Showing papers in "Experiments in Fluids in 1993"

Particle tracking velocimetry in three-dimensional flows

Abstract: Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) is a well-known technique for the determination of velocity vectors within an observation volume. However, for a long time it has rarely been applied because of the intensive effort necessary to measure coordinates of a large number of flow marker particles in many images. With today's imaging hardware in combination with the methods of digital image processing and digital photogrammetry, however, new possibilities have arisen for the design of completely automatic PTV systems. A powerful 3D PTV has been developed in a cooperation of the Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry with the Institute of Hydromechanics and Water Resources Management at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. In this paper hardware components for 3D PTV systems wil be discussed, and a strict mathematical model of photogrammetric 3D coordinate determination, taking into account the different refractive indices in the optical path, will be presented. The system described is capable of determining coordinate sets of some 1000 particles in a flow field at a time resolution of 25 datasets per second and almost arbitrary sequence length completely automatically after an initialization by an operator. The strict mathematical modelling of the measurement geometry, together with a thorough calibration of the system provide for a coordinate accuracy of typically 0.06 mm in X, Y and 0.18 mm in Z (depth coordinate) in a volume of 200 × 160 × 50 mm3.

Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry applied to liquid flows

Abstract: A twin-camera stereoscopic system has been developed to extend conventional high image-density Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to three-dimensional vectors on planar domains. The stereoscopic velocimeter performs with extremely high accuracy. Translation tests have yielded errors (rms) of 0.2% of full-scale for the in-plane displacement, and 0.8% of full-scale for the out-of-plane component, both of which agree with the errors predicted by an uncertainty analysis. In addition, modified techniques in hardware and software have enabled the stereoscopic system to perform successfully when acquiring images through a thick liquid layer, wherein previously the aberrations arising due to the liquid-air interface have restricted the use of such systems. With these techniques, the stereoscopic system, in combination with a simple method for image-shifting, is able to accurately measure threedimensional velocity fields in liquids. This is demonstrated by measurements of the helical, three-dimensional flow induced by a rotating disk in glycerine.

Particle tracking velocimetry in three-dimensional flows. II: Particle tracking

Abstract: The photogrammetric determination of three-dimensional particle coordinates from a 3-camera system is described in Part I. In Part II we describe a fully automated tracking scheme for the determination of a sequence of velocity vectors within a three-dimensional observation volume of a fluid flow. From this sequence long-time particle trajectories are reconstructed.The tracking scheme is tested on trajectories obtained using the Kinematic Simulation Inertial Model (KSIM). Estimates of the yield of links between adjacent data sets of particle positions and of the yield of long-time particle trajectories are obtained. The limits of efficient tracking as a function of the spacing-displacement ratio p = Δo/u′Δt are also obtained. The effect of noise, in the form of the apparent appearance and disappearance of particles between one image and the next, and of jitter, which is the error in the determination of particle coordinates, is examined. It is shown that noise reduces the number of links per frame, but does not increase the number of erroneous links which is always small. However, the yield of long trajectories drops sharply with increasing noise. A small level of jitter, on the other hand, does not significantly influence any of the results.The tracking scheme is used on two sets of particle coordinate data obtained from real flows: a non-turbulent flow in a small water tank and a turbulent open channel flow.

Non-invasive measurements of granular flows by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to measure granular-flow in a partially filled, steadily rotating, long, horizontal cylinder. This non-invasive technique can yield statistically averaged two-dimensional concentrations and velocity profiles anywhere in the flow of suitable granular materials. First, rigid body motion of a cylinder fill with granular material was studied to confirm the validity of this method. Then, the density variation of the flowing layer where particles collide and dilate, and the depth of the flowing layer and the flow velocity profile were obtained as a function of the cylinder rotation rate.

Limitation and improvement of PIV

Abstract: In this second part of the paper, the Particle Image Distortion (PID) technique is described. It is proposed to overcome the limitations of conventional PIV due to the local deformations ∂u/∂x, ∂u/∂y, ∂v/∂x and ∂v/∂y in two-dimensional flows. Both simulation and experiment demonstrate that high accuracy and high spatial resolution are possible with this technique. The large time required to compute the cross-correlations, however, limits its wide applications at present.

Measurements of thermally stratified pipe flow using image-processing techniques

Abstract: The cross-correlation technique and Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) have been adopted to measure the time-dependent and two-dimensional velocity and temperature fields of a stably thermal-stratified pipe flow. One thousand instantaneous and simultaneous velocity and temperature maps were obtained at overall Richardson numberRi = 0 and 2.5, from which two-dimensional vorticity, Reynolds stress and turbulent heat flux vector were evaluated. The quasi-periodic inclined vortices (which connected to the ‘crest’) were revealed from successive instantaneous maps and temporal variation of vorticity and temperature. It has been recognized that these vortices are associated with the ‘crest’ and ‘valley’ in the roll-up motion.

Visual observations of supersonic transverse jets

Abstract: We present experimental results on penetration of round sonic and supersonic jets normal to a supersonic cross flow. It is found that penetration is strongly dependent on momentum ratio, weakly dependent on free-stream Mach number, and practically independent of jet Mach number, pressure ratio, and density ratio. The overall scaling of penetration is not very different from that established for subsonic jets. The flow is very unsteady, with propagating pressure waves seen emanating from the orifice of helium jets.

The hydraulic jump in circular jet impingement and in other thin liquid films

Abstract: The circular hydraulic jump exhibits behavior quite different from that commonly observed in planar jumps. Here we examine experimentally some of the causes and consequences of those differences. We suggest that surface tension plays a dominant role in establishing the shape of the circular jump for impinging jets. The importance of surface tension is a direct result of the thinness of the liquid films normally encountered in circular jump configurations. A sequence of instabilities appears in the jump's structure as the subcritical liquid film becomes thicker and surface tension effects decrease. These conclusions are corroborated by experiments on thin planar films which result in unusual jump structures, like those seen in circular jumps. In addition, we show that the standard momentum balance for the circular jump is effective only at relatively low supercritical Froude numbers or at low ratios of downstream to upstream depth. Typical values of those parameters for circular jumps are often quite large relative to the usual values for planar open-channel flows.

Observations of vortex breakdown in an open cylindrical container with a rotating bottom

Abstract: A laser induced fluorescent dye technique was used to visualize the steady-state flow driven by a rotating bottom in an open, cylindrical container. The flow behaviour and the vortex breakdown conditions were studied as a function of the container aspect ratio H/R and the Reynolds number Re = ΩR2/v. Like in the closed container configuration, previously studied by Vogel (1968) and Escudier (1984), vortex breakdown occurs in a certain parameter range (H/R, Re). However, in the free surface configuration vortex breakdown conditions as well as the forms of the breakdown bubbles differ notably from what is observed in the closed container configuration. In particular, it is found that as Re is increased, the breakdown bubbles get attached to the free surface and grow in diameter.

High image-density particle image velocimetry using laser scanning techniques

Abstract: Laser scanning, corresponding to time-dependent deflections of laser beam across a field of interest, can provide relatively high illumination intensity of small particles, thereby allowing implementation of high image-density particle image velocimetry (PIV). Scanning techniques employing a rotating (multi-faceted) mirror, an oscillating mirror, and an acousto-optic deflector are addressed. Issues of illumination intensity and exposure, rate of scan of the laser beam, and retrace time of the scanning beam are assessed. Representative classes of unsteady separated flows investigated with laser-scanning PIV are described.

An experimental study of a turbulent wing-body junction and wake flow

Abstract: Extensive measurements were conducted in an incompressible turbulent flow around the wing-body junction formed by a 3∶2 semi-elliptic nose/NACA 0020 tail section and a flat plate. Mean and fluctuating velocity measurements were performed adjacent to the wing and up to 11.56 chord lengths downstream. The appendage far wake region was subjected to an adverse pressure gradient. The authors' results show that the characteristic horseshoe vortex flow structure is elliptically shaped, with ∂ (W)/∂Y forming the primary component of the streamwise vorticity. The streamwise development of the flow distortions and vorticity distributions is highly dependent on the geometry-induced pressure gradients and resulting flow skewing directions. The primary goal of this research was to determine the effects of the approach boundary layer characteristics on the junction flow. To accomplish this goal, the authors' results were compared to several other junction flow data sets obtained using the same body shape. The trailing vortex leg flow structure was found to scale on T. A parameter known as the momentum deficit factor (MDF = (Re T)2 (θ/T)) was found to correlate the observed trends in mean flow distortion magnitudes and vorticity distribution. Changes in δ/T were seen to affect the distribution of u′, with lower ratios producing well defined local turbulence maxima. Increased thinning of the boundary layer near the appendage was also observed for small values of δ/T.

Surface pressure field mapping using luminescent coatings

Abstract: In recent experiments we demonstrated the feasibility of using the oxygen dependence of luminescent molecules for surface pressure measurement in aerodynamic testing. This technique is based on the observation that for many luminescent molecules the light emitted increases as the oxygen partial pressure, and thus the air pressure, the molecules see decreases. In practice the surface to be observed is coated with an oxygen permeable polymer containing a luminescent molecule and illuminated with ultraviolet radiation. The airflow induced surface pressure field is seen as a luminescence intensity distribution which can be measured using quantitative video techniques. Computer processing converts the video data into a map of the surface pressure field. The experiments consisted of evaluating a trial luminescent coating in measuring the static surface pressure field over a two-dimensional NACA-0012 section model airfoil for Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 and 0.66. Comparison of the luminescent coating derived pressures were made to those obtained from conventional pressure taps. The method along with the experiment and its results will be described.

Performance analysis and application of grid interpolation techniques for fluid flows

Abstract: Although it is common for automated image processing techniques to claim subpixel accuracy in the identification of particles, or centroids of displacements of groups of particles, additional errors are inevitably introduced when and if these data are reinterpolated back onto a grid mesh whose nodes lie at different locations from the original data. Moreover, these errors can be large compared to the errors introduced in the original image processing step.

Modelling, calibration, and error analysis of seven-hole pressure probes

Abstract: This report describes the calibration of a non-nulling, conical, seven-hole pressure probe over a large range of flow onset angles. The calibration procedure is based on the use of differential pressures to determine the three components of velocity. The method allows determination of the flow angle and velocity magnitude to within an average error of 1.0° and 1.0% respectively. Greater accuracy can be achieved by using high quality pressure transducers. Also included is an examination of the factors which limit the use of the probe, a description of the measurement chain, an error analysis, and a typical experimental result. In addition, a new general analytical model of pressure probe behavior is described and the validity of the model is demonstrated by comparing it with experimentally measured calibration data for a three-hole yaw meter and a sevenhole probe.

Particle displacement tracking technique and Cramer-Rao lower bound error in centroid estimates from CCD imagery

Abstract: An efficient video based, multi-frame particle displacement tracking technique is presented. The technique is demonstrated on a thermocapillary flow. The Cramer-Rao lower bound centroid measurement uncertainty is derived for Gaussian particle images with Poisson noise recorded on a CCD array. The optimal particle image diameter is determined to be approximately 11/2 pixels. The centroid error increases for particle image diameters larger or smaller than the optimal value. The particle centroid results are carried over to the case of a cross-correlation peak centroid estimate. Particle tracking techniques are shown to have higher accuracy than auto or cross-correlation techniques when the individual velocity measurements are averaged over a comparable correlation subregion.

Observations of large-scale structures in wakes behind axisymmetric bodies

Abstract: Wakes behind disk-shaped axisymmetric bodies of varying solidity are studied using flow visualization and two-dimensional Fourier decomposition of velocity measurements. Evidence of a reverse flow region behind some of the bodies is observed to coincide with the presence of large-scale structures in the near and far wake. Fourier analysis shows that these large-scale structures are predominately helical (m= ±1) and occur at a characteristic frequency which corresponds to their wavelength as observed from flow visualization. Our measured value for this characteristic frequency agrees with vortex shedding frequencies observed for these types of wakes.

Flow visualization of compressible vortex structures using density gradient techniques

Abstract: Mathematical results are derived for the schlieren and shadowgraph contrast variation due to the refraction of light rays passing through two-dimensional compressible vortices with viscous cores. Both standard and small-disturbance solutions are obtained. It is shown that schlieren and shadowgraph produce substantially different contrast profiles. Further, the shadowgraph contrast variation is shown to be very sensitive to the vortex velocity profile and is also dependent on the location of the peak peripheral velocity (viscous core radius). The computed results are compared to actual contrast measurements made for rotor tip vortices using the shadowgraph flow visualization technique. The work helps to clarify the relationships between the observed contrast and the structure of vortical structures in density gradient based flow visualization experiments.

On the measurement of lateral velocity derivatives in turbulent flows

Abstract: Direct numerical simulation data for the lateral velocity derivative ∂u/∂y at the centreline of a fully developed turbulent channel flow provide reasonable support for Wyngaard's analysis of the error involved in measuring this quantity using parallel hot wires. Numerical data in the wall region of the channel flow also provide a useful indication of how to select the separation between the wires. Justification for this choice is obtained by comparing several measured statistics of ∂u/∂y with the corresponding numerical data.

The velocity change of ethanol droplets during collision with a wall analysed by image processing

Abstract: Monodisperse droplet streams are used to study the droplet wall interaction of ethanol droplets in the micrometer range. Qualitative results are given for different regimes of droplet wall interaction. The phenomena observed range from complete wetting to almost elastic reflection of the droplets. Complete wetting is observed for low wall temperatures, whereas reflection occurs for wall temperatures above the Leidenfrost temperature. For high impact velocities and high wall temperatures above the Leidenfrost temperature the formation of secondary droplets can be observed. Image processing is used to obtain quantitative results for the loss of momentum during wall interaction for cases of droplet reflection without formation of secondary droplets.

Flow instabilities during annular displacement of one non-Newtonian fluid by another

Abstract: This paper describes an experimental setup for axial laminar flow of liquids in the annulus between two eccentered cylinders. The design uses a conductivity method for measuring peak axial velocities around the annulus, and for the determination of displacement efficiency when displacing one fluid by another (displacement efficiency being defined as the ratio of volume of displaced fluid removed from the annulus, to the volume of the annulus, after a given number of annular volumes have been pumped). In an eccentric annulus, lower axial velocity in the narrow side produces “channeling” of the displacing fluid in the wide side and reduces the displacement efficiency. A positive density contrast between the two fluids can increase the efficiency by promoting azimuthal flow of the (denser) displacing fluid towards the narrow side. In this paper we report that gravity driven azimuthal flow is prone to severe instabilities which accelerate the displacement process but may leave behind an immobile strip of the displaced fluid in the narrow side.

Liquid backmixing in bubble columns via computer-automated radioactive particle tracking (CARPT)

Abstract: A single, fully wettable, neutrally buoyant, small radioactive particle and 16 scintillation detectors are utilized to monitor particle motion in gas-liquid bubble columns of different heights and diameters and at different gas superficial velocities. Instantaneous velocities, time-averaged velocities, Reynolds stresses and eddy diffusivities are computed from the particle position versus time data. Anisotropy, indicated by the data, was confirmed by Hurst's rescaled R/S analysis of the fluctuating velocities. For the radial direction, Hurst's exponent is about 0.5 in agreement with a random walk (diffusion)-type mechanism, while in the axial direction, Hurst's exponent of about 0.7 indicates the persistence of long-range effects.

A calibration technique for multiple-sensor hot-wire probes and its application to vorticity measurements in the wake of a circular cylinder

Abstract: A calibration technique for multiple-sensor hot-wire probes is presented. The technique, which requires minimal information about the probe geometry, is tested using a four-sensor and a twelve-sensor probe. Two data reduction algorithms are introduced. The first one assumes a uniform velocity over the probe sensing-volume and is applied to the four-sensor probe measurements. The second one assumes a uniform velocity gradient over the sensing volume of the probe. The procedure, when applied to the twelve-sensor probe, is shown to measure the velocity gradient components successfully. In both algorithms, the unknowns (velocity and velocity gradient components) are obtained by solving the resulting systems of nonlinear algebraic equations in a least-squares sense. The performances of the probes and the algorithms are tested with measurements in the wake of a circular cylinder. The statistics and spectra show that the twelve-sensor probe is successful in the simultaneous measurement of all three components of the velocity and all three components of the vorticity vectors.

Head-on Collision of Normal Shock Waves with Rigid Porous Materials

Abstract: The head-011 collision of a planar shock wave with a rigid porous material has been investigated experimentally. The study indicated that unlike the reflection from a flexible porous material, where the transmitted compression waves do not converge to a sharp shock wave, in the case of a rigid porous material the transmitted compression waves do converge to a sharp shock wave, which decays as it propagates along the porous material.

Corrections for velocity and temperature derivatives in turbulent flows

Abstract: Spectral corrections, which are based on local isotropy, are presented for all the spatial derivatives of velocity and temperature fluctuations which feature in the average dissipations of turbulent energy and temperature. The corrections, which compensate for the spectral attenuation due to the separation between sensors, depend only weakly on the choice of the three-dimensional energy (or temperature) spectrum and therefore on the turbulence Reynolds number. Corrections are also obtained for the variances of velocity and temperature derivatives. The diagonal velocity derivatives require smaller corrections than either the off-diagonal velocity derivatives or the temperature derivatives. Corrections of comparable magnitude are required for the average dissipations of turbulent energy and temperature.

Heat transfer between a heated plate and an impinging transient diesel spray

Abstract: An experimental investigation was performed to determine the heat-transfer distribution in the vicinity of a transient diesel spray impinging on a heated flat plate. The spray prior to impingement was characterised in terms of simultaneous droplet sizes and velocities by phase-Doppler anemometry while during its impingement on the plate, which was heated at temperatures between 150–205°C, the instantaneous surface temperature and associated rates of wall heat transfer were monitored by fast response thermocouples. The parameters examined in this work included the distance between the nozzle and the wall surface, the radial distance from the impingement point, the injection frequency, the injected volume and the pre-impingement wall temperature. The results showed that the wall heat transfer rates are dependent on the spray characteristics prior to impingement; the higher the “velocity of arrival” of the droplet is, the higher the heat transfer. A correlation was thus developed for the instantaneous and spatially-resolved spray/wall heat transfer based on experimentally-determined Nusselt, Reynolds, Prandtl and Weber numbers over a wide range of test conditions.

Construction of three-dimensional images of flow structure via particle tracking techniques

Abstract: Construction of three-dimensional images of flow structure, based on the quantitative velocity field, is assessed for cases where experimental data are obtained using particle tracking technique. The experimental data are in the form of contiguous planes of particle images. These contiguous data planes are assumed to correspond to successive spatial realizations in steady flow, or to phase-referenced realizations in an unsteady flow. Given the particle images on contiguous planes, the in-plane velocity fields are determined. Then, the out-of-plane velocity field is obtained using a spectral interpolation method. Application of this method allows, in principle, construction of the three-dimensional vorticity field and the streamline patterns. A critical assessment is made of the uncertainties arising from the in-plane interpolation of the velocity field obtained from particle tracking and the evaluation of the out-of-plane velocity component. The consequences of such uncertainties on the reconstructed vorticity distributions and streamline patterns are addressed for two basic types of vortex flows: a columnar vortex, for which the streamlines are not closed and are spatially periodic in the streamwise direction; and for a spherical (Hill's) vortex exhibiting closed streamline patterns, and no spatial periodicity.

The reduction of skin friction by riblets under the influence of an adverse pressure gradient

Abstract: In this paper we address the effectiveness of riblets on skin friction reduction under the influence of an adverse pressure gradient The measurements were taken in a wind tunnel Skin friction was observed with a drag balance which has a reproducibility of better than 1% The accuracy of the balance is estimated to be less than 1% for the case of zero-pressure gradient and at most 3% for a pressure gradient The data on skin friction reduction at zero pressure gradient were consistent with previous results and amount to 5% at dimensionless riblet width of s+ = 13 We find that at all adverse pressure gradients the skin friction reduction by riblets persists At moderate pressure gradients the reduction increases somewhat to 7% The velocity profile which is also measured, exhibits the characteristic shape for a boundary layer with an adverse pressure gradient and agrees well with theory From the velocity profiles measured at two stations we estimated with the help of a momentum balance the skin friction and skin friction reduction The results differ from the drag-balance data Due to the poor accuracy of the momentum balance method which we estimate in our case, we conclude that the results obtained with this method are less reliable than those obtained with the drag balance This throws some doubt on previous results on drag reduction under the influence of a pressure gradient which were based on the momentum balance method

Flow about a circular cylinder with a single large-scale surface perturbation

Abstract: An experimental study of the flow around a cylinder with a single straight perturbation was conducted in a wind tunnel. With this bluff body, positioned in a uniform crossflow, the vortex shedding frequency and other flow characteristics could be manipulated.

An experimental study of two flows through an axisymmetric sudden expansion

Abstract: Two turbulent separated and reattaching flows produced by a sudden expansion in a pipe have been studied. The first was produced by a simple axisymmetric sudden enlargement from a nozzle of diameter 80 mm to a pipe of diameter 150 mm. The second was the flow at the same enlargement with the addition of a centerbody 90 mm downstream of the nozzle exit. Detailed measurements of velocity and skin friction (made primarily using pulsed wires) and of wall static pressure are presented. Without the centerbody the flow structure is similar to that observed in other sudden pipe expansions and over backward-facing steps. A turbulent free shear layer, bearing some similarity to that of a round jet, grows from separation and then reattaches to the pipe wall downstream. Reattachment is a comparatively gradual process, the shear layer approaching the wall at a glancing angle. The introduction of the centerbody causes the shear layer to curve towards the wall and reattach at a much steeper angle. Reattachment is much more rapid; gradients of skin friction and pressure along the wall are many times those without the centerbody. The high curvature of the shear layer strongly influences its turbulent structure, locally suppressing turbulence levels and reducing its growth rate.