Disturbed Flow Conditions Research Articles

ANAEROBIC BIOFILM REACTOR MODELING FOCUSED ON HYDRODYNAMICS

This work deals with an experimental and theoretical investigation of anaerobic biofilm reactors for treating wastewaters. Bioreactors are modeled as dynamic (gas-solid–liquid) three-phase systems. The anaerobic digestion model proposed by Angelidaki et al. (1999) was selected to describe the substrate degradation scheme and was applied to a biofilm system. The experimental setup consists of two mesophilic (36°±1°C) lab-scale anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs) with sand as inert support for biofilm development. The experimental protocol is based on step-type disturbances applied on the inlet substrate concentration (glucose and acetate-based feeding) and on the feed flow rate considering the criterion of maximum efficiency. The predicted and measured responses of biological and hydrodynamic variables are investigated. Experimental data were used to estimate empirical values of biofilm detachment coefficients. Under the evaluated operating conditions, the proposed model for biofilm detachment rate, assumed as a first-order function of the energy dissipation parameter, is appropriate to represent the interaction between biofilm systems and fluidization characteristics in non-highly disturbed flow conditions. Model validation was carried out using the experimental data reported by Mussati et al. (2006). The results do not differ from those above. This seems to indicate that the proposed AFBR model is able to reproduce the main biological and hydrodynamic successes in the bioreactor.

Advanced models for erosion corrosion and its mitigation

AbstractErosion corrosion, i.e., flow‐induced localized corrosion (FILC) is initiated when flow dynamic forces surpass the fracture energy of protective layers or scales on metals. With a new model the maximum interaction energies between flowing media and solid walls can be quantified in terms of “freak” energy densities created during singular events (freak events) of perpendicular impacts by near‐wall microturbulence elements. The freak energy densities are in the megaPascal range and match well in the order of magnitude with fracture energies of protective layers and can be estimated from Wavelet diagnostics of electrochemical current noise measured at microelectrodes under mass transport controlled conditions. This solves the problem that wall shear stresses, generally used to quantify critical flow intensities for FILC initiation, range several orders of magnitude (Pa range) below the fracture energies of protective layers. The new advanced model allows for the first time to quantify the maximum fluid dynamic forces exerted on solid walls under different turbulent and disturbed flow conditions (one‐phase liquid flow on jet impinged surfaces and on coupons in rotated cages, surfaces impacted by slug flow and gas‐pulsed impinging jets). Drag reducing additives were shown to reduce freak energy densities to values significantly below fracture energies of protective layers and hence inhibit initiation of FILC. The onset of FILC can be monitored online with the newly developed CoulCount method, an easy‐to‐use, non‐invasive diagnostic tool which evaluates electrochemical current noise between jet impinged electrode pairs made from the metals to be tested.

Methodology for developing a high-precision ultrasound flow meter and fluid velocity profile reconstruction

This article reports the methodology used to develop a high-precision ultrasound transit time flow meter dedicated to liquid hydrocarbons. This kind of flow meter is designed for custody transfer applications requiring accuracy better than 0.15% of reading. We focus here on certain specific points to achieve this accuracy. The transit time method needs to estimate accurately the time delay between signals received by a pair of transducers. In this study, we review different ways of estimating this time delay. We also propose a specific configuration of the flow meter paths. In particular, this configuration compensates for the swirl phenomenon, which has a significant impact on the accuracy of the flow meter. We also propose a theoretical parametric profile to reconstruct the fluid velocity profile in order to perform in situ diagnosis of the flow. The parameters of the model are estimated from the measurements of the flow meter. Simulations and experimental results showed that this method provides characterization of the flow in disturbed and undisturbed flow conditions.

Accumulation of immune cells and high expression of chemokines/chemokine receptors in the upstream shoulder of atherosclerotic carotid plaques

The presence of immune cells is important for plaque destabilization. Disturbed flow conditions were shown to enhance the recruitment of circulating immune cells. Thus, we analyzed in 54 atherosclerotic carotid plaques the frequency of different immune cells, HLA-DR, chemokines, and chemokine receptors, comparing the upstream with the downstream plaque shoulder. The presence of neovascularization and intraplaque hemorrhages was investigated by CD34 immunostaining and Mallory's iron stain. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect smooth muscle cells (SMC: actin), macrophages (CD68), T cells (CD3), dendritic cells (DC: fascin), mature DC (CD83), and the expression of HLA-DR, chemokine receptors (CCR-2, CCR-6), and chemokines (MCP-1, MIP-3α). Significantly more SMC were detected downstream than upstream ( p < 0.001). In contrast, significantly more macrophages ( p = 0.01), DC ( p = 0.03), mature DC ( p = 0.007), and a higher expression of HLA-DR ( p = 0.004), CCR-2 ( p = 0.002), CCR-6 ( p < 0.001), MCP-1 ( p = 0.04), and MIP-3α ( p = NS) were observed upstream than downstream. Immune cells were strongly associated with neovascularization. The abundance of SMC downstream provides an explanation for distal plaque growth. Enhanced recruitment of immune cells through neovessels into the upstream shoulder might be contributing to plaque destabilization.

Expression of cathepsin K is regulated by shear stress in cultured endothelial cells and is increased in endothelium in human atherosclerosis

Cathepsins, the lysosomal cysteine proteases, are involved in vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis. Genetic knockout of cathepsins S and K in mice has shown to reduce atherosclerosis, although the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Because atherosclerosis preferentially occurs in arteries exposed to disturbed flow conditions, we hypothesized that shear stress would regulate cathepsin K expression and activity in endothelial cells. Mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAEC) exposed to proatherogenic oscillatory shear (OS, +/- 5 dyn/cm(2) for 1 day) showed significantly higher cathepsin K expression and activity than that of atheroprotective, unidirectional laminar shear stress (LS, 15 dyn/cm(2) for 1 day). Western blot and active-site labeling studies showed an active, mature form of cathepsin K in the conditioned medium of MAEC exposed to OS but not in that of LS. Functionally, MAEC exposed to OS significantly increased elastase and gelatinase activity above that of LS. The OS-dependent elastase and gelatinase activities were significantly reduced by knocking down cathepsin K with small-interfering (si) RNA, but not by a nonsilencing siRNA control, suggesting that cathepsin K is a shear-sensitive protease. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of atherosclerotic human coronary arteries showed a positive correlation between the cathepsin K expression levels in endothelium and elastic lamina integrity. These findings suggest that cathepsin K is a mechanosensitive, extracellular matrix protease that, in turn, may be involved in arterial wall remodeling and atherosclerosis.

Role of NADPH Oxidases in Disturbed Flow- and BMP4- Induced Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, occurring preferentially in branched or curved arterial regions exposed to disturbed flow conditions including oscillatory shear stress (OS). In contrast, straight portions exposed to undisturbed laminar shear stress (LS) are relatively lesion free. The opposite effects of atheroprotective LS and proatherogenic OS are likely to be determined by differential expression of genes and proteins, including redox regulating factors. OS induces inflammation via mechanisms involving increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from the NADPH oxidases. Through a transcript profiling study and subsequent verification and functional studies, the authors discovered that OS induces inflammation by producing bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) in endothelial cells. BMP4 stimulates expression and activity of NADPH oxidase requiring p47phox and Nox-1 in an autocrine-like manner. The NADPH oxidase activation by BMP4 then leads to ROS production, NF-kappaB activation, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression, and subsequent increased monocyte adhesivity of endothelial cells. It is proposed that endothelial NADPH oxidases play a critical role in disturbed flow- and BMP4-dependent inflammation, which is the critical early atherogenic response occurring in atheroprone areas. This emerging field of shear stress, BMP4, NADPH oxidases, inflammation, and atherosclerosis is reviewed.

Bone Morphogenic Protein-4 Induces Hypertension in Mice

Recent in vitro studies have shown that disturbed flow and oxidative conditions induce the expression of bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs 2 and 4) in cultured endothelial cells. BMPs can stimulate superoxide production and inflammatory responses in endothelial cells, raising the possibility that BMPs may play a role in vascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that BMP4 would induce hypertension in intact animals by increasing superoxide production from vascular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases and an impairment of vasodilation responses. BMP4 infusion by osmotic pumps increased systolic blood pressure in a time- and dose-dependent manner in both C57BL/6 mice (from 101 to 125 mm Hg) and apolipoprotein E-null mice (from 107 to 146 mm Hg) after 4 weeks. Cotreatment with the BMP antagonist noggin or the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin completely blocked the BMP4 effect. In addition, BMP4 infusion stimulated aortic NADPH oxidase activity and impaired vasorelaxation, both of which were prevented either by coinfusing noggin or by treating the isolated aortas with apocynin. BMP4, however, did not cause significant changes in maximum relaxation induced by the endothelium-independent vasodilator nitroglycerin. Remarkably, BMP4 infusion failed to stimulate aortic NADPH oxidases, increase blood pressure, and impair vasodilation responses in p47phox-deficient mice. These results suggest that BMP4 infusion induces hypertension in mice in a vascular NADPH oxidase-dependent manner and the subsequent endothelial dysfunction. We suggest that BMP4 is a novel mediator of endothelial dysfunction and hypertension and that noggin and its analogs could be used as therapeutic agents for treating vascular diseases.

Unsteady 2-D flow field characteristics for perforated plates with a splitter

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted under highly turbulent and disturbed flow conditions over a solid/perforated plate with a long splitter plate in its plane of symmetry. The effect of varied level of perforation of the normal plate on fluctuating velocities and fluctuating pressures measured across and along the separation bubble was studied. The different perforation levels of the normal plate; that is 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% are studied. The Reynolds number based on step height was varied from <TEX>$4{\times}10^3$</TEX> to <TEX>$1.2{\times}10^4$</TEX>. The shape and size of the bubble vary with different perforation level of the normal plate that is to say the bubble is reduced both in height and length up to 30% perforation level. For higher perforation of the normal plate, bubble is completely swept out. The peak turbulence value occurs around 0.7 to 0.8 times the reattachment length. The turbulence intensity values are highest for the case of solid normal plate (bleed air is absent) and are lowest for the case of 50% perforation of the normal plate (bleed air is maximum in the present study). From the analysis of data it is observed that <TEX>$\sqrt{\overline{u^{{\prime}2}}}/(\sqrt{\overline{u^{{\prime}2}}})_{max}$</TEX>, (the ratio of RMS velocity fluctuation to maximum RMS velocity fluctuation), is uniquely related with dimensionless distance y/Y', (the ratio of distance normal to splitter plate to the distance where RMS velocity fluctuation is half its maximum value) for all the perforated normal plates. It is interesting to note that for 50% perforation of the normal plate, the RMS pressure fluctuation in the flow field gets reduced to around 60% as compared to that for solid normal plate. Analysis of the results show that the ratio [<TEX>$C^{\prime}_p$</TEX> max/<TEX>$-C_{pb}(1-{\eta})$</TEX>], where <TEX>$C^{\prime}_p$</TEX> max is the maximum coefficient of fluctuating pressure, <TEX>$C_{pb}$</TEX> is the coefficient of base pressure and <TEX>${\eta}$</TEX> is the perforation level (ratio of open to total area), for surface RMS pressure fluctuation levels seems to be constant and has value of about 0.22. Similar analysis show that the ratio <TEX>$[C^{\prime}_p$</TEX> max/<TEX>$-C_{pb}(1-{\eta})]$</TEX> for flow field RMS pressure fluctuation levels seems to be constant and has a value of about 0.32.

Bone morphogenic protein 4 produced in endothelial cells by oscillatory shear stress induces monocyte adhesion by stimulating reactive oxygen species production from a nox1-based NADPH oxidase.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease occurring preferentially in arterial regions exposed to disturbed flow conditions including oscillatory shear stress (OS). OS exposure induces endothelial expression of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), which in turn may activate intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and monocyte adhesion. OS is also known to induce monocyte adhesion by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) from reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases, raising the possibility that BMP4 may stimulate the inflammatory response by ROS-dependent mechanisms. Here we show that ROS scavengers blocked ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion induced by BMP4 or OS in endothelial cells (ECs). Similar to OS, BMP4 stimulated H2O2 and O2- production in ECs. Next, we used ECs obtained from p47phox-/- mice (MAE-p47-/-), which do not produce ROS in response to OS, to determine the role of NADPH oxidases. Similar to OS, BMP4 failed to induce monocyte adhesion in MAE-p47-/-, but it was restored when the cells were transfected with p47phox plasmid. Moreover, OS-induced O2- production was blocked by noggin (a BMP antagonist), suggesting a role for BMP. Furthermore, OS increased gp91phox (nox2) and nox1 mRNA levels while decreasing nox4. In contrast, BMP4 induced nox1 mRNA expression, whereas nox2 and nox4 were decreased or not affected, respectively. Also, OS-induced monocyte adhesion was blocked by knocking down nox1 with the small interfering RNA (siRNA). Finally, BMP4 siRNA inhibited OS-induced ROS production and monocyte adhesion. Together, these results suggest that BMP4 produced in ECs by OS stimulates ROS release from the nox1-dependent NADPH oxidase leading to inflammation, a critical early atherogenic step.

Gene expression profiling of vascular endothelial cells exposed to fluid mechanical forces: relevance for focal susceptibility to atherosclerosis.

Gene expression profiling has revealed that cultured vascular endothelial cells (EC) respond to fluid mechanical forces by modulating the mRNA level of a large number of genes. However, differences between the gene arrays and the experimental conditions employed by different researchers make comparison between data sets difficult, and limit the interpretation of the results. Despite these problems, analysis of recent data indicates that the transcriptional response of cultured EC to low-shear disturbed flow conditions similar to those at atherosclerosis-prone areas is distinct from that elicited by atheroprotective high shear laminar flow, providing a molecular basis for the focal nature of atherosclerosis. Many of the genes altered by disturbed flow are involved in key biological processes relevant to atherosclerosis such as inflammation, cell cycle control, apoptosis, thrombosis and oxidative stress. Overall, the gene expression profiling data are consistent with the hypothesis of the hemodynamic etiology of atherosclerotic predilection, viz that at predilected areas in vivo the presence of low shear, non-laminar flow is sufficient to induce a gene expression profile that pre-disposes the endothelium to the initiation and development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Bone Morphogenic Protein 4 Produced in Endothelial Cells by Oscillatory Shear Stress Stimulates an Inflammatory Response

Atherosclerosis is now viewed as an inflammatory disease occurring preferentially in arterial regions exposed to disturbed flow conditions, including oscillatory shear stress (OS), in branched arteries. In contrast, the arterial regions exposed to laminar shear (LS) are relatively lesion-free. The mechanisms underlying the opposite effects of OS and LS on the inflammatory and atherogenic processes are not clearly understood. Here, through DNA microarrays, protein expression, and functional studies, we identify bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) as a mechanosensitive and pro-inflammatory gene product. Exposing endothelial cells to OS increased BMP4 protein expression, whereas LS decreased it. In addition, we found BMP4 expression only in the selective patches of endothelial cells overlying foam cell lesions in human coronary arteries. The same endothelial patches also expressed higher levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein compared with those of non-diseased areas. Functionally, we show that OS and BMP4 induced ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion by a NFkappaB-dependent mechanism. We suggest that BMP4 is a mechanosensitive, inflammatory factor playing a critical role in early steps of atherogenesis in the lesion-prone areas.

Development and application of a novel technique for direct heat flux measurements in turbomachinery flows

The high performance and efficiency of modern gas turbines are only possible with temperatures inside the engine exceeding the allowed material temperatures in some areas by several hundred degrees. Therefore effective cooling methods are one of the key factors for the success of these engines. In order to achieve reliable predictions of the heat load of rotor or stator blades numerous research activities were performed to understand the nature of heat transfer in complex unsteady flows. Even numerical methods have made significant progress in recent years detailed experimental data are still necessary for validation and further development of the engines and the design tools. Here a new method to directly measure the heat flux $${\dot q}$$ at the material surface and accurately determine the heat transfer coefficienth is presented. The new sensor is based on the anisotropic characteristics of single crystals and allows the determination of the time varying heat flux on the surface of a model turbine airfoil. This feature is of special interest to study the influence of periodically disturbed flow conditions on the heat transfer characteristics of cooled turbine blades. The working principle of an anisotropic heat flux (AHF) sensor is briefly described together with the design of the actual sensor used in this study. Prior to the application of the sensor in a cascade test rig, comprehensive test of the sensor, the electronics and the data acquisition system were performed using a pulsed laser beam as heat source. To test the sensor under realistic conditions a large number of sensor was installed in a test blade and heat transfer measurements were performed in a cascade test rig equipped with a spoke-wheel wake generator. The results showed good agreement in the time mean results compared with standard techniques. Additionally time resolved data could be extracted from the sensor signals providing detailed information on the unsteady heat transfer characteristics and boundary layer development.

Two-dimensional flow field behind perforated plates on a flat surface

The wind tunnel experiments were conducted under highly turbulent and disturbed flow conditions over a solid/perforated plate with a long splitter plate in its plane of symmetry. The effect of plate perforation on the formation of separation bubble and its gradual disappearance was studied. The mean velocity measurements and surface mean pressure distributions were measured after preliminary flow visualization studies. The normal plate perforation level was varied from 0%–50% to give different levels of fluid interaction into the otherwise stable bubble that exists for a solid normal plate (0% perforation level). The Reynolds number based on step height was varied from 4×10 3 to 1.2×10 4. The reattachment length was obtained by a flow visualization technique, total pressure probe and shear velocity plots. Of all the three methods adopted the flow visualization method is simpler and gives better results. Mean pressures were found to be strongly dependent on perforation level of the normal plate. The shape and size of the bubble gets reduced both in height and length up to 30% perforation level. For higher perforation of the normal plate the bubble is completely swept out.

Testing for Erosion-Corrosion Under Disturbed Flow Conditions Using a Rotating Cylinder with a Stepped Surface

Abstract Erosion-corrosion is most severe in the vicinity of flow disturbances. In the past, erosion-corrosion under disturbed flow conditions has been studied experimentally in flow loops and numerically by performing flow simulations. In this study, a new, compact experimental setup was tested, intended for the study of erosion-corrosion under disturbed flow conditions, involving a rotating cylinder geometry with a sudden step. A thorough characterization of this new setup was initiated, involving wall mass-transfer measurements complemented with direct numerical simulation of the turbulent flow around it. A large variation of the wall mass-transfer rates behind the step was measured, similar in character to the one obtained in flow through a sudden pipe expansion. Flow simulations have confirmed that this flow geometry will create a qualitatively similar mean flow pattern as observed in a sudden pipe expansion flow involving flow separation and reattachment. Simulations also have shown that there is a ...

Acoustic discharge measurements for the performance testing of low-head hydroelectric turbines under disturbed flow conditions

Field performance testing of a low-head hydroelectric turbine is essential to evaluate the efficiency and economics of an operation. For low-head hydroelectric turbines, it is difficult to accurately measure the discharge through a unit. Transit-time velocity measurement technology has recently been used to develop, in a laboratory setting, a unique traversing acoustic discharge meter for low-head hydroelectric applications. This technology was recently combined with Gauss-Legendre quadrature integration as an alternative method of measuring the flow through a low-head hydroelectric turbine. However, laboratory testing of this technology has only dealt with undisturbed or ideal flow conditions. Additional physical modeling has been performed to compare the relative accuracy of the continuous traversing acoustic discharge meter with that of a multilevel Gauss-Legendre quadrature integration in disturbed or nonideal flow conditions. The data indicate that while Gauss-Legendre quadrature may provide more accurate estimates in ideal flow conditions, the continuous traversing acoustic discharge meter is better suited to disturbed flow condition because it can better resolve an intricate velocity profile. The accuracy of this instrumentation is sensitive to relatively large scale vorticity rotating in the plane of the acoustic transducers, although accuracies within 2% are still attainable, which is better than the conventional velocity-area method. Key words: acoustic discharge measurement, disturbed flow, turbine, performance testing.

Acoustic discharge measurements for the performance testing of low-head hydroelectric turbines under disturbed flow conditions

Acoustic discharge measurements for the performance testing of low-head hydroelectric turbines under disturbed flow conditions

Model studies of the flow in abdominal aortic aneurysms during resting and exercise conditions

Pulsatile flow in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models has been examined in order to understand the hemodynamics that may contribute to growth of an AAA. The model studies were conducted by experiments (flow visualization and laser Doppler velocimetry) and by numerical simulation using physiologically realistic resting and exercise flow conditions. We characterize the flow for two AAA model shapes and sizes emulating early AAA development through moderate AAA growth (mean and peak Reynolds numbers of 362< Re mean <1053 and 3308< Re peak <5696 with Womersley parameter 16.4< α<21.2). The results of our investigation indicate that AAA flow can be divided into three flow regimes: (i) Attached flow over the entire cycle in small AAAs at resting conditions, (ii) vortex formation and translation in moderate size AAAs at resting conditions, and (iii) vortex formation, translation and turbulence in moderate size AAAs under exercise conditions. The second two regimes are classified in the medical literature as disturbed flow conditions that have been correlated with atherogenesis as well as thrombogenesis. Thus, AAA disturbed hemodynamics may be a contributing factor to AAA growth by accelerating the degeneration of the arterial wall. Our investigation also concluded that vortex development is considerably weaker in an asymmetric AAA. Furthermore, turbulence was not observed in the asymmetric model. Finally, our investigation suggests a new mode of transition to turbulence: vortex ring instability and bursting to turbulence. The transition process depends on a combination of the pulsatile flow conditions and the tube cross-sectional area change.

Disturbed Flow and Flow-Accelerated Corrosion in Oil and Gas Production

The effect of fluid flow on corrosion of steel in oil and gas environments involves a complex interaction of physical and chemical parameters. The basic requirement for any corrosion to occur is the existence of liquid water contacting the pipe wall, which is primarily controlled by the flow regime. The effect of flow on corrosion, or flow-accelerated corrosion, is defined by the mass transfer and wall shear stress parameters existing in the water phase that contacts the pipe wall. While existing fluid flow equations for mass transfer and wall shear stress relate to equilibrium conditions, disturbed flow introduces nonequilibrium, steady-state conditions not addressed by these equations, and corrosion testing in equilibrium conditions cannot be effectively related to corrosion in disturbed flow. The problem in relating flow effects to corrosion is that steel corrosion failures in oil and gas environments are normally associated with disturbed flow conditions as a result of weld beads, pre-existing pits, bends, flanges, valves, tubing connections, etc. Steady-state mass transfer and wall shear stress relationships to steel corrosion and corrosion testing are required for their application to corrosion of steel under disturbed flow conditions. A procedure is described to relate the results of a corrosion test directly to corrosion in an operation system where disturbed flow conditions are expected, or must be considered.

Shear stress gradients remodel endothelial monolayers in vitro via a cell proliferation-migration-loss cycle.

Wall shear stress has been implicated in the genesis of atherosclerosis because a strong correlation exists between the location of developing arterial lesions and regions where particular gradients in stress occur. Studying the behavior of endothelial cells in such regions may contribute to our understanding of the disease etiology. We report the detailed migratory history of endothelial cells subjected to large shear stress gradients caused by a surface protuberance in an in vitro model system. The history of cell migration, cell division, and cell loss from the surface was continuously monitored in confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers for 48 hours after the onset of flow. Individual cells were tracked using time-lapse video microscopy. In contrast to a uniform laminar flow field in which cells were observed to continually rearrange their relative position with no net migration, in a disturbed flow field there was a net migration directed away from the region of high shear gradient. This organized migration pattern under disturbed flow conditions was accompanied by more than a twofold increase in cell motility. In addition, cell division increased in the vicinity of the flow separation (maximum shear stress gradient of 34 dyne/cm2 per mm) whereas cell loss was increased upstream and downstream in the regions where the shear gradient diminishes. These data suggest a steady cell proliferation-migration-loss cycle and indicate that local shear stress gradient may play a key role in the morphological remodeling of the vascular endothelium in vivo.

An experimental investigation of flow fields downstream of solid and porous fences

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted under highly turbulent and disturbed flow conditions over a bluff/porous plate with a long splitter plate in its plane of symmetry. The effect of plate porosity on fluctuating pressures measured across and along the separation bubble was studied. In addition to fluctuating pressures, mean-velocity measurements and surface mean-pressure distributions were measured after preliminary flow visualization studies. The Reynolds number based on the width of the two-dimensional body was 2.4 × 104. Mean pressures were found to be strongly dependent on porosity. The study also showed that both at the surface and within the flow, the fluctuating pressures showed significant dependence on the porosity of the forebody. A 60% porous fence was found to reduce the fluctuating pressures in the flow field by about 50% in contrast to a solid fence. The results presented in this paper are a part of an ongoing experimental investigation undertaken on solid and porous fences.