Flow visualisation of water channel setup for supersonic flow analogy

Abstract

In the present study, flow over aerodynamics models is analysed in water channel flow to understand flow physics at affordable cost. The water channel flow visualization setup is constructed to analyse the analogy between Froude number and Mach number and flow visualization over various models is observed. In order to conduct the study, the shallow water speed is varied from 0.4 m/s to 0.6 m/s in the test section of water channel which will corresponds to the Froude number, Fr= 2. The water channel results will be finally validated to wind tunnel at Mach number, M=2. The velocity of water channel can be found by tracing the motion of suspended particles over shallow water at defined length and also by the volumetric flow rate. Several tests were conducted over a spike model to understand the flow visualization and videos were captured. The hydraulic jump and divergent angle in the water surface will be observed and validated with the corresponding shock angle in air medium. Failure analysis throughout the constructs are discussed to understand and resolve different problems faced with the specimen, test section along with camera setup. The present setup can be used multiple times for long duration to observe the flow visualization for undergraduate students.