Experimental Study of Water Entry and Exit of a Circular Cylinder at Free Surface: An Educational Approach

Abstract

This paper outlines a proposed experimental setup for characterizing the vertical motion of a horizontal circular cylinder through a free surface. Both water entry and exit are studied. The proposed experimental setup will enhance the student’s learning of the hydrodynamic impact phenomena. The experimental study is based on the flow visualization of free surface and surrounding water during the cylinder’s motion. The fluid flow phenomenon around the submerged cylinder is investigated using high-speed digital imaging and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The proposed experiment is used as part of an undergraduate mechanical engineering fluid mechanics course taught at a university, which aims to educate young male and female engineers for the local oil and gas industry and particularly for the companies involved in sponsoring the institution. The details of the flow visualization system and teaching strategy for implementing this experiment in a Mechanical Engineering curriculum is discussed.