Dans le cadre du design des assemblages combustibles, les écoulements turbulents induits par les grilles de maintien provoquent de fortes fluctuations de pression dues aux niveaux de vitesses du fluide induisant la vibration des crayons combustibles. Or ces vibrations sont une source de vieillissement accéléré et d’usure prématurée des assemblages combustibles dont l’origine convient d’être mieux analysée.Dans cette l'optique, des simulations numériques ont été utilisées pour prédire les niveaux de vitesses transverses ainsi que le niveau de turbulence en aval de la grille. Cependant, les codes CFD doivent être validés avec des mesures expérimentales conduisant ainsi à une meilleure compréhension des structures mis en jeu dans le processus de mélange. Or la caractéristique de ce type d'écoulement repose sur son caractère tridimensionnel entre les faisceaux de crayons où l'accès optique est limité et à l'heure actuelle, aucune mesure de vitesse 3D n'a été réalisée. C'est pourquoi nous nous proposons de présenter dans cette étude l'application d'une technique de mesure 3D résolue en temps dans une boucle hydraulique transparente. L’approche consiste à utiliser une stratégie de suivi, dans lequel des particules traceuses individuelles sont d'abord détectées dans l’écoulement et ensuite suivies dans le temps – PTV 3D.Cette thèse présente les résultats obtenus dans une veine d’essais hydraulique en utilisant une approche de suivi à l’aide de deux caméras. Dans un premier temps, une nouvelle extension de la technique de défocalisation permettant de récupérer les positions des particules dans le temps avec une caméra est présentée et la méthodologie pour récupérer les déplacements individuels est décrite. Des cas d’application et de validation de la technique sont présentés afin de mieux quantifier les erreurs de mesures. Ensuite, la boucle hydraulique est introduite et son écoulement caractérisé par des techniques établies de mesure de vitesse. Finalement, les mesures 3D à deux caméras sont réalisées et discutées. / In order to validate the numerical simulation of the mixing phenomena downstream a spacer grid in the reactor core, reaching the 3rd velocity component through experimental studies is of major importance since mechanical structures responses are linked to transverse velocities. Nevertheless the main difficulty relies on applying a non-intrusive velocimetry technique around obstacles composed of a vertical set of rods. So far only 1D and 2D temporal studies have been performed.Hence, numerical methods have been widely used to predict correctly those transverse velocities and the turbulence level downstream the grid. However, CFD codes are to be validated with experimental measurements leading to a better understanding of the detailed flow structure in the mixing process. Therefore we propose to present in this study the application of a 3D time resolved velocity measurement technique to a hydraulic test facility. The approach is to use a tracking strategy, in which individual particles are first detected then followed in time - 3D time resolved Particle Tracking Velocimetry.This PhD Thesis presents results obtained in a hydraulic test section using a tracking based approach with two cameras. At first, a new extension of the defocussing technique to recover particles location in time with one camera is presented and the methodology o get individual velocity vector is then described. Applications and validations of the technique in dedicated flows allow to determinate and quantify measurement uncertainties. Then the hydraulic test section is introduced together with preliminary flow characterization using Laser Doppler Velocimetry or 2D time resolved PIV analysis. Finally, two cameras measurements are reported and post-processing techniques are discussed.

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abstract: This dissertation describes a novel, low cost strategy of using particle streak (track) images for accurate micro-channel velocity field mapping. It is shown that 2-dimensional, 2-component fields can be efficiently obtained using the spatial variation of particle track lengths in micro-channels. The velocity field is a critical performance feature of many microfluidic devices. Since it is often the case that un-modeled micro-scale physics frustrates principled design methodologies, particle based velocity field estimation is an essential design and validation tool. Current technologies that achieve this goal use particle constellation correlation strategies and rely heavily on costly, high-speed imaging hardware. The proposed image/ video processing based method achieves comparable accuracy for fraction of the cost. In the context of micro-channel velocimetry, the usability of particle streaks has been poorly studied so far. Their use has remained restricted mostly to bulk flow measurements and occasional ad-hoc uses in microfluidics. A second look at the usability of particle streak lengths in this work reveals that they can be efficiently used, after approximately 15 years from their first use for micro-channel velocimetry. Particle tracks in steady, smooth microfluidic flows is mathematically modeled and a framework for using experimentally observed particle track lengths for local velocity field estimation is introduced here, followed by algorithm implementation and quantitative verification. Further, experimental considerations and image processing techniques that can facilitate the proposed methods are also discussed in this dissertation. Unavailability of benchmarked particle track image data motivated the implementation of a simulation framework with the capability to generate exposure time controlled particle track image sequence for velocity vector fields. This dissertation also describes this work and shows that arbitrary velocity fields designed in computational fluid dynamics software tools can be used to obtain such images. Apart from aiding gold-standard data generation, such images would find use for quick microfluidic flow field visualization and help improve device designs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2011

[pt] Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um sistema para medição de campos instantâneos de velocidade em regiões extensas do escoamento de fluidos. A técnica utilizada foi a velocimetria por imagem de partículas. Nesta técnica, as medidas de velocidade são obtidas a partir do registro da imagem de partículas traçadoras previamente distribuídas no fluido e iluminadas externamente por um plano de luz pulsada. As imagens capturadas são digitalizadas e processadas com algoritmos numéricos especialmente desenvolvidos para este fim. Estes algoritmos empregam técnicas de correlação cruzada de imagens ou de autocorrelação de imagens. Testes do programa desenvolvido foram realizados com imagens de escoamentos geradas em computador. Um sistema experimental foi desenvolvido para capturar imagens de diversos escoamentos teste de baixa velocidade. Os resultados obtidos foram satisfatórios. / [en] The present work describes the development and testo f a whole-field velocimetry system for measuring transient velocity fields in extensive flow regions. The technique employed is known as Particle Image Velocimetry. In this technique, double-exposure images of tracer particles distributed in the fluid and externally illuminated are registered in film or electronic camera. The images are digitized and processed by specially developed computer algorithms based on cross-correlation and autocorrelation techniques. The computer program developed was tested against computer generated flow images. A experimental setup was constructed to capture and analyze several real flow images. The tests conducted with several low-velocity flows yielded satisfactory results.

Understanding the dynamics of micro- and nanometer-sized objects like molecules, particles, and living cells in biological systems and biomaterials has become a key component in biomedical research. Consequently, significant progress has been made for the development of imaging platforms, fluorescent probes, and computational tools to visualize and quantify biological processes at different length and time scales. However, despite such advances, achieving a reliable measurement accuracy on the dynamic behavior of these microscopic vehicles in diverse biological contexts is challenging. Subsequently, the motivation behind this dissertation is to develop new robust microfluidic velocimetry techniques to investigate molecular transport and cell migration within an in-vitro microfluidic platform.

Repairs and modifications were made to a flow velocity measurement system designed to measure a planar area of unsteady three component velocities in a single realization using a velocity measurement technique referred to as Doppler Global Velocimetry (DGV). Several hardware components in the system were modified and new hardware was added. Significant improvements were made to the procedures used in acquiring DGV data as well as the procedures used in reducing the acquired DGV data. Though hardware problems were encountered, successful iodine cell calibrations were acquired and attempts were made to acquire DGV velocity data from a calibration wheel and in the wake of a 6:1 prolate spheroid. These attempts were hampered by poor performance of the Nd:YAG laser and one of the digital cameras used in this research. While the magnitudes of the velocities acquired from the calibration wheel were noticeably higher than those calculated from the angular velocity and large fluctuations were present in these reduced velocities, the general trends measured by the VT DGV system matched those calculated from the angular velocity. The attempt to acquire flow field data in the wake of a 6:1 prolate spheroid model was unsuccessful due to insufficient seed particle density in the area where data were to be obtained. The results of this research indicate that while significant improvements have been made to the system, there are still some significant problems to overcome. / Master of Science

A unique, super spatio-temporal resolution Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) system with capability of resolving velocities in a multi-phase flow field, using a very sophisticated novel Dynamically Adaptive Hybrid velocity evaluation algorithm has been developed The unique methodology of this powerful system is presented, its specific distinctions are enlightened, confirming its flexibility, and its superior performance is established by comparing it to the most established best DPIV software implementations currently available. Taking advantage of the most recent advances in imaging technology coupled with state of the art image processing tools, high-performing validation schemes including neural networks, as well as a hybrid digital particle tracking velocimeter (DPTV), the foundation for a unique system was developed. The presented software enables one to effectively resolve tremendously demanding flow-fields. The resolution of challenging test cases including high speed cavitating underwater projectiles as well as high pressure spray demonstrate the power of the developed device. / Master of Science

The development of aerodynamic boundary layers on wind turbine blades is an important consideration in their performance. It can be quite challenging to replicate full scale conditions in laboratory experiments, and advanced diagnostics become valuable in providing data not available from traditional means. A new variant of Doppler global velocimetry (DGV) known as cross-correlation DGV is developed to measure boundary layer profiles on a wind turbine blade airfoil in the large scale Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel. The instrument provides mean velocity vectors with reduced sensitivity to external conditions, a velocity measurement range from 0ms^-1 to over 3000ms^-1, and an absolute uncertainty. Monte Carlo simulations with synthetic signals reveal that the processing routine approaches the Cramér-Rao lower bound in optimized conditions. A custom probe-beam technique is implanted to eliminate laser flare for measuring boundary layer profiles on a DU96-W-180 wind turbine airfoil model. Agreement is seen with laser Doppler velocimetry data within the uncertainty estimated for the DGV profile. Lessons learned from the near-wall flow diagnostics development were applied to a novel benchmark model problem incorporating the relevant physical mechanisms of the high amplitude periodic turbulent flow experienced by turbine blades in the field. The model problem is developed for experimentally motivated computational model development. A circular cylinder generates a periodic turbulent wake, in which a NACA 63215b airfoil with a chord Reynolds number Re_c = 170, 000 is embedded for a reduced frequency k = (pi)fc/V = 1.53. Measurements are performed with particle image velocimetry on the airfoil suction side and in highly magnified planes within the boundary layer. Outside of the viscous region, the Reynolds stress profile is consistent with the prediction of Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT), confirming that the redistribution of normal stresses is an inviscid effect. The fluctuating component of the phase- averaged turbulent boundary layer profiles is described using the exact solution to laminar Stokes flow. A phase lag similar to that in laminar flow is observed with an additional constant phase layer in the buffer region. The phase lag is relevant for modeling the intermittent transition and separation expected at full scale. / Ph. D.

<p dir="ltr">Proper development of hypersonic vehicles requires knowledge of thermal loads, which are primarily dictated by the turbulent kinetic energy [1]. Accurate measurements of these values require measurements of velocity fluctuations, which are difficult to obtain using conventional seeded velocimetry methods [2]. However, molecular tagging velocimetry methods such as femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging (FLEET) have been shown to be capable of measuring mean velocity within highly varying flows [3].</p><p dir="ltr">This work extends the available measurements provided by FLEET, through combination with optical thermometry and novel analysis methods of the signal. By performing FLEET velocimetry alongside thermometry, this shows capability to make instantaneous measurements of Mach number within supersonic flows [4]. Additionally, by tracking multiple characteristics of FLEET image signals, the ability to both capture instantaneous velocity fluctuations and improve measurement of mean velocity are demonstrated.</p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, the uncertainty intrinsic to the analysis of FLEET signals is investigated. This is done using a combination of both classical statistical methods and uncertainty calculation methods commonly used in particle imaging velocimetry [5]. This is necessary to provide the best possible estimate of velocity fluctuations for the validation of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models of boundary layer heat transfer.</p><p dir="ltr">Beyond simply improving the quality of velocity measurements, frequency analysis tools are developed and extended to analysis of fluid dynamic problems. These tools have been used prior for detecting extreme transitions within a signal [6], but are applied here to demonstrate their ability to detect physics captured within flow fields. These tools show promise in the ability to detect frequency couplings in time and can potentially be implemented to improve current control strategies in the field of fluid dynamics.</p>

This effort explores novel sub-resolution particle center estimation algorithms for Digital Particle Tracking Velocimetry (DPIV). The errors of these new methods were classified through Monte-Carlo simulations. These schemes provide direct measurements of the apparent particle image diameter and the subpixel position. The new methods significantly reduce the bias error due to pixel discretization, thus reducing the total error in the position and sizing measurement compared to the classic three point and least squares Gaussian estimators. In addition, the accuracy of the least-squares fits were essentially independent of the true particle diameter and significantly reduced the particle position error compared with current estimation schemes. The results of the Monte Carlo simulations were validated in a high pressure spray atomization experiment. / Master of Science