Three-dimensional two-phase unsteady CFD simulations were run on three and four-blade inducers for the purpose of analyzing differences in cavitation stability at design and off-design flow rates. At design flow rates, there were very small differences between the breakdown curves for the three and four-bladed inducers. However, at lower cavitation numbers, the three-bladed inducer exhibited up to three times the rotor forces than the four-bladed inducer. When moving to off-design flow rates, both inducers experienced multiple modes of cavitation instabilities including rotating cavitation, alternate-blade cavitation, and cavitation surge. The four-bladed inducer began experiencing the formation of these modes of instability beginning at a cavitation number of $sigma = 0.047$ whereas the three-bladed inducer began at a cavitation number of $sigma = 0.091$. Additionally, the three-bladed inducer showed rotor forces up to ten times higher than the four-bladed inducer at similar cavitation numbers.Three-dimensional single-phase steady CFD simulations were run on four-blade inducer geometries with $7^{circ}$, $9^{circ}$, $11^{circ}$ and $14^{circ}$ inlet tip blade angles with a stability control device (SCD) installed. The simulations were ran at multiple flow coefficients. Results show interesting flow effects from the SCD. For example, at lower flow coefficients, the incidence angle actually decreases at greater than 70\% span. This is due to a region of accelerated axial flow coming from the recirculation of the SCD which occurs near the shroud. Results also show strong correlations between efficiency and head rise to the local mass flow gain experienced due to the recirculating flow through the SCD. A best fit curve was generated to predict mass flow gain based on the inducer's inlet tip blade angle and flow coefficient. Based on this research, the ability to predict mass flow gain and consequently efficiency and head rise for similarly designed inducers with varying inlet blade angles has been demonstrated.

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-06-14T17:15:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Vinícius de Oliveira Kuhn - 2014.pdf: 14459455 bytes, checksum: 11696ddc15a23f367e9d7747b46d68ba (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2017-07-07T19:38:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Vinícius de Oliveira Kuhn - 2014.pdf: 14459455 bytes, checksum: 11696ddc15a23f367e9d7747b46d68ba (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-07T19:38:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Vinícius de Oliveira Kuhn - 2014.pdf: 14459455 bytes, checksum: 11696ddc15a23f367e9d7747b46d68ba (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-15 / Outro / Often overlooked, the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils when subjected to high suctions is relevant for several engineering problems. These range from common questions regarding the behavior of near-surface desiccated clays to very specific challenges, such as the design of nuclear waste disposal barriers. In this context, the objectives of this work are to experimentally study the shear strength of a compacted unsaturated tropical soil considering high suctions, to evaluate the performance of existing shear strength models, and to develop a model that addresses the particular behavior observed under high suctions. The material studied, a residual clayey soil from Goiania, GO, Brazil derived from mica schist, was semi-statically compacted at optimum conditions corresponding to the Standard Proctor. An extensive experimental program was undertaken, manly comprised of CDnsat triaxial tests for relatively low matric suctions (i.e., lower than 300 kPa), CW triaxial tests for relatively high total suctions, and Brazilian tensile tests also for high total suctions. The CW triaxial and tensile tests required the measurements of suction before and after failure. These measurements were carried out using both the filter paper technique for total and matric suction and a dew point potentiometer for total suction. In addition, tests were performed to determine the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) at unconfined condition. Data obtained from unsaturated triaxial tests also allowed the measurement of the SWCC, specifically for the soil consolidated at different confining stresses and for the soil subjected to deviator stresses. The experimental program was complemented by consolidated-drained triaxial tests and isotropic compression tests, both under saturated conditions. The monitoring of several stress, strain, and volume-mass state variables allowed for a detailed evaluation of soil behavior. Based on the results of the experimental program, it was determined that for total suctions ranging from zero up to approximately 10,000 kPa there is significant nonlinear shear strength increase. Beyond that suction, shear strength decreases as the soil desaturates. The shear strength loss depends on the net normal stress, with the soil presenting smaller reductions in shear strength for higher confining stresses. A remarkable relationship between the SWCC and the shear strength was observed, with the point of maximum strength corresponding to the air-entry value of the micropores. The relationship between shear strength and the water stored in micropores that are generally present within clay aggregates indicates the importance of the mechanical stability of these soil aggregates. The performance of different fitting and prediction models was evaluated considering both low suctions and the wide range of suctions used in the experimental program. Existing prediction models based on SWCC proved inaccurate for high suctions, requiring changes in their formulations. A new family of models that consider the entire range of suctions, including the loss of shear strength, was proposed. Finally, the prediction models using the SWCC of the soil under deviator stress (i.e., peak conditions) was evaluated, showing that the use of the unconfined SWCC presents superior prediction results to both low suctions and the wide range of suctions. / Geralmente desprezado, o comportamento mecânico dos solos não saturados quando submetidos a elevadas sucções é relevante em diversos problemas, desde o comportamento de camadas superficiais de argilas ressecadas até o desempenho de barreiras para disposição de resíduos nucleares. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é estudar experimentalmente a resistência ao cisalhamento de um solo tropical compactado não saturado considerando altas sucções, avaliar modelos de comportamento existentes e desenvolver um modelo de comportamento que contemple altas sucções. O material estudado, uma argila residual madura de micaxisto de Goiânia, GO, foi compactada semi-estaticamente na condição ótima correspondente ao Proctor Normal. Foi desenvolvida uma campanha de investigações experimentais que incluiu ensaios triaxiais com controle de sucção do tipo CDnsat, para relativamente baixas sucções matriciais (i.e., menores que 300 kPa), ensaios triaxiais do tipo CW para relativamente altas sucções totais e ensaios de compressão diametral, também para altas sucções totais. Os ensaios do tipo CW e de compressão diametral foram realizados com medição de sucção pré e pós ruptura. Pra tal, foram empregadas a técnicas do papel filtro para sucções totais e matriciais e um potenciômetro de ponto de orvalho para sucções totais. Foram também realizados ensaios de determinação da curva característica solo-água (CCSA) em condições não confinadas, dados esses que foram combinados com CCSAs obtidas a partir dos ensaios triaxiais não saturados, para diferentes tensões confinantes e para diferentes tensões desvio. O programa experimental foi complementado com ensaios triaxiais do tipo CD e ensaios de compressão isotrópica, ambos para o solo saturado. O monitoramento de diversas variáveis de estado de tensão, deformação e volume-massa, permitiu uma avaliação ampla do comportamento do solo. Baseado nos resultados experimentais, foi determinado que o solo submetido à sucções de até aproximadamente 10.000 kPa tem significante, porém não linear, ganho de resistência ao cisalhamento. A partir deste ponto o solo sofre perda de parte dessa resistência. A perda de resistência depende das tensões normais líquidas, sendo essa perda menor para tensões confinantes maiores. Foi observada uma marcante relação entre a CCSA e a resistência ao cisalhamento, sendo o ponto de máxima resistência associado ao ponto de início da secagem dos microporos. A relação entre a resistência ao cisalhamento e a água armazenada nos microporos, geralmente presente em agregados de argila, indica a importância da resistência interna desses agregados. Foram avaliados os desempenhos de diversos modelos de comportamento de solos não saturados na representação do comportamento do solo estudado, considerando baixas sucções e toda a faixa de sucções empregadas. Foi proposta uma nova família de modelos que considera toda a faixa de sucções, incluindo a perda de resistência ao cisalhamento. Modelos de previsão baseados na CCSA existentes na literatura mostraram-se pouco acurados para altas sucções, sendo necessárias alterações nas formulações. Finalmente, os modelos de previsão foram avaliados utilizando as CCSAs de estado de ruptura, mostrando que o uso de CCSAs desconfinadas apresentam melhor previsão de resistência tanto para altas sucções (todas as sucções) quanto para baixas sucções (até 2.000 kPa).