Instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields of multiple vortices in the tip region of a ducted propulsor

The instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields in the tip region of a ducted marine propulsor are examined. In this flow, a primary tip-leakage vortex interacts with a secondary, co-rotating trailing edge vortex and other co- and counter-rotating vorticity found in the blade wake. Planar particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) is used to examine the flow in a plane approximately perpendicular to the mean axis of the primary vortex. An identification procedure is used to characterize multiple regions of compact vorticity in the flow fields as series of Gaussian vortices. Significant differences are found between the vortex properties from the time-averaged flow fields and the average vortex properties identified in the instantaneous flow fields. Variability in the vortical flow field results from spatial wandering of the vortices, correlated fluctuations of the vortex strength and core size, and both correlated and uncorrelated fluctuations in the relative positions of the vortices. This variability leads to pseudo-turbulent velocity fluctuations. Corrections for some of this variability are performed on the instantaneous flow fields. The resulting processed flow fields reveal a significant increase in flow variability in a region relatively far downstream of the blade trailing edge, a phenomenon that is masked through the process of simple averaging. This increased flow variability is also accompanied by the inception of discrete vortex cavitation bubbles, which is an unexpected result, since the mean flow pressures in the region of inception are much higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid. This suggests that unresolved fine-scale vortex interactions and stretching may be occurring in the region of increased flow variability.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47076/1/348_2005_Article_938.pd

Flow structure and turbulence in near fields of circular and noncircular jets

Experimental investigation of the turbulent flow field of jets emanating from circular and curved-edged noncircular nozzles is conducted using hotwire anemometry. Distributions of the mean velocity vector are obtained by traversing a triple-sensor hot-wire probe at varying streamwise locations downstream of the jet exit plane in a low-speed free-jet facility. Measurements are obtained for a baseline circular nozzle (round jet) and for equilateral triangular and square nozzles. The data are used to compare the structure of the flow field within these jets such as their mean velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, and entrainment levels. Axis rotation phenomenon is also investigated for noncircular nozzles, and it was not observed up to a streamwise location of 10d (d is the nozzle equivalent diameter, equals to 40 mm) for noncircular nozzles

Investigation of unsteady wake-separated boundary layer interaction using particle-image-velocimetry

The current paper presents an experimental investigation of the interaction between unsteady wakes and the separated boundary layer on the suction side of an ultra-high-lift low-pressure turbine airfoil. Two-dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements of the unsteady boundary layer over the T106C LP turbine profile were performed in a low speed linear cascade facility, at selected phases of passing wakes. The wakes are created by moving cylindrical bars across the inlet of the test section. Various phenomena were investigated such as separation and transition characteristics, vortex structures within the unsteady boundary layer, their interaction and effects on the transition process, the corresponding vortex shedding mechanisms and the unsteady behaviour of the separation bubble due to the wake- boundary layer interaction. The current measurements suggest that rollup vortices are generated as the wake approaches the separated shear layer on the suction surface before the wake centerline starts impinging on the blade. At this instant, the bubble is sufficiently high for the free shear layer to roll up into a vortex and the incoming wake is highly distorted (strained) due to the velocity field within the blade passage, and the turbulence distribution within the wake is not symmetrical. Vortices within the boundary layer, identified using the swirl strength distributions calculated from the eigenvalues of the velocity gradient tensor, seem to be coalescing and forming bigger scale structures, which in turn break up into smaller but higher swirl strength eddies. In between the passing wakes, the separation bubble grows in both in height and length, trying to return to its steady state shape