Laurent Keirsbulck

Surface Roughness Effects on Turbulent Boundary Layer Structures

A turbulent boundary layer structure which develop over a κ-type rough wall displays several differences with those found on a smooth surface. The magnitude of the wake strength depends on the wall roughness. In the near-wall region, the contribution to the Reynolds shear stress fraction, corresponding to each event, strongly depends on the wall roughness. In the wall region, the diffusion factors are influenced by the wall roughness where the sweep events largely dominate the ejection events. This trend is reversed for the smooth-wall. Particle Image Velocimetry technique (PIV) is used to obtain the fluctuating flow field in the turbulent boundary layer in order to confirm this behavior. The energy budget analysis shows that the main difference between rough- and smooth-walls appears near the wall where the transport terms are larger for smooth-wall. Vertical and longitudinal turbulent flux of the shear stress on both smooth and rough surfaces is compared to those predicted by a turbulence model. The present results confirm that any turbulence model must take into account the effects of the surface roughness

Flow Bistability Downstream of Three-Dimensional Double Backward Facing Steps at Zero-Degree Sideslip

The flow downstream of a three-dimensional double backward facing step (3D DBWFS) is investigated for Reynolds number Re h ranging from 5 x 10 3 to 8 × 10 4 (based on the first step height h). The flow is studied both qualitatively by means of laser tomoscopy and oil-flow visualizations and quantitatively by means of particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. In particular, the results show a mean flow asymmetry. A sensitivity study around zero degree sideslip has shown that the flow is bistable for this geometry. This bistability has been observed in two different wind tunnels for very different upstream conditions. As a main consequence, the zero degree drift angle could be a relevant validation case of unstable flow computation. More tests are carried out to understand and control this particular flow feature.

Turbulence Structures Downstream of a Localized Injection in a Fully Developed Channel Flow

The effects of localized blowing through a porous strip on a turbulent channel were studied experimentally. The measurements were conducted downstream of the porous strip for three blowing rates: 3%, 5%, and 8% (of the velocity at the centerline of the channel)

VOLUMETRIC 3-COMPONENT VELOCIMETRY MEASUREMENTS OF THE FLOW FIELD ON THE REAR WINDOW OF A GENERIC CAR MODEL

Volumetric 3-component Velocimetry measurements are carried out in the flow field around the rear window of a generic car model, the so-called Ahmed body. This particular flow field is known to be highly unsteady, three dimensional and characterized by strong vortices. The volumetric velocity measurements from the present experiments provide the most comprehensive data for this flow field to date. The present study focuses on the wake flow modifications which result from using a simple flow control device, such as the one recently employed by Fourrie et al. [1]. The mean data clearly show the structure of this complex flow and confirm the drag reduction mechanism suggested by Fourrie et al. The results show that strengthening the separated flow leads to weakening the longitudinal vortices and vice versa. The present paper shows that the Volumetric 3-component Velocimetry technique is a powerful tool used for a better understanding of a threedimensional unsteady complex flow such that developing around a bluffbody.

Wall Shear Stress Generated by Aqueous Flowing Foam

Aqueous foam flow over horizontal channels present significant pressure losses originated by the wall shear stress. Understanding this phenomenon is of paramount importance for the oil, food and cosmetic industries. In this study, we validate the use of the innovative polarographic method, used to measure the wall shear stress. It measures an oxy-reduction reaction controlled by the convection and diffusion phenomenon. The most reliable way of obtaining the wall shear stress is through the pressure losses. They allow obtaining the pressure gradient along the length of the channel, which can be related to an averaged wall shear stress. These measurement techniques were applied over a horizontal foam flow enclosed in a square duct of section 21 × 21 mm2; with a velocity of 2, 4 and 6 cm/s; and a void fraction of 70%. Results validate the use of the polarographic method to obtain the wall shear stress produced by foam flow inside a channel.Copyright

Flow Behaviour Around Square and Circular Obstacles in 2D and 3D Configurations Using Lattice Boltzmann Method

The investigation of wakes of bluff bodies in a channel is still relevant despite the large number of works devoted on it, in both experimental and numerical studies. This attractiveness is mainly due to its related applications and practical interest in varied engineering fields.The understanding of dynamic flow behavior and the topology of the instability structures occurring in the wake is essential in order to optimize the obstacle shape according to the desired objectives.A confined laminar flow around a square and a circle, placed in a channel is numerically investigated in this work using Lattice Boltzmann method. The study is then extended to 3D computations with horizontal cylinder within a square then a circular cross-section mounted inside a rectangular duct.The Reynolds number (Re), based on the maximum velocity and the cross-section height varies between 50 and 120 and the blockage ratio is r=1/3. This geometry is representative of a passive method to enhance mixing in the laminar channel flow. LBM was built up on the D2Q9 and D3Q19 model for respectively 2D and 3D computations. The single relaxation time approach called the lattice-BGK method was adopted.The topology of the vortex-shedding phenomena and wake behavior according the Reynolds numbers, for both geometries of the obstacle are focused. The effect of wall confinement on the flow transition to the vortex shedding regime is discussed. Velocity profiles and integral parameters such as recirculation length and Strouhal number were investigated.The numerical results are supported by literatures works results for the same configuration showing the performance of LBM as numerical tools simulation for such kind of flows.Copyright

Experimental Characterization of the Separate Flow Induced by a Wall-Mounted Bump

The dynamical behavior of the flow separation induced by a wall-mounted two-dimensional bump is studied. The present investigation is based on an experimental approach that aims to provide further insight into the separate flow dynamic in such configuration. The main interest is devoted to the separation Reynolds number dependency. A general feature of separated flows dynamics is also addressed by statistical and structural information derived from the present experimental approach. Results are presented for turbulent water inflow for a moderate Reynolds-number range from 165 to 605 based on friction velocity and channel half-height (so-called Karman number). The ratio of the bump height h and the channel full height H is 0.335. The unsteady separation process and the associate instability mechanism are very sensitive to small perturbations. So, in order to preserve the flow physics, all of the experimental techniques employed in the present study are non-intrusive. An examination of the high resolved velocity fields showed that for a moderate Karman number, a separate area exists. Under this condition, a thin region of reverse flow was formed above the bump and a large-scale vortical activity, characterized by low-frequencies, are clearly observed. The reported results do not only yield the expected turbulent separation bubble dependencies. They also show that the well known coexisting instabilities process, which find their origin in laminar flow regime, persist for higher Karman numbers.Copyright

Gas-Liquid Foam Through Straight Ducts and Singularities: CFD Simulations and Experiments

Some industrial processes are associated with the flow of aqueous foams inside horizontal channels. Examples are found in the oil, food and cosmetic industries. This type of flow presents an important pressure loss, originated from the shear stress exerted by the channel walls. Foam flow is one of the most complex fluids. In a macroscopic point of view, the physical-chemical interaction between the bubbles can be related to some non-Newtonian models (Bingham law, power law, etc.) or an apparent viscosity. These last can represent the internal deformations of fluid elements when shear stress is applied. An experimental facility able to create this type of flow is not so easy to design. Many parameters must be taken into consideration. So, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) constitutes an ideal technique for analyzing this kind of problem. The aim of this study is to validate the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics in order to correctly predict the pressure losses and the velocity fields of a foam flowing through a straight channel and singularities (fence and half-sudden expansion). Simulations for a realistic scenario: two-phase flow, change in the surface tension, bubble size, were undertaken. Obtained results showed that simulations are not able to accurately reproduce for such a complex fluid, the important aspects of this study, such as the pressure losses and the velocity fields. Therefore, an approximation to a Bingham fluid was made. For a foam flow quality of 70% and a velocity of 2 cm/s, the numerical results are justified by experimental evidence. Experiments have been done and predictions for the flow behavior are extrapolated. Results show that the software is able to recreate the behavior of foam flow through a straight channel and singularities. However, this approach is extremely sensitive to the choice of several parameters, like the apparent viscosity, the yield stress, the viscosity consistence, etc.Copyright