Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 

About: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science is an academic journal published by SAGE Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Engineering & Computer science. It has an ISSN identifier of 0954-4062. Over the lifetime, 997 publications have been published receiving 1328 citations. The journal is also known as: Journal of mechanical engineering science.

Statistical mechanics of nucleation: A review:

Abstract: The principles of statistical mechanics have been used to develop a theory of the nucleation of a phase transition, but a number of subtle questions remain and are highlighted in this review. A central issue is the cluster definition, the mathematical scheme which distinguishes a molecular cluster from a collection of separate molecules. There is also the question of whether thermodynamic transition state theory is suitable to describe the process, or whether the development of kinetic rate equations describing cluster growth and decay is a better approach. The classical theory of nucleation is flawed but appears to provide useful estimates in some cases, including water. Phenomenological extensions of the classical theory can improve matters. However, improvements in the theory from microscopic considerations are not simple to apply, require major computational effort and suffer from uncertainties due to lack of knowledge of the fundamental intermolecular interactions. Calculations of the nucleation rate of water droplets are especially difficult since this substance is notoriously difficult to model. Nevertheless, as capabilities improve, accurate calculations should come within reach, which will offer better understanding of the process for practical applications such as the transition from dry to wet steam.

An Experimental Study of the Mean Flow and Turbulence Structure Of Cross-Flow Over Tube Bundles:

Abstract: The velocity characteristics of cross-flow over tube bundles were investigated in a water tunnel. Three tube arrays with a transverse pitch ratio of 3.6 were studied: an in-line and two staggered arrays with longitudinal pitch ratios of 2.1, 1.6 and 2.1 respectively. The mean velocities, turbulence levels, spectra, time and length scales and dissipation rates were determined from ensemble-averaged and time-resolved laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) measurements. The pressure drop across the bundles was also measured.The staggered arrays were found to generate higher levels of turbulence and a higher pressure drop. Turbulence kinetic energy reaches a maximum downstream of the second row in staggered arrays. The wake regions in both geometries are anisotropic with transverse r.m.s. velocities being higher than axial ones. Increasing the longitudinal spacing in the staggered configuration results in lower r.m.s. levels in the wakes and alteration of the recirculation characteristics. A discrete periodicity with...

On the role of three-dimensional inverse design methods in turbomachinery shape optimization

Abstract: The application of a three-dimensional (3D) inverse design method in which the blade geometry is computed for a specified distribution of circulation to the design of turbomachinery blades is explored by using two examples. In the first instance the method is applied to the design of radial and mixed flow impellers to suppress secondary flows. Based on our understanding of the fluid dynamics of the flow in the impeller, simple guidelines are developed for input specification of the inverse method in order to systematically design impellers with suppressed secondary flows and a more uniform exit flow field. In the second example the method is applied to the design of a vaned diffuser. Again based on the understanding of the detailed flow field in the diffuser obtained by using 3D viscous calculations and oil flow visualizations, simple design guidelines are developed for input specification to the inverse method in order to suppress corner separation. In both cases the guidelines are verified numer...

Entropy generation optimization of unsteady radiative hybrid nanofluid flow over a slippery spinning disk

Abstract: Entropy generation investigation of hybrid nanofluidic transport over an unsteady spinning disk is reported in this analysis. The magnetic influence, velocity slips, and thermal radiative effects are included within the flow. Ferrous oxide (Fe3O4) and graphene oxide (GO) are used as tiny nano ingredients, and water (H2O) is the base medium. The dimensional leading equations are settled to dimensionless nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by significant similarity transformations. Then, classical RK-4 scheme with a shooting process has been initiated to execute the numerical simulation. The software MAPLE-18 is used to run the entire simulation with an indispensable accuracy rate. Several streamlines, graphs, and requisite tables are executed to divulge the parametric impact on the nanofluidic stream. Entropy generation–related figures are depicted for diverse parameters, and parametric effects on Bejan number are also analyzed. Moreover, the corresponding physical consignments like the measure of the frictional hindrance, heat transport are calculated and reviewed. The entropy generation augments for higher magnetic value but reduces for velocity slip, radiation, and nanoparticle concentration. Hybrid nanofluid gives a lower magnitude in entropy production as compared to the usual nanofluid. Magnetic parameter reduces the Bejan number, while slip factor and nanoparticle concentration amplify such effects. Heat transfer ultimately seems to increase for nanoparticle volume fraction, and the increase rate is 4.01685 for usual nanofluid, but it is 6.7557 for hybrid nanofluid. Also, the numerical fallouts address the possibility of using magnetized spinning disks in space engines and nuclear propulsion, and such a model conveys significant applications in heat transport improvement in so many industrial thermal management equipment and renewable energy systems.

An experimental and numerical study of the flow past elliptic cylinder arrays

Abstract: The subcritical flow over an array of elliptic cylinders with an axis ratio of 1 :2 was studied both experimentally and numerically. The mean velocities, turbulence levels and the vortex dynamics of the array were determined experimentally by flow visualization and using a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) and the flow was modelled using three-dimensional large eddy simulation (LES). The experimental results were compared with results obtained previously using circular cylinders and with numerical predictions of the flow. The study indicated that the flow past such a widely spaced array is characterized by low turbulence levels and poor lateral mixing compared with conventional circular cylinder arrays, and a weak flow periodicity with a constant Strouhal number of 0.11 was detected in downstream rows. The predicted mean and r.m.s. velocities, as well as the flow periodicity, were in good agreement with the experimental results.