Vortex shedding is an important mechanism, by which the flow around bluff bodies create forces that excite vibratory motion. Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) is studied for a single circular cylinder by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. An arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) formulation is used to achieve the grid deformation needed for VIV. In this thesis, a multifaceted approach is undertaken by which response dynamics and wake interaction are addressed. Four major aspects are considered in the study: the Reynolds number (Re); the mass and damping; the degree-of-freedom for VIV; and the mutual effect between VIV and heat transfer.As attention is paid towards high pre-critical Re flow, the turbulent flow around the cylinder is treated by two turbulence modelling approaches: unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (uRANS), and Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The wake-VIV interaction is analyzed by looking at mean velocities and Reynolds stresses, where decomposition of flow scales is undertaken to explore the evolution of coherent eddy structures, downstream of the cylinder. Conversely, the VIV response is analyzed by considering oscillation amplitude and frequency, in addition to the excitation and inertial dynamics.High turbulence in the separated shear layers disorders the cylinder's VIV response and induces higher amplitudes. The sensitivity for Re is found more pronounced in cylinders with low mass and damping. Meanwhile, VIV is found to enhance wake mixing, and to significantly change the near wake Reynolds stresses. It is suggested that the increase in Re brings a change to the wake patterns, which are known in VIV at lower Re. The kinetic energy production, of near wake eddy structures, is qualitatively altered with the presence of VIV. Furthermore, the surface heat flux is found to cause a noticeable increase in VIV amplitude, as long as it does not disorder the wake correlation. The cylinder's oscillation increases the average value of the Nusselt number (Nu), while the local variance of Nu rises markedly post-separation.

In this research, an elastic cylinder that utilized vortex-induced vibration (VIV) was applied to improve convective heat transfer rates by disrupting the thermal boundary layer. Rigid and elastic cylinders were placed across a fluid channel. Vortex shedding around the cylinder led to the periodic vibration of the cylinder. As a result, the flow-structure interaction (FSI) increased the disruption of the thermal boundary layer, and therefore, improved the mixing process at the boundary. This study aims to improve convective heat transfer rate by increasing the perturbation in the fluid flow. A three-dimensional numerical model was constructed to simulate the effects of different flow channel geometries, including a channel with a stationary rigid cylinder, a channel with a elastic cylinder, a channel with two elastic cylinders of the same diameter, and a channel with two elastic cylinders of different diameters. Through the numerical simulations, the channel maximum wall temperature was found to be reduced by approximately 10% with a stationary cylinder and by around 17% when introducing an elastic cylinder in the channel compared with the channel without the cylinder. Channels with two-cylinder conditions were also studied in the current research. The additional cylinder with the same diameter in the fluid channel only reduced the surface wall temperature by 3% compared to the channel without any cylinders because the volume of the second cylinder could occupy some space, and therefore, reduce the effect of the convective heat transfer. By reducing the diameter of the second cylinder by 25% increased the effect of the convection heat transfer and reduced the maximum wall temperature by around 15%. Compared to the channel with no cylinder, the introduction of cylinders into the channel flow was found to increase the average Nusselt number by 55% with the insertion of a stationary rigid cylinder, by 85% with the insertion of an elastic cylinder, by 58% with the insertion of two cylinders of the same diameter, and by approximately 70% with the insertion of two cylinders of different diameters (the second cylinder having the smaller diameter). Furthermore, it was also found that the maximum local Nusselt number could be enhanced by around 200%-400% at the entrance of the fluid channel by using the elastic cylinders compared to the channel without cylinders.

One of the primary objectives of voice research is to better understand the biomechanics of voice production and how changes in properties of the vocal folds (VFs) affect voice ability and quality. Synthetic VF models provide a way to observe how changes in geometry and material property affect voice biomechanics. This thesis seeks to evaluate an approach of using a genetic algorithm to design synthetic VF models in three ways: first, through the development of a computationally cost-effective 3D vocal fold model; second, by creating and optimizing a variation of this model; and third, by validating the approach. To reduce computation times, a user-defined function (UDF) was implemented in low-fidelity 2D and 3D computational VF models. The UDF replaced the conventional meshed fluid domain with the mechanical energy equation. The UDF was implemented in the commercial finite element code ADINA and verified to produce results that were similar to those of 2D and 3D VF models with meshed fluid domains. Computation times were reduced by 86% for 2D VF models and 74% for 3D VF models while core vibratory characteristic changes were less than 5%. The results from using the UDF demonstrate that computation times could be reduced while still producing acceptable results. A genetic algorithm optimizer was developed to study the effects of altering geometry and material elasticity on frequency, closed quotient (CQ), and maximum flow declination rate (MFDR). The objective was to achieve frequency and CQ values within the normal human physiological range while maximizing MFDR. The resulting models enabled an exploration of trends between objective and design variables. Significant trends and aspects of model variability are discussed. The results demonstrate the benefit of using a structured model exploration method to create models with desirable characteristics. Two synthetic VF models were fabricated to validate predictions made by models produced by the genetic algorithm. Fabricated models were subjected to tests where frequency, CQ, and sound pressure level were measured. Trends between computational and synthetic VF model responses are discussed. The results show that predicted frequency trends between computational and synthetic models were similar, trends for closed quotient were inconclusive, and relationships between MFDR and sound pressure level remained consistent. Overall, while discrepancies between computational and synthetic VF model results were observed and areas in need of further study are noted, the study results provide evidence of potential for using the present optimization method to design synthetic VF models.

L’objet de ce travail est d’étudier l’influence de l’anisotropie structurale, induite lors de la mise en forme d’un Polylactide (PLA), sur les dynamiques moléculaires de la phase amorphe. Deux procédés de mise en oeuvre sont retenus : l’électrofilage et la cristallisation induite par flux. Le premier permet d’aboutir à un système non-cristallin, lorsque le deuxième permet d’aboutir à un système semi-cristallin. Pour chaque système, une étude microstructurale est préalablement réalisée pour mettre en avant l’anisotropie structurale induite lors de la mise en oeuvre. Pour ce faire différentes techniques d’analyses sont utilisées : microscopie optique, microscopie électronique, diffraction des rayons X, calorimétrie à balayage différentielle (DSC) et calorimétrie à balayage rapide (FSC). L’utilisation de la FSC s’avère précieuse. Du fait des vitesses extrêmement rapide (1000 K.s-1) et de la diminution importante de la masse (dizaine de nanogrammes), la transition vitreuse et la cinétique de vieillissement physique sont au préalable étudiées dans le cas d’un PLA amorphe. Il est montré que les vitesses de refroidissement atteignable en FSC permettent d’accélérer les cinétiques de vieillissement physique. Les dynamiques moléculaires sont ensuite étudiées à travers le concept de coopérativité et le phénomène de vieillissement physique. Il est montré que l’orientation préférentielle induite dans le système non-cristallin aboutit à la formation de mésophase qui augmente la coopérativité, autrement dit les interactions intermoléculaires. Dans le cas du système semi-cristallin, les dynamiques moléculaires sont influencées par le couplage amorphe/cristal et le confinement des cristaux, et non pas par l’anisotropie structurale induite avant cristallisation. / The aim of this work is to investigate the molecular dynamics of Polylactide (PLA) subjected to structural anisotropy during its processing. To do so, two experimental set-ups were used: electrospinning and flow induced crystallization. The first one leads to non-crystalline system, while the second one leads to semi-crystalline system. For each system, the microstructure is investigated to highlight the structural anisotropy induced during the processing. Different experimental techniques are used: optical microscopy, electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC). FSC proves to be useful. Due to the high scanning rates (1000 K.s-1) and the decrease of the sample mass (few tens of nanogrammes), glass transition and physical aging kinetics are beforehand investigated in the case of a wholly amorphous PLA. It is shown that high cooling rates available by FSC allow to accelerate physical aging kinetics. Molecular dynamics are then investigated through concept of cooperativity and phenomenon of physical aging. It is shown that preferential orientation induced during electrospinning leads to the formation of mesophase, which increase cooperativity, namely the intermolecular interactions. With regard to semi-crystalline system, molecular dynamics are only affected by the coupling between amorphous/crystal and the confinement effect of the crystals, rather than the structural anisotropy induced before the crystallization step.

No description available.

<p>This thesis investigates the characteristics of a long aspect ratio synthetic jet actuator and its application for the active control of the vibrations of the downstream cylinder in a tandem cylinder arrangement.</p> <p>A long aspect ratio synthetic jet is produced through an axial slit along part of the length of a cylinder. The jet is excited acoustically by a pair of loudspeakers mounted at the cylinder terminations. The study compares between the performance of two different slits with aspect ratios of 273 and 773. The comparison is based on the spanwise distribution of the mean jet velocity and phase between the jet velocity fluctuations and the excitation signal. Three different frequencies and amplitudes are used to excite the speakers covering the range of frequencies used in the control application.</p> <p>For both cases studied the mean centerline velocity of the jet increases with increasing the amplitude of the exciting signal, but decreases with increasing its frequency. Moreover, velocity deficits of up to 30% are evident as the midspan of the cylinder is approached from either end. Similar trends are also observed for the centerline phase distributions of the velocity fluctuations, with deficits of up to 130°. However, it is observed that for the long slit case the deficits in both the velocity and phase distributions are much larger than those for the short one.</p> <p>The synthetic jet is then mounted in the upstream cylinder of a tandem cylinder arrangement to be used as a control actuator for controlling the vibrations of the downstream cylinder. A simple feedback control mechanism is used at a Reynolds</p> <p>number of about 6.3x104. This Reynolds number corresponds to the case where the iii</p> <p>downstream cylinder’s response is dominated with two frequency components, one at the resonance frequency of the cylinder, which is excited by broadband turbulence in the flow, and the other at the vortex shedding frequency. Both slits studied for the characterization experiments are used to compare their performance as control actuators.</p> <p>Both jets produce comparable reductions in the vibration of the downstream cylinder. A reduction of about 20% in the total RMS amplitude of the vibrations signal is achieved. This amounts to a reduction of about 50% in the resonant peak and an average value of about 40% in the vortex shedding peak. The optimal values of gain and time lag of the controller are then used to investigate the effect of the jet on the flow. It is found that the short slit jet produced an effect that was traced up to 1.875 diameters downstream, while the effect of the long slit jet dropped dramatically very close to the upstream cylinder.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

This thesis provides a comprehensive investigation of flow-sound-structure coupling in spring-loaded valves subjected to air flow. While they are commonly used in a multitude of applications, these types of valves have been found to experience severe vibrations when interaction is present among the structure, the hydrodynamic field, and the acoustic field for a range of operational valve structural characteristics, flow parameters, and connected piping length. The first part of this investigation was aimed at characterizing experimentally the valve’s dynamic behaviour and the parameters affecting the onset of self-excited instability. The occurrence of instability was mainly driven by the presence of acoustic feedback: the connected length of piping had to be sufficiently long, with a longer pipe correlating to more severe vibrations. In addition, it was found that the valve’s oscillation frequency depends on the modal characteristics of the combined valve piping system, rather than the structural natural frequency alone. Furthermore, an increase in the valve’s spring stiffness caused the vibrations to become more severe. Meanwhile, other parameters such as initial spring preload force and valve plate area only had moderate effects on the stability behaviour of the valve. The second part of the investigation sought to develop a theoretical model that could simulate the valve’s response when subjected to air flow while considering the effects of acoustic feedback and impact on the seat and limiter. Thus, a structural model of the valve was developed based on a single-degree-of-freedom model of the system with impact computed based on a pseudo-force method. The hydrodynamic field relied on a one dimensional unsteady Bernoulli description of the flow. Finally, the acoustic interaction was accounted for using the one-dimensional wave equation resolved using a finite difference scheme. The model has demonstrated remarkable agreement with the experimental results. It has shown an ability to predict the modal characteristics of the system as well as correctly predict the effect of increased stiffness or increased piping length on vibration amplitude. The final part of the investigation consisted in designing countermeasures to mitigate the effects of this self-excited instability mechanism. A concentric Helmholtz-type cavity resonator, an orifice plate, and an anechoic termination are placed at the downstream side of a model valve which were seen to be unstable in the experimental and modelling phases of the investigation. All tested devices were able to eliminate the self excited instability mechanism. The applicability and robustness of each of these methods were discussed. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A wave cavity resonator (WCR) is investigated to determine the suitability of the device as an energy harvester in rivers or tidal flows. The WCR consists of coupling between self-excited oscillations of turbulent flow of water in an open channel along the opening of a rectangular cavity and the standing gravity wave in the cavity. The device was investigated experimentally for a range of inflow velocities, cavity opening lengths, and characteristic depths of the water. Determining appropriate models and empirical relations for the system over a range of depths allows for accuracy when designing prototypes and tools for determining the suitability of a particular river or tidal flow as a potential WCR site. The performance of the system when coupled with a wave absorber/generator is also evaluated for a range piston strokes in reference to cavity wave height. Video recording of the oscillating free-surface inside the resonator cavity in conjunction with free-surface elevation measurements using a capacitive wave gauge provides representation of the resonant wave modes of the cavity as well as the degree of the flow-wave coupling in terms of the amplitude and the quality factor of the associated spectral peak. Moreover, application of digital particle image velocimetry (PIV) provides insight into the evolution of the vortical structures that form across the cavity opening. Coherent oscillations were attainable for a wide range of water depths. Variation of the water depth affected the degree of coupling between the shear layer oscillations and the gravity wave as well as the three-dimensionality of the flow structure. In terms of the power investigation, conducted with the addition of a load cell and linear table-driven piston, the device is likely limited to running low power instrumentation unless it can be up-scaled. Up-scaling of the system, while requiring additional design considerations, is not unreasonable; large-scale systems of resonant water waves and the generation of large scale vortical structures due to tidal or river flows are even observed naturally. / Graduate / 0547 / 0548 / reaumejd@uvic.ca

Os resultados de uma simulação numérica são apresentados para amplitudes de vibração induzidas por um escoamento transversal num feixe tubular no regime de instabilidade fluidelástica.O feixe tubular considerado tem geometria e características iguais às de uma instalação equivalente descrita na literatura, para a qual estão disponíveis as medições experimentais das amplitudes de vibração no regime de instabilidade elástica.O arranjo tipo triângulo rodado tem uma relação passo/diâmetro de 1,375 e consiste de um tubo móvel cercado por 134 tubos rígidos.A simulação numérica foi efetuada através de um software comercial de CFD (Computational Fluid dynamics).Para a região em torno de cada tubo foi considerada uma malha com dimensões do elemento crescendo geometricamente na direção normal ao tubo com fator de crescimento 1,13 , sendo a dimensão do elemento adjacente ao tubo igual a 0,1% do diâmetro externo do tubo.Na simulação numérica o escoamento foi considerado incompressível, monofásico, turbulento e bidimensional. Os dados do escoamento foram considerados idênticos aos das experiências da instalação descrita na literatura.Os resultados obtidos para as amplitudes pela simulação numérica são comparados com os resultados obtidos experimentalmente na instalação acima citada.Os desvios da maioria dos valores calculados em relação aos valores experimentais estão numa faixa aceitável. Isto mostra que existe a possibilidade de utilização, num futuro próximo, de CFD para análise deste tipo de problemas. / Results from a numerical simulation are reported for amplitudes of cross-flow induced vibrations at the fluid elastic instability regime in a tube bank. The tube bank has identical geometry and characteristics as for an experimental facility described in the literature, for which there are experimental measurements of the amplitudes of vibrations at the fluid elastic instability regime.The rotated triangular array has a pitch ratio of 1.375 and consists of 1 movable tube surrounded by 134 rigid tubes. The numerical simulations were accomplished with a commercial CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software. For the region around each tube, a mesh with elements dimensions growing geometrically normal to the tube was considered, with growing factor 1.13, and the dimension for the element adjacent to the tube wall was set to 0.1% of the tube external diameter. The flow was considered incompressible, monophasic, turbulent and two-dimensional for the numerical simulation. The flow data considered were the same as for the experiments at the facility. The results presented in this paper for the amplitudes obtained by numerical simulation are compared with the experimental results obtained in the above mentioned experimental facility.The differences between the calculated values and the experimental values are acceptable. This show that in the near future there is the possibility to use CFD for these kind of problems.

La prédiction des vibrations induites par un écoulement est essentielle dans la conception des conduits de nombreuses installations industrielles, en particulier dans l’industrie du gaz. Notre étude concerne la prévision du bruit et la vibration des conduits soumis à un écoulement turbulent à faible nombre de Mach. Notre objectif est de présenter une étude numérique et expérimentale permettant aux ingénieurs de mieux comprendre le couplage entre l’excitation aléatoire et le conduit pour deux géométries (circulaire ou rectangulaire). Une approche expérimentale est développée et utilisée pour valider les prévisions numériques. Deux cas sont étudiés : (i) un conduit droit sans singularité, où les modes acoustiques du conduit sont excités par une couche limite turbulente (TBL) et (ii) un conduit droit avec un diaphragme inséré en amont qui génère une source acoustique localisée. La contribution acoustique est déterminée soit par des méthodes de mesure d’interspectres, soit à l’aide des outils de mécanique des fluides numérique (CFD) et d’analogies aéroacoustiques. La réponse de la structure est estimée par une approche dite de « couplage faible » qui utilise des fonctions de transfert modale d’un conduit fini simplement appuyé. Les mesures conduiront à évaluer et suggérer des améliorations de modèles empiriques existants de densité interspectrale de puissance (CPSD) dans un contexte d’écoulements internes turbulents. Une analyse modale expérimentale d’un conduit rectangulaire finie est confrontée à des méthodes de calcul pour évaluer l’effet des conditions aux limites, du rayonnement acoustique et de l’amortissement aérodynamique. Le couplage fluide structure est analysé par la fonction de « joint acceptance » à la fois dans le domaine spatial et dans le domaine des nombres d’onde. L’excitation comprend à la fois les contributions acoustiques et hydrodynamiques à l’aide des CPSD exprimées sur la base des fonctions de cohérence de type Corcos, champ diffus et modes acoustiques d’ordre élevé. Enfin, les études numériques et expérimentales de cette thèse ont été utilisées pour développer un cadre d’étude et de modélisation du bruit et des vibrations dans les conduites, qui relie la dynamique des fluides, les modèles analytiques et empiriques à des techniques efficaces d’analyse aléatoire. / Pipeline and duct vibrations can cause a range of issues from unplanned shutdownsto decreased equipment life time. Thus, the prediction of flow-induced vibrations is essential in piping design in many industrial plants, especially, for Gas industry. This study deals with the prediction of pipe flow noise and vibration at low Mach number. We aim to present a numerical and experimental study which can offer engineers a better understanding of the coupling between random excitation and duct section for two geometries (circular or rectangular). An experimental facility and measurement approach is developed and used to validate numerical predictions. Two cases are investigated: (i) a straight duct with no singularity, duct acoustic modes are excited by the Turbulent Boundary Layer (TBL) and (ii) a straight duct with a diaphragm inserted upstream generating a localized acoustic source. The acoustic contribution is either measured via cross-spectra based methods or calculated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and aeroacoustic analogies. The response of the structure is estimated via a ‘blocked’ approach using analytical modal Frequency Response Functions (FRFs) of a simply supported finite duct. Measurements will lead to evaluate and suggest improvements to existing Cross Power Spectral Density (CPSD) empirical models in a context of internal turbulent flows. Experimental modalanalysis of a finite rectangular duct are confronted to computational methods to assess the effect of the Boundary Conditions (BCs), the resistive damping from coupling with the internal acoustic medium and aerodynamic damping. The fluid-structure coupling is analyzed through the joint acceptance function both in the spatial and wave number domain. The excitation includes both the acoustic and hydrodynamic contributions using CPSD written on the basis of Corcos, Diffuse Acoustic Field (DAF) and acoustic duct mode coherence functions. Finally, the numerical and experimental studies in this thesis were used to develop a framework for studying and modelling pipe flow noise and vibration which links CFD, analytical and empirical models to efficient random analysis techniques.