A parameterization of flow separation over subaqueous dunes

Flow separation plays a key role in the development of dunes, and modeling the complicated flow behavior inside the flow separation zone requires much computational effort. To make a first step toward modeling dune development at reasonable temporal and spatial scales, a parameterization of the shape of the flow separation zone over two-dimensional dunes is proposed herein, in order to avoid modeling the complex flow inside the flow separation zone. Flow separation behind dunes, with an angle-of-repose slip face, is characterized by a large circulating leeside eddy, where a separation streamline forms the upper boundary of the recirculating eddy. Experimental data of turbulent flow over two-dimensional subaqueous bed forms are used to parameterize this separation streamline. The bed forms have various heights and height to length ratios, and a wide range of flow conditions is analyzed. This paper shows that the shape of the flow separation zone can be approximated by a third-order polynomial as a function of the distance away from the flow separation point. The coefficients of the polynomial can be estimated, independent of flow conditions, on the basis of bed form shape at the flow separation point and a constant angle of the separation streamline at the flow reattachment point. \ud \u

Numerical investigation of nanosecond pulsed plasma actuators for control of shock-wave/boundary-layer separation

This study numerically explores the flow physics associated with nanosecond pulsed plasma actuators to control shock-wave induced boundary-layer separation. By using two actuators, parallel and canted with respect to the main flow direction, a previous experiment suggested the actuator worked in two ways: boundary layer heating and vorticity production. The heating effect was enhanced with the parallel electrode and made the separation stronger, while the canted electrode produced vorticity and suppressed the separation due to the momentum transfer. Because the detailed physics is still unclear, a numerical investigation is undertaken with a large eddy simulation and an energy deposition model for the actuator. The flow without the actuation corresponds to the experimental observation, indicating the calculation successfully resolves the separation. With the actuation, as with the experiment, the calculation successfully demonstrates definite difference between the parallel and canted electrodes: the parallel electrode causes excess heating and increases the separation, while the canted electrode leads to a reduction of the separation, with a corresponding thinning of the boundary layer due to the momentum transfer. The counter flow created by the canted actuator plays an important role in the vortex generation, transferring momentum to the boundary layer and, consequently, mitigating the separation.Comment: Accepted manuscript for publication in Physics of Fluid

Separation and Surface Nuclei Effects in a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter

This work is concerned with the effects of flow separation and surface nuclei on the operation of a fixed geometry Cavitation Susceptibility Meter (CSM) with laminar flow. Cavitation is induced under controlled conditions at the throat of a glass venturi tube for the measurement of the active nuclei concentration in water samples as a function of the applied tension. Both cavitation and flow velocity are monitored optically by a Laser Doppler Velocimeter. The throat pressure is determined indirectly from the upstream pressure and the local flow velocity. The results show that laminar flow separation and surface nuclei effects are the most stringent operational limitations. Separation in the diffuser increases the minimum attainable throat pressure above the susceptibility of most cavitation nuclei commonly found in technical waters. Surface nuclei can generate extensive sheet or spot cavitation at relatively high tensions even on optically finished glass surfaces. These phenomena are difficult to eliminate and bring therefore into question the practical utility of CSM's with laminar flow and fixed geometry for the measurement of the dependence of the cavitating nuclei concentration over wide ranges of the applied tension, as required for cavitation studies

Numerical Investigation on Flow Separation Control of Low Reynolds Number Sinusoidal Aerofoils

The paper presents a computational analysis of the characteristics of a NACA 634- 021 aerofoil incorporated with sinusoidal leading-edge protuberances at Re = 14,000. The protuberances are characterized by an amplitude and wavelength of 12% and 50% of the aerofoil chord length respectively. An unsteady Reynolds Average Navier Stokes (RANS) analysis of the full-span aerofoils was carried out using Transition SST (Shear Stress Transport) turbulence model across five different angles-of-attack (AOA). Comparisons with previous experimental results reported good qualitative agreements in terms of flow separation when the aerofoils are pitched at higher AOAs. Results presented here comprised of near-wall flow visualizations of the flow separation bubble at the peaks and troughs of the protuberances. Additionally, results indicate that the aerofoil with leading-edge protuberances displayed distinctive wall shear streamline and iso-contour characteristics at different span-wise positions. This implies that even at a low Reynolds number, implementations of these leading-edge protuberances could have positive or adverse effects on flow separation

Flow separation in shock wave boundary layer interactions at hypersonic speeds

An assessment is presented for the experimental data on separated flow in shock wave turbulent boundary layer interactions at hypersonic and supersonic speeds. The data base consists mainly of two dimensional and axisymmetric interactions in compression corners or cylinder-flares, and externally generated oblique shock interactions with boundary layers over flat plates or cylindrical surfaces. The conditions leading to flow separation and the subsequent changes in the flow empirical correlations for incipient separation are reviewed. The effects of the Mach number, Reynolds number, surface cooling and the methods of detecting separation are discussed. The pertinent experimental data for the separated flow characteristics in separated turbulent boundary layer shock interaction are also presented and discussed

Electrothermal flow in Dielectrophoresis of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We theoretically investigate the impact of the electrothermal flow on the dielectrophoretic separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). The electrothermal flow is observed to control the motions of semiconducting SWNTs in a sizeable domain near the electrodes under typical experimental conditions, therefore helping the dielectrophoretic force to attract semiconducting SWNTs in a broader range. Moreover, with the increase of the surfactant concentration, the electrothermal flow is enhanced, and with the change of frequency, the pattern of the electrothermal flow changes. It is shown that under some typical experimental conditions of dielectrophoresis separation of SWNTs, the electrothermal flow is a dominating factor in determining the motion of SWNTs.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to PR