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Communication by voice is foundational in our society and many rely on their voices for their occupations. Voice disorders affect a significant number of individuals each year, and diagnosis and treatment improvements are therefore sought via advancements in voice research. Contained in this thesis is a description of work intended to contribute to vocal fold research by using synthetic, self-oscillating vocal fold replicas to study the impact of replica vibration on perfusion fluid flow through the replica. Methods for manufacturing vocal fold replicas containing imbedded channels allowing for fluid perfusion are discussed. Experimental procedures developed for delivering perfusion fluid to the imbedded channel at a constant pressure during replica vibration are described. Methods for measuring perfusion parameters of perfusion fluid pressure, imbedded channel diameter, flow rate, and vibration parameters (subglottal pressure, frequency, amplitude, channel length, and glottal width) are detailed. Experiments performed using both stationary and vibrating vocal fold replicas are presented. Correlations between perfusion pressure and channel diameter are discussed. Vibration parameters were correlated to perfusion flow parameters and it is shown that perfusion flow rate through the channels decreased significantly with model vibration. Potential mechanisms for changes in perfusion flow resistance with vibration are discussed and analyzed. Output of a theoretical model, developed to incorporate some of the possible flow resistance mechanisms, was compared to vibrating replica experimental data.

This study attempts to understand one of the most fundamental and challenging problems in fluid flow and heat transfer for rotating machines. The study focuses on gas turbines and electric generators for high temperature and high energy density applications, respectively, both which employ rotating cooling channels so that materials do not fail under high temperature and high stress environment. Prediction of fluid flow and heat transfer inside internal cooling channels that rotate at high rotation number and high density ratio similar to those that are existing in turbine blades and generator rotors is the main focus of this study. Both smooth-wall and rib-roughened channels are considered here. Rotation, buoyancy, bends, ribs and boundary conditions affect the flow inside theses channels. Ribs are introduced inside internal cooling channel in order to enhance the heat transfer rate. The use of ribs causes rapid increase in the supply pressure, which is already limited in a turbine or a generator and requires high cost for manufacturing. Hence careful optimization is needed to justify the use of ribs. Increasing rotation number (Ro) is another approach to increase heat transfer rate to values that are comparable to those achieved by introduction of ribs. One objective of this research is to study and compare theses two approaches in order to decide the optimum range of application and a possible replacement of the high-cost and complex ribs by increasing Ro. A fully computational approach is employed in this study. On the basis of comparison between two-equation (k-[epsilon] and k-[omega]) and RSM turbulence models, against limited available experimental data, it is concluded that the two-equation turbulence models cannot predict the anisotropic turbulent flow field and heat transfer correctly, while RSM showed improved prediction. For the near wall region, two approaches with standard wall functions and enhanced near wall treatment were investigated. The enhanced near wall approach showed superior results to the standard wall functions approach. Thus RSM with enhanced near wall treatment is validated against available experimental data (which are primarily at low rotation and buoyancy numbers). The model was then used for cases with high Ro (as much as 1.29) and high-density ratios (DR) (up to 0.4). Particular attention is given to how turbulence intensity, Reynolds stresses and transport are affected by Coriolis and buoyancy/centrifugal forces caused by high levels of Ro and DR. Variations of flow total pressure along the rotating channel are also predicted. The results obtained are explained in view of physical interpretation of Coriolis and centrifugal forces. Investigation of channels with smooth and with rib-roughened walls that are rotating about an orthogonal axis showed that increasing Ro always enhances turbulence and the heat transfer rate, while at high Ro, increasing DR although causes higher turbulence activity but does not necessarily increase Nu and in some locations even decreases Nu. The increasing thermal boundary layer thickness near walls is the possible reason for this behavior of Nu. The heat transfer enhancement for smooth-wall cases correlates linearly with Ro (with other parameters are kept constant) and hence it is possible to derive linear correlation for the increase in Nu as a function of Ro. Investigation of channels with rib-roughened walls that rotate about orthogonal axis showed that 4-side-average Nur correlates with Ro linearly, where a linear correlation for Nur/Nus as a function of Ro is derived. It is also observed that the heat transfer rate on smooth-wall channel can be enhanced rapidly by increasing Ro to values that are comparable to the enhancement due to the introduction of ribs inside internal cooling channels. This observation suggests that ribs may be unnecessary in high-speed machines, and has tremendous implications for possible cost savings in these machines. In square channels that rotate about parallel axis, the heat transfer rate enhances with Ro on three surfaces of the square channel and decreases on the inner surface (that is the one closest to the axis of rotation). However, the four-sides average Nu increases with Ro. Increasing wall heat flux at high Ro does not necessarily increase Nu on walls although higher turbulence activity is observed. This study examines the rich interplay of physics under the simultaneous actions of Coriolis and centrifugal/buoyancy forces in one of the most challenging internal flow configurations. Several important conclusions are reached from this computational study that may have far-reaching implications on how turbine blades and generator rotors are currently designed. Since the computation study in not validated for high Ro cases, these important results call for a experimental investigation.

The solutions of nonlinear ordinary or partial differential equations are important in the study of fluid flow and heat transfer. In this thesis we apply the Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM) and obtain solutions for several fluid flow and heat transfer problems. In chapter 1, a brief introduction to the history of homotopies and embeddings, along with some examples, are given. The application of homotopies and an introduction to the solutions procedure of differential equations (used in the thesis) are provided. In the chapters that follow, we apply HAM to a variety of problems to highlight its use and versatility in solving a range of nonlinear problems arising in fluid flow. In chapter 2, a viscous fluid flow problem is considered to illustrate the application of HAM. In chapter 3, we explore the solution of a non-Newtonian fluid flow and provide a proof for the existence of solutions. In addition, chapter 3 sheds light on the versatility and the ease of the application of the Homotopy Analysis Method, and its capability in handling non-linearity (of rational powers). In chapter 4, we apply HAM to the case in which the fluid is flowing along stretching surfaces by taking into the effects of "slip" and suction or injection at the surface. In chapter 5 we apply HAM to a Magneto-hydrodynamic fluid (MHD) flow in two dimensions. Here we allow for the fluid to flow between two plates which are allowed to move together or apart. Also, by considering the effects of suction or injection at the surface, we investigate the effects of changes in the fluid density on the velocity field. Furthermore, the effect of the magnetic field is considered. Chapter 6 deals with MHD fluid flow over a sphere. This problem gave us the first opportunity to apply HAM to a coupled system of nonlinear differential equations. In chapter 7, we study the fluid flow between two infinite stretching disks. Here we solve a fourth order nonlinear ordinary differential equation. In chapter 8, we apply HAM to a nonlinear system of coupled partial differential equations known as the Drinfeld Sokolov equations and bring out the effects of the physical parameters on the traveling wave solutions. Finally, in chapter 9, we present prospects for future work.

<p> Heat-exchangers designed and fabricated in accordance with the existing design standards may be susceptible to damage as a result of excessive tube vibrations caused by the shell-side fluid flow. The present investigat ion was undertaken to further our understanding of the vibration behaviour of tube arrays. </p> <p> An experimental facility and techniques have been developed by means of which the major mechanisms that cause flow-induced vibrations in tube arrays due to cross-flow can be produced and properly identified. </p> <p> The experiments were conducted in a low-speed windtunnel having 305 x 305 mm.working section. The tube-bundle was a parallel-triangular tube-array with pitch/diameter = 1.375 . The array was 27 rows deep with 5 tubes in each row . The tubes were designed such that they could be conveniently removed from outside the wind-tunnel, in order to facilitate studying the effect of tube-bundle size on vibration and flow characteristics . Nineteen identical tubes in the middle of the tube-array were movable and specially designed so that natural frequency and damping could be controlled precisely over a range of values. </p> <p> The experiments have verified that deep inside a closely-packed tube-bank the existence of discrete vortex shedding is not a working hypothesis and the response of a tube in a tube-bundle is expected to be a function of Reynolds number and the number of upstream rows of tubes. From the flow-field velocity power-spectra obtained for the array tested and from the available data existing in the literature, it is seen that there is a strong possibility of predicting the dominating frequency in the flow from a universal Strauhal number. For the first time a fluidelastic stability boundary for the array has been derived and it is noticed that the slope of this boundary is significantly different from that derived by other authors from theoretical considerations. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The main focus of this work is to investigate thermal performance of self-contained drum motor drive systems (SCDMDS). All components of a SCDMDS are contained inside a rotating drum including the electric motor, gearbox, and an air/oil multiphase flow. A considerable amount of heat is generated within the SCDMDS from various sources, namely, the electric motor losses, the oil viscous dissipation and the gearbox losses. In meantime, a limited amount of heat is dissipated through the surface of the rotating drum and the side flanges. Therefore, a SCDMDS sometimes encounters a serious overheating problem, which often results in electric motor failure. The different heat generation and dissipation mechanisms as well as the two-phase flow within the SCDMDS have been studied experimentally and numerically under different operating parameters, namely, the oil level (OV), the drum rotational speed (N), the torque (ζ), the number of motor poles (n) and the electric motor dimensions. The effects of rubber lagging material and thickness as well as the use of rubber belts have been investigated as well. The numerical part of the present study has been carried out using Ansys-CFX and was validated using experimental data. Results showed that the optimum oil level (OV) for the best thermal performance is about 65%. The increase in the rotational speed (N) enhanced the heat transfer within the SCDMDS due to the improved oil splashing. Viscous dissipation (VD) between the motor stator and the rotating drive drum was found to be almost negligible. However, oil viscous dissipation within the gap between the motor rotor and stator was found to have an important effect on the thermal performance. An analytical model has been developed and implemented using MATLAB to estimate VD within the motor. The losses from the gearbox were studied experimentally and numerically considering planetary and co-axial gear trains. The numerical work was carried out using the KISSsoft and KISSsys software. Results showed that the increase in the drum rotational speed (N) or the drum torque (ζ) increased the gearbox losses. In the planetary gearbox, any increase in the OV increases the churning losses, however, the increase in OV increased the losses in the co-axial gearbox up to OV = 31% beyond which the losses remained constant. After understanding the complex interplay between all the heat generating and dissipating mechanisms within the SCDMDS, a number of possible modifications have been proposed in order to resolve the overheating problem. The effect of cooling the electric motor by using an axial air flow has been investigated. The effect of adding fins along the inner surface of the outer rotating drum has also been studied. Correlations of the various contributing mechanisms have been developed. Based on a thermal resistance network, a SCDMDS sizing and performance assessment computer software tool in the form of a digital twin (DT) has been developed. A user-friendly interface has been developed using Visual Basics and Excel. The DT estimates temperature distribution and the amount of heat generated and dissipated from each component within the SCDMDS and hence it identifies whether the case is considered safe to operate or overheating is expected. In overheated cases, the DT also suggests several possible modifications the user could consider to resolve the overheating problem. The DT has been validated against several experimental case studies and found to be very reasonably accurate. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This study is focused on investigating heat transfer and fluid flow inside a self-contained drum motor drive system (SCDMDS). The problem of interest involves multiple heat sources enclosed inside a tight space of the rotating drum. There is an electrical motor, gearbox and a multiphase (oil/air) flow inside the rotating drum of the SCDMDS. In this thesis, experimental test rigs were constructed to investigate the effect of a number of operating and geometrical parameters. In addition, numerical analysis of the multiphase oil/air flow was carried out using Ansys - CFX. The KISSsoft and KISSsys software packages were used to determine various types of heat losses within the geartrain. Due to the presence of multiple heat sources inside a confined space, overheating of a number of SCDMDS has been reported. The overheating problem worsened even more when rubber lagging is used to increase traction between the drive drum and the belt. Several correlations have been developed for various heat transfer mechanisms governing the overall thermal performance of the entire SCDMDS. An analytical model (a digital twin) has been developed using Visual Basics and Excel. The digital twin estimates the temperature distribution and the amount of heat generated and dissipated inside the SCDMDS. It has been validated against many case studies provided by the industrial partner. The model identifies the possibility of overheating and provides the user with several potential modifications to resolve it. Hence, the model can be used as a performance and design tool of various models of SCDMDS.

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