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An experimental research was performed to study the effects of surface roughness on the characteristics of separated and reattached turbulent flows in an open channel. A backward facing step was used to induce flow separation. The rough surfaces comprised wire mesh grit-80 and sand grains of average diameter 1.5 mm. In each experiment, the Reynolds number based on the step height and freestream velocity of approach flow was fixed at 3240 and the Reynolds number based on the approach flow depth and freestream velocity was kept constant at 25130. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to measure the flow velocity. The results showed that roughness effects on the mean and turbulent quantities are evident only in the recovery region. Moreover, roughness effects on the flow dynamics are dependent on the specific roughness element.

The research focus of this thesis is on modelling techniques for river kinetic turbines, to develop predictive numerical tools to further the design of this emerging hydro technology. The performance benefits of enclosing the turbine in a shroud are quantified numerically and an optimized shroud design is developed. The optimum performing model is then used to study river kinetic turbines, including different anchoring systems to enhance performance. Two different turbine numerical models are studied to simulate the rotor. Four different computational fluid dynamics (CFD) turbulence models are compared against a series of particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments involving highly-separated diffuser-flow and nozzle-flow conditions. The risk of cavitation is briefly discussed as well as riverbed boundary layer losses. This study is part of an effort to develop this emerging technology for distributed power generation in provinces like Manitoba that have a river system well adapted for this technology.

An adjustable systemic-pulmonary artery (SPA) shunt is being developed that consists of apolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft with a screw plunger mechanism. This device would allowfull control of flow through SPA shunts used to augment pulmonary blood flow in neonates bornwith single ventricle physiology. The objective of this study is to evaluate the changes this mechanismhas on flow fields for a 4 mm and 5 mm adjustable SPA shunt. Two in vitro models wereexamined; an idealized model with an axisymmetric constriction and a model developed from 3-Dreconstruction of the actual shunt under asymmetric constriction. These models were used to measurethe instantaneous velocity and vorticity fields using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) underboth steady and pulsatile flow conditions. Recirculation regions and maximum values of velocity,vorticity, and shear stress are compared between the 4 mm and 5 mm models. The results indicatethat for the idealized model of both shunts, separation regions are much smaller, persistingfor approximately 0-1.75 diameters downstream of the constriction, while for the realistic modelsseparation regions of 2.5 diameters downstream were observed. Additional models of a 4 mm and5 mm shunt were tested under pulsatile conditions matching Re of 1061 and 849 and a Womersleynumber of 4.09 and 5.12, respectively, as seen in vivo. The maximum shear rates observed in bothshunts are within an allowable range without inducing platelet aggregation or hemolysis. However,regions of reverse flow exist distal to the throat, leading to possible concerns of plaque formation.Further in vivo testing will be needed to address this concern. This work is part of an extensiveeffort in developing a completely implantable adjustable systemic-pulmonary artery shunt.

A model of a gas turbine blade cooling channel equipped with turbulators and a backward facing step geometry was examined. Up to four turbulators oriented cross-stream and inclined 45° to the flow direction were mounted in the channel. The blockage ratio b/H of the turbulators and the height h/H of the backward facing step was 0:125 and 0:14 respectively. The number of turbulators as well as their size was varied. In a preliminary investigation, hot-wire and pressure measurements were taken for three different Reynolds numbers (5,000, 12,000, 18,000)in the center plane of the test section. Subsequently, particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were made on the same geometries. Results of PIV measurements for a Reynolds number range of Reb=600 to 5,000 for the turbulators and Reh=1,500 to 16,200 for the backward facing step are presented, where Reynolds numbers are based on turbulator height b and step height h, respectively. Plots of the velocity field, vorticity, reverse flow probability and RMS velocity are shown. The focus is on the steady flow behavior but also the unsteadiness of the flow is discussed in one section. Also reattachment lengths were obtained and compared among the various turbulator arrangements and the backward facing step geometry. It was found that the flow becomes periodic after three or four ribs. For one turbulator, a very large separation region was observed. The magnitude of the skin friction factor was found to be the highest for two ribs. If the first rib is replaced by a smaller rib, the skin friction factor becomes the lowest for this case. Compared to the backward facing step, the flow reattaches earlier for multiple turbulators. A dependency of reattachment length on Reynolds number was not observed.

The flow field around a low pressure turbine blade is examined using smoke-wire flow visualization, static surface pressure measurements, and particle image velocimetry (PIV). The purpose of the experimental study is to investigate the transition and separation characteristics on low pressure turbine blades under low Reynolds number (Re) and varying freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI). A cascade model consisting of 6 Pratt andamp; Whitney PAK-B low pressure turbine blades was examined in a wind tunnel using PIV and flow visualization. Smoke-wire visualization was performed for test section exit angles of 93°, 95°, and 97°, in the range Re = 3 · 104 to 9 · 104 and three levels of FSTI varied with a passive grid. The locations of separation and transition were determined to be approximately 45% and 77% of the suction surface length, respectively, based upon the smoke stream lines observed in the images, and appear to be independent of Re, turning angle, and FSTI. The maximum size of the separation bubble was found to decrease with increasing Re, turning angle, and FSTI. PIV images from three camera views were processed for an exit angle of 95° and a Re range of 3:0 · 104 to 30:0 · 104 and three levels of FSTI. Velocity, vorticity, and reversed flow probability field plots were generated along with velocity, vorticity, and RMS velocity profiles. The point of separation point was determined to be from 63% SSL to 67% SSL. The area of reversed flow was computed for each image pair from camera views 1 and 3, as an approxiamtion of the relative size of the separation region. For low Re and FSTI cases the area was much larger than for higher FSTI cases at any Re. The raw PIV images include some of the rst clear pictures of the turbulent flow structures forming in the unsteady shear layer over the suction surface of low pressure turbine blades. Several movies are compiled that show how the geometry and location of the shear layer evolve in time for a given set of flow conditions.

An experimental research was performed to study the effects of surface roughness on the characteristics of separated and reattached turbulent flows in an open channel. A backward facing step was used to induce flow separation. The rough surfaces comprised wire mesh grit-80 and sand grains of average diameter 1.5 mm. In each experiment, the Reynolds number based on the step height and freestream velocity of approach flow was fixed at 3240 and the Reynolds number based on the approach flow depth and freestream velocity was kept constant at 25130. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to measure the flow velocity. The results showed that roughness effects on the mean and turbulent quantities are evident only in the recovery region. Moreover, roughness effects on the flow dynamics are dependent on the specific roughness element.

The research focus of this thesis is on modelling techniques for river kinetic turbines, to develop predictive numerical tools to further the design of this emerging hydro technology. The performance benefits of enclosing the turbine in a shroud are quantified numerically and an optimized shroud design is developed. The optimum performing model is then used to study river kinetic turbines, including different anchoring systems to enhance performance. Two different turbine numerical models are studied to simulate the rotor. Four different computational fluid dynamics (CFD) turbulence models are compared against a series of particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments involving highly-separated diffuser-flow and nozzle-flow conditions. The risk of cavitation is briefly discussed as well as riverbed boundary layer losses. This study is part of an effort to develop this emerging technology for distributed power generation in provinces like Manitoba that have a river system well adapted for this technology.

Turbulence is ubiquitous in naturally-occurring and man-made flows. Despite its importance in scientific and engineering applications, the transition from smooth laminar flow to disorganized turbulent flow is poorly understood. In some cases, the transition can be understood in the context of linear stability theory, which predicts when the underlying laminar solution will become unstable as a parameter is varied. For a large class of flows, however, this approach fails spectacularly, with theory predicting that the laminar flow is stable but experiments and simulations showing the emergence of spatiotemporal complexity. In this dissertation, the direct or subcritical transition to turbulence in Taylor-Couette flow (i.e., the flow between independently rotating co-axial cylinders) is studied experimentally. Chapter 1 discusses different scenarios for the transition to turbulence and recent advances in understanding the subcritical transition within the framework of dynamical systems theory. Chapter 2 presents a comprehensive review of earlier investigations of linearly stable Taylor-Couette flow. Chapter 3 presents the first systematic study of long-lived super-transients in Taylor-Couette flow with the aim of determining the correct dynamical model for turbulent dynamics in the transitional regime. Chapter 4 presents the results of experiments regarding the stability of Taylor-Couette flow to finite-amplitude perturbations in the form of injection/suction of fluid from the test section. Chapter 5 presents numerical investigations of axisymmetric laminar states with realistic boundary conditions. Chapter 6 discusses in detail the implementation of time-resolved tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV) in the Taylor-Couette geometry and presents preliminary tomographic PIV measurements of the growth of turbulent spots from finite-amplitude perturbations. The main results are summarized in Chapter 7.

Digital particle image velocimetry is employed to investigate acoustically-coupled flow past a coaxial deep cavity (side branch) resonator mounted in a duct. The emphasis is on the effect of the separation between the coaxial side branches on the interaction between separated shear layers that form across the side branch openings. Various resonator geometries are characterized in terms of patterns of instantaneous and time-averaged flow velocity, vorticity. and streamline topology at several phases of the acoustic cycle. In addition. phase-averaged images of the flow in conjunction with unsteady pressure measurements are evaluated in order to provide insight into the mechanisms of acoustic power generation. Generally, the acoustic source undergoes a significant transformation as the distance between the coaxial side branches changes. When the side branches are located relatively far away from each other. each of them forms an independent acoustic source. As the distance between the side branches decreases. interaction between the associated oscillating shear layers results in formation of a single acoustic source of complex spatial structure.