No abstract provided. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr) / Scope and contents: This thesis describes the behaviour of iron ore-water suspensions under turbulent flow conditions. This work is divided into two parts. Part I deals with the regimes of transport under steady state flow conditions in circular and horizontal ducts. The heterogeneous flow regime is extensively analyzed; a sequential discrimination of models with an oriented design of experiments have permitted the determination of the best model to correlate hydraulic gradients for these suspensions. A critical discussion on the limit deposit conditions is also included. Part II describes the behaviour of clear water under oscillatory flow conditions. The study demonstrates that the quasi-steady state hypothesis, i.e., fully developed flow assumption, applied to pulsatile turbulent flow under the conditions studied. Observations on the behaviour of iron ore-water suspensions under pulsatile flow are also included. The experiments were carried out using a new air-pulsing technique.

Les vagues de bateau ajoutent une pression supplémentaire sur les berges de rivières et doivent être considérées dans les modèles de prédiction des taux de recul des berges. L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner le rôle des vagues de bateau sur l’écoulement et le transport en suspension le long des berges en milieu fluvial. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous utilisons un transect perpendiculaire à la berge de quatre courantomètres électromagnétiques (ECMs) mesurant deux dimensions de l’écoulement et deux turbidimètres (OBSs) placés dos à dos, orientés vers la berge et le large pour mesurer les conditions moyennes et turbulentes de l’écoulement longitudinal et vertical ainsi que les flux de sédiments en suspension provoqués par les vagues. Une chaloupe à moteur de 16 pieds, équipée d’un moteur 40 hp, a été utilisée afin de générer des vagues. Nous avons mesuré l’effet de trois distances à partir de la berge (5, 10, 15 m) et trois vitesses de bateau (5, 15 et 25 km/h) et cinq répliques de chaque combinaison de distance et de vitesse ont été réalisées, totalisant 45 passages. Nous avons caractérisé la variabilité des conditions d’écoulement, de vagues et de transport de sédiments et nous avons réalisé des analyses spectrales afin de séparer les portions oscillatoire et turbulente de l’écoulement généré par les vagues de bateau. L’effet de la distance et de la vitesse du bateau sur le transport de sédiments est non-linéaire et la réponse sédimentaire induite par les passages de bateau montre une variabilité importante entre les répliques et les deux sondes OBS, ce qui suggère un changement morphologique induit par les vagues de bateau. Les corrélations entre les variables d’écoulement et de transport montrent l’importance des relations entre le cisaillement et la puissance de la portion turbulente de l’écoulement avec le transport de sédiments. Cette étude a permis de quantifier les relations entre la dynamique des vagues et les flux de concentrations de sédiments en suspension, ce qui représente une contribution importante au développement de mesures de mitigation dans les environnements fluviaux où les berges sont fragilisées par le trafic plaisancier. / Boat induced waves generate additional stress on banks and should be included in bank erosion predictive models. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of boat generated waves on near bank flow in a fluvial environment. We used a longitudinal array of four bi-directional eletromagnetic current meters (ECMs) perpendicular to the bank and two optical backcattering sensors (OBSs) set back to back, one facing the river bank (inner looking) and the other towards the river (outer looking) to measure mean and turbulent properties of the horizontal and vertical flow velocities and suspended sediment fluxes generated by the waves. The waves were generated using a 16 ft long boat equipped with a 40hp motor. The effect of three different distances between the bank and sailing line (5, 10, 15 m) and of three different speeds of the vessel (5, 15 and 25 km/h) was evaluated. Five replicates of each combination of distance and speed were realized for a total of 45 passages. Variability of flows conditions, wave characteristics and turbidity properties were characterized and spectral analyses were performed to separate oscillatory and turbulent flow induced by boat generated waves. An important variability in suspended sediment response to the passages of boat wave is observed between replications and the effect of speed and distance of sailing line is nonlinear. It was often unbalanced between the inner and outer looking OBS suggesting that the bank changed its morphology. Cross-correlation between hydraulic and turbidity variables show the significance of the relation between shear stress and suspended sediment transport variables. This study provides quantitative relations between wave dynamics and plumes of suspended sediment that could help to develop mitigation measures in fluvial environments where vessel traffic represents a major issue for bank erosion and retreat.

Les vagues de bateau ajoutent une pression supplémentaire sur les berges de rivières et doivent être considérées dans les modèles de prédiction des taux de recul des berges. L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner le rôle des vagues de bateau sur l’écoulement et le transport en suspension le long des berges en milieu fluvial. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous utilisons un transect perpendiculaire à la berge de quatre courantomètres électromagnétiques (ECMs) mesurant deux dimensions de l’écoulement et deux turbidimètres (OBSs) placés dos à dos, orientés vers la berge et le large pour mesurer les conditions moyennes et turbulentes de l’écoulement longitudinal et vertical ainsi que les flux de sédiments en suspension provoqués par les vagues. Une chaloupe à moteur de 16 pieds, équipée d’un moteur 40 hp, a été utilisée afin de générer des vagues. Nous avons mesuré l’effet de trois distances à partir de la berge (5, 10, 15 m) et trois vitesses de bateau (5, 15 et 25 km/h) et cinq répliques de chaque combinaison de distance et de vitesse ont été réalisées, totalisant 45 passages. Nous avons caractérisé la variabilité des conditions d’écoulement, de vagues et de transport de sédiments et nous avons réalisé des analyses spectrales afin de séparer les portions oscillatoire et turbulente de l’écoulement généré par les vagues de bateau. L’effet de la distance et de la vitesse du bateau sur le transport de sédiments est non-linéaire et la réponse sédimentaire induite par les passages de bateau montre une variabilité importante entre les répliques et les deux sondes OBS, ce qui suggère un changement morphologique induit par les vagues de bateau. Les corrélations entre les variables d’écoulement et de transport montrent l’importance des relations entre le cisaillement et la puissance de la portion turbulente de l’écoulement avec le transport de sédiments. Cette étude a permis de quantifier les relations entre la dynamique des vagues et les flux de concentrations de sédiments en suspension, ce qui représente une contribution importante au développement de mesures de mitigation dans les environnements fluviaux où les berges sont fragilisées par le trafic plaisancier. / Boat induced waves generate additional stress on banks and should be included in bank erosion predictive models. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of boat generated waves on near bank flow in a fluvial environment. We used a longitudinal array of four bi-directional eletromagnetic current meters (ECMs) perpendicular to the bank and two optical backcattering sensors (OBSs) set back to back, one facing the river bank (inner looking) and the other towards the river (outer looking) to measure mean and turbulent properties of the horizontal and vertical flow velocities and suspended sediment fluxes generated by the waves. The waves were generated using a 16 ft long boat equipped with a 40hp motor. The effect of three different distances between the bank and sailing line (5, 10, 15 m) and of three different speeds of the vessel (5, 15 and 25 km/h) was evaluated. Five replicates of each combination of distance and speed were realized for a total of 45 passages. Variability of flows conditions, wave characteristics and turbidity properties were characterized and spectral analyses were performed to separate oscillatory and turbulent flow induced by boat generated waves. An important variability in suspended sediment response to the passages of boat wave is observed between replications and the effect of speed and distance of sailing line is nonlinear. It was often unbalanced between the inner and outer looking OBS suggesting that the bank changed its morphology. Cross-correlation between hydraulic and turbidity variables show the significance of the relation between shear stress and suspended sediment transport variables. This study provides quantitative relations between wave dynamics and plumes of suspended sediment that could help to develop mitigation measures in fluvial environments where vessel traffic represents a major issue for bank erosion and retreat.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is possibly the best available technique in designing and predicting the performance of Stirling and pulse tube refrigerators (PTR). One of the limitations of CFD modeling of these systems, however, is that it requires closure relations for the micro porous materials housed within their regenerators and heat exchangers. Comprehensive prediction of fluid-solid interaction through this media can be obtained only by direct pore level simulation, a process which is time consuming and impractical for system level examination. Through the application of empirical correlations including the Darcy permeability and Forchheimer's inertial coefficient, the microscopic momentum equations governing fluid behavior within the porous structure can be recast as viable macroscopic governing equations. With these constitutive relationships, CFD can be an efficient and powerful tool for system modeling and optimization. The purpose of this study is to determine the hydrodynamic parameters of two mesh fillers relevant to miniature PTRs; stacked screens of 635 mesh stainless steel and 325 mesh phosphor-bronze wire cloth. Experimental setups were designed and fabricated to measure steady and oscillatory pressures and mass flow rates of the working fluid, research-grade helium. Hydrodynamic parameters for the two mesh fillers were determined for steady-state and steady periodic flow in both the axial and radial directions for a range of flow rates, operating frequencies and charge pressures. The effect of average pressure on the steady axial flow hydrodynamic parameters of other common PTR filler materials was also investigated. The determination of sample hydrodynamic parameters and their subsequent computational and experimental methodologies utilized are explained.

Pulse tube cryocoolers (PTC) are a class of rugged and high-endurance refrigeration systems that operate without moving parts at their low temperature ends, and are capable of reaching temperatures down to and below 123 K. PTCs are particularly suitable for applications in space, guiding systems, cryosurgery, medicine preservation, superconducting electronics, magnetic resonance imaging, weather observation, and liquefaction of gases. Applications of these cryocoolers span across many industries including defense, aerospace, biomedical, energy, and high tech. Among the challenges facing the PTC research community is the improvement of system efficiency, which is a direct function of the regenerator component performance. A PTC implements the theory of oscillatory compression and expansion of the gas within a closed volume to achieve desired refrigeration. An important deficiency with respect to the state of art models dealing with PTCs is the limited understanding of the hydrodynamic and thermal transport parameters associated with periodic flow of a cryogenic fluid in micro-porous structures. In view of the above, the goals of this investigation include: 1) experimentally measuring and correlating the steady and periodic flow Darcy permeability and Forchheimer’s inertial hydrodynamic parameters for available rare-Earth ErPr regenerator filler; 2) employing a CFD-assisted methodology for the unambiguous quantification of the Darcy permeability and Forchheimer’s inertial hydrodynamic parameters, based on experimentally measured steady and periodic flow pressure drops in porous structures representing recently developed regenerator fillers; and 3) performing a direct numerical pore-level investigation for steady and periodic flows in a generic porous medium in order to elucidate the flow and transport processes, and quantify the solid-fluid hydrodynamic and heat transfer parameters. These hydrodynamic resistances parameters were found to be significantly different for steady and oscillatory flows.