This research provides a thorough flow characterization study to compare the functionality of two types of load-leveling valves that are commonly used for air suspension systems of commercial trucks. The first valve features a simple disk/slot design and is relatively compact for installation. The second type is larger and has a sophisticated, chambered design, which allows for considerably quicker fill and exhaust response times in the transient region. A new approach is introduced to estimate the transient mass flow rate of a load-leveling valve under different suspension pressures, without requiring a mass flow meter. An extensive series of dynamic tests are conducted to characterize and compare the two load-leveling valves. A generic heavy-truck pneumatic suspension, consisting of load-leveling valves, airspring, air tank, and air-hose fittings, is configured for testing. The test setup is used to evaluate the transient performance of each type of load-leveling valve in a typical truck suspension. The flow behavior of the system is validated by the force/pressure responses of the air spring due to various displacement excitations. The experimental results describe the detailed flow behavior of both valves. The flow characterization results can be incorporated as one of the most critical parameters for future model development of pneumatic systems. The tests indicate that the leveling valve with chambered design has a far faster transient flow response than the disk valve, although it is more complicated in its mechanical design and therefore costs more. To take advantage of the design simplicity of the disk valve, while also enabling it to have a faster transient response (compared with the chambered design), it is re-designed with larger flow openings and other elements to match the performance of the chambered valve for transient flow. A comparison of the experimental results and simulations validates that the re-designed rotary disk valve performs nearly the same as the chambered valve, but is simpler and costs less. The study's results are directly applicable to improving the transient dynamics of heavy truck air suspensions by providing a better understanding of how load-leveling valves can be used not only to provide ride-height control, but also to influence the roll and pitch dynamics of heavy trucks. / Master of Science / Heavy trucks are balanced using air suspension systems. These pneumatic controls provide stability when a truck undergoes a turn or other change in movement, including roll and pitch. As a truck experiences these changes, air is supplied or purged from the system to balance the truck. Load leveling valves control this flow of air that provides stability and are considered crucial elements in the overall design of a heavy truck. This study evaluates many different types of valves, namely a "chambered" valve and a "disk" valve. The chambered valve is large and has many parts, resulting in a heavy expense but high performance. The disk valve is a simpler design, making it much cheaper but at the expense of performance. The quality of performance that is evaluated here is the time it takes to fill or purge the air suspension, which is related to the mass flow. These characteristics were experimentally obtained and compared. The results showed the disk valve taking more time and having a lower flow rate, making its performance lower when compared to the chambered valve. The next aspect of this study is the modification of this disk valve design that is commercially available to make its performance comparable to the chambered valve. After a series of experiments, the modified design was verified to perform as well as the chambered valve. Overall, these results are important for the future design of heavy truck load leveling valves and clarify important characteristics to consider when designing them. The results from this study can lead to lower costs for heavy truck companies and a better ride for truck drivers.

Published Article / The design, manufacture and use of diaphragm valves in the minerals industry is becoming increasingly important since this sector is restricted from using excessive amounts of water for their operations. This forces a change in the flow properties of these devices from turbulent to laminar in nature and thus necessitates the characterization of these flows for future designs. Furthermore, diaphragm valves have a short service life due to a variety of reasons that includes the abrasive nature of the flow environment. This paper describes the activities of the Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the research and development of diaphragm valves using rapid prototyping technologies. As a first step, an experimental diaphragm valve was reverse engineered and retrofitted with ultrasonic transducers used in Ultrasonic Velocity Profiling (UVP) measurements. The use of this device enables measurements of velocity profiles to gain insight into the flow structure within the valve and the increased pressure losses generated within the valve. It also showed that components fabricated using the Z-Corporation machine could withstand the working environment of diaphragm valves. Research is now conducted on ultrasonic transducer placement in the device to further enhance the velocity profiling through the device. As a second step we produced a thin-walled stainless steel diaphragm valve using rapid prototyping technology and investment casting processes. A study of the durability of this device will be conducted and certain geometric and manufacturing aspects of this valve will be discussed.

<div>Good wind-tunnel flow quality characteristics are vital to using test data in the aerodynamic design process. Spatially uniform velocity profiles are required to avoid yaw and roll moments that would not be present in real flight conditions. Low turbulence intensity levels are also important as several aerodynamic properties are functions of turbulence intensity. When measuring mean flow and turbulence properties, hot-wire anemometry offers good spatial resolution and high-frequency response with a fairly simple operation, and the ability to make near-wall measurements. Using hot-wire anemometry, flow quality experiments were conducted</div><div>in a closed-circuit wind tunnel with a test section that has a cross section area of 1.2 m x 1.8 m (4 ft. x 6 ft.). The experiments included measurements of flow velocity and turbulence intensity variation over the test section cross-section, spatial and temporal temperature variation, and</div><div>boundary layer measurements. The centerline velocity and turbulence intensity were also measured for flow speeds ranging from 13 to 43 m/s.</div>

<p>  </p> <p>As the power density of computing devices increases, advanced liquid cooling thermal solutions offer an attractive thermal management approach. In particular, the low thermal resistance offered by microchannel heat sinks used in liquid cooling systems may enable increased total heat dissipation within fixed component temperature limits. There has been extensive work on the design of microchannel heat sinks, with many recent efforts to explore novel geometries and emerging manufacturing techniques. Of particular interest is additive manufacturing to allow for designs having complex, non-traditional internal geometries and package structures that cannot be made through conventional means. Despite the potential benefits for design and construction, additive manufacturing introduces new geometric uncertainties that could affect device performance. Direct metal laser sintering methods suitable for printing metal heat sinks typically produce a high internal roughness and other shape deviations in the flow paths of the final part. This extreme relative roughness and potential tortuosity in fluid flow through additively manufactured microchannels could lead to significant deviations in pressure drop and heat transfer predicted with traditional correlations and models. This work seeks to characterize the effects of high relative roughness on the friction factor and Nusselt number in additively manufactured microchannels having a rectangular cross section. Straight microchannel samples of 500 µm, 750 µm, and 1000 µm channel heights, and aspect ratios from 1 to 10 were manufactured to identify the design dimensions that resulted in visibly open channels, albeit with deviations in cross-sectional shape for submillimeter channel sizes and high internal roughness. Heat sink test samples were then printed with an array of these microchannels connected in parallel by inlet and outlet headers. Using water as the working fluid, the pressure drop and heat transfer performance of these sample heat sinks were characterized to explore how their behavior deviated from conventional predictions assuming smooth-walled channels. Flow through these additively manufactured microchannels displayed higher pressure drops than predicted, as well as a flow rate dependence of the hydrodynamic and thermal performance. These observed deviations are explored as effects of the physical conditions inside the channel as a result of additive manufacturing. Severe constriction of the channel would account for the difference in magnitude between the experimental and predicted results, while the introduction of flow redevelopment could lead to a flow rate dependence.  By further understanding the impact of these artifacts and deviations, these factors can be accounted for in the design and modelling of more complex additively manufactured heat sinks. </p>

Two types of rotary gate microvalves are developed for flow modulation in a microfluidic system that operates at high flow rate and/or uses particulate flow. This research work encompasses design, microfabrication, and experimental evaluation of these microvalves in three distinct areas compliant micromechanism, microfluidics, and electromagnetic actuation. The microvalve consists of a suspended gate that rotates in the plane of the chip to regulate flow through the orifices. The gate is suspended by a novel fully-compliant in-plane rotary bistable micromechanism (IPRBM) that advantageously constraints the gate in all other degrees of freedom. Multiple inlet/outlet orifices provide flexibility of operating the microvalve in three different flow/port configurations. The suspended gate is made of a soft magnetic material and is electromagnetically actuated like a rotor in a variable-reluctance stepper motor. Therefore, an external electromagnetic (EM) actuation at the integrated set of posts (stator) causes the gate mass to switch from its default angular position to a second angular position. The microvalve chip is fabricated by electroplating a soft magnetic material, Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) in a sacrificial photoresist mold on a Silicon substrate. The inlet/outlet orifices are then etched into the Silicon substrate from the back-side using deep-reactive ion etch process. Finally, the gate structure is released by stripping the PR and seed layers. This research work presents the realization of a new microvalve design that is distinct from traditional diaphragm-type microvalves. The test results are encouraging and show the potential of these microvalves in effectively modulating flow in microfluidic systems that may not require a tight seal. The microvalve uses a novel in-plane rotary bistable micromechanism that may have other applications such as optical shutters, micro-locks, and passive check valves.

Flapping flight shows promise for micro air vehicle design because flapping wings provide superior aerodynamic performance than that of fixed wings and rotors at low Reynolds numbers. In these flight regimes, unsteady effects become increasingly important. This thesis explores some of the unsteady effects that provide additional lift to flapping wings through an experiment-based optimization of the kinematics of a flapping wing mechanism in a water tunnel. The mechanism wings and flow environment were scaled to simulate the flight of the hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) at hovering or near-hovering speeds. The optimization was repeated using rigid and flexible wings to evaluate the impact that wing flexibility has on aerodynamic performance of flapping wings. The trajectories that produced the highest lift were compared using particle image velocimetry to characterize the flow features produced during the periods of peak lift. A leading edge vortex was observed with all of the flapping trajectories and both wing types, the strength of which corresponded to the measured amount of lift of the wing. This research furthers our understanding of the lift-generating mechanisms used in nature and can be applied to improve the design of micro air vehicles.

Apresenta-se um framework que permite a caracterização, conformação e escalonamento de todas as categorias de serviços A TM, dentro do ambiente de usuário (CEP). Propõem-se um modelo de tráfego otimizado para este ambiente que oferece condições de garantias de QoS individuais para fluxos VBR, tempo real ou não, CBR, ABR e UBR. O modelo proposto, denominado de PCSTS (priority class services traffic shaping), inclui um módulo que permite a obtenção do descritor de tráfego de fluxos desconhecidos. Os fluxos são conformados de forma individual, e em tempo real, segundo um conformador baseado num algoritmo de escalonamento virtual duplo baseado no GCRA do ITU/ ATM Forum. Para a multiplexação dinâmica dos diferentes fluxos do ambiente de usuário, no enlace de acesso, é proposto um algoritmo de escalonamento EDD, modificado através de um sinal de realimentação entre conformador e escalonador, e desta forma tem-se condições de oferecer garantias de limite de atraso e jitter para fluxos individuais de serviços rt-VBR ou nrt-VBR. São apresentadas simulações, tanto da caracterização dos fluxos desconhecidos como da arquitetura do escalonador, que comprovam o comportamento esperado do modelo de tráfego PCSTS. / We present a framework that enhances the characterization, shaping and scheduling of ATM traffic flows for ali ATM service categories in the customer prernise equipment (CPE) environment. We propose an optirnized traffic model, capable to guarantee QoS parameters at per connection levei for VBR services, real time or not, CBR, ABR and UBR services. The model proposed, narned PCSTS (priority classes services traffic shaping), includes a module that performs the characterization of services with unknown traffic descriptor. The flows are shaped individually, in real time, through a shaper based on the double discrete time scheduling algorithm of the GCRA from ITU/ ATM Forum. For the dynarnic multiplexing of the different service flows , at the link levei, a modified EDD scheduling algorithm is proposed with a feedback signal between the scheduling and shaping modules. As a result, it is demonstrated that it is possible to grant jitter and delay bounds for the rt-VBR and nrt-VBR services. We present simulations of the traffic characterization module and of the scheduling architecture, for different services, which confirms the expected behavior of the PCSTS model.

Apresenta-se um framework que permite a caracterização, conformação e escalonamento de todas as categorias de serviços A TM, dentro do ambiente de usuário (CEP). Propõem-se um modelo de tráfego otimizado para este ambiente que oferece condições de garantias de QoS individuais para fluxos VBR, tempo real ou não, CBR, ABR e UBR. O modelo proposto, denominado de PCSTS (priority class services traffic shaping), inclui um módulo que permite a obtenção do descritor de tráfego de fluxos desconhecidos. Os fluxos são conformados de forma individual, e em tempo real, segundo um conformador baseado num algoritmo de escalonamento virtual duplo baseado no GCRA do ITU/ ATM Forum. Para a multiplexação dinâmica dos diferentes fluxos do ambiente de usuário, no enlace de acesso, é proposto um algoritmo de escalonamento EDD, modificado através de um sinal de realimentação entre conformador e escalonador, e desta forma tem-se condições de oferecer garantias de limite de atraso e jitter para fluxos individuais de serviços rt-VBR ou nrt-VBR. São apresentadas simulações, tanto da caracterização dos fluxos desconhecidos como da arquitetura do escalonador, que comprovam o comportamento esperado do modelo de tráfego PCSTS. / We present a framework that enhances the characterization, shaping and scheduling of ATM traffic flows for ali ATM service categories in the customer prernise equipment (CPE) environment. We propose an optirnized traffic model, capable to guarantee QoS parameters at per connection levei for VBR services, real time or not, CBR, ABR and UBR services. The model proposed, narned PCSTS (priority classes services traffic shaping), includes a module that performs the characterization of services with unknown traffic descriptor. The flows are shaped individually, in real time, through a shaper based on the double discrete time scheduling algorithm of the GCRA from ITU/ ATM Forum. For the dynarnic multiplexing of the different service flows , at the link levei, a modified EDD scheduling algorithm is proposed with a feedback signal between the scheduling and shaping modules. As a result, it is demonstrated that it is possible to grant jitter and delay bounds for the rt-VBR and nrt-VBR services. We present simulations of the traffic characterization module and of the scheduling architecture, for different services, which confirms the expected behavior of the PCSTS model.

Apresenta-se um framework que permite a caracterização, conformação e escalonamento de todas as categorias de serviços A TM, dentro do ambiente de usuário (CEP). Propõem-se um modelo de tráfego otimizado para este ambiente que oferece condições de garantias de QoS individuais para fluxos VBR, tempo real ou não, CBR, ABR e UBR. O modelo proposto, denominado de PCSTS (priority class services traffic shaping), inclui um módulo que permite a obtenção do descritor de tráfego de fluxos desconhecidos. Os fluxos são conformados de forma individual, e em tempo real, segundo um conformador baseado num algoritmo de escalonamento virtual duplo baseado no GCRA do ITU/ ATM Forum. Para a multiplexação dinâmica dos diferentes fluxos do ambiente de usuário, no enlace de acesso, é proposto um algoritmo de escalonamento EDD, modificado através de um sinal de realimentação entre conformador e escalonador, e desta forma tem-se condições de oferecer garantias de limite de atraso e jitter para fluxos individuais de serviços rt-VBR ou nrt-VBR. São apresentadas simulações, tanto da caracterização dos fluxos desconhecidos como da arquitetura do escalonador, que comprovam o comportamento esperado do modelo de tráfego PCSTS. / We present a framework that enhances the characterization, shaping and scheduling of ATM traffic flows for ali ATM service categories in the customer prernise equipment (CPE) environment. We propose an optirnized traffic model, capable to guarantee QoS parameters at per connection levei for VBR services, real time or not, CBR, ABR and UBR services. The model proposed, narned PCSTS (priority classes services traffic shaping), includes a module that performs the characterization of services with unknown traffic descriptor. The flows are shaped individually, in real time, through a shaper based on the double discrete time scheduling algorithm of the GCRA from ITU/ ATM Forum. For the dynarnic multiplexing of the different service flows , at the link levei, a modified EDD scheduling algorithm is proposed with a feedback signal between the scheduling and shaping modules. As a result, it is demonstrated that it is possible to grant jitter and delay bounds for the rt-VBR and nrt-VBR services. We present simulations of the traffic characterization module and of the scheduling architecture, for different services, which confirms the expected behavior of the PCSTS model.

The hypersonic laminar to turbulent transition problem above Mach 10 is addressed experimentally in the short duration VKI Longshot gun tunnel. Reentry conditions are partially duplicated in terms of Mach and Reynolds numbers. Pure nitrogen is used as a test gas with flow enthalpies sufficiently low to avoid its dissociation, thus approaching a perfect gas behavior. The stabilizing effects of Mach number and nosetip bluntness on the development of natural boundary layer disturbances are evaluated over a 7 degrees half-angle conical geometry without angle of attack. <p><p>Emphasis is initially placed on the flow characterization of the Longshot wind tunnel where these experiments are performed. Free-stream static pressure diagnostics are implemented in order to complete existing stagnation point pressure and heat flux measurements on a hemispherical probe. An alternative method used to determine accurate free-stream flow conditions is then derived following a rigorous theoretical approach coupled to the VKI Mutation thermo-chemical library. Resulting sensitivities of free-stream quantities to the experimental inputs are determined and the corresponding uncertainties are quantified and discussed. The benefits of this different approach are underlined, revealing the severe weaknesses of traditional methods based on the measurement of reservoir conditions and the following assumptions of an isentropic and adiabatic flow through the nozzle. The operational map of the Longshot wind tunnel is redefined accordingly. The practical limits associated with the onset of nitrogen flow condensation under non-equilibrium conditions are also accounted for. <p><p>Boundary layer transition experiments are then performed in this environment with free-stream Mach numbers ranging between 10-12. Instrumentation along the 800mm long conical model includes flush-mounted thermocouples and fast-response pressure sensors. Transition locations on sharp cones compare favorably with engineering correlations. A strong stabilizing effect of nosetip bluntness is reported and no transition reversal regime is observed for Re_RN<120000. Wavelet analysis of wall pressure traces denote the presence of inviscid instabilities belonging to Mack's second mode. An excellent agreement with Linear Stability Theory results is obtained from which the N-factor of the Longshot wind tunnel in these conditions is inferred. A novel Schlieren technique using a short duration laser light source is developed, allowing for high-quality flow visualization of the boundary layer disturbances. Comparisons of these measurement techniques between each other are finally reported, providing a detailed view of the transition process above Mach 10. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished