Experiments in Fluids最新文献

Predicting droplet evaporation is particularly complex when the liquid phase consists of multiple components. To date, only a limited number of physical optical phenomena have been used to non-intrusively measure the composition of droplets. Laser-induced fluorescence is a promising approach, as the emission and absorption of certain fluorescent dyes are known to depend on solvent polarity, viscosity, and, more generally, the chemical environment. However, a challenge is that fluorescence signal intensity is generally sensitive to both temperature and composition. This study investigates fluorescence lifetime measurements as a robust alternative. We demonstrate that, with a well-chosen fluorescent dye, it is possible to measure the composition of bicomponent droplets using a single dye and a single detection band, with minimal constraint on detection band selection, and without ambiguity due to temperature variations. To validate the technique, it is applied to acoustically levitated droplets across several mixtures that exhibit markedly different behaviors.

The hydrodynamic influence of beveled edges on air–water flow properties in a stepped chute were studied. Air–water flow measurements were made with a double tip phase-detection conductivity probe and an ultrasonic sensor for unit discharges up to 0.565 m²/s in a beveled stepped chute for two interchangeable step heights of 0.1 m and 0.2 m. Flow regimes, the onset of aeration, and the streamwise development of air concentrations, interfacial velocities, and free-surface fluctuations were quantified. Bubble count rates, chord lengths, and their distributions were also derived from measurements with a discussion of the flow physics. A direct comparison of air–water flow properties with vertical steps revealed that bevels elongated and reduced the stability of recirculating cavities, directly influencing flow regimes and reducing the distance to the air-entrainment inception point by 20–30%. At the chute exit, beveled steps produced higher mean air concentrations, greater flow depths and reduced interfacial velocities. These results highlight the value of detailed air–water flow measurements to quantify flow properties and processes that may be used in engineering applications.

Tomographic reconstruction, a critical process for tomographic particle image velocimetry (Tomo-PIV), remains inefficient due to the required massive memories and high computational cost. In this work, a fast tomographic reconstruction technique is proposed to improve the efficiency significantly. The weighting coefficient, which represents the contribution of the voxel to the corresponding pixel intensity, is remodeled to be independent of the voxel’s positions by artificially improving the particle image resolution. Consequently, the simultaneous multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (SMART) is re-implemented with convolution operations. The proposed method is named Convolutional-SMART (Conv-SMART). Moreover, the numerous convolution operations are accelerated using a graphics processing unit (GPU) to further reduce the reconstruction time. A synthetic three-dimensional 3D experiment with a vortex ring is carried out to numerically evaluate the precision and efficiency of the proposed method. The results show that the speed-up ratio of Conv-SMART to the original SMART reaches about five times faster in the central processing unit (CPU) environment and 15 times faster in the GPU environment without losing accuracy when the particle density is 0.05 particles per pixel (ppp) and the resolution is 20 voxels/mm. The speed-up ratio as a function of the particle density and resolution is also provided. Conv-SMART is also applied to the left ventricular Tomo-PIV experiment. The velocity field derived from Conv-SMART is consistent with that from SMART, whereas Conv-SMART achieves 50 times faster within the GPU.

Cloud cavitation is known as a typical phenomenon of cavitating flow, in which aggregation of bubbles repeats collective growth and collapse behavior and induces shock waves. To understand the mechanism of the cloud cavitation phenomenon, it is crucial to clarify the relation between flow fields and the unsteady behavior of the cloud. In this paper, we experimentally investigated how velocity and vorticity fields appear in association with the unsteady behavior of the cloud cavitation (i.e., from its inception, growth, collapse, and finally rebound). To do this, we made the cloud by injecting a pulsed water jet into still water, and the fluorescent particle image velocimetry (PIV) method was employed to obtain two-dimensional velocity fields surrounding the cloud. The particle images were recorded by a high-speed camera with 300,000 fps, and then the velocity and vorticity fields were computed by PIV analysis. Thus, we illustrated that flows of twin vortices move along the boundary of the cloud associated with its growth and shrink behavior and collide with each other as well as disappear before the collapse. Furthermore, we showed that high-vorticity regions appear together with the twin vortices induced by the collapse. These experimental observations suggested that the growth and shrink behavior of the cloud induce the motion of the twin vortices and the collapse of the cloud creates the twin vortices with high vorticity. Finally, we made a comparison between the experimental results and the numerical simulation performed in our previous work and demonstrated the consistency of the flow structures.

Nozzle characteristics modulate the stability of liquid jets, but their role in jet robustness to external disturbances is understudied. Here we produce jets with thin elastic membranes containing a hole of approximately 500 (mu)m in undeformed diameter. Our softest membranes produce the most stable jets in the Rayleigh and first wind-induced breakup regimes. An externally applied upstream pressure pulse lasting approximately 1 ms momentarily reduces the jet breakup distance and alters morphology. The pressure pulse is generated by the strike of a coil spring against a membrane mounted to the jet relaxation chamber. Softer nozzles and higher jet velocities minimize the disruption to the otherwise steady jet. Linear temporal theory for short nozzles derived using a dilated nozzle diameter well predicts breakup length before and after the pressure pulse. We propose hypothetical states for which our pressure pulse does not affect jet stability. Pressure disturbances initiate morphological changes in the jet, introducing novel phenomena like jet thinning and exit coalescence. Our results demonstrate that nozzle compliance can play a significant role in damping undesirable disturbances.

In the present study, the effect of various two-dimensional surface defects (forward-facing steps and ramps, backward-facing steps and ramps, gaps, and steps and gaps) on boundary layer transition was experimentally investigated in the compressible, subsonic regime. A laminar profile was specifically designed and manufactured by ONERA to allow for a maximum number of defects to be tested simultaneously, and to include resin pockets to accurately monitor laminar–turbulent transition using infrared thermography. Transition was also characterized using the (Delta N) model based on linear stability calculations. Relatively good agreement with existing (Delta N) models for forward-facing steps as well as gaps was found, indicating that these models, which were mostly developed for incompressible flows, can still be used as an initial estimate for compressible flows. One particular case of interest included a critical step and gap (for which transition occurred immediately downstream of the defect) where neither the gap nor the step component could be identified as mainly responsible for triggering transition. Steps and gaps should therefore be included whenever possible to the canonical shapes of defects investigated in transition experiments to further refine the different types of defect encountered in industrial application, and provide appropriate criteria for their allowable tolerances.

The flow field around tandem heated cylinders is a subject of ongoing research due to its relevance in various engineering applications. This study investigates the influence of wall temperature and incoming flow velocity on the flow regime and heat transfer characteristics of tandem cylinders. Using a combined technique of Schlieren imaging and particle image velocimetry (PIV), the flow field was characterized over a range of incoming flow velocities (0.4 to 0.9 m/s) and cylindrical wall temperatures (423 to 673 K). The results indicate that higher wall temperatures promote a transition from the co-shedding regime to the shear layer reattachment regime. Conversely, increasing the incoming flow velocity leads to a transition from the shear layer reattachment regime back to the co-shedding regime. Beyond the flow regimes, the convective heat transfer was also quantified in the study, and a strong positive correlation was found between both wall temperature and incoming flow velocity and the convective heat transfer coefficient. These results demonstrate the significant influence of thermal and velocity conditions on the flow behavior and heat transfer in tandem cylinder arrangements.

A plug/aerospike nozzle is a promising concept as a propulsion system for space launchers and space planes. The inherent ability to adapt the nozzle jet to the ambient pressure level improves the thrust performance under overexpanded operating conditions compared to conventional bell nozzles, which is of great interest for future single-stage-to-orbit vehicles. This experimental study investigates the topology and aerodynamics of a cold flow linear plug nozzle jet in an outer flow environment. PIV and high-speed schlieren measurements are utilized to understand the mutual aerodynamic interaction between each other. The jet flow is studied for a variety of nozzle pressure ratios in combination with an outer flow at sub-, trans-, and supersonic Mach numbers. The flow is examined for two plug lengths, which are 72% and 24% of an ideal contour. It is found that the combination of nozzle pressure ratio and outer Mach number strongly influences the flow pattern and local velocity magnitudes. Backflow regions are measured, mainly emerging through the integration of the nozzle in a bluff aft body. The strength and frequency of aerodynamic modes are found to be highly dependent on the operating conditions as well. The most relevant ones are jet screeching, alternating vortex shedding of the outer flow, and vortex shedding in the base wake of the plug with strong truncation. The latter causes strong fluctuations in the flow, which are transmitted to the shear layer and induce acoustic wave emission. In addition, the flow locally accelerating in the plug base region results in increased shock strength in the jet structure. At trans- and supersonic outer flow, however, the aerodynamic modes of the jet flow are strongly suppressed. The impact of plug truncation on the velocity field becomes less for higher nozzle pressure ratios and outer flow Mach numbers.

Lagrangian defocusing particle tracking velocimetry (defocusing PTV, DPTV) measurements are performed in a thin volume above a plasma actuator array that is applied to mimic the effect of wall oscillations by inducing alternating, wall-parallel forcing in opposite directions into the air above the actuator surface for flow control purposes. The aim of the experiments is to capture the plasma-induced flow topology in otherwise quiescent air throughout the oscillation cycle within the measurement volume of 14 mm (times) 1 mm (times) 14 mm, immediately adjacent to the wall-mounted actuator. For this purpose, particle image velocimetry equipment for time-resolved measurements with one camera is used in a DPTV setup, where the out-of-plane particle coordinate is obtained through the diameter of a defocused particle image. Three-dimensional, three-component velocity and acceleration data is extracted by introducing a continuous particle tracking approach and an extended ex situ calibration procedure based on the detection of solid particles directly applied to a wall boundary, for which no prior knowledge of the flow topology or velocity data in the direct vicinity of the wall is required. A novel method for estimating measurement uncertainty in this context is introduced, and the influencing factors are discussed from an application perspective. Through the analysis of Lagrangian particle tracks, both individual flow events and statistical effects within the oscillation cycle can be evaluated. The extraction of phase-resolved flow fields with adaptable spatial resolution shows the forcing effect to be regular across different discharge zones on the plasma actuator array, indicating well-balanced voltage settings and precise manufacturing. Furthermore, the relation between the forcing-induced velocity and acceleration fields is quantitatively assessed, revealing the spatio-temporal transmission characteristics of the applied forcing. In summary, the obtained results demonstrate the applicability of DPTV measurement technique for the flow characterization above a plasma actuator array using the presented modifications.