The structure and behavior of the bimodal flow of the horseshoe vortex at the nose of a wing-body junction flow was studied. The wing consists of a 3:2 elliptic nose and a NACA 0020 tail joined at the maximum thickness (t). Measurements were performed with an approach flow conditions of U_ref = 27.5 m/s, Re_θ = 6700 at x/t=-2.15, and δ/t=0.5. A rapidly-scanning two-velocity-component laser-Doppler anemometer system was developed for use in investigating this flow. U and V velocity components were measured simultaneously with surface pressure measurements at the location of the most bimodal pressure histogram (x/t=-0.26). Mean (U, V) and rms (u’, v’) velocity components were obtained at four x locations, x/t= -0.15, -0.20, -0.25, -0.30, and show the same flow features measured in previous studies at this facility. Cross-correlations between the velocity and the surface pressure fluctuations were obtained. Large correlations were found between the u fluctuations (x/t= -0.15, -0.25, and -0.30) near the wall, y/t < 0.05, and the surface pressure fluctuations. The z fluctuations for y/t > 0.1 at all four x-locations lead the surface pressure fluctuations. Space-time correlations between the velocity fluctuations near the wall with the velocity fluctuations along the scan were also obtained. The correlations at x/t=-0.25 and x/t=-0.30 show that the fluctuations in the outer region, y/t > 0.1, are significantly correlated with and lead the velocity fluctuations near the wall. These measurements support a model of a single primary junction vortex that changes size and location in front of the wing. The strength or circulation of this vortex varies by only 20%. Event-threshold conditional-averages of velocity were obtained based on the surface pressure signal, which is sensitive to the movement of the junction vortex. These show that the junction vortex is concentrated near the nose, with large backflow, when the surface pressure signal is above the mean. The junction vortex is larger, with smaller backflow near the nose, when the surface pressure signal is below the mean. The velocity-pressure cross-correlations and space-time correlations indicate that the behavior of the junction vortex is influenced by fluctuations originating upstream and propagating inward and downward toward the wing. / Ph. D.

An experimental investigation of an incompressible, turbulent junction vortex formed at the base of a streamlined cylinder with a circular leading edge placed normal to a flat surface is documented. The flow environment is characterized by a body Reynolds number of 183,000, based on the diameter of the model. The investigation centered around measurements of mean velocity vectors at over 1,700 locations on the plane of symmetry. In addition, extensive turbulence measurements in regions of interest on the plane of symmetry were also made. All of the measurements are performed with a two-color, two-component, frequency shifted laser Doppler velocimeter. The mean flow field shows the presence of a single vortex on the plane of symmetry and a singular separation point upstream of the vortex. From the measured data, the locations of the vortex center and the singular separation point were determined. The mean velocity field correlates well with previously published surface pressure data and surface flow visualization results. Extensive comparisons were made with earlier Conrad and five-hole pressure probe measurements and hot film measurements. Comparisons with the Conrad probe results were made in a two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer, and with the five-hole probe results for the plane of symmetry junction vortex flow at six stations in the upstream region and four stations inside the separated region. Hot film results were compared at two stations in the upstream region. Excellent agreement was found in the two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer. On the plane of symmetry junction vortex flow, agreement among the three instruments was good, especially for data taken in the upstream region and away from the floor. Turbulence data were also obtained with the laser Doppler velocimeter in conjunction with a minicomputer. Results indicate the turbulence level inside the separated region is significantly higher than in the upstream region. Highest levels of turbulence were found near the singular separation point and near the center of the vortex. Doppler spectra variations in these regions were also shown. In addition, Doppler histograms obtained by a PDP-11 minicomputer were compared to Doppler spectra obtained using an FFT. Excellent agreement was found between the Doppler spectra and the histograms obtained from the two different instruments. / Ph. D.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The flow around second-generation controlled-diffusion blades in cascade at stall was examined experimentally through the use of a two-component laser-Doppler velocimeter. Blade surface pressure measurements were also preformed at mid span on the blades at various Reynolds numbers. Flow visualization techniques were used to observe and record the flow on the surface of the blade. A correlation between the experimental results and computational fluid dynamic predictions was attempted in order to determine the exact nature of the flow as the blades approached stall, to further assist in the development of advanced blade design. The blade surface pressure measurements showed that the mid-span section of the blade was at a lower loading than previously measured at a smaller inlet flow angle. This indicated that the blade section was at stall. The flow visualization highlighted the extent of the three-dimensional flow over the blades. The LDV measurements documented the mid-span boundary layer and wake profiles. / Ensign, United States Navy

Supercritical fluid jets provide a complex flow pattern and are present in many engineering applications. To date, studies have focused on wall jets, free jets, and two-dimensional offset jets. As a result, our understanding of three-dimensional offset jets is lacking. A deeper understanding of three-dimensional offset jets is important as they are seen in many engineering applications. Understanding the flow patterns of three-dimensional offset jets will aid hydraulic engineers to reduce anthropogenic effects when designing new and rehabilitating older hydraulic structures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tailwater level and asymmetry ratio on three-dimensional offset jets. A physical model was constructed and three sets of experiments were conducted. Each set of experiments evaluated the effects of the Reynolds number, tailwater level, or asymmetry ratio. Velocity measurements were taken with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The acoustic Doppler velocimeter measured all three components of velocity which allowed the calculation of all six components of Reynolds shear stresses and ten components of triple velocity correlation. The effects of Reynolds number, tailwater level, and asymmetry ratio on streamwise flow development, distributions of mean velocities, and distribution of turbulence statistics were evaluated. Reynolds number effects were found to be insignificant at Reynolds number greater than 53,000. Two different trends were observed in the behavior of three-dimensional offset jets at different tailwater levels. At low tailwater levels the jet will not reattach to the channel bottom as it does at higher tailwater levels. Increasing the asymmetry ratio of an offset jet will make the jet curve towards the channel wall and bottom faster. Once reattached to the wall the velocity decay rate is greatly reduced. The results found in this study will be useful to a hydraulic engineer designing new or rehabilitating older hydraulic structures which have flow characteristics similar to that of three-dimensional offset jets. The data acquired during this study adds to the available data usable for calibration and validation of turbulence models. All three components of velocity were measured simultaneously which allowed to calculation of the six Reynolds shear stresses and ten triple velocity correlation terms. All velocities and turbulence statistics in this study were measured simultaneously which provides a data set that has rarely been seen before.

Surface mean pressures, oil flow visualization, and 3-velocity-component laser-Doppler velocimeter measurements are presented for a turbulent boundary layer of momentum thickness Reynolds number, 7300 and thickness delta over two circular based axisymmetric bumps of height H = delta and 2delta and one rectangular based symmetric bump of H = 2delta. LDV data were obtained at one plane x/H ¥ 3.26 for each case. Complex vortical separations occur on the leeside and merge into large stream-wise mean vortices downstream for the 2 axisymmetric cases. The near-wall flow (y+ < 90) is dominated by the wall. For the axisymmetric cases, the vortices in the outer region produce large turbulence levels near the centerline and appear to have low frequency motions that contribute to turbulent diffusion. For the case with a narrower span-wise shape, there are sharper separation lines and lower turbulence intensities in the vortical downstream flow. Fine-spatial-resolution LDV measurements were also obtained on half of the leeside of an axisymmetric bump (H/delta = 2) in a turbulent boundary layer. Three-dimensional (3-D) separations occur on the leeside with one saddle separation on the centerline that is connected by a separation line to one focus separation on each side of the centerline. Downstream of the saddle point the mean backflow converges to the focal separation points in a thin region confined within about 0.15delta from the local bump surface. The mean backflow zone is supplied by the intermittent large eddies as well as by the near surface flow from the side of the bump. The separated flow has a higher turbulent kinetic energy and shows bimodal histograms in local and U and W, which appear to be due to highly unsteady turbulent motions. By the mode-averaged analysis of bimodal histograms, highly unsteady flow structures are estimated and unsteady 3-D separations seem to be occurring over a wide region on the bump leeside. The process of these separations has very complex dynamics having a large intermittent attached and detached flow region which is varying in time. These bimodal features with highly correlated local u and w fluctuating motions are the major source of large Reynolds stresses local u2, w2 and -uw. Because of the variation of the mean flow angle in the separation zones, the turbulent flow from different directions is non-correlated, resulting in lower shearing stresses. Farther from the wall, large stream-wise vortices form from flow around the sides of the bump. / Ph. D.

This dissertation presents the results from an experimental study of three-dimensional turbulent tip gap flow in a linear cascade wind tunnel with 3.3% chord tip clearance with and without moving endwall simulation. Experimental measurements have been completed in Virginia Tech low speed linear cascade wind tunnel. A 24" access laser-Doppler velocimeter (LDV) system was developed to make simultaneous three-velocity-component measurements. The overall size of the probe is 24"à 37"à 24"and measurement spatial resolution is about 100 μm. With 24" optical access distance, the LDV probe allows measurements to be taken from the side of the linear cascade tunnel instead of through the bottom of the tunnel floor. The probe has been tested in a zero-pressure gradient two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer. Experimental measurements (oil flow visualization, pressure measurement, and LDV measurement) for the stationary wall captured the major flow structures of the tip leakage flow in the linear compressor cascade, such as tip leakage vortex, tip leakage vortex separation and tip separation vortex. Large velocity gradients in the tip leakage vortex separation, tip leakage vortex, and tip separation vortex regions generate large production of the Reynolds stresses and turbulent kinetic energy. One of the most interesting features of the tip leakage flow is the bimodal velocity probability histograms of the v component due to the unsteady motion of the flow in the interaction region between the tip leakage vortex and tip leakage jet. The tip separation vortex, tip leakage vortex separation, and tip leakage vortex contain most of turbulent kinetic energy and generate the highest dissipation rate. Relative motion of the endwall significantly affects the tip gap flow structures, especially in the near wall region. Compared to the stationary wall case, velocity gradients in the near wall region for the moving wall case are much smaller and lower velocity gradients in the near wall region cause the low production of Reynolds stresses and turbulent kinetic energy. Similar to the stationary wall case, high Reynolds stresses and turbulent kinetic energy values are mainly located in the vicinity of the tip leakage vortex and tip separation vortex region. The bimodal velocity probability histograms of the v component are also found at the same locations. The tip separation vortex with most of the turbulent kinetic energy generates the highest dissipation rate. The dissipation rate in the tip leakage vortex region is reduced with the decrease of turbulent kinetic energy under the moving wall effect. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Hydraulically induced scour of the streambed at the base of bridge piers is the leading cause of bridge failures. Despite the significant scientific efforts towards the solution of this challenging engineering problem, there are still no reliable tools for the prediction and mitigation of bridge scour. This shortcoming is attributed to the lack of understanding of the physics behind this phenomenon. The experimental studies that attempted the physical investigation of bridge scour in the past have faced two main limitations: i) The characterization of the dynamic interaction between the flow and the evolving bed that is known to drive scour, was not possible due to the limitations in the available instrumentation and the significant experimental difficulties; ii) Most of the existing literature studies are based on the findings of laboratory experiments whose scale is orders of magnitudes smaller compared to bridges in the field, while the scale effects on the scour depth have never been quantified. The objective of this research was to enhance the existing understanding of the phenomenon by tackling the aforementioned experimental challenges. To accomplish this, the first part of this work involved the development of a new underwater photogrammetric technique for the monitoring of evolving sediment beds. This technique is able to obtain very high resolution measurements of evolving beds, thus allowing the characterization of their dynamic properties (i.e. evolving topography and scour rates) and overcoming existing experimental limitations. Secondly, the underwater photogrammetric technique was applied on a bridge scour experiment, of simple geometry, and the dynamic morphological characteristics of the phenomenon were measured. The detailed measurements along with reasonable comparisons with descriptions of the flow, from past studies, were used to provide insight on the interaction between the flow and the bed and describe quantitatively the mechanisms of scour. Finally, the scale effects on scour were studied via the performance of two experiments under near-prototype conditions. In these experiments the effects of the Reynolds number on the flow and the scour were quantified and implications concerning existing small-scale studies were discussed. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The designs of pump intake structures are generally verified by means of a hydraulic model study to ensure the structure will operate without large air or swirl entraining vortices. This is an expensive and time consuming process. The popularity of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is ever increasing in the engineering world and the use thereof in the modelling of flows in pump intake structures is just one of the many areas of focus. The use of a validated CFD model in the design phase of pump intakes would be beneficial, and ideally would reduce the frequency of requiring hydraulic model studies. This study investigates the applicability of using a 3 dimensional CFD model as a design tool by validation with a physical model. A physical model of a simple pump intake was available and with a few modifications the flow conditions were significantly improved. The quantitative validation of the CFD model was carried out by means of comparing corresponding point velocity magnitudes. An Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) was used in the physical model. The data obtained were successfully filtered to remove noise and other disturbances. The qualitative validation was done by means of photographs and observations. The photographs made use of illuminated tracer particles to identify flow patterns. The CFD model compares well qualitatively, but the velocity magnitudes are not yet sufficiently reliable. It is recommended that the CFD model can be used for qualitative studies, but future research should focus on the accuracy of the CFD model. Using higher resolution velocity measurements in the physical model by means of other types of instruments, a better comparison can be made, as well as enabling validation of the ADV readings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwerpe van die pomp inname strukture word gewoonlik bevestig deur middel van 'n hidrouliese model studie om lug-intrekking te minimeer. Dit is 'n duur en tydrowende proses . Die gebruik van Computational Fluid Dynamics ( CFD ), ‘n tipe numeriese modelle neem toe in die ingenieurswese wêreld. Die gebruik daarvan in die modellering van vloei in pomp inname strukture is net een van die vele areas van toepassing . Die gebruik van 'n betroubare CFD model in die ontwerp fase van pomp innames sal voordelig wees , en ideaal sou die noodaaklikheid van fisiese hidrouliese model studies verminder. Hierdie studie ondersoek die toepaslikheid van die gebruik van 'n 3 -dimensionele model CFD model as 'n ontwerp instrument deur bevestiging met 'n fisiese model . 'n Eenvoudige pomp-inname model was beskikbaar en het met ‘n paar veranderinge die vloei toestande aansienlik verbeter . Die kwantitatiewe bevestiging van die CFD model is uitgevoer deur middel van vergelyking van korresponderende punt snelheid groottes. In die fisiese model is die snelhede met 'n Akoestiese Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) gemeet. Die data wat verkry is suksesvol gefiltreer om geraas en ander versteurings te verwyder . Die kwalitatiewe bevestiging is gedoen deur middel van foto's en waarnemings. In die foto's is gebruik gemaak van verligte spoor deeltjies om vloei patrone te identifiseer. Die CFD model vergelyk kwalitatief goed, maar die snelheid groottes is nog nie voldoende betroubaar nie. Dit word aanbeveel dat die CFD model gebruik kan word vir kwalitatiewe studies, maar toekomstige navorsing behoort te fokus op die verbeteringe van dieakkuraatheid van die CFD model. Met behulp van 'n hoër resolusie snelheid metings van die fisiese model, deur middel van ander tipe instrumente, kan 'n beter vergelyking gemaak word , sowel as die geldigheid van die ADV lesings in staat te stel.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram verificar a influência das taxas de aplicação superficial das zonas de separação e de contato e da concentração de micro bolhas de ar na eficiência da remoção de partículas em unidades de flotação aplicadas ao tratamento de água para abastecimento público e, caracterizar a estrutura de escoamento no interior da zona de separação, com a utilização de uma planta piloto de flotação por ar dissolvido. Os trabalhos relativos à pesquisa foram divididos em duas etapas: a primeira delas contemplou a operação de unidade piloto alimentada com água sintética, utilizando três valores de taxa de aplicação superficial na zona de separação associadas a duas taxas de aplicação superficial na zona de contato, cada qual com três concentrações de ar fornecido à flotação. Foram mantidos fixos os parâmetros: tempo de contato na zona de contato, tempo de floculação, gradiente médio de floculação e velocidade cross-flow. Os resultados desta etapa foram monitorados com base na eficiência de remoção de cor e turbidez. As maiores eficiências de remoção, 87,5% para turbidez e 96,8% de cor aparente foram obtidos para as menores taxas de aplicação superficial nas zonas de contato e separação estudadas, associadas à concentração de ar de 4,90 g/\'CM POT.3\' de água. Este, entre outros resultados, levou à conclusão de que tal concentração de ar fornecida à flotação forneceu sempre os menores residuais de cor e turbidez nas condições investigadas. Quanto à taxa de aplicação superficial na zona de contato, 136,3 m/h resultou em maiores eficiências de clarificação, sendo que o aumento para 172,8 m/h causou ligeira queda na eficiência. Finalmente, quanto à taxa de aplicação superficial na zona de separação, a menor taxa (9,8 m/h) foi aquela onde as maiores eficiências de clarificação foram obtidas, as quais decresceram à medida que a taxa foi aumentada. Na segunda etapa utilizou-se a sonda microADV na caracterização do escoamento no interior da zona de separação. Foram realizadas caracterizações para as três concentrações de ar fornecidas para a flotação estudadas na etapa I, mantendo-se fixos a taxa de aplicação superficial e o tempo na zona de contato (136,3 m/h e 53 s, respectivamente), a taxa de aplicação superficial na zona de separação (12,3 m/h), a vazão de entrada e a velocidade cross-flow, conforme a etapa I. Para as três condições estudadas, adotou-se uma malha virtual de coleta de dados de duas dimensões, composta por 98 pontos igualmente espaçados, sendo 14 na altura e 7 paralelos ao comprimento. O tempo de coleta de dados em cada ponto foi de 2 min com uma freqüência de amostragem de 50 Hz. Os vetores de velocidade resultantes foram plotados em esquemas ilustrativos, afim de se comparar os três perfis obtidos. Observou-se em todos os casos um fluxo em curto-circuito na região superior da zona de separação e logo abaixo desta, um fluxo descendente no sentido dos coletores ao fundo da unidade. Quando comparadas, apenas pequenas diferenças quanto à espessura da região de curto circuito superior foram verificadas entre as três situações abordadas, as quais não explicam as diferentes eficiências de clarificação obtidas na etapa I da pesquisa, relacionadas à concentração de ar fornecida à flotação. / The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of hydraulic surface loading of contact and separation zones and of the air micro bubbles concentration in the particle removal efficiency in flotation units applied to water treatment for public supply and also characterize the flow structure into the separation zone. The works were divided into two stages: the first included the operation of the pilot plant fed with synthetic water, using three values of hydraulic surface loadings in the separation zone associated with two hydraulic surface loadings in the superficial zone of contact, each one with three concentrations of air supplied to the flotation. Were kept fixed parameters: contact time in the contact zone, flocculation time, mean flocculation gradient and cross-flow velocity. The results of this step were monitored based on the removal efficiency of color and turbidity. The higher removal efficiencies, 87.5% of turbidity and 96.8% apparent color were obtained for the lower hydraulic surface loading of contact and separation zones studied, associated with air concentration of 4.90 g/\'CM POT.3\' of water. This, among other results, led to the conclusion that this air supplied to the flotation concentration always provided the lowest residual color and turbidity values, under the conditions investigated. As for the hydraulic surface loading in the contact zone, 136.3 m/h resulted in higher efficiencies for clarification and when increasing to 172.8 m/h slight drop in efficiency was caused. Finally, regarding separation zone hydraulic surface loading, the lowest rate (9.8 m/h) was the one in which the highest efficiencies of clarification were obtained, which decreased, as the hydraulic surface loading was increased. In the second step, the probe microADV was used to characterize the flow inside the separation zone. Characterizations were carried out for the three air concentrations supplied to the flotation studied on the first step, fixing contact zone hydraulic surface loading and time (136.3 m/h and 53 s, respectively), the separation zone hydraulic surface loading (12.3 m/h), the input flow and cross-flow velocity as step I. For the three conditions studied, we adopted a of two-dimensional virtual data collection grid with 98 equally spaced points, 14 in height and 7 parallel to the length. The data collection time at each point was 2 min with a sampling frequency of 50 Hz. The resulting velocity vectors were plotted on illustrative diagrams in order to compare the three profiles obtained. A short-circuit flow in the upper part of the separation zone and below this, a downward flow toward the bottom of the collector unit were observed in all cases. In comparison, only small differences in the thickness of the upper region of short circuit were observed between the three situations discussed, which do not explain the different efficiencies of clarification obtained in the first step of the research related to the air bubble concentration.