<p>The aerodynamic excitation of the diametral acoustic modes of an axisymmetric cavity-duct system is investigated experimentally. The change experienced by the acoustic diametral modes with the increase of the mean flow Mach number is investigated numerically. The first objective of this research is to examine the ability of the axisymmetric free shear layer forming along the cavity mouth to excite the asymmetric diametral modes which do not have preferred azimuthal orientations. The dependency of the system aeroacoustic response on both the cavity length and its depth is investigated to determine the limitations imposed by the relative dimensions of the cavity on the excitation process. The azimuthal behaviour of the self-excited diametral modes is also characterized.</p> <p> An experimental set-up is designed to ensure the coincidence of the frequencies of the shear layer oscillation with the acoustic resonance frequencies. The selection of the test section dimensions is based on finite element simulation of the acoustic diametral modes for several geometries. To simulate the diametral modes at different flow Mach numbers, a finite difference code is developed based on a two-step computational aeroacoustic approach. This approach allows the simulation of the acoustic field, taking into account the convection effect of the mean flow.</p> <p>The experimental results show that the diametral modes are very liable to be self-excited when the mean flow Mach number is higher than 0.1. The level of acoustic pressure during the diametral mode resonance increases rapidly with the increase of the ratio of the cavity depth, d, to the pipe diameter, D. However, the maximum acoustic pressure during each resonance decreases with the increase of the ratio of the cavity length, L, to the pipe diameter, D. The selfexcitation of the diametral modes is sustainable with d/D as small as 1/12. Further reduction in this ratio may result in complete suppression of the resonance. For deep cavities, d/D>3/12, the first and second diametral modes are more liable to excitation than the higher order modes. This is attributed to the fact that the low order modes have relatively higher radial acoustic particle velocity amplitude at the cavity mouth compared to the higher order ones. For d/D=l/12, the higher order modes have relatively higher radial acoustic particle velocity amplitude and consequently their tendency to be self-excited increases. For long cavities, L/D>2/3, the duct longitudinal acoustic modes start to be excited and become more dominant as the cavity length is further increased. The excitation mechanism of these longitudinal modes has not been investigated in this work since sufficient details already exist in the literature.</p> <p>The azimuthal behaviour of the diametral modes is characterized for all the tested cases. For short cavities, the diametral modes are classified as spinning modes; while for long cavities, L/D> 1/2, the orientation of the mode changes randomly over time. Small imperfections in the axisymmetric geometry result in what is described as partially spinning modes. An analytical model is developed to describe quantitatively the spinning behaviour of the diametral modes. The free shear layer and the diametral modes are found to be fully coupled in the azimuthal direction. The random behaviour of the diametral modes in the case of long cavities is attributed to the increase of randomness in the turbulent shear layer </p> <p>The numerical simulations show that the diametral modes experience considerable changes with the increase of the mean flow Mach number. At the cavity mouth, both the amplitude and phase distributions of the acoustic particle velocity are altered with the increase of the Mach number. This demonstrates the importance of considering the effect of the mean flow on the acoustic power production process. Moreover, the resonance frequency of the diametral modes decreases with the increase of the Mach number.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Aeroacoustic whistles are a significant source of customer complaints to automotive manufacturers. Whistles can occur on many such components, but the relative position and configuration of rearview mirrors means they are a more problematic source of tonal noise on vehicles. The low subsonic complex turbulent flow, combined with small cavity scales, determines the possible whistle mechanisms. The one considered to be most problematic, fluid-dynamic cavity resonance, is the topic of this research thesis. The research scope is limited to the automotive environment of external rearview mirrors and the fluid-dynamic resonance mechanism: low subsonic Mach number, M = 0.05 - 0.13; laminar boundary layers; and two-dimensional, acoustically compact cavities. The low unit-cost of rearview mirrors and the desire to have simple identification and prediction schemes, that could be used by production engineers, determined an empirical approach. A search of the existing literature revealed that there were some data on cavities of the above scale in low Mach number flow, but quoted errors in empirical descriptions were large and there was very little research on the effects of flow yaw angle on the chosen resonance mechanism. The research therefore aims to determine whether existing empirical descriptions of fluid-dynamic cavity resonance are suitable for the prediction of the resonance characteristics, with sufficient accuracy to enable unambiguous identification of the presence of the resonance and its mechanism. A second aim is to investigate the effects of a feature of the automotive flow environment, flow yaw angle, on the resonance. Flow yaw angle is determined by those components of the flow in the same plane as the surface in which the cavity is situated. An experimental program was undertaken using a purpose-built aeroacoustic wind tunnel and a simple cavity model. Testing with two types of cavity configurations, as well as flow visualisation, investigated the main features of the resonance in time-averaged yawed flow. Within the scope of this thesis, it is shown that fluid-dynamic cavity resonance characteristics can be accurately identified by a simple empirical model, even in yawed flow. Various descriptors allow identification of the resonance threshold, stage, frequency and relative amplitude in non-yawed flow, while the frequency and stage can also be identified in yawed flow. The relative decrease in resonance amplitude in yawed flow, although identified for these experiments, would depend on the degree of spanwise variation in the boundary layer characteristics for a given cavity configuration. The results also identify significant issues with testing in a free jet tunnel, due to the nature of fluid-dynamic cavity resonance and the fluctuation energy content in free shear layers. Despite this, the thesis aims are achieved, and appropriate design guidelines are produced for automotive designers.

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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