TURBULENCE CHARACTERISTICS IN SMOOTH OPEN-CHANNEL FLOW

A flow in a smooth open channel can he divided into several regions along the flow direction, i. e. the laminar boundary layer, transition region, turbulent boundary layer, fully developed turbulent boundary layer and a uniform open-channel turbulent flow. The temporal mean and turbulent characteristics will not vary again in the course of the uniform open-channel flow. There is obviously a structure of different regions in the vertical direction of a smooth open-channel turbulent flow. The limits of different regions, the velocity profiles and characteristics of fluctuating velocities in such regions are given. When the aspect ratio W/H is larger than 10, the flow in the open channel may be considered as a 2-dimensional flow. The formulas of sectional averaged velocity and frictional loss factor are also given.

Effects of Rigid Vegetation on the Turbulence Characteristics in Sediment-Laden Flows

The effects of rigid vegetation on the turbulence characteristics were experimentally studied in the interior water flume. An ADV was used to determine the three dimensional turbulent velocities in clear water flow without vegetation, sediment-laden flow without vegetation, sediment-laden flow with submerged vegetation and sediment-laden flow with non-submerged vegetation. By experimental and theoretical analysis, the effects of rigid vegetation on the distribution of averaged velocities, turbulence intensities and Reynolds stress were summarized. In sediment-laden flow with submerged vegetation, the averaged stream wise velocities above the top of vegetation fit well with the log distribution low. The three-dimensional turbulence intensities increase from the bottom until they reach the maximum at the top of the vegetation. The method to calculate the shear velocity with the maximum of the Reynolds stress is recommended. In sediment-laden flow with non-submerged vegetation, the turbulence problems cannot be explained by theory of bed shear flow. The average velocities, turbulence intensities and Reynolds stress approximate uniformly distributed along vertical direction.

Turbulence Characteristics of Swirling Reacting Flow in a Combustor with Staged Air Injection

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the turbulent reacting flow in a swirl combustor with staged air injection. The air injected into the combustor is composed of the primary swirling jet and the secon-dary non-swirling jet. A three dimension-laser particle dynamic analyzer (PDA) was employed to measure the in-stantaneous gas velocity. The probability density functions (PDF) for the instantaneous gas axial and tangential ve-locities at each measuring location, as well as the radial profiles of the root mean square of fluctuating gas axial and tangential velocities and the second-order moment for the fluctuating gas axial and tangential velocities are ob-tained. The measured results delineate the turbulence properties of the swirling reacting flow under the conditions of staged combustion.

Impact of depth ratio on flow structure and turbulence characteristics of compound open channel flows

Compound open channel flows appear in most natural rivers are of great importance in river management and flood control.In this study,large eddy simulations were carried out to simulate the compound open channel flows with four different depth ratios(hr=0.10,0.25,0.50,and 0.75).The main flow velocity,secondary flow,Reynolds stress,and bed shear stress were obtained from numerical simulations.The depth-averaged stream wise momentum equation was used to quantify the lateral momentum exchange between the main channel and floodplain.The instantaneous coherent structures were presented by the Q criterion method.The impact of hr on flow structure and turbulence charac-teristics was analyzed.The results showed that with the increase of hr,the high velocity area in the main channel shifted to the floodplain,and the dip phenomenon became more obvious;the Reynolds stress largely contributed to the lateral momentum exchange within the flows near the side walls of floodplain;and the vortex structures were found to significantly increase in the floodplain region.

Dynamic Characteristics of High-speed Water-Lubricated Spiral Groove Thrust Bearing Based on Turbulent Cavitating Flow Lubrication Model

The water-lubricated bearings are usually the state of turbulent cavitating flow under high-speed conditions. And the distribution of cavitation bubbles and the interface effect between the two phases have not been included in previous studies on high-speed water-lubricated bearings. In order to study the influence of interface effect and cavitation bubble distribution on the dynamic characteristics of high-speed water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearings(SGTB).A turbulent cavitating flow lubrication model based on two-phase fluid and population balance equation of bubbles was established in this paper. Stiffness and the damping coefficients of the SGTB were calculated using the perturbation pressure equations. An experimental apparatus was developed to verify the theoretical model. Simulating and experimental results show that the small-sized bubbles tend to generate in the turbulent cavitating flow when at a high rotary speed, and the bubbles mainly locate at the edges of the spiral groove. The simulating results also show that the direct stiffness coefficients are increased due to cavitation effect, and cross stiffness coefficients and damping coefficients are hardly affected by the cavitation effect. Turbulent effect on the dynamic characteristics of SGTB is much stronger than the cavitating effect.

Turbulence,aeration and bubble features of air-water flows in macro-and intermediate roughness conditions

Free surface flows aeration potential causing the in macro- and intermediate flow characteristics to vary roughness conditions have a high with slopes and discharges. The underlying mechanism of two-phase flow characteristics in macro- and intermediate roughness conditions were analyzed in an experimental setup assembled at the Laboratory of Hydraulic Protection of the Territory （PITLAB） of the University of Pisa, Italy. Crushed angular rocks and hemispherical boulders were used to intensify the roughness of the bed. Flow rates per unit width ranging between 0.03 m^2/s and 0.09 m^2/s and slopes between 0.26 and 0.46 were tested over different arrangements of a rough bed. Analyses were mainly carried out in the inner flow region, which consists of both bubbly and intermediate flow regions. The findings revealed that the two-phase flow properties over the rough bed were much affected by rough bed arrangements. Turbulence features of two-phase flows over the rough bed were compared with those of the stepped chute data under similar flow conditions. Overall, the results highlight the flow features in the inner layers of the two-phase flow, showing that the maximum turbulence intensity decreases with the relative submergence, while the bubble frequency distribution is affected by the rough bed elements.

Analysis of the Flow Field Characteristics Associated with the Dynamic Rock Breaking Process Induced by a Multi-Hole Combined External Rotary Bit

The characteristics of the flow field associated with a multi-hole combined external rotary bit have been studied by means of numerical simulation in the framework of an RNG k-εturbulence model,and compared with the results of dedicated rock breaking drilling experiments.The numerical results show that the nozzle velocity and dynamic pressure of the nozzle decrease with an increase in the jet distance,and the axial velocity of the nozzle decays regularly with an increase in the dimensionless jet distance.Moreover,the axial velocity related to the nozzle with inclination angle 20°and 30°can produce a higher hole depth,while the radial velocity of the nozzle with 60°inclination can enlarge the hole diameter.The outcomes of the CFD simulations are consistent with the actual dynamic rock breaking and pore forming process,which lends credence to the present results and indicates that they could be used as a reference for the future optimization of systems based on the multi-hole combined external rotary bit technology.

Comparison of Flow Characteristics Around Refractive and Right-angled Groins in Barotropic and Baroclinic Conditions

Groins are employed to prevent nearshore areas from erosion and to control the direction of flow. However, the groin structure and its associated flow characteristics are the main causes of local erosion. In this study, we investigate the flow patterns around refractive and right-angle groins. In particular, we analytically compare the flow characteristics around a refractive groin and study the degree of accuracy that can be achieved by using a right-angle groin of various projected lengths. To compare the flow characteristics, we replaced the right-angle groin with an approximation of a refractive groin. This replacement had the least effect on the maximum velocity of flow in the channel. Moreover, we investigated the distribution of the density variables of temperature and salinity, and their effects on the flow characteristics around the right-angle groin. A comparison of the flow analysis results in baroclinic and barotropic conditions reveals that the flow characteristic values are very similar for both the refractive and right-angle groins. The geometry of the groin, i.e., right-angle or refractive, has little effect on the maximum speed to relative average speed. Apart from the angular separation, the arm length of the groin in downstream refractive groins has less effect on other flow characteristics than do upstream refractive groins. We also correlated a number of non-dimensional variables with respect to various flow characteristics and groin geometry. These comparisons indicate that the correlation between the thalweg height and width of the channel and groin arm＇s length to projection length have been approximated using linear and nonlinear formulas regardless of inner velocity in the subcritical flow.

3-D hybrid LES-RANS model for simulation of open-channel T-diversion flows

The study of flow diversions in open channels plays an important practical role in the design and management of open-channel networks for irrigation or drainage. To accurately predict the mean flow and turbulence characteristics of open-channel dividing flows, a hybrid LES-RANS model, which combines the large eddy simulation （LES） model with the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes （RANS） model, is proposed in the present study. The unsteady RANS model was used to simulate the upstream and downstream regions of a main channel, as well as the downstream region of a branch channel. The LES model was used to simulate the channel diversion region, where turbulent flow characteristics are complicated. Isotropic velocity fluctuations were added at the inflow interface of the LES region to trigger the generation of resolved turbulence. A method based on the virtual body force is proposed to impose Reynolds-averaged velocity fields near the outlet of the LES region in order to take downstream flow effects computed by the RANS model into account and dissipate the excessive turbulent fluctuations. This hybrid approach saves computational effort and makes it easier to properly specify inlet and outlet boundary conditions. Comparison between computational results and experimental data indicates that this relatively new modeling approach can accurately predict open-channel T-diversion flows.

Free-surface air entrainment in open-channel flows

In hydraulic engineering,free-surface aeration is a natural phenomenon occurring in smooth channel flows.In self-aerated flows,a key aspect that has not yet been well understood is the formation mechanism of free-surface air entrainment.In this research,the process of free-surface entrapped deformation is analyzed theoretically and the critical radius of curvature for air entrainment is obtained,affected by flow mean velocity and depth.When the severity of local free-surface deformation exceeds the critical condition,the entrapped free surface encounters closure in the unstable deformation movement process,resulting in air entrainment.This inference agrees well with observed experimental results that are obtained from the processes of surface entrapped deformation and air entrainment captured by a high-speed camera-based data acquisition system.This agreement indicates that self-aeration occurs in low-velocity open-channel flows.It is also confirmed that free-surface turbulent deformation provides a mechanism for air entrainment.

Numerical Simulation of Open-Channel Flow in 90-Degree Combining Junction

Combining flows often occur in open channel networks of drainage systems and river engineering. Open-channel junction flows were analyzed by solving the depth-averaged two-dimensional, elliptic Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with the Hanjalic-Launder (H-L) modification to the k-ε turbulence model without the free surface “rigid lid” approximation with an efficient finite-volume procedure. The model can also analyze flows with separation. The model was used to analyze the relative importance of various factors and was compared with laboratory measurements. The H-L modification produced much better simulations of the separation zone size with 20% better accuracy than the standard k-ε model. The H-L modification was then used to study the characteristic of junction flows and the separation zones with different discharge ratios. The simulational results show that separation zone size decreases as the discharge ratio of the upstream main channel to the downstream channel increases.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON TURBULENT FEATURES IN THE NEGATIVE TRANSPORT REGION OF ASYMMETRIC PLANE CHANNEL FLOW

Turbulent features of streamwise and vertical components of velocity in the negative transport region of asymmetric plane channel flow have been studied experimentally in details. Experiments show that turbulent fluctuations in negative transport region are suppressed, and their probability distributions are far from Gaussian. Besides, the skewness factors attain their negative maxima at the position of the maximum mean velocity, whereas the flatness factors attain their positive maxima at the same position.

Computational Simulation of Turbulent Flow Around Tractor-Trailers

A method to evaluate the properties of turbulent flow in proximity to the vehicle and close to the ground surface has been elaborated.Numerical simulations have been performed on the basis of the Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations(URANS)written with respect to an arbitrary curvilinear coordinate system.These equations have been solved using the Spalart-Allmaras differential one-parametric turbulence model.The method of artificial compressibility has been used to improve the coupling of pressure and velocity in the framework of a finite volume approach.Time-averaged distributions of pressure fields,velocity components,streamlines in the entire area and near the tractor-trailer,as well as integral and distributed characteristic parameters(such as coefficients of pressure,friction and drag force)are presented.According to our results,the turbulent flow accelerates in the area of the tractor cabin and in the gap between surfaces.Above the driver’s cabin,a pressure drop occurs due to a sharp acceleration of flow in this area.Downstream,pressure is restored and becomes almost constant in proximity to the edge of the trailer.The dimensions of the separation area exceed the length of the transport system several times.Though agreement with experimental results is relatively limited due to the two-dimensional nature of the numerical simulations,the present approach succeeds in identifying the main physical effects involved in the considered dynamics.It might be used in future studies for initial approximate assessments of the influence of the vehicle shape on its aerodynamic characteristics.

Reaction thrust characteristics of high-pressure submerged water jet of cylinder nozzles

The shapes and geometrical parameters of nozzles are key factors for fluidics. The relationship among the reaction thrust, flow rate pressure, diameter do and length L of a cylinder nozzle is analyzed theoretically. The simulation of the flow field characteristics was conducted via the FLUENT computational fluid dynamics package. Effects of the inlet conditions and the nozzle dimensions on the reaction thrust of a water jet were addressed particularly. The reaction thrust experiments were performed on a custom-designed test apparatus. The experimental results reveal that a） the nozzle diameter and the inlet conditions exert great influence on the water jet reaction thrust; and b） for L≤4d0, where the nozzle is treated as a thin plate-orifice, the reaction thrust is independent of nozzle length; for L〉4d0, where the nozzle is treated as a long orifice, the reaction thrust can reach maximum under the condition of a certain flow rate. These findings lay a theoretical foundation for the design of nozzles and have significant value, especially for the future development of high-oressure water-let orooulsion technology.

Attenuation analysis of hydraulic transients with laminar-turbulent flow alternations

An improved compound mathematical model is established to simulate the attenuation of hydraulic transients with laminar-turbulent alternations,which usually occur when the pipeline flow velocity fluctuates near the critical velocity.The laminar friction resistance and the turbulent friction resistance are considered respectively in this model by applying different resistance schemes to the characteristics method of fluid transient analysis.The hydraulic transients of the valve closing process are simulated using the model.A more reasonable attenuation of hydraulic transients is obtained.The accurate attenuation is more distinct than that obtained from the traditional mathematical model.The research shows that the hydraulic transient is a type of energy waves,and its attenuation is caused by the friction resistance.The laminar friction resistance is more important than the turbulent friction resistance if the flow velocity is smaller than the critical velocity.Otherwise the turbulent friction resistance is more important.The laminar friction resistance is important in the attenuation of hydraulic transients for the closing process.Thus,it is significant to consider the different resistances separately to obtain more accurate attenuation of hydraulic transients.

Arc Voltage Fluctuation in DC Laminar and Turbulent Plasma Jets Generation

Arc voltage fluctuations in a direct current （DC） non-transferred arc plasma generator are experimentally studied, in generating a jet in the laminar, transitional and turbulent regimes. The study is with a view toward elucidating the mechanism of the fluctuations and their relationship with the generating parameters, arc root movement and flow regimes. Results indicate that the existence of a 300 Hz alternating current （AC） component in the power supply ripples does not cause the transition of the laminar plasma jet into a turbulent state. There exists a high frequency fluctuation at 4 kHz in the turbulent jet regime. It may be related to the rapid movement of the anode attachment point of the arc.

Analysis of pressure characteristics under laminar and turbulent flow states inside the pilot stage of a deflection flapper servo-valve:Mathematical modeling with CFD study and experimental validation

Electro-hydraulic servo-valves are widely used components in the mechanical industry,aerospace and aerodynamic devices which precisely control the airplane or missile wings.Due to the small size and complex structure in the pilot stage of deflection flapper servo-valves,accurate mathematical models for the flow and pressure characteristics have always been very difficult to be built.In this paper,mathematical models for the pilot stage of deflection flapper servo-valve are investigated to overcome some gaps between the theoretical formulation and overall performance of the valve by considering different flow states.Here,a mathematical model of the velocity distribution at the flapper groove exit is established by using Schlichting velocity equations for incompressible laminar fluid flow.Moreover,when the flow becomes turbulent,a mathematical model of pressure characteristics in the receiving ports is built on the basis of the assumption of the collision between the liquid and the jet as the impact of the jet on a moving block of fluid particles.To verify the analytical models for both laminar and turbulent flows,the pressure characteristics of the deflection flapper pilot stage are calculated and tested by using numerical simulation and experiment.Experimental verification of the theory is also presented.The computed numerical and analytical results show a good agreement with experimental data.

Experimental investigation on propagating characteristics of sinusoidal unsteady flow in open-channel with smooth bed

A high accuracy experimental system has been established for unsteady open-channel flow.Then 40 experiments were conducted to study the propagating characteristics of unsteady open-channel flow.From the experimental data,the variation law of propagating velocity,wave deformation rate,flow depth of wave peak and bottom,and other parameters were obtained.The experimental results show the followings.1) The propagating velocity of unsteady open-channel flows can be expressed by the sum of flow velocity and micro-amplitude wave velocity at wave peak.2) The waveform of an unsteady flow would deform when it propagates,with the rising stage becoming longer and the falling stage shorter;the deformation rate is a function of distance,period and relative amplitude of discharge.3) The flow depths of wave peak and bottom have a close relationship with the period of the unsteady flow.When the period is short,water depths of wave peak and bottom are both close to those of the average discharge in the condition of uniform flow.For a long period unsteady flow,the water depth of wave peak is close to that of the maximal discharge in the condition of uniform flow,while at the flow wave bottom,it is close to the depth of the minimum discharge in an uniform flow.4) Propagating characteristic of discharge is analogous to that of flow depth for unsteady flow.

PIV analysis and high-speed photographic observation of cavitating flow field behind circular multi-orifice plates

Based on a self-developed hydrodynamic cavitation device with different geometric parameters for circular multi-orifice plates,turbulence characteristics of cavitating flow behind multi-orifice plates,including the effects of orifice number and orifice layout on longitudinal velocity,turbulence intensity,and Reynolds stress,were measured with the particle image velocimetry(PIV)technique.Flow regimes of the cavitating flow were also observed with high-speed photography.The experimental results showed the following:(1)high-velocity multiple cavitating jets occurred behind the multi-orifice plates,and the cavitating flow fields were characterized by topological structures;(2)the longitudinal velocity at each cross-section exhibited a sawtooth-like distribution close to the multi-orifice plate,and each sawtooth indicated one jet issuing from one orifice;(3)there were similar magnitudes and forms for the longitudinal and vertical turbulence intensities at the same cross-section;(4)the variation in amplitude of Reynolds stress increased with an increase in orifice number;and(5)the cavitation clouds in the flow fields became denser with the increase in orifice number,and the clouds generated by the staggered layout of orifices were greater in number than those generated by the checkerboard-type one for the same orifice number.The experimental results can be used to analyze the mechanism of killing pathogenic microorganisms through hydrodynamic cavitation.

Turbulent forced convection in a heat exchanger square channel with wavy-ribs vortex generator

Turbulent forced convective heat transfer and flow con figurations in a square channel with wavy-ribs inserted diagonally are examined numerically. The in fluences of the 30° and 45° flow attack angles for wavy-ribs, blockage ratio, R B= b/H = 0.05–0.25 with single pitch ratio, R P= P/H = 1 are investigated for the Reynolds number based on the hydraulic diameter of the square channel, Re = 3000–20000. The use of the wavy-ribs, which inserted diagonal in the square channel, is aimed to help to improve the thermal performance in heat exchange systems.The finite volume method and SIMPLE algorithm are applied to the present numerical simulation. The results are presented on the periodic flow and heat transfer pro files, flow con figurations, heat transfer characteristics and the performance evaluations. The mathematical results reveal that the use of wavy-ribs leads to a higher heat transfer rate and friction loss over the smooth channel. The heat transfer enhancements are around 1.97–5.14 and 2.04–5.27 times over the smooth channel for 30° and 45° attack angles, respectively. However, the corresponding friction loss values for 30° and 45° are around 4.26–86.55 and 5.03–97.98 times higher than the smooth square channel, respectively. The optimum thermal enhancement factor on both cases is found at R B= 0.10 and the lowest Reynolds number, Re = 3000, to be about 1.47 and 1.52, respectively, for 30° and 45° wavy-ribs.