Thesis (M.S.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Description based on contents viewed Feb. 4, 2008; title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-77).

Inlet transitions with sub-critical flow from trapezoidal to rectangular sections are studied. The water depths range from 5 to 10 feet and the bottom widths range from 5 to 12.5 feet. Graphs were constructed to design these types of transitions. The behavior of a given transition with different discharges is also studied. It was found that more efficiency is gained when a given transition is used with a discharge greater than the design discharge, than when the transition is used with a discharge less than the design discharge. / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-159).

Thesis (Ph.D.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves 91-100.

The receptivity process by which two-dimensional, time-harmonic freestream disturbances generate instability waves in the incompressible Blasius boundary layer is investigated analytically. The importance of the leading edge region and the linear nature of the receptivity process are discussed, and Goldstein's (1983a, 1983b) theoretical framework for the leading edge receptivity problem is reviewed. His approach utilizes asymptotic matching of a region close to the leading edge, which is governed by the linearized unsteady boundary layer equation, with a region further downstream, which is described by an Orr-Sommerfeld type equation. The linearized unsteady boundary layer equation is solved numerically, using the slip velocity and pressure gradient obtained from the inviscid interaction of the freestream disturbance with the semi-infinite plate. A new method is developed to extract the receptivity coefficient from this numerical solution. The receptivity coefficient determines the amplitude of the instability wave--a quantity not available from classical stability theory. The freestream disturbances investigated are oblique plane acoustic waves, vortical gusts of various orientations convected downstream with freestream speed U(∞), and a Karman vortex street passing above the plate surface with speed U(p). In addition, the case of a semi-infinite plate in a channel of finite width subject to an upstream traveling acoustic wave on the upper plate surface is considered. For oblique acoustic waves, the dominant receptivity mechanism is related to scattering of the waves by the leading edge. In contrast, for vortical gusts the receptivity produced by leading edge scattering is very small. The boundary layer receptivity to a Karman vortex street is found to be a strong function of the speed ratio U(p)/U(∞). A pronounced influence of channel walls, which is related to the alternate cut-on of higher modes in the upstream and downstream channel halves, is found. A comparison of the present results with available experiments shows good qualitative and quantitative agreement.

The phenomenon of transition in a laminar flow has been a topic of continued interest for many years. Recent experiments in shear flows have revealed a series of instabilities that lead to breakdown to turbulence. We have completed an analysis of the mechanisms which drive the primary (TS wave) and secondary instabilities in plane Poiseuille flow. This was accomplished by studying the solutions of linear primary and secondary stability theory with energy methods. We found that primary instability occurred when the viscous stresses overpowered dissipative forces near the channel walls. For the secondary instability, we saw that the TS wave catalyzes the instability and then mediates the transfer of brge amounts of energy from the mean flow into the three-dimensional disturbance, thus driving the instability. In addition, we have compiled an extensive catalog of the loc!l.l energy and vorticity field distributions which result from each instability. / Master of Science

A study on the behaviour of wave-packets and random disturbances, introduced by the vibrating-ribbon technique in a Blasius boundary layer, is presented. The experiments were conducted in the VPI & SU low turbulence wind tunnel. The flat plate model was constructed from an aluminum-paper honeycomb laminate and an aluminum leading edge with an elliptical profile. A theoretical model was developed to verify the random and step-function-form motion of the vibrating ribbon. In the case of random disturbance introduction it was found that the random disturbances behave like infinite number, single-frequency waves and measurements of their growth made possible to verify regions of the neutral-stability curve. In the case of wave-packet creation it was found that the wave packets behave like a structure that consists of waves of certain frequencies that grow or decay not necessarily according to the stability curve but in that way as to maintain the wave-packet structure. Their growth as they move downstream and their quick destruction into turbulence was compared to previously published data. / Master of Science

The objective of this dissertation is to provide a framework for constructing a transitional behavior, connecting any two trajectories from a set with a particular characteristic, in such a way that the transition is as inconspicuous as possible. By this we mean that the connection is such that the characteristic behavior persists during the transition. These special classes include stationary solutions, limit cycles etc. We call this framework the Gluskabi raccordation. This problem is motivated from physical applications where it is often desired to steer a system from one stationary solution or periodic orbit to another in a ̒smooth̕ way. Examples include motion control in robotics, chemical process control and quasi-stationary processes in thermodynamics, etc. Before discussing the Gluskabi raccordations of periodic behaviors, we first study several periodic phenomena. Specifically, we study the self- propulsion of a number of legless, toy creatures based on differential friction under periodic excitations. This friction model is based on viscous friction which is predominant in a wet environment. We investigate the effects of periodic and optimal periodic control on locomotion. Subsequently, we consider a control problem of a stochastic system, under the basic constraint that the feedback control signal and the observations from the system cannot use the communication channel simultaneously. Hence, two modes of operation result: an observation mode and a control mode. We seek an optimal periodic regime in a statistical steady state by switching between the observation and the control mode. For this, the duty cycle and the optimal gains for the controller and observer in either mode are determined. We then investigate the simplest special case of the Gluskabi raccordation, namely the quasi-stationary optimal control problem. This forces us to revisit the classical terminal controller. We analyze the performance index as the control horizon increases to infinity. This problem gives a good example where the limiting operation and integration do not commute. Such a misinterpretation can lead to an apparent paradox. We use symmetrical components (the parity operator) to shed light on the correct solution. The main part of thesis is the Gluskabi raccordation problem. We first use several simple examples to introduce the general framework. We then consider the signal Gluskabi raccordation or the Gluskabi raccordation without a dynamical system. Specifically, we present the quasi-periodic raccordation where we seek the maximally ̒smooth̕ transitions between two periodic signals. We provide two methods, the direct and indirect method, to construct these transitions. Detailed algorithms for generating the raccordations based on the direct method are also provided. Next, we extend the signal Gluskabi raccordation to the dynamic case by considering the dynamical system as a hard constraint. The behavioral modeling of dynamical system pioneered by Willems provides the right language for this generalization. All algorithms of the signal Gluskabi raccordation are extended accordingly to produce these ̒smooth̕ transition behaviors.

No description available.

The laminar-turbulent transition in viscous fluid flows is one of the most intriguing problems in fluid dynamics today. In view of the enormous applications it has in a variety of fields such as aircraft design, turbomachinery, etc., scientists have now realized the importance of tackling this problem effectively. Three-dimensional flows are usually associated with pressure gradient, streamline curvature, streamline convergence / divergence etc., all acting simultaneously. Towards a better understanding of the transition process and modeling the transition zone, it is important to study the effect of each of these parameters on the transitional flow. The present work aims at studying experimentally the effect of lateral streamline convergence alone on the laminar-turbulent transition zone under constant stream-wise pressure. The experimental setup consists of a low turbulence wind tunnel with its test section modified to cause lateral streamline convergence under constant pressure. This is achieved by converging the side-walls and appropriately diverging the roof, thus maintaining a constant stream-wise pressure. The half angle of convergence is chosen as 100 , which is approximately the same as the half of the turbulent spot envelope in constant pressure two-dimensional flows. Experiments are carried out to analyze the development of the laminar and transitional boundary layers, intermittency distribution in the transition zone and the overall characteristics of an artificially induced turbulent spot. The laminar velocity profiles are found to be of the Blasius type for two-dimensional constant pressure flows. However, the converging streamlines are found to contribute to an increased thickness of the boundary layer as compared to the corresponding two-dimensional flow. The intermittency distribution in the transition zone is found to follow the universal intermittency distribution for two-dimensional constant pressure flow. A simple linear-combination model for two-dimensional flows is found to perform very well in predicting the measured velocity profiles in the transition zone. An artificially introduced turbulent spot is found to propagate along a conical envelope with an apex cone angle of 220 which is very nearly the value for a corresponding constant pressure two-dimensional flow. The spot shapes and celerities are also comparable to those in two-dimensional flow. In summary, the present study brings out many similarities between a constant pressure laterally converging flow and a constant pressure two-dimensional flow.