Prediction of drag reduction effect by streamwise traveling wave-like wall deformation in turbulent channel flow at practically high Reynolds numbers

A fully developed turbulent channel flow controlled by traveling wave-like wall deformation under a constant pressure gradient condition is studied numerically and theoretically. First, direct numerical simulation (DNS) at three different friction Reynolds numbers, ${\text{Re}}_{\tau }=90,$ 180, and 360, are performed to investigate the modification in turbulence statistics and their scaling. Unlike the previous study assuming a constant flow rate condition, suppression of the quasi-streamwise vortices is not observed in either drag decrease cases or drag increase cases. It is found in the drag reduction case, however, that the periodic component of the Reynolds shear stress (periodic RSS) is largely negative in the viscous sublayer and the buffer layer. For the maximum drag reduction case, the set of control parameters is found to be identical in wall units regardless of the Reynolds number, and the resulting mean velocity profiles are also observed to be approximately similar even with an additional case of ${\text{Re}}_{\tau }=720$. Based on this scaling, we propose a semi-empirical formula for the mean velocity profile modified by the present control. With this formula, about $20\%-25\%$ drag reduction effect is predicted even at practically high Reynolds numbers, ${\text{Re}}_{\tau }\sim {10}^5-{10}^6$.     

Two-phase flow patterns and size distribution of droplets in a microfluidic T-junction: Experimental observations in the squeezing regime

Generating micrometer sized droplets has been studied in a microfluidic system with T-junction geometry 250 μm in internal diameter and with PTFE capillary tubing. Several experiments were conducted by varying the flow rate of the dispersed phase from $2.78\cdot {10}^{-11}{\text{ m}}^3/\text{s}$ to $5.28\cdot {10}^{-9}{\text{ m}}^3/\text{s}$ and that of the continuous phase from $2.78\cdot {10}^{-10}{\text{ m}}^3/\text{s}$ to $1.94\cdot {10}^{-9}{\text{ m}}^3/\text{s}$. The visualization of different flow regimes (drop, plug, and annular) was carried out for three configurations (not inverted in a horizontal position, inverted in a horizontal position, and inverted in a vertical position) for low capillary numbers. The model of Gauss was also chosen for a droplet size distribution in the dispersed phase, with the flow quality x varying from 0.016 to 0.44. The evolution of the drop size distribution as a function of the flow quality in the dispersed phase shows that the variation coefficient of the droplet's diameter is inversely proportional to the flow quality.     

Experimental investigations on the dynamic behavior of a 2-DOF airfoil in the transitional Re number regime based on digital-image correlation measurements

The present paper investigates the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) of a wing with two degrees of freedom (DOF), i.e., pitch and heave, in the transitional Reynolds number regime. This 2-DOF setup marks a classic configuration in aeroelasticity to demonstrate flutter stability of wings. In the past, mainly analytic approaches have been developed to investigate this challenging problem under simplifying assumptions such as potential flow. Although the classical theory offers satisfying results for certain cases, modern numerical simulations based on fully coupled approaches, which are more generally applicable and powerful, are still rarely found. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide appropriate experimental reference data for well-defined configurations under clear operating conditions. In a follow-up contribution these will be used to demonstrate the capability of modern simulation techniques to capture instantaneous physical phenomena such as flutter. The measurements in a wind tunnel are carried out based on digital-image correlation (DIC). The investigated setup consists of a straight wing using a symmetric NACA 0012 airfoil. For the experiments the model is mounted into a frame by means of bending and torsional springs imitating the elastic behavior of the wing. Three different configurations of the wing possessing a fixed elastic axis are considered. For this purpose, the center of gravity is shifted along the chord line of the airfoil influencing the flutter stability of the setup. Still air free-oscillation tests are used to determine characteristic properties of the unloaded system (e.g. mass moment of inertia and damping ratios) for one (pitch or heave) and two degrees (pitch and heave) of freedom. The investigations on the coupled 2-DOF system in the wind tunnel are performed in an overall chord Reynolds number range of $9.66\times 10^3\le \text{Re}\le 8.77\times 10^4$. The effect of the fluid-load induced damping is studied for the three configurations. Furthermore, the cases of limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) as well as diverging flutter motion of the wing are characterized in detail. In addition to the DIC measurements, hot-film measurements of the wake flow for the rigid and the oscillating airfoil are presented in order to distinguish effects originating from the flow and the structure.