluid around a circular cylinder for small values of the Froude number was investigated in laboratory and numerical experiments. The parameters of the leading perturbation, the internal-wave field, and the cylinder wake were calculated using a two-dimensional model. The existence of the previously experimentally observed high-gradient density layers in the wake that are parallel to the flow axis was for the first time confirmed by numerical calculations. Results of the numerical and experimental studies are in good agreement with each other and with analytical models for small values of the Froude number. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 43–54, January–February, 2007.