Numerical simulation of flow past rectangular cylinders with different aspect ratios using the incompressible lattice Boltzmann method

This paper presents a numerical study of a uniform flow past a rectangular cylinder using the incompressible lattice Boltzmann method (ILBM). Firstly, we use the ILBM to simulate the flow past a square cylinder symmetrically placed in a two-dimensional channel and results are validated against the well-resolved results obtained using finite-difference method and finite-volume method. Secondly, the effects of the aspect ratio defined as R = width/height on the fluid forces, vortex shedding frequency and the flow structures in the wake are investigated. Aspect ratios ranging from 0.15 to 4.00 and four Reynolds numbers Re = 100, 150, 200 and 250 are selected for the investigation. The results show that the effects of aspect ratio on physical quantities such as drag and lift coefficients, Strouhal number and the vortex shedding mechanism are very notable in the range between 0 and 2. In general, the drag coefficient decreases with the aspect ratio and the decreasing rate is more distinct in the range of 0.15 ≤ R ≤ 2.0. There is no local maximum found at around R = 0.6 in the drag coefficient as reported for higher Reynolds numbers in the literature. However the root-mean-square value of the lift coefficient shows a maximum value at R ≈ 0.5 for all Reynolds numbers selected. The variation of Strouhal number with R appears to be different for four selected Reynolds numbers. Especially for Re = 250, a discontinuity in St, as has been observed for higher Reynolds numbers, is observed at around R = 1.45 where multiple peaks are found in the result of Fourier spectrum analysis of the lift force and irregular vortex shedding behavior with no fixed shedding frequency is observed from the instantaneous vorticity contours. Such discontinuity is not observed for Re = 100, 150 and 200. The present results using the LBM are compared with some existing experimental data and numerical studies. The comparison shows that the LBM can capture the characteristics of the bluff body flow well and is a useful tool for bluff body flow studies.     

Gap-flow patterns behind twin-cylinders at low Reynolds number

The flow structures, drag coefficients (C _d ) and vortex shedding characteristics around a single square cylinder and twin side-by-side square cylinders were experimentally investigated with various Reynolds numbers (Re) and gap ratios (g*) in a vertical water tunnel. The Reynolds number (Re) and gap ratio (g*) were 178 < Re < 892 and 0 ≤ g* ≤ 2.5, respectively. The flow patterns and vortex shedding frequency were determined using the particle tracking flow visualization (PTFV). The flow structures, velocity properties, and drag coefficients were calculated using the particle image velocimetry (PIV). The topological flow patterns of vortex evolution processes were plotted and analyzed based on critical point theory. Furthermore, the flow structures behind twin side-by-side square cylinders were classified into three modes — single vortex-street mode, gap-flow mode and couple vortex-streets mode. The maximum C _d occurred in the single vortex-street mode, and the minimum C _d occurred in the gap-flow mode. The highest Strouhal number (St) occurred in the single vortex-street mode, and the lowest St occurred in the gap-flow mode.     

An instrument for measuring the intensity and dose of cancerigenic ultraviolet radiation

An instrument for measuring the intensity and dose of cancerigenic radiation from the Sun and artificial sources has been developed. A 4H-SiC Schottky barrier photodetector is used as the sensor. The sensitivity spectrum of the photoelectric transducer lies in the region 240–300 nm and has a maximum at 260 nm. The quantum efficiency is ≈0.3 electrons/photon (at λ = 254 nm), and its temperature coefficient at T = 250–310 K is < 0.1%/°C. The dimensions of the device are 3 × 6 × 11 cm.     

Unsteady computation of flow field and convective heat transfer over tandem cylinders at subcritical Reynolds numbers

Unsteady flow and convective heat transfer over single and two tandem cylinders at constant-heat-flux condition in subcritical range of Reynolds number was numerically investigated. Two-dimensional computations were performed by adopting 3-equation k-kl-ω turbulence model using a commercial software FLUENT®. The aim was to investigate the capabilities of k-kl-ω turbulence model for collective flow and heat transport conditions past cylindrical bodies and then to identify a critical spacing ratio for the maximum heat transport. The center-to-center spacing ratio (L/D) was varied in the range from 1.2 to 4.0. Instantaneous path lines and vorticity contours were generated to interpret the interaction of shear layer and vortices from upstream cylinder with the downstream cylinder. Comparison of pressure coefficients, fluctuating and average lift as well as drag coefficients, Strouhal number and the local and average Nusselt numbers with the available literatures indicated a reasonably good agreement. The combined outcome of flow field and heat transfer study revealed a critical spacing ratio of L/D = 2.2. Based on the present investigation, a correlation has been suggested to calculate overall average Nusselt number of the two cylinders placed in tandem.

     

A technique for identifying nuclei in the MONICA experiment

We discuss the results of comparison and optimization of (ΔE − E) methods for identifying nuclei with the aid of a multilayer Si detector that will be used in the MONICA satellite-based experiment aimed at studying the nuclear component of cosmic rays from hydrogen to nickel in the energy range of 10–300 MeV/nucleon. The residual-range and Bethe-Bloch curve approximation methods are considered. Using the GEANT4 simulation, it is shown that the Bethe-Bloch curve approximation method not only ensures a better mass resolution (which is particularly important for identification of heavy nuclei), but also provides a means for identifying “drift” nuclei with satisfactory charge (<0.3) and energy (<3%) resolutions. The results can be used to prepare new experiments in which (ΔE − E) nuclear identification methods are expected to be employed.     

Measurements of nonstationary temperatures by the spectral pyrometry method

Recording of a sequence of thermal-radiation spectra allows determination of a nonstationary temperature T(t) without using the data on the emissivity of an object. For a КЭФ-4.5 silicon single crystal heated with radiation from a continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser (λ = 1.064 μm), sequences of hundreds of emission spectra in wavelength ranges of λ = 350–760 nm and λ = 650–1000 nm were recorded at a signal storage time of a CCD array of τ = 15–35 ms and a frequency of recording spectra of f ≈ 30–66 Hz. The spectra were automatically processed, and the dependences of the crystal temperature on the time after the irradiation onset were obtained in the range T ≈ 1100–1450 K.     

Experimental and numerical study for the cross-flow around four cylinders in an in-line square configuration

The cross-flow around four cylinders in an in-line square configuration with the spacing ratio (L/D) 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 5.0 have been investigated experimentally using Laser Doppler Anemometer (LDA) and Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV). The experiments were carried out in a closed-loop wind tunnel with Reynolds number 1.128× 10⁴ to 1.982× 10⁴. Mean velocity distributions are obtained by LDA. The full field instantaneous and averaged velocity and vorticity components are measured by DPIV The present experimental study indicated that several distinct flow patterns exist. Distinct vortex shedding of the upstream cylinders was suppressed forL/D < 3.5 atRe=1.128× 10⁴. The flow patterns are affected by the spacing ratio andRe. In order to capture the details of the 3-D vortices structures and obtain all the instantaneous physical information, 3-D numerical simulations of the cross-flow around the four cylinders in an in-line square configuration with the spacing ratio 1.5 and 3.5, andRe=1.50× 10⁴ are carried out using large eddy simulation (LES). The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. These results provided full field instantaneous information of the flow structures, velocity field and vorticity field of cross-flow around the four cylinders in an in-line square configuration.     

A study on the flow characteristics between two circular cylinders in cross flow by ldv and holographic interferometry

Experimental investigation of the fluid flow and thermal flow pattern around two circular cylinders in cross flow has been carried out. Reynolds number was varied in the range of 100≦Re≦1000 and the distance between the two cylinders in the interval of 2≦L/D≦4. Velocity and turbulence intensity distributions in the isothermal distribution in the whole x−y thermal flow field was obtained by double-exposure holographic interferometry. The influences of Reynolds number and the gap spacing between the two cylinders were investigated. The characteristic flow pattern was found to depend on the distance between the two cylinders. WhenL≦3D, the wake region between the two cylinders became quasi-stationary.     

A Wideband spectrometer for NMR studies

The design of a wideband decimeter-wave (200–900 MHz) spectrometer with a magnetic induction of up to ∼10 T is described. This spectrometer is intended for studying electronic-nuclear oscillations in antiferromagnets at low temperatures (4.2−1.3 K). Critical field H _c = 2.5 ± 0.3 T of a reorientation transition in a noncollinear antiferromagnet Mn₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂ at temperature T ≈ 1.3 K was determined from a ⁵⁵Mn²⁺ NMR spectrum.     

Feedback mechanism of low-speed edgetones

A feedback mechanism of low-speed edgetones is analyzed by using the jet edge interaction model in which reaction of the edge is regarded as an array of dipoles. From the jet-edge interation model the surface pressure of the edge and the upstream wave are estimated by assuming the downstream disturbance as a sinuously oscillating flow with a constant convection speed. The surface pressure distribution on the edge is found to increase from zero at the tip to a peak value around a quarter wavelength downstream, which may be regarded as an effective source point of the upstream-propagating sound wave. From the condition that the two wave trains should be phase-locked at the nozzle lip, the phase factorp is found to be in the range, −1/2<p<0, in the phase criterion of the form,h/A+h/λ=n+p, where h is the stand-off distance.A and λ the wavelengths of downstream and upstream respectively, andn the stage number. From the existing experimental data the phase factor is estimated on the basis that the convection wavelength is dependent only upon the mean jet velocity and the frequency, but not upon the stage number. The experimental values are in the same range of the theoretical estimation indicating that the phase factor is not a universal constant but varies in the range, −1/2<p<0, depending on the nozzle-edge configuration and the flow condition.     

Taylor Vortices–Induced Instability (Transition Flow) versus “Turbulence” in Concentric Cylinders Separated by Microscale Clearances

This paper is concerned with the relationship between the onset and the development of the Taylor instabilities and their treatment as turbulent flows in the most accepted turbulence models (Constantinescu (1); Ng-Pan (2); Hirs (3)) used with the Reynolds equation, in the range of 41.3√R/C < Re < 2000. The authors show that in between these limits there is a transition regime where the velocity and pressure profiles are fundamentally different from either a Couette flow or a fully developed turbulent flow. Thus the issue under consideration is whether the flow formations observed during Taylor instability regimes should be simulated using the widely accepted turbulence models as they presently are modeled in microscale clearance flows. We are considering the flow of light silicone oil in gaps varying from 3.302 mm (0.13 in.) to 0.127 mm (0.005 in.) between two concentric cylinders, with the inner cylinder rotating. The computational engine used in this study is a well-established and a tried software package: CFD-ACE+. It was found that the Taylor vortices (cells) begin to form at certain, but different, “critical” speeds, function of clearance size, and as the speed grows, the vortices become fully developed and evolve further into wavy vortices. Calculations show that both the 1st and 2nd critical Taylor numbers and Reynolds numbers are functions of the clearance size. The Taylor numbers decrease, while the Reynolds numbers increase with the decrease in clearance size. The onset of both instabilities is clearly characterized by the discontinuities in the Torque-√Ta (or Torque – Re) curve slope. The calculations presented here show that the slope changes in the above-mentioned graphs are due to the changes in the average velocity gradient on the outer cylinder and not to a change in the actual viscosity as it is implemented by the turbulence models mentioned above. Finally a comparison is made between present calculations and the data of Roberts (4), Cole (5), Walowit et al. (6), Weinstein (7), Koschmieder (8), and DiPrima (9).     

A plasma generator based on nonself-sustained low-pressure glow discharge with a large-volume hollow cathode

The results of studying nonself-sustained glow discharges in an electrode system with a hollow cathode with a volume of 0.25 m³ are presented. A high-current (up to 35 A) nonself-sustained glow discharge at low pressures (0.3–1.0 Pa) is initiated and sustained with the help of an auxiliary cold-hollow-cathode arc discharge. When the current of a nonself-sustained glow discharge increases from 2 to 35 A, its burning voltage changes from 40 to 300 V. These values are much lower than the voltage for a self-sustained glow discharge in the same electrode system. At a discharge current of 30 A, the electron concentration at the center of the hollow cathode is n _e ∼ 10¹⁰–10¹¹ cm⁻³ and the electron temperature is T _e ≈ 2 eV. The discharge considered can be used in the system for modification of materials and products.     

Fabrication,Characterisation and Tribological Investigation of Artificial Skin Surface Lipid Films

This article deals with the tribology of lipid coatings that resemble those found on human skin. In order to simulate the lipidic surface chemistry of human skin, an artificial sebum formulation that closely resembles human sebum was spray-coated onto mechanical skin models in physiologically relevant concentrations (5–100 μg/cm²). Water contact angles and surface free energies (SFEs) showed that model surfaces with ≤25 μg/cm² lipids appropriately mimic the physico-chemical properties of dry, sebum-poor skin regions. In friction experiments with a steel ball, lipid-coated model surfaces demonstrated lubrication effects over a wide range of sliding velocities and normal loads. In friction measurements on model surfaces as a function of lipid-film thickness, a clear minimum in the friction coefficient (COF) was observed in the case of hydrophilic, high-SFE materials (steel, glass), with the lowest COF (≈0.5) against skin model surfaces being found at 25 μg/cm² lipids. For hydrophobic, low-SFE polymers, the COF was considerably lower (0.4 for PP, 0.16 for PTFE) and relatively independent of the lipid amount, indicating that both the mechanical and surface-chemical properties of the sliders strongly influence the friction behaviour of the skin-model surfaces. Lipid-coated skin models might be a valuable tool not only for tribologists but also for cosmetic chemists, in that they allow the objective study of friction, adhesion and wetting behaviour of liquids and emulsions on simulated skin-surface conditions.     

Tribology of confined Fomblin-Z perfluoropolyalkylethers: molecular weight dependence and comparison between unfunctionalized and telechelic chains

The dynamic shear properties of molecularly-thin films of unfunctionalized and end-functionalized (telechelic) Fomblin-Z perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) melts with number-average molecular weight M _n≈ 3000−4000 g,mol^-1 have been studied at shear rates of 10^-2−10⁵ s^-1 at normal pressures of 1 and 3 MPa. The shear responses are compared to measurements on end-functionalized polymers of the same chemical composition but lower molecular weight, M _n≈ 2000 g,mol^-1. The predominantly elastic response and high shear moduli of the confined film of unfunctionalized polymer, Fomblin Z03, suggest that it forms a structure likely to solidify already at low pressure. Its lubricating properties are less favorable than the ones found for hydroxyl- (DOL) and piperonyl-terminated Fomblin-Z (AM2001, AM3001), where associated molecules form a structure less prone to solidification under confinement. The thickness of the compressed films of the end-functionalized polymers increased more strongly with molecular weight than as M _n ^0.5 . The shear moduli were found to be larger, the higher the molecular weight, indicating slower relaxations. At a normal pressure of 3 MPa, these films solidified and displayed stick–slip as seen already at 1 MPa in the Z03 film. The limiting shear stress of the unfunctionalized Z03, σ > 3 MPa, exceeded by an order of magnitude the limiting shear stress of all of the end-functionalized polymers. The limiting shear stress of the hydroxyl-terminated polymer was larger than that of the piperonyl-terminated polymer. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Lubricating Properties of Human Whole Saliva

We demonstrate the efficient boundary lubricating properties of human whole saliva (HWS) in a soft hydrophobic rubbing contact, consisting of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) ball and a PDMS disk. The influence of applied load, entrainment speed and surface roughness was investigated for mechanically stimulated HWS. Lubrication by HWS results in a boundary friction coefficient of μ ≈ 0.02, two orders of magnitude lower than that obtained for water. Dried saliva on the other hand results in μ ≈ 2–3, illustrating the importance of hydration for efficient salivary lubrication. Increasing the surface roughness increases the friction coefficient for HWS, while it decreases that for water. The boundary lubricating properties of HWS are less sensitive to saliva treatment than are its bulk viscoelastic properties. Centrifugation and ageing of HWS almost completely removes the shear thinning and elastic nature observed for fresh HWS. In contrast, the boundary friction coefficients are hardly affected, which indicates that the high-M _w (supra-)molecular structures in saliva, which are expected to be responsible for its rheology, are not responsible for its boundary lubricating properties. The saliva-coated PDMS surfaces form an ideal model system for ex-vivo investigations into oral lubrication and how the lubricating properties of saliva are influenced by other components like food, beverages, oral care products and pharmaceuticals.     

Laminar flow past a sphere rotating in the transverse direction

Laminar flow past a sphere rotating in the transverse direction is numerically investigated in order to understand the effect of the rotation on the characteristics of flow over the sphere. Numerical simulations are performed at Re = 100, 250 and 300, where the Reynolds number is based on the free-stream velocity and the sphere diameter. The rotational speeds considered are in the range of 0 ≤ ω* ≤ 1.2, where ω* is the maximum velocity on the sphere surface normalized by the free-stream velocity. Without rotation, the flow past a sphere experiences steady axisymmetry, steady planar-symmetry, and unsteady planar-symmetry, respectively, at Re = 100, 250 and 300. With rotation, however, the flow becomes planar-symmetric for all the cases investigated, and the symmetry plane of flow is orthogonal to the rotational direction. Also, the rotation affects the flow unsteadiness, and its effect depends on the rotational speed and the Reynolds number. The flow is steady irrespective of the rotational speed at Re = 100, whereas at Re = 250 and 300 it undergoes a sequence of transitions between steady and unsteady flows with increasing ω*. As a result, the characteristics of vortex shedding and vortical structures in the wake are significantly modified by the rotation at Re = 250 and 300. For example, at Re = 300, vortex shedding occurs at low values of ω*, but it is completely suppressed at ω* = 0.04 and 0.6. Interestingly, at ω* = 1 and 1.2, unsteady vortices are newly generated in the wake due to the shear layer instability. The critical rotational speed, at which the shear layer instability begins to occur, is shown to be higher at Re = 250 than at Re = 300. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Dongshin Shin Dongjoo Kim is an associate professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Kumoh National Institute of Technology. His research interests include computational fluid dynamics, bluff-body wakes, and control of turbulent flows. He has a PhD in mechanical engineering from Seoul National University. He is a member of the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.     

Non-intrusive laser-based, full-field quantitative flow measurements aided by digital image processing. Part 1: Eccentric cylinders

A technique based on computer-aided image processing was combined with a full flow field particle tracking procedure (FFFT) to yield a non-intrusive method for quantification of qualitative images. The method yields time dependent trajectories, velocities and accelerations throughout the entire flow field. The method has been applied to a geometry of eccentric cylinders with the inner cylinder in rotation. The observed flow patterns are similar to the ones postulated by the three-dimensional flow simulations in narrow gaps. In this application the flow is characterized by a low bearing Reynolds number (Re_h = Rωc/ν). The qualitative and quantitative part of the study concentrates on the flow characteristics in and around the cylinders' minimum clearance. The minimum radial clearance can be varied from 0.0254 to 0.889 mm (0.001–0.035 in). The study of this geometry yields knowledge with immediate application to flow in hydrodynamic journal bearings.     

Effect of Reynolds numbers on flow past four square cylinders in an in-line square configuration for different gap spacings

In this paper two-dimensional (2-D) numerical investigation of flow past four square cylinders in an in-line square configuration are performed using the lattice Boltzmann method. The gap spacing g = s/d is set at 1, 3 and 6 and Reynolds number ranging from Re = 60 to 175. We observed four distinct wake patterns: (i) a steady wake pattern (Re = 60 and g = 1); (ii) a stable shielding wake pattern (80 ≤ Re ≤ 175 and g = 1); (iii) a wiggling shielding wake pattern (60 ≤ Re ≤ 175 and g = 3) and (iv) a vortex shedding wake pattern (60 ≤ Re ≤ 175 and g = 6). At g = 1, the Reynolds number is observed to have a strong effect on the wake patterns. It is also found that at g = 1, the secondary cylinder interaction frequency significantly contributes for drag and lift coefficients signal. It is found that the primary vortex shedding frequency dominates the flow and the role of secondary cylinder interaction frequency almost vanish at g = 6. It is observed that the jet between the gaps strongly influenced the wake interaction for different gap spacing and Reynolds number combination. To fully understand the wake transformations the details vorticity contour visualization, power spectra of lift coefficient signal and time signal analysis of drag and lift coefficients also presented in this paper.     

Light collection in the scintillation counter with a volume of 1.5 m<Superscript>3</Superscript> and quasi-mirror reflection

Collection of light in a counter with mirror reflection from relief (nonflat) surfaces and with a high transparency of the liquid scintillator was investigated. Based on results of measurements and simulation of light collection, the dependence of light collection coefficient K on the relief of reflecting surfaces and the scintillator transparency was obtained using the Monte Carlo method. The light collection coefficient was K=(30.9+1.1)×10^s-3, and the resolution of the distribution function for the K value over the counter volume was η ≈12%.     

Pulsed interferometric calorimetry

The possibility of using semiconductor single crystals (Si, GaP, etc.) as calorimeters for pulsed heat flux measurements is discussed. The method of laser interferometric thermometry in the reflected light at a wavelength of 1.15 μm makes it possible to detect changes δθ≈2×10⁻⁵ K in the temperature of a 1-mm-thick Si single crystal. The sensitivity of a calorimeter with laser readout is sufficient for detection of the absorbed energy δE≈15 μJ/cm² and is independent of the Si plate thickness. The method for selecting the working point in the resonance curve for achieving maximum sensitivity in detection of pulse fluxes is discussed.