Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / Zhongquan Zheng / In this study, a vortex particle method is used to simulate incompressible vortical flows, specifically aircraft wake vortices. This is particularly suitable for a wake vortex system that is slowly varying in the axial direction and has a high Reynolds number and low Mach number. The flow field, in the form of vorticity, is employed as the source in the far-field acoustic calculation using a vortex sound formula that enables computation of acoustic signals radiated from an approximated incompressible flow field. In a two-dimensional vortex system, the stretching effect in the axial direction is neglected. The purpose of this study is to focus on vortex core behaviors. A numerical simulation is performed in a more realistic wake consisting of a counter-rotating vortex pair with inviscid ground effects and shear flows. A Kirchhoff spinning-core vortex model is thus used as a starting point. In a vortex system with multiple vortices, such as a complicated aircraft vortex wake vortices, the sound emission frequency of the unsteady vortex core is subjected to change because of interactions between multiple vortices. The behaviors of the influence, indicated by the ratio between the core size and the distance of the vortices, are investigated as well as the underlining vortex core dynamic mechanisms. Cases of co-rotating vortices and a multiple-vortex system composed of two counter-rotating vortex pairs are studied for applications to aircraft wake vortex sound. In three-dimensional vortices, sinusoidal instabilities, which occur in the axial direction at various length scales, result in significant flow structure changes in these vortices, and thus influence their radiated acoustic signals. Cases of vortex rings and a pair of counter-rotating vortices are studied when they are undergoing both long-wave and short-wave instabilities. Both inviscid and viscous interactions are considered and the effects of turbulence are simulated using sub-grid-scale models. A higher peak frequency than the Kirchhoff frequency appears due to the straining field caused by mutual perturbation, under both long-wave and short-wave instabilities. Vortices with the initial core vorticity of the Gaussian distribution and the elliptic distribution are also studied.

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Vortex breakdown is an important phenomenon observed in swirling flows involving the development of a stagnation point on the axis of the vortex followed by a region of recirculation when the swirl increases beyond a particular level. It has been studied extensively over past 50 years and various theories have been proposed to explain its various aspects. However, a single model explaining all the aspects together is yet to emerge. Numerical simulations of breakdown have been performed using a variety of grid-based as well as vortex methods. Vortex methods are a Lagrangian alternative to grid-based methods wherein the motion of the vorticity is determined by the local fluid velocity convection, with models for viscous effects when considered. The fluid velocity is obtained from the vorticity field. Only the rotational regions of the flow need to be considered leading to significant economy of computational effort for simulations of vorticity dominated flows, such as vortex breakdown. The inviscid vortex filament method has been used to simulate several aspects of the vortex breakdown phenomenon. The vortex filament method however, cannot easily simulate viscous effects. To simulate the viscous effects the viscous vortex particle method needs to be used. This work was intended to be a first step towards this end by initially evaluating the effectiveness of the inviscid version of the vortex particle method in simulating the breakdown phenomenon. The inviscid vortex particle method was found to satisfactorily simulate most qualitative aspects involved in the formation of vortex breakdown such as the retardation of axial velocity along centerline, radial swelling of the vortex core, formation of stagnation points, creation of azimuthal vorticity gradient from axial vorticity gradient and the turning of vortex lines along with the formation of a bubble-like structure with recirculating flow within. The effect of a wall placed adjacent to the vortex core was simulated by using image vortices. The wall was not found to influence the location of breakdown. However, the initiation of the spiral mode was found to occur earlier when a wall was present. For a quantitative assessment, a simulation of the experimental results of Faler and Leibovich (1978) was attempted. The simulation managed to predict the location of the breakdown and the extent of the bubble. The shape and height of the bubble obtained however were not in accord with the experimental observations. A single vortical cell was obtained in the interior of the bubble.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo realizar um estudo comparativo entre os três métodos para obtenção das características aerodinâmicas de tabuleiros de pontes: analítico, experimental e numérico. O tema é motivado pelo crescimento das necessidades de conhecimento científico e tecnológico na área de desempenho aerodinâmico de seções típicas de pontes nas etapas mais iniciais de projeto. A precisão de uma ferramenta de previsão certamente acelera a convergência ao modelo final; porém, qualquer metodologia numérica deve ser extensivamente testada antes de ser utilizada nos escritórios de cálculo. Inicialmente mostra-se a lógica da análise de instabilidades provocadas pelo vento, resume-se a modelagem de tabuleiros de pontes para ensaios em túnel de vento e descreve-se o método numérico implementado no programa comercial de análise de pontes RM. Comparam-se dados disponíveis de testes de modelos reduzidos no túnel de vento com as estimativas de aproximação do Método da Vorticidade em Partículas (MVP). Confrontam-se resultados para casos clássicos, um estudo paramétrico, dados dos relatórios de três pontes Brasileiras já ensaiadas no Túnel de Vento Joaquim Blessmann do LAC – PPGEC/UFRGS: Paulicéia, Guamá e Roberto Marinho. Finalmente, considera-se o método experimental como preciso e julga-se o método numérico comparativamente, analisando a confiabilidade dos resultados e procurando definir a sua faixa de aplicabilidade. Examinando a variabilidade dos resultados, bastante baixa, definiu-se sua faixa de aplicação considerando os resultados obtidos como satisfatórios para projetos básicos e executivos de estruturas; necessitando, porém, para os casos especiais, de comprovação experimental em túnel de vento antes da sua execução. Exemplifica-se então o uso do método para alguns problemas de análises de seções. Os resultados e comparações corroboram verificações anteriores do método dos vórtices discretos para verdadeiras seções de pontes e mostram porque o seu uso vem se tornando cada vez mais aceitável. / The work has the objective to realize a comparative study between three methods to obtain bridge aerodynamic coefficients: analytic, experimental and numerical. The theme is motivated by the increasing need of knowledge about the aerodynamic behaviour of bridge decks in the early stages of the design process. The accuracy of a predictive tool will certainly accelerate the convergence to the final design. However, any numerical methodology must be extensively tested ascertain and hence validated before it becomes of current use by designers. Collaboration is made comparing wind tunnel data of reduced models and numerical estimations by a simplified approach. After a brief overview of wind loading and wind tunnel modeling, the bridge wind resistance design in the commercially available bridge design software package RM is shown. The Discrete Vortex Method and the implementation are shortly described. Initially, classical fluid problems are indicated together with the comparison of parametric cross sectional bridge shapes. After, three Brazilian large cablestayed bridge projects are presented as instance of analysis: Paulicéia, Guamá and Roberto Marinho. Bridges aerodynamic coefficients were experimentally obtained at the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Joaquim Blessmann at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Finally, experimental results are considered precise and those results evaluated with CFD are compared analyzing the liability and applicability. According to the results variability, quite low, we considered them appropriated for basic and final structural designs; needing, although, for special cases, of experimental probation in wind tunnel tests before the construction phase. Some CFD analysis problems of cross sections are then presented as application examples. The results and similitude corroborate earlier verifications of the method and this implementation, demonstrating why its use is becoming increasingly acceptable.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo realizar um estudo comparativo entre os três métodos para obtenção das características aerodinâmicas de tabuleiros de pontes: analítico, experimental e numérico. O tema é motivado pelo crescimento das necessidades de conhecimento científico e tecnológico na área de desempenho aerodinâmico de seções típicas de pontes nas etapas mais iniciais de projeto. A precisão de uma ferramenta de previsão certamente acelera a convergência ao modelo final; porém, qualquer metodologia numérica deve ser extensivamente testada antes de ser utilizada nos escritórios de cálculo. Inicialmente mostra-se a lógica da análise de instabilidades provocadas pelo vento, resume-se a modelagem de tabuleiros de pontes para ensaios em túnel de vento e descreve-se o método numérico implementado no programa comercial de análise de pontes RM. Comparam-se dados disponíveis de testes de modelos reduzidos no túnel de vento com as estimativas de aproximação do Método da Vorticidade em Partículas (MVP). Confrontam-se resultados para casos clássicos, um estudo paramétrico, dados dos relatórios de três pontes Brasileiras já ensaiadas no Túnel de Vento Joaquim Blessmann do LAC – PPGEC/UFRGS: Paulicéia, Guamá e Roberto Marinho. Finalmente, considera-se o método experimental como preciso e julga-se o método numérico comparativamente, analisando a confiabilidade dos resultados e procurando definir a sua faixa de aplicabilidade. Examinando a variabilidade dos resultados, bastante baixa, definiu-se sua faixa de aplicação considerando os resultados obtidos como satisfatórios para projetos básicos e executivos de estruturas; necessitando, porém, para os casos especiais, de comprovação experimental em túnel de vento antes da sua execução. Exemplifica-se então o uso do método para alguns problemas de análises de seções. Os resultados e comparações corroboram verificações anteriores do método dos vórtices discretos para verdadeiras seções de pontes e mostram porque o seu uso vem se tornando cada vez mais aceitável. / The work has the objective to realize a comparative study between three methods to obtain bridge aerodynamic coefficients: analytic, experimental and numerical. The theme is motivated by the increasing need of knowledge about the aerodynamic behaviour of bridge decks in the early stages of the design process. The accuracy of a predictive tool will certainly accelerate the convergence to the final design. However, any numerical methodology must be extensively tested ascertain and hence validated before it becomes of current use by designers. Collaboration is made comparing wind tunnel data of reduced models and numerical estimations by a simplified approach. After a brief overview of wind loading and wind tunnel modeling, the bridge wind resistance design in the commercially available bridge design software package RM is shown. The Discrete Vortex Method and the implementation are shortly described. Initially, classical fluid problems are indicated together with the comparison of parametric cross sectional bridge shapes. After, three Brazilian large cablestayed bridge projects are presented as instance of analysis: Paulicéia, Guamá and Roberto Marinho. Bridges aerodynamic coefficients were experimentally obtained at the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Joaquim Blessmann at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Finally, experimental results are considered precise and those results evaluated with CFD are compared analyzing the liability and applicability. According to the results variability, quite low, we considered them appropriated for basic and final structural designs; needing, although, for special cases, of experimental probation in wind tunnel tests before the construction phase. Some CFD analysis problems of cross sections are then presented as application examples. The results and similitude corroborate earlier verifications of the method and this implementation, demonstrating why its use is becoming increasingly acceptable.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo realizar um estudo comparativo entre os três métodos para obtenção das características aerodinâmicas de tabuleiros de pontes: analítico, experimental e numérico. O tema é motivado pelo crescimento das necessidades de conhecimento científico e tecnológico na área de desempenho aerodinâmico de seções típicas de pontes nas etapas mais iniciais de projeto. A precisão de uma ferramenta de previsão certamente acelera a convergência ao modelo final; porém, qualquer metodologia numérica deve ser extensivamente testada antes de ser utilizada nos escritórios de cálculo. Inicialmente mostra-se a lógica da análise de instabilidades provocadas pelo vento, resume-se a modelagem de tabuleiros de pontes para ensaios em túnel de vento e descreve-se o método numérico implementado no programa comercial de análise de pontes RM. Comparam-se dados disponíveis de testes de modelos reduzidos no túnel de vento com as estimativas de aproximação do Método da Vorticidade em Partículas (MVP). Confrontam-se resultados para casos clássicos, um estudo paramétrico, dados dos relatórios de três pontes Brasileiras já ensaiadas no Túnel de Vento Joaquim Blessmann do LAC – PPGEC/UFRGS: Paulicéia, Guamá e Roberto Marinho. Finalmente, considera-se o método experimental como preciso e julga-se o método numérico comparativamente, analisando a confiabilidade dos resultados e procurando definir a sua faixa de aplicabilidade. Examinando a variabilidade dos resultados, bastante baixa, definiu-se sua faixa de aplicação considerando os resultados obtidos como satisfatórios para projetos básicos e executivos de estruturas; necessitando, porém, para os casos especiais, de comprovação experimental em túnel de vento antes da sua execução. Exemplifica-se então o uso do método para alguns problemas de análises de seções. Os resultados e comparações corroboram verificações anteriores do método dos vórtices discretos para verdadeiras seções de pontes e mostram porque o seu uso vem se tornando cada vez mais aceitável. / The work has the objective to realize a comparative study between three methods to obtain bridge aerodynamic coefficients: analytic, experimental and numerical. The theme is motivated by the increasing need of knowledge about the aerodynamic behaviour of bridge decks in the early stages of the design process. The accuracy of a predictive tool will certainly accelerate the convergence to the final design. However, any numerical methodology must be extensively tested ascertain and hence validated before it becomes of current use by designers. Collaboration is made comparing wind tunnel data of reduced models and numerical estimations by a simplified approach. After a brief overview of wind loading and wind tunnel modeling, the bridge wind resistance design in the commercially available bridge design software package RM is shown. The Discrete Vortex Method and the implementation are shortly described. Initially, classical fluid problems are indicated together with the comparison of parametric cross sectional bridge shapes. After, three Brazilian large cablestayed bridge projects are presented as instance of analysis: Paulicéia, Guamá and Roberto Marinho. Bridges aerodynamic coefficients were experimentally obtained at the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Joaquim Blessmann at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Finally, experimental results are considered precise and those results evaluated with CFD are compared analyzing the liability and applicability. According to the results variability, quite low, we considered them appropriated for basic and final structural designs; needing, although, for special cases, of experimental probation in wind tunnel tests before the construction phase. Some CFD analysis problems of cross sections are then presented as application examples. The results and similitude corroborate earlier verifications of the method and this implementation, demonstrating why its use is becoming increasingly acceptable.

The flow field and forces on an isolated oscillating NACA 0012 airfoil in a uniform flow is studied using viscous vortex particle method. The simulations are carried out at very low chord (c) based Reynolds number (Re=1000), motivated by the current interest in development of Micro Air Vehicles (MAV). The airfoil is forced to oscillate in both heave and pitch at different normalized oscillation frequencies (f), which is represented by the non-dimensional reduced frequency fc/U).( From the unsteady loading on the airfoil, the net energy transfer to the airfoil is calculated to determine the propensity for the airfoil to undergo self-induced oscillations or flutter at these very low Reynolds numbers. The simulations are carried out using a viscous vortex particle method that utilizes discrete vortex elements to represent the vorticity in the flow field. After validation of the code against test cases in the literature, simulations are first carried out for the stationary airfoil at different angles of attack, which shows the stall characteristics of the airfoil at this very low Reynolds numbers. For the airfoil oscillating in heave, the airfoil is forced to oscillate at different reduced frequencies at a large angle of attack in the stall regime. The unsteady loading on the blade is obtained at different reduced frequencies. This is used to calculate the net energy transfer to the airfoil from the flow, which is found to be negative in all cases studied. This implies that stall flutter or self-induced oscillations are not possible under the given heave conditions. The wake vorticity dynamics is presented for the different reduced frequencies, which show that the leading edge vortex dynamics is progressively more complex as the reduced frequency is increased from small values. For the airfoil oscillating in pitch, the airfoil is forced to oscillate about a large mean angle of attack corresponding to the stall regime. The unsteady moment on the blade is obtained at different reduced frequencies, and this is used to calculate the net energy transfer to the airfoil from the flow, which is found to be positive in all cases studied. This implies that stall flutter or self-induced oscillations are possible in the pitch mode, unlike in the heave case. The wake vorticity dynamics for this case is found to be relatively simple compared to that in heave. The results of the present simulations are broadly in agreement with earlier stall flutter studies at higher Reynolds numbers that show that stall flutter does not occur in the heave mode, but can occur in the pitch mode. The main difference in the present very low Reynolds number case appears to be the broader extent of the excitation region in the pitch mode compared to large Re cases studied earlier. region in the pitch mode compared to large Re cases studied earlier.