Experiments were performed to document the turbulent flowfield produced downstream of an airfoil encountering an intense streamwise vortex. This type of perpendicular airfoil--vortex interaction commonly occurs in helicopter rotor flows. The experiments presented here thus provide useful information for the prediction of helicopter noise, particularly BWI noise. Three-component velocity and turbulence measurements were made in unprecedented detail using a computerized miniature four-sensor hot-wire probe system; revealing much about the structure and behavior of this flow over a range of conditions. The interaction between the vortex and the airfoil wake leaves the vortex surrounded by a large region of intense turbulence unlike the turbulence surrounding an isolated vortex. Even for close separations, the vortex core passes the airfoil virtually unchanged. However, vorticity of opposite sign is shed by the airfoil in response to the angle of attack distribution induced by the vortex resulting in an unstable circulation distribution according to Rayleigh's criterion. Simple theoretical models adequately describe the shed vorticity distribution of the airfoil and the unstable circulation distribution it imparts on the vortex. As the flow develops, the vortex continuously distorts the airfoil wake. The strain rates imparted by the vortex on the spanwise vorticity contained in the airfoil wake result in an anisotropic, turbulence producing stress field. For several chord lengths downstream, the vortex core remains laminar and little change is seen in the unstable circulation distribution. While the vortex core is laminar, turbulent fluctuations measured in the core are the result of inactive wandering motions and the characteristic length and velocity scales of the flat portion of the vortex wake appear to be appropriate scales for the fluctuations. Eventually, the vortex core becomes turbulent as indicated by an increase in high frequency velocity fluctuation levels of more than an order of magnitude. Subsequently, the circulation distribution reorganizes to a stable distribution. A loss in core circulation occurs due to a decrease in the peak tangential velocity which is proportionately larger than the increase in the vortex core radius. The peak tangential velocity decreases to the point where it is exceeded by the axial velocity deficit---another unstable situation. These effects increase with decreased separation between the vortex and the airfoil, but appear to be largely independent of airfoil angle of attack an only weakly dependent upon vortex strength. / Ph. D.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental a respeito do fenômeno da biestabilidade em cilindros finitos com média razão de aspecto. Na biestabilidade, há uma esteira estreita a jusante de um dos cilindros e uma esteira larga a jusante do outro. Pode estar presente em muitas situações práticas da engenharia dependendo da distância entre os cilindros. Em cilindros finitos ainda é pouco compreendida e explorada. Para compreender o mecanismo do desprendimento de vórtices, são estudados o escoamento em torno de um único cilindro finito, com cilindros de diâmetros entre 25 e 60 mm e razão de aspecto entre 1 e 4 e após, o escoamento em torno de dois cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado, com cilindros de diâmetros entre 25 e 32 mm e razão de aspecto entre 3 e 4. A técnica experimental aplicada consiste na medição das flutuações de velocidade em canal aerodinâmico, utilizando a técnica de anemometria de fio quente e na visualização do escoamento no mesmo canal, mantendo os parâmetros, utilizando gelo seco e laser. Além disso, foi realizada a visualização do escoamento em canal hidráulico com as mesmas dimensões do canal aerodinâmico, utilizando injeção de tinta através de agulhas. Para o estudo foram utilizados Re=2,00×104 para um cilindro finito e 3,86×103 ≤ Re ≤ 4,81×104 para cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado. Os dados medidos em canal aerodinâmico são tratados através de ferramentas estatísticas, espectrais e de ondaletas, e os resultados das visualizações do escoamento são apresentados por meio de imagens obtidas das filmagens realizadas com uma câmera digital. Além disso, os vídeos são tratados com softwares de edição de vídeo e com ferramentas estatísticas. Os resultados confirmam a existência do fenômeno da biestabilidade para dois cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado, que é um dos objetivos do estudo, nas três posições estudadas. A técnica de visualização de escoamento reforça a interpretação dos resultados obtidos através da técnica de anemometria de fio quente. Neste trabalho é considerada a existência de três escoamentos concomitantes: o escoamento ascendente, caracterizado pela estrutura de vórtices na base; o escoamento descendente, caracterizado pela estrutura de vórtices no topo; e o aqui chamado escoamento principal, caracterizado pelo desprendimento de vórtices a meia altura dos cilindros. / This work presents an experimental study on the bistability phenomenon in finite cylinders with a mid-aspect ratio. In the bistability phenomenon the flow to form two wakes behind the cylinders, a large wake behind a cylinder and a narrow wake after another. It can be present in many practical engineering situations depending on the distance between the cylinders. In finite cylinders, it is still poorly understood and explored. To understand the vortex shedding mechanism are studied the flow in a single finite cylinder with diameters between 25 and 60 mm and aspect ratio between 1 and 4 is studied. After that, the flow of two finite cylinders placed side by side with cylinders of diameters between 25 and 32 mm and aspect ratio between 3 and 4 was studied. The experimental technique of hot wire anemometry in aerodynamic channel is applied in the measurement of velocity fluctuations of the flow. The flow visualization was performed on the same aerodynamic channel, keeping the parameters, through using dry ice and laser. In addition, flow visualization is performed on the hydraulic channel with the same dimensions of the aerodynamic channel using ink injection through needles. All images are captured with a camera digital. For the study, Re=2.00×104 for a finite cylinder and 3.86×103 ≤ Re ≤ 4.81×104 for finite cylinders arranged side by side were used. The data measured in aerodynamic channel are treated through statistics, spectral and wavelet tools and the videos are treated through video editing software and with statistical tools. The results show the existence of two different levels of mean velocity in time series, corresponding to two flow modes confirming the phenomenon of bistability for two finite cylinders placed side by side, which is one of the objectives of the study. The flow visualization technique strengthens the interpretation of the results obtained through the hot wire anemometer technique. In this work the existence of three concomitant flows is considered: the upwash flow, characterized by the vortex structure in the base; the downwash flow, characterized by the vortex structure at the top; and the so-called main flow, characterized by the vortex shedding at half height of the cylinders.

This thesis examines the effects of spatial location, Reynolds number and near exit flow modification on the development region of a round, free, turbulent jet. It is based on the publications generated by the author. The experiments were carried out over the range of Reynolds numbers between 10000 < ReD < 50000, where ReD is calculated based on the jet exit mean velocity and the nozzle exit diameter. The measurements were performed in the near- to intermediate-field region of a free jet defined between 0 ≤ x/D ≤ 30. In order to control the flow near the exit, two wire rings, with square cross-sections, of sides h = 1.5 mm, and outer diameter Dwire = 71.6 mm (positioned in the shear layer and called Rsl) and Dwire = 60 mm (positioned in the potential core and called Rpc) were placed at a stand-off distance downstream of the jet nozzle exit plane x/D = 0.03. Both stationary and flying hot wires were used to investigate the jet flow field. The results showed a considerable reduction in the jet spread rate and turbulence intensity using the passive rings. The reduction in the velocity decay rate was more obvious in the case of Rsl in lower Re; however, it was observed that as Re increases, the velocity decay rate became nearly the same for both cases of Rsl and Rpc. The axial velocity spectra showed the initial shear layer instability (shear layer mode) was suppressed while the jet preferred instability (preferred mode) remained active as the shear layer and potential core were modified. This shows the separation of these modes and is at variance with ideas that appeared in the literature that claimed the dependency of these two modes. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-04-27 16:06:31.03

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental a respeito do fenômeno da biestabilidade em cilindros finitos com média razão de aspecto. Na biestabilidade, há uma esteira estreita a jusante de um dos cilindros e uma esteira larga a jusante do outro. Pode estar presente em muitas situações práticas da engenharia dependendo da distância entre os cilindros. Em cilindros finitos ainda é pouco compreendida e explorada. Para compreender o mecanismo do desprendimento de vórtices, são estudados o escoamento em torno de um único cilindro finito, com cilindros de diâmetros entre 25 e 60 mm e razão de aspecto entre 1 e 4 e após, o escoamento em torno de dois cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado, com cilindros de diâmetros entre 25 e 32 mm e razão de aspecto entre 3 e 4. A técnica experimental aplicada consiste na medição das flutuações de velocidade em canal aerodinâmico, utilizando a técnica de anemometria de fio quente e na visualização do escoamento no mesmo canal, mantendo os parâmetros, utilizando gelo seco e laser. Além disso, foi realizada a visualização do escoamento em canal hidráulico com as mesmas dimensões do canal aerodinâmico, utilizando injeção de tinta através de agulhas. Para o estudo foram utilizados Re=2,00×104 para um cilindro finito e 3,86×103 ≤ Re ≤ 4,81×104 para cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado. Os dados medidos em canal aerodinâmico são tratados através de ferramentas estatísticas, espectrais e de ondaletas, e os resultados das visualizações do escoamento são apresentados por meio de imagens obtidas das filmagens realizadas com uma câmera digital. Além disso, os vídeos são tratados com softwares de edição de vídeo e com ferramentas estatísticas. Os resultados confirmam a existência do fenômeno da biestabilidade para dois cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado, que é um dos objetivos do estudo, nas três posições estudadas. A técnica de visualização de escoamento reforça a interpretação dos resultados obtidos através da técnica de anemometria de fio quente. Neste trabalho é considerada a existência de três escoamentos concomitantes: o escoamento ascendente, caracterizado pela estrutura de vórtices na base; o escoamento descendente, caracterizado pela estrutura de vórtices no topo; e o aqui chamado escoamento principal, caracterizado pelo desprendimento de vórtices a meia altura dos cilindros. / This work presents an experimental study on the bistability phenomenon in finite cylinders with a mid-aspect ratio. In the bistability phenomenon the flow to form two wakes behind the cylinders, a large wake behind a cylinder and a narrow wake after another. It can be present in many practical engineering situations depending on the distance between the cylinders. In finite cylinders, it is still poorly understood and explored. To understand the vortex shedding mechanism are studied the flow in a single finite cylinder with diameters between 25 and 60 mm and aspect ratio between 1 and 4 is studied. After that, the flow of two finite cylinders placed side by side with cylinders of diameters between 25 and 32 mm and aspect ratio between 3 and 4 was studied. The experimental technique of hot wire anemometry in aerodynamic channel is applied in the measurement of velocity fluctuations of the flow. The flow visualization was performed on the same aerodynamic channel, keeping the parameters, through using dry ice and laser. In addition, flow visualization is performed on the hydraulic channel with the same dimensions of the aerodynamic channel using ink injection through needles. All images are captured with a camera digital. For the study, Re=2.00×104 for a finite cylinder and 3.86×103 ≤ Re ≤ 4.81×104 for finite cylinders arranged side by side were used. The data measured in aerodynamic channel are treated through statistics, spectral and wavelet tools and the videos are treated through video editing software and with statistical tools. The results show the existence of two different levels of mean velocity in time series, corresponding to two flow modes confirming the phenomenon of bistability for two finite cylinders placed side by side, which is one of the objectives of the study. The flow visualization technique strengthens the interpretation of the results obtained through the hot wire anemometer technique. In this work the existence of three concomitant flows is considered: the upwash flow, characterized by the vortex structure in the base; the downwash flow, characterized by the vortex structure at the top; and the so-called main flow, characterized by the vortex shedding at half height of the cylinders.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental a respeito do fenômeno da biestabilidade em cilindros finitos com média razão de aspecto. Na biestabilidade, há uma esteira estreita a jusante de um dos cilindros e uma esteira larga a jusante do outro. Pode estar presente em muitas situações práticas da engenharia dependendo da distância entre os cilindros. Em cilindros finitos ainda é pouco compreendida e explorada. Para compreender o mecanismo do desprendimento de vórtices, são estudados o escoamento em torno de um único cilindro finito, com cilindros de diâmetros entre 25 e 60 mm e razão de aspecto entre 1 e 4 e após, o escoamento em torno de dois cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado, com cilindros de diâmetros entre 25 e 32 mm e razão de aspecto entre 3 e 4. A técnica experimental aplicada consiste na medição das flutuações de velocidade em canal aerodinâmico, utilizando a técnica de anemometria de fio quente e na visualização do escoamento no mesmo canal, mantendo os parâmetros, utilizando gelo seco e laser. Além disso, foi realizada a visualização do escoamento em canal hidráulico com as mesmas dimensões do canal aerodinâmico, utilizando injeção de tinta através de agulhas. Para o estudo foram utilizados Re=2,00×104 para um cilindro finito e 3,86×103 ≤ Re ≤ 4,81×104 para cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado. Os dados medidos em canal aerodinâmico são tratados através de ferramentas estatísticas, espectrais e de ondaletas, e os resultados das visualizações do escoamento são apresentados por meio de imagens obtidas das filmagens realizadas com uma câmera digital. Além disso, os vídeos são tratados com softwares de edição de vídeo e com ferramentas estatísticas. Os resultados confirmam a existência do fenômeno da biestabilidade para dois cilindros finitos dispostos lado a lado, que é um dos objetivos do estudo, nas três posições estudadas. A técnica de visualização de escoamento reforça a interpretação dos resultados obtidos através da técnica de anemometria de fio quente. Neste trabalho é considerada a existência de três escoamentos concomitantes: o escoamento ascendente, caracterizado pela estrutura de vórtices na base; o escoamento descendente, caracterizado pela estrutura de vórtices no topo; e o aqui chamado escoamento principal, caracterizado pelo desprendimento de vórtices a meia altura dos cilindros. / This work presents an experimental study on the bistability phenomenon in finite cylinders with a mid-aspect ratio. In the bistability phenomenon the flow to form two wakes behind the cylinders, a large wake behind a cylinder and a narrow wake after another. It can be present in many practical engineering situations depending on the distance between the cylinders. In finite cylinders, it is still poorly understood and explored. To understand the vortex shedding mechanism are studied the flow in a single finite cylinder with diameters between 25 and 60 mm and aspect ratio between 1 and 4 is studied. After that, the flow of two finite cylinders placed side by side with cylinders of diameters between 25 and 32 mm and aspect ratio between 3 and 4 was studied. The experimental technique of hot wire anemometry in aerodynamic channel is applied in the measurement of velocity fluctuations of the flow. The flow visualization was performed on the same aerodynamic channel, keeping the parameters, through using dry ice and laser. In addition, flow visualization is performed on the hydraulic channel with the same dimensions of the aerodynamic channel using ink injection through needles. All images are captured with a camera digital. For the study, Re=2.00×104 for a finite cylinder and 3.86×103 ≤ Re ≤ 4.81×104 for finite cylinders arranged side by side were used. The data measured in aerodynamic channel are treated through statistics, spectral and wavelet tools and the videos are treated through video editing software and with statistical tools. The results show the existence of two different levels of mean velocity in time series, corresponding to two flow modes confirming the phenomenon of bistability for two finite cylinders placed side by side, which is one of the objectives of the study. The flow visualization technique strengthens the interpretation of the results obtained through the hot wire anemometer technique. In this work the existence of three concomitant flows is considered: the upwash flow, characterized by the vortex structure in the base; the downwash flow, characterized by the vortex structure at the top; and the so-called main flow, characterized by the vortex shedding at half height of the cylinders.

This thesis investigates the use of hot-film thermal anemometers to align a plate on a wind tunnel at Hill Air Force Base that is used to calibrate Angle of Attack Transmitters on F-16s. A reoccuring problem with this wind tunnel is that no two instruments can verify an angle reading of the the mounting plate for the Angle of Attack Transmitters to the air stream in the wind tunnel. Multiple thermal anemometer calibration methods, such as Jorgensen’s equation and a look-up table are implemented to attemp to achieve consistent measurements between multiple probes. The results show that it is neccessary to have conditions match between calibration and measurement when attempting to achieve high accuracy with angle measurements.

The flow through a compressor cascade with tip leakage has been studied experimentally. The cascade of GE rotor B section blades had an inlet angle of 65.1º, a stagger angle of 56.9º, and a solidity of 1.08. The final turning angle of the cascade was 11.8º. This compressor configuration was representative of the core compressor of an aircraft engine. The cascade was operated with a tip gap of 1.65%, and operated at a Reynolds number based on the chord length (0.254 m) of 388,000. Measurements were made at 8 axial locations to reveal the structure of the flow as it evolved through the cascade. Measurements were also made to reveal the effects of grid generated turbulence on this flow. The data set is unique in that not only does it give a comparison of elevated free stream turbulence effects, but also documents the developing flow through the blade row of a compressor cascade with tip leakage. Measurements were made at a total of 8 locations 0.8, 0.23 axial chords upstream and 0, 0.27, 0.48, 0.77, 0.98, and 1.26 axial chords downstream of the leading edge of the blade row for both inflow turbulence cases. The measurements revealed the formation and development of the tip leakage vortex within the passage. The tip leakage vortex becomes apparent at approximately X/ca= 0.27 and dominated much of the endwall flow. The tip leakage vortex is characterized by high streamwise velocity deficits, high vorticity and high turbulence kinetic energy levels. The result showed that between 0.77 and 0.98 axial chords downstream of the leading edge, the vortex structure and behavior changes. The effects of grid generated turbulence were also documented. The results revealed significant effects on the flow field. The results showed a 4% decrease in the blade loading and a 20% reduction in the vorticity levels within tip leakage vortex. There was also a shift in the vortex path, showing a shift close to the suction side with grid generated turbulence, indicating the strength of the vortex was decreased. Circulation calculations showed this reduction, and also indicated that the tip leakage vortex increased in size by about 30%. The results revealed that overall, the turbulence kinetic energy levels in the tip leakage vortex were increased, with the most drastic change occurring at X/ca= 0.77. / Ph. D.

An analysis is presented for hot wire/film anemometer measurement of mean velocities and turbulent stresses in a three dimensional flow field with a predominant flow direction. The experimental data can be taken with an automated traverse under the control of a digital data acquisition system which has been modified for this particular application. / Master of Science

Model fan blades designed to implement the wake management technique of trailing-edge blowing were tested in a linear cascade configuration. Measurements were made on two sets of blowing blades installed in the Virginia Tech low-speed linear cascade wind tunnel. The simple blowing blades were identical to the baseline GE Rotor B blades, aside from a slight difference in trailing-edge thickness, a set of internal flow passages, and a blowing slot just upstream of the trailing-edge on the suction side of the blade. The Kuethe vane blades were also slightly thicker at the trailing-edge, and had a set of nine evenly spaced vortex generators upstream of the blowing slot on the suction side. The cascade tunnel accommodates eight blades with adjustable tip-gap heights, although only the center four blades were replaced by blowing blades in this study. The tunnel has an inlet angle of 65.1â a, a stagger angle of 56.9â a and a flow turning angle of 11.8â a. The tip-gap was set to 0.004125c and the freestream velocity of 24.7m/s led to a Reynolds number based on the chord of 385,000. Blowing slot uniformity measurements made with a single hot-wire immediately behind the trailing-edge revealed that the blowing becomes more spanwise uniform as blowing rate is increased. The same occurs with the Kuethe vane blades, despite a spanwise serrated pattern that appears as a result of the upstream vortex generators. Cross-sections made perpendicular to the blade span gave preliminary evidence that the simple blowing wake deficit increases from the passive suction case at a blowing rate of 1.4% and becomes overblown by 2.6%. The Kuethe vane wake deficit does not increase at low blowing rates. Both sets of blowing blades indicated a slight angling of the wake towards the pressure side with blowing. Pitot-static full cross-sections of the simple blowing blades at x/ca = 0.839 and 1.877 verified the increase in wake depth and width at 1.4% as compared to the passive suction and non-blowing baseline cases, and the wake overblowing that occurs as blowing rate is increased to approximately 2.6%. The Kuethe vane blades only achieve partial wake cancellation at the maximum tested rate of 2.6% for these measurements. The results of the baseline study of Geiger (2005) are used for comparison with the mid-span velocity profiles made at four downstream locations. The velocity profiles clearly confirm the results of the normal-to-span and full cross-sections, while also revealing a decrease from the baseline of at least 25% in most of the maximum Reynolds normal stresses and turbulent kinetic energies at all rates between 1.4% and 2.7% for both sets of blowing blades. Spectral measurements of the simple blowing blades show clear reductions of the energy in the wake for all blowing rates over the majority of the range of normalized frequencies, while the Kuethe vane blades show reductions at all rates and all frequencies. By performing Fourier decompositions, the tone noise benefits over the non-blowing baseline blades are directly comparable in decibels. The optimum blowing rate for the simple blowing blades is clearly 2.5%, since this rate shows the most potential tone noise reduction. The Kuethe vane blades suggest decreases in tone noise over all of the tested blowing rates. / Master of Science

L'étude porte sur une couche de mélange plane horizontale générée par la rencontre de deux écoulements parallèles à vitesse et température différentes. Le mélange turbulent est analysé pour différentes conditions initiales en termes de gradients de vitesse et de température. On distingue en particulier des configurations en régime de stratification stable et instable sous l'effet des forces de flottabilité. L'analyse des corrélations entre les fluctuations de vitesse et de température s'appuie sur la technique expérimentale d'anémométrie à température de fil variable (PCTA), qui permet la mesure instantanée de la vitesse et de la température en un même point grâce à la variation périodique et par palier du coefficient de surchauffe du fil chaud utilisé. Un premier travail a consisté à étendre la technique PCTA à l'utilisation de fils croisés pour la mesure simultanée de la température et de deux composantes de la vitesse. Dans un premier temps, les statistiques en un point permettent d'identifier les caractéristiques de l'écoulement dans la région de similitude et d'y établir les équations de bilan pour l'énergie cinétique turbulente, l'intensité des fluctuations de température et les flux de quantité de mouvement et de chaleur. Il apparaît, vu les faibles nombres de Richardson en jeu (Rif<0,03), que les forces de flottabilité sont quasi-négligeables devant les moteurs principaux du mouvement. Pourtant, ce forçage thermique peu énergétique est suffisant, en configuration instable, pour augmenter significativement le taux d'expansion et la contrainte de cisaillement, ce qui correspond de fait à une augmentation de la production de turbulence. L'analyse des densités de probabilité jointes permet ensuite de mettre en évidence les mécanismes et évènements qui contribuent significativement aux flux transversaux de quantité de mouvement et de chaleur. Ces différentes contributions sont différenciées et quantifiées par une analyse en quadrants qui fait ressortir la prépondérance des mouvements d'entraînement et d'éjection. On examine enfin les statistiques en deux points associées aux incréments de vitesse et de température. Le comportement de ces incréments est étudié à travers leurs densités de probabilité et leurs coefficients de dissymétrie et d'aplatissement. Les exposants des fonctions de structure confirment l'intermittence plus grande de la température par rapport à celle de la vitesse. Les différents termes des équations de Kolmogorov et de Yaglom sont mesurés. L'équilibre de ces bilans par échelle permet de quantifier le terme qui intègre les différents forçages proposés dans la littérature. / The turbulent mixing is studied in a plane mixing layer for a range of initial conditions applied in terms of velocity and temperature gradients between the two parallel inlet flows. A particular attention is paid to the effect of buoyancy forces, especially in the difference between the so-called stable and unstable configurations, in relation to the sign of the vertical temperature gradient applied. In this study, the novel experimental technique called PCTA, for Parameterizable Constant Temperature Anemometry, is used to enable the analysis of correlations between the velocity and temperature fluctuations. In a preliminary work, the PCTA technique, based on the implementation of repetitive multiple-overheat patterns to a hot wire, is extended and adapted for the instantaneous measurement of temperature and two components of velocity with X-wire probes. In a first stage, one point statistics are analysed. They provide a description of the flow features in the similarity region, where the balance equations for turbulent kinetic energy, temperature variance and the momentum and heat fluxes are established. Considering the low Richardson numbers at stake (Rif <0.03), the buoyancy forces appear logically to be quantitatively negligible compared to the main driving forces, but such a low energy forcing mechanism is in fact sufficient, in unstable configuration, to significantly increase the shear stress and the expansion rate of the mixing layer, both phenomena being associated to an enhanced production of turbulence. In a second stage, a joint probability density function analysis highlights the mechanisms and events that significantly contribute to the transverse momentum and heat fluxes. These contributions are differentiated and quantified through a quadrant analysis which emphasizes the dominance of the local movements of entrainment and ejection associated to the Kelvin-Helmholtz structures. Finally, the study focuses on the two points statistics associated with velocity and temperature increments. The behaviour of these increments is studied through their probability densities, examined along with the skewness and kurtosis coefficients. The structure function exponents confirm the stronger intermittency of temperature compared to that of the velocity. The different terms of the Kolmogorov and Yaglom equations are estimated. The balance of these scale budgets allows the quantification of the forcing term that has been introduced in the literature.