Saeed Farokhi

Effect of initial swirl distribution on the evolution of a turbulent jet

An existing cold-jet facility at NASA Lewis Research Center was modified to produce swirling flows with controllable initial tangential velocity distribution. Distinctly different swirl velocity profiles were produced, and their effects on jet mixing characteristics were measured downstream of an 11.43 cm (4.5 in.) diameter convergent nozzle. It was experimentally shown that in the near field (i.e., x/D Q.6. This remarkable result leads to the conclusion that the integrated swirl effect, reflected in the swirl number, is inadequate in describing the mean swirling jet behavior in the near field. The relative size (i.e., diameter) of the vortex core emerging from the nozzle and the corresponding tangential velocity distribution are the controlling parameters influencing the swirling turbulent free-jet evolution.

On turbulent flows dominated by curvature effects

A technique for improving the numerical predictions of turbulent flows with the effect of streamline curvature is developed. Separated flows and the flow in a curved duct are examples of flowfields where streamline curvature plays a dominant role. New algebraic formulations for the eddy viscosity incorporating the k-epsilon turbulence model are proposed to account for various effects of streamline curvature. The loci of flow reversal of the separated flows over various backward-facing steps are employed to test the capability of the proposed turbulence model in capturing the effect of local curvature.

Subsonic aerodynamics and performance of a smart vortex generator system

A new system for active flow control using smart vortex generators (SVG) is presented. Increments in C/max from modern vortex generators (VGs) are determined through wind-tunnel testing on a two-dimensional wing section. Using an optimized VG configuration, a system was built with 1) a shear-flow sensor that detected the onset and depth of stall, 2) a series of shape-memory-alloy VGs, and 3) a lift-todrag (L/D) maximizing controller. The system demonstrated a 14% increase in C /inax, a 2.7-deg rise in a,*,,, a 42% jump in L/D through the stall, and a low a C M penalty of less than 0.1%. Further testing demonstrated that the system consumed only 9.2 W of power, responded hi less than 0.8 s, and was capable of unstalling an airfoil that had exceeded o^,, by up to 3 deg.

On the aerodynamics and performance of active vortex generators

As a building block in the development of smart lift-enhancement devices, a new concept for flow control using active vortex generators (AVGs) is presented. Ramp, wedge, and doublet wedge (Wheeler) VG configurations are investigated. The AVGs are designed to conform to the surface of the wing section at low alpha. As the section approaches the stall, they are deployed and accordingly, alpha(stall) and C(lmax) are increased. A qualitative analysis of the flow around the various VG configurations was conducted in a low speed wind tunnel at 1.6 ft/s and a Reynolds number of approximately 3400. The results demonstrate that ramp VGs produce vortices that have the longest distance at breakdown. The VGs were also applied to a 25-in. span, 8-in. chord NACA 4415 wing section. Optimization studies were conducted on the spanwise spacing, chordwise position, and size of statically deployed VGs. The test results demonstrate a 14-percent increase in C(lmax) while increasing alpha (stall) by up to 3.

Spatial instability of a swirling jet - Theory and experiment

The spatial instability of a swirling jet is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A hydrodynamic stability analysis is applied to an inviscid incompressible top-hat jet, with a swirl distribution of solid-body rotation and free vortex in and outside the vortex core, respectively. Both plane and helical instability modes are examined. It is found that the top-hat jet with swirl distribution of Rankine vortex type is unstable in all the modes studied. The higher the positive helicity, the less spatially unstable the jet behavior; the higher the negative helicity, the more spatially unstable this behavior becomes. A comparison is made between theoretical results and experimental data on a low-intensity swirling jet. The trend of the initial growth of the instability waves in the near field is captured.

Controlled excitation of a cold turbulent swirling free jet

Experimental results from acoustic excitation of a cold free turbulent jet with and without swirl are presented. A flow with a swirl number of 0.35 (i.e., moderate swirl) is excited internally by plane acoustic waves at a constant sound pressure level and at various frequencies. It is observed that the cold swirling jet is excitable by plane waves, and that the instability waves grow about 50 percent less in peak rms amplitude, and saturate further upstream compared to corresponding waves in a jet without swirl having the same axial mass flux. The preferred Strouhal number based on the mass-averaged axial velocity and nozzle exit diameter for both swirling and nonswirling flows is 0.4. So far no change in the mean velocity components of the swirling jet is observed as a result of excitation.

Modern developments in shear flow control with swirl

Passive and active control of swirling turbulent jets is experimentally investigated. Initial swirl distribution is shown to dominate the free jet evolution in the passive mode. Vortex breakdown, a manifestation of high intensity swirl, was achieved at below critical swirl number (S = 0.48) by reducing the vortex core diameter. The response of a swirling turbulent jet to single frequency, plane wave acoustic excitation was shown to depend strongly on the swirl number, excitation Strouhal number, amplitude of the excitation wave, and core turbulence in a low speed cold jet. A 10 percent reduction of the mean centerline velocity at x/D = 9.0 (and a corresponding increase in the shear layer momentum thickness) was achieved by large amplitude internal plane wave acoustic excitation. Helical instability waves of negative azimuthal wave numbers exhibit larger amplification rates than the plane waves in swirling free jets, according to hydrodynamic stability theory. Consequently, an active swirling shear layer control is proposed to include the generation of helical instability waves of arbitrary helicity and the promotion of modal interaction, through multifrequency forcing.

Analysis of Rotor Tip Clearance Loss in Axial-Flow Turbines

Tip clearance flow is a major contributor to the losses in axial flow turbines. Tip shrouding reduces the extent of this loss at the expense of more structural complexity and increased centrifugal blade stresses. Recent technological advance in the area of active clearance control promises to minimize the tip clearance loss without the adverse tip shrouding effects. Due to complexity of rotor tip flows, a comprehensive tip clearance loss model that accounts for the tip shape, relative wall motion, tip loading, and stage characteristics has not yet been developed. In the present paper, the rotor tip clearance flow is aerothermodyn amically analyzed and a loss model is presented that includes the above-mentioned effects. Tip leakage discharge coefficient and the stage loading factor are taken as modeling parameters. Finally, earlier tip clearance loss models are reviewed and comparisons are drawn with the present work.

Large amplitude acoustic excitation of swirling turbulent jets

A swirling jet with a swirl number of S = 0.12 is excited by plane acoustic waves at various Strouhal numbers (St = fD/U sub alpha). The maximum forcing amplitude of excitation was at 6.88 percent of the time-mean axial velocity at a Strouhal number of St = 0.39. The maximum time-mean tangential and axial velocities at the nozzle exit were 18 and 84 m/sec respectively. It was observed that the swirling jet was excitable by plane acoustic waves and the preferred Strouhal number based on the nozzle diameter and exit axial velocity of the jet was about 0.39. As a result of excitation at this frequency, the time-mean axial velocity decayed faster along the jet centerline, reaching about 89 percent of its unexcited value at x/D = 9. Also the half velocity radius and momentum thickness, at 7 nozzle diameters downstream, increased by 13.2 and 5.8 percent respectively, indicating more jet spread and enhanced mixing. To our knowledge, this is the first reported experimental data indicating any mixing enhancement of swirling jets by acoustic excitation.

Pressure-time history of pylon wake on a pusher propeller in flight

Miniature, high-frequency, pressure transducers were mounted on a pusher propeller at 75 and 90% radii. Time history of fluctuating surface pressure over 700 propeller revolutions and 26 flight conditions reveals intriguing phenomena. The anticipated pylon wake signature manifests itself as a negative pressure pulse over extended portions of the propeller suction surface. The phenomenon further develops into a primarily random turbulence signature at 80% propeller chord and interestingly may re-evolve as a coherent wake signature further downstream, say at 90% chord. A new type of periodic disturbance of long-time scale, compared to propeller period of revolution, is discovered at positions beyond 0.6 chord on the propeller suction surface in the transonic regime. These and other peculiar propeller-surface events recorded by the transducers are highlighted, and some plausible explanations are offered.