Particle image velocimetry study of fractal-generated turbulence

2012 ◽  
Vol 711 ◽  
pp. 306-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gomes-Fernandes ◽  
B. Ganapathisubramani ◽  
J. C. Vassilicos

AbstractAn experimental investigation involving space-filling fractal square grids is presented. The flow is documented using particle image velocimetry (PIV) in a water tunnel as opposed to previous experiments which mostly used hot-wire anemometry in wind tunnels. The experimental facility has non-negligible incoming free-stream turbulence (with 2.8 % and 4.4 % in the streamwise (${u}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } / U$) and spanwise (${v}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } / U$) directions, respectively) which presents a challenge in terms of comparison with previous wind tunnel results. An attempt to characterize the effects of the incoming free stream turbulence on the grid-generated turbulent flow is made and an improved wake-interaction length scale is proposed which enables the comparison of the present results with previous ones for both fractal square and regular grids. This length scale also proves to be a good estimator of the turbulence intensity peak location. Furthermore, a new turbulence intensity normalization capable of collapsing${u}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } / U$for various grids in various facilities is proposed. Comparison with previous experiments indicates good agreement in turbulence intensities, Taylor microscale, as well as various other quantities, if the improved wake-interaction length scale is used. Global and local isotropy of fractal-generated turbulence is assessed using the velocity gradients of the two-component (2C) two-dimensional (2D) PIV and compared with regular grid results. Finally, the PIV data appear to confirm the new dissipation behaviour previously observed in hot-wire measurements.

2012 ◽  
Vol 225 ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzong Shyng Leu ◽  
J.M. Yu ◽  
C.C. Hu ◽  
J.J. Miau ◽  
S.Y. Liang ◽  
...  

The unsteady flow fields above NACA 0015 airfoil pitching with/without upstream turbulence generator are investigated in a water tunnel by mean of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The turbulence was generated by a square bar mesh situated at the inlet of the test section. The airfoil pitching waveform is performed under the condition calculated from the angle of attack histogram of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). By using PIV, the instantaneous vortex structures above the pitching airfoil can be revealed. It allows us to study the free stream turbulence effects on dynamic stall over an airfoil at pitching waveform the same as VAWT. It is found that the free stream turbulence intensity has significant impacts on the dynamic stall process. The dynamic stall process is delayed to higher incidence angles on increasing the turbulence intensity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1769-1782 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZR Shu ◽  
QS Li

This article presents a comprehensive investigation on the separated and reattaching flows over a blunt flat plate with different leading-edge shapes by means of particle image velocimetry and surface pressure measurements. Wind tunnel tests are performed in both smooth and various turbulent flow conditions, and the separated and reattaching flows are examined as a function of Reynolds number ( Re), leading-edge shape, turbulence intensity, and turbulence integral length scale. It is shown through the particle image velocimetry and pressure measurements that the Reynolds number effect is significant regarding the mean vorticity field, but with little effect on the mean velocity field. For the effects of leading-edge shape, the distributions of pressure coefficients respond strongly to the change in leading-edge angle, and both the velocity (streamwise and vertical) and vorticity fields have a clear dependence on the leading-edge shape. For the effects of freestream turbulence, the mean pressure coefficient responds strongly to turbulence intensity, whereas the fluctuating and peak suction pressure coefficients are dependent on both turbulence intensity and integral length scale. The size of the separation bubble contracts aggressively with increasing turbulence intensity, but it remains approximately invariant in response to the change in turbulence scale in the tested range.


2012 ◽  
Vol 702 ◽  
pp. 215-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Nolan ◽  
E. J. Walsh

AbstractHigh-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements of bypass transition reveal the breakdown of the ubiquitous streaks into turbulent spots. Individual streak velocity profiles are examined and contrasted with the root mean square profiles typically reported. An estimation of streak amplitude based on the modulation of the instantaneous boundary layer thickness is proposed. Examination of the PIV velocity fields shows how turbulent spot precursors, identified with concurrent hot-film recordings, consist of streamwise arrangements of positive and negative streaks. As secondary instability progresses, the interface between these streaks is observed to result in turbulent structures. In an attempt to further elucidate the role of the free stream turbulence, correlation maps are generated to determine the extent of the wall-normal fluctuations. Significant damping of the free stream is found within the boundary layer for all Reynolds numbers prior to the onset of spot precursors.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. MacMullin ◽  
W. Elrod ◽  
R. Rivir

The effects of the longitudinal turbulence intensity parameter of free-stream turbulence (FST) on heat transfer were studied using the aggressive flow characteristics of a circular tangential wall jet over a constant heat flux surface. Profile measurements of velocity, temperature, integral length scale, and spectra were obtained at downstream locations (2 to 20 x/D) and turbulence intensities (7 to 18 percent). The results indicated that the Stanton number (St) and friction factor (Cf) increased with increasing turbulence intensity. The Reynolds analogy factor (2St/Cf) increased up to turbulence intensities of 12 percent, then became constant, and decreased after 15 percent. This factor was also found to be dependent on the Reynolds number (Rex) and plate configuration. The influence of length scale, as found by previous researchers, was inconclusive at the conditions tested.


2016 ◽  
Vol 804 ◽  
pp. 278-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. J. Stevenson ◽  
K. P. Nolan ◽  
E. J. Walsh

The free shear layer that separates from the leading edge of a round-nosed plate has been studied under conditions of low (background) and elevated (grid-generated) free stream turbulence (FST) using high-fidelity particle image velocimetry. Transition occurs after separation in each case, followed by reattachment to the flat surface of the plate downstream. A bubble of reverse flow is thereby formed. First, we find that, under elevated (7 %) FST, the time-mean bubble is almost threefold shorter due to an accelerated transition of the shear layer. Quadrant analysis of the Reynolds stresses reveals the presence of slender, highly coherent fluctuations amid the laminar part of the shear layer that are reminiscent of the boundary-layer streaks seen in bypass transition. Instability and the roll-up of vortices then follow near the crest of the shear layer. These vortices are also present under low FST and in both cases are found to make significant contributions to the production of Reynolds stress over the rear of the bubble. But their role in reattachment, whilst important, is not yet fully clear. Instantaneous flow fields from the low-FST case reveal that the bubble of reverse flow often breaks up into two or more parts, thereby complicating the overall reattachment process. We therefore suggest that the downstream end of the ‘separation isoline’ (the locus of zero absolute streamwise velocity that extends unbroken from the leading edge) be used to define the instantaneous reattachment point. A histogram of this point is found to be bimodal: the upstream peak coincides with the location of roll-up, whereas the downstream mode may suggest a ‘flapping’ motion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 804 ◽  
pp. 513-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jason Hearst ◽  
Guillaume Gomit ◽  
Bharathram Ganapathisubramani

The influence of turbulence on the flow around a wall-mounted cube immersed in a turbulent boundary layer is investigated experimentally with particle image velocimetry and hot-wire anemometry. Free-stream turbulence is used to generate turbulent boundary layer profiles where the normalised shear at the cube height is fixed, but the turbulence intensity at the cube height is adjustable. The free-stream turbulence is generated with an active grid and the turbulent boundary layer is formed on an artificial floor in a wind tunnel. The boundary layer development Reynolds number ($Re_{x}$) and the ratio of the cube height ($h$) to the boundary layer thickness ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$) are held constant at $Re_{x}=1.8\times 10^{6}$ and $h/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}=0.47$. It is demonstrated that the stagnation point on the upstream side of the cube and the reattachment length in the wake of the cube are independent of the incoming profile for the conditions investigated here. In contrast, the wake length monotonically decreases for increasing turbulence intensity but fixed normalised shear – both quantities measured at the cube height. The wake shortening is a result of heightened turbulence levels promoting wake recovery from high local velocities and the reduction in strength of a dominant shedding frequency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdelhady ◽  
David H. Wood

The international trend of using renewable energy sources for generating electricity is increasing, partly through harvesting energy from wind turbines. Increasing electric power transmission efficiency is achievable through using real-time weather data for power line rating, known as real-time thermal rating (RTTR), instead of using the worst case scenario weather data, known as static rating. RTTR is particularly important for wind turbine connections to the grid, as wind power output and overhead conductor rating both increase with increasing wind speed, which should significantly increase real-time rated conductor from that of statically rated. Part of the real-time weather data is the effect of free-stream turbulence, which is not considered by the commonly used overhead conductor codes, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 738 and International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRÉ) 207. This study aims to assess the effect free-stream turbulence on IEEE 738 and CIGRÉ 207 forced cooling term. The study uses large eddy simulation (LES) in the ANSYS fluent software. The analysis is done for low wind speed, corresponding to Reynolds number of 3000. The primary goal is to calculate Nusselt number for cylindrical conductors with free-stream turbulence. Calculations showed an increase in convective heat transfer from the low turbulence value by ∼30% at turbulence intensity of 21% and length scale to diameter ratio of 0.4; an increase of ∼19% at turbulence intensity of 8% and length scale to diameter ratio of 0.4; and an increase of ∼15% at turbulence intensity of 6% and length scale to diameter ratio of 0.6.


2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Mayo ◽  
Gian Luca Gori ◽  
Aude Lahalle ◽  
Tony Arts

The present work is part of a detailed aerothermal investigation in a model of a rotating internal cooling channel performed in a novel facility setup which allows test conditions at high rotation numbers (Ro). The test section is mounted on a rotating frame with all the required instrumentation, resulting in a high spatial resolution and accuracy. The channel has a cross section with an aspect ratio of 0.9 and a ribbed wall with eight ribs perpendicular to the main flow direction. The blockage of the ribs is 10% of the channel cross section, whereas the rib pitch-to-height ratio is 10. In this first part of the paper, the flow over the wall region between the sixth and seventh ribs in the symmetry plane is investigated by means of two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV). Tests were carried out at a Reynolds number (Re) of 15,000 in static and rotating conditions, with a maximum Ro of 0.77. Results are in good agreement with the data present in literature at the same Reynolds number and with rotation numbers of 0 (static conditions) and 0.38 in a channel with the same geometry as in the present work. When Ro is increased from 0.38 to 0.77, the main velocity and turbulence fields show important changes. At a rotation number of 0.77, although the extension of the recirculation bubble after the sixth rib on the trailing side does not vary significantly, it covers the full inter-rib area on the leading side in the streamwise direction. The turbulence intensity on the leading side shows a low value with respect to the static case but roughly at the same level as in the lower Ro case. On the trailing side, the maximum value of the turbulence intensity slightly decreases from Ro  = 0.38 to Ro  = 0.77, the wall shear layer is restabilized along the second half of the pitch due to the high rotation, and the secondary flows are redistributed causing spanwise vortex compression. The observed result is the rapid decay of turbulent fluctuations in the second half of the inter-rib area.


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