Mean Velocity Data Research Articles

Validation of a commercially available mobile application for velocity-based resistance training.

Velocity-based training (VBT) is commonly used for programming and autoregulation of resistance training. Velocity may also be measured during resistance training to estimate one repetition maximum and monitor fatigue. This study quantifies the validity of Metric VBT, a mobile application that uses camera-vision for measuring barbell range of motion (RoM) and mean velocity during resistance exercises. Twenty-four participants completed back squat and bench press repetitions across various loads. Five mobile devices were placed at varying angles (0, ±10, and ±20°) perpendicular to the participant. The validity of Metric VBT was assessed in comparison to Vicon motion analysis using precision and recall, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman plots. Proportional bias was assessed using linear regression. Metric VBT accurately detected over 95% of repetitions. It showed moderate to substantial agreement with the Vicon system for measuring RoM in both exercises. The average Limits of Agreement (LoA) for RoM across all camera positions were -5.45 to 4.94 cm for squats and -5.80 to 3.55 cm for bench presses. Metric VBT exhibited poor to moderate agreement with the Vicon system for measuring mean velocity. The average LoA for mean velocity were 0.03 to 0.25 m/s for squats and -5.80 to 3.55 m/s for bench presses. A proportional bias was observed, with bias increasing as repetition velocity increased. Metric VBT's wide LoA for measuring RoM and mean velocity highlights significant accuracy concerns, exceeding acceptable levels for practical use. However, for users prioritizing repetition counts over precise RoM or mean velocity data, the application can still provide useful information for monitoring workout volume.

Incipient Motion of Single Shells under Currents in Flume Experiments

Understanding the motion thresholds of shells is important, as shell motion allows the analysis of beach profiles, prevents excessive erosion of the coastline, and helps to resource the use of discarded shells, providing new ideas for the protection of beaches. In this study, the orientational motions and motion thresholds of two types of typical molluscan shells, bivalve and gastropod shells, were investigated by means of flume experiments. The final orientations with the statistically highest number of occurrences during the orientational motions of each shell were used as the initial orientations for the respective threshold flow velocity measurements. The critical Shields parameter and the incipient mean velocity of the flow were used to represent the critical threshold of the motion. The critical Shields parameters for bivalve shells in the convex upward position were overall higher on average than those for gastropod shells. The experimental data showed that the incipient mean flow velocities of bivalve shells in the convex upward position were about 1.4–2.8 times larger than those in the convex downward position. The incipient mean velocity data were regressed to obtain the motion threshold equations applicable to bivalve shells in the convex upward and convex downward positions as well as gastropod shells under different final orientations.

A Computation to Generate 2D and 3D Vector Displacements Using InSAR Ascending and Descending Source Data (Case Studies: Landslides and Earthquake in Indonesia)

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a radar technique to generate map of surface deformation using phase differences acquired at different times. The InSAR technique measures these phase differences in its line of sight (LOS). Regarding LOS projection to a ground coordinate system, the combination of SAR data from ascending and descending can estimate at least two dimensional fields which are vertical and east-west components and three dimensional fields with either an additional motion model or vector displacements from along-track direction. The purpose of this work is to generate 2D and 3D vector displacements from two different InSAR tracks (e.g. ascending and descending) with a calculation programme both for the mean velocity and time series data named as PS DISP. 2D mode is calculated in which the north-south component is neglected due to insensitive along the flight direction, thus, assuming to be zero (0). On the other hand, 3D mode is calculated with an assumption that the northsouth component moves along the elevation downward. The experimental results were conducted for the Puncak Pass and Puncak Highway landslides and the Lombok earthquake in Indonesia. For the landslide study, the computation generated the movement towards the slope surface in the 3D Cartesian coordinate (dU,dE, and dN (psuedo)) and found both the crown body and cumulative zone of the landslide. For the earthquake study, PS DISP decomposed 2D vectors (dU and dE). The area of earthquake rupture was lifted by 42 cm and other northern Lombok areas by 10 - 25 cm. Regarding the west-eastern motion, it shows that the west of northern Lombok was displaced ±5 cm toward the west direction, while the other side to the east direction. Keywords: InSAR, 2D and 3D displacements, slope aspect, ground motion, landslide, earthquake

Differences between elite and sub-elite swimmers in a 100 m breaststroke: a new race analysis approach with time-series velocity data

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to investigate differences in a 100 m breaststroke time-trial between elite and sub-elite swimmers. Elite and sub-elite male swimmers (seven each; 772.1 ± 35.2 and 610.6 ± 24.7 FINA point, respectively) performed 100 m breaststroke, which was recorded by a multi-camera system that provided the mean and time-series velocity data in the glide, pull-out, and clean-swimming segments. The mean velocity in each segment was compared between the groups using an independent-samples t-test (for the 1st lap) and two-way mixed-design ANOVA (for the 2nd—4th laps), which suggested a larger mean clean-swimming (in all laps; 7–11% difference) and glide (in the 2nd and 3rd lap; about 13% difference) velocity for the elite swimmers. The time-series data displayed faster velocity in elite swimmers than in the sub-elite group during the first part (up to 40% time) of the glide segment (p < 0.05). Differences in the clean-swimming segment between the groups were observed (p < 0.001) apart from the first 5–15% time of the segment. No differences in the pull-out and at the beginning of the clean-swimming imply that coaches and swimmers should not assume that a good clean-swimming technique also guarantees fast velocity in these segments.

Near-Field Remote Sensing of Surface Velocity and River Discharge Using Radars and the Probability Concept at 10 U.S. Geological Survey Streamgages

Near-field remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge (discharge) were measured using coherent, continuous wave Doppler and pulsed radars. Traditional streamgaging requires sensors be deployed in the water column; however, near-field remote sensing has the potential to transform streamgaging operations through non-contact methods in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other agencies around the world. To differentiate from satellite or high-altitude platforms, near-field remote sensing is conducted from fixed platforms such as bridges and cable stays. Radar gages were collocated with 10 USGS streamgages in river reaches of varying hydrologic and hydraulic characteristics, where basin size ranged from 381 to 66,200 square kilometers. Radar-derived mean-channel (mean) velocity and discharge were computed using the probability concept and were compared to conventional instantaneous measurements and time series. To test the efficacy of near-field methods, radars were deployed for extended periods of time to capture a range of hydraulic conditions and environmental factors. During the operational phase, continuous time series of surface velocity, radar-derived discharge, and stage-discharge were recorded, computed, and transmitted contemporaneously and continuously in real time every 5 to 15 min. Minimum and maximum surface velocities ranged from 0.30 to 3.84 m per second (m/s); minimum and maximum radar-derived discharges ranged from 0.17 to 4890 cubic meters per second (m3/s); and minimum and maximum stage-discharge ranged from 0.12 to 4950 m3/s. Comparisons between radar and stage-discharge time series were evaluated using goodness-of-fit statistics, which provided a measure of the utility of the probability concept to compute discharge from a singular surface velocity and cross-sectional area relative to conventional methods. Mean velocity and discharge data indicate that velocity radars are highly correlated with conventional methods and are a viable near-field remote sensing technology that can be operationalized to deliver real-time surface velocity, mean velocity, and discharge.

Fluid flow in a diametrally expanded CANDU fuel channel – Part 1: Experimental study

The overall aim of this study is to develop and validate experimental and computational capabilities to provide high-resolution isothermal fluid velocity data for nuclear reactor investigations. The current work presents full-field velocity data in a 1:1 replica of a 37-element CANDU nuclear fuel bundle using the Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry (MRV) measurement technique. The diameter of the pressure tube is 6% larger than at beginning-of-life to simulate the long-term aging process in an actual CANDU nuclear reactor due to diametral creep at end-of-life conditions. In Part 1, the MRV technique is presented with a focus on measurement errors and the estimation of these errors. The three-dimensional, three-component mean velocity field inside the fuel channel, including the subchannel flow between the fuel elements, is provided at a resolution of 0.78 × 0.78 × 0.78 mm3. The MRV data is validated through bulk flow rate calculations and Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements conducted at selected locations inside the flow system. Overall, the deviations in the full-field MRV data are low except for local differences in regions with high convective acceleration and high velocity. The measurement accuracy can be improved by applying newly developed MRV sequences that are insensitive to these effects. In this specific experiment, it is found that up to 35% of the coolant bypasses the fuel bundle in a 6% diametrally expanded pressure tube containing a single bundle. The data is used as a reference for a companion paper (Part 2), which presents a computational fluid dynamics approach using an implicit large eddy simulation. In conclusion, the presented experimental methodology provides accurate full-field mean velocity data in complex channel geometries. More realistic flow experiments in replicas of entire fuel channels can be investigated in detail with relatively little effort and in a short time.

Comprehensive shear stress analysis of turbulent boundary layer profiles

Motivated by the need for accurate determination of wall shear stress from profile measurements in turbulent boundary layer flows, the total shear stress balance is analysed and reformulated using several well-established semi-empirical relations. The analysis highlights the significant effect that small pressure gradients can have on parameters deduced from data even in nominally zero pressure gradient boundary layers. Using the comprehensive shear stress balance together with the log-law equation, it is shown that friction velocity, roughness length and zero-plane displacement can be determined with only velocity and turbulent shear stress profile measurements at a single streamwise location for nominally zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. Application of the proposed analysis to turbulent smooth- and rough-wall experimental data shows that the friction velocity is determined with accuracy comparable to force balances (approximately 1 %–4 %). Additionally, application to boundary layer data from previous studies provides clear evidence that the often cited discrepancy between directly measured friction velocities (e.g. using force balances) and those derived from traditional total shear stress methods is likely due to the small favourable pressure gradient imposed by a fixed cross-section facility. The proposed comprehensive shear stress analysis can account for these small pressure gradients and allows more accurate boundary layer wall shear stress or friction velocity determination using commonly available mean velocity and shear stress profile data from a single streamwise location.

3D MRI measurements of the effects of wind direction on flow characteristics and contaminant dispersion in a model urban canopy

Three dimensional velocity fields and contaminant dispersion within an evenly spaced orthogonal array of cubic buildings (height = H) with a central tall building (height = 3H) were studied to examine the influence of tall buildings and wind orientation within an urban canopy. Mean velocity and contaminant data were collected using magnetic resonance velocimetry and magnetic resonance concentration methods. Two building orientations, each angled at 0° and 45° with respect to the bulk flow, were examined. The single tall building strongly influenced the distribution of the streamwise and vertical mass fluxes in both wind orientations. In particular, the tall building wake strongly influences how mass and momentum are transported downward into the building canopy. The contaminant dispersion pattern was dependent on the size of separation regions behind buildings and the wind orientation relative to the street canyons. A plume of contaminant trailed behind the tall building and was dispersed by the building wake turbulence. This dispersion was more rapid for the 45° wind orientation likely due to the wider wake in this case. The complex mean flow within the canopy plays a major role in controlling ground level dispersion when the wind is not aligned with the street canyons. The relatively simple geometry of the canopy and the detailed full field velocity and concentration data make this an ideal case for testing simulations.

Evaluation of mean velocity and mean speed for test ventilated room from RANS and LES CFD modeling

The paper presents and discusses data for the ventilation airflow in an isothermal room corresponding to the Nielsen et al. (1978) test computed with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approaches. As LES computations provide directly both the speed and velocity components data, the difference between the mean speed and mean velocity values is computed and discussed. For the RANS computations that give the mean velocity data only, application of the velocity-to-speed conversion procedure based on the turbulence kinetic energy field provided by a turbulence model resulted in accurate mean speed evaluation.

Impact of gasoline direct injection fuel injector hole geometry on spray characteristics under flash boiling and ambient conditions

The effect of injector nozzle design on the Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) fuel spray characteristics under atmospheric and flash boiling conditions was investigated using Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) measurements. To understand the impact of hole diameter and conicity, experiments were conducted on two bespoke 3-hole injectors in a pressure and temperature controlled constant volume chamber and in the open air. The measurements were taken radially outward from the injector axis to the outer extent of the plume at distances of 15 mm, 25 mm and 40 mm from the injector tip.Observations of the influence of surrounding gas and temperature conditions and hole design on the injector spray performance were made. Under non-flash boiling conditions, it was found that the injection pressure dictates the length of the spray penetration before collapse occurs, with an increase in pressure resulting in an increase in this length. Comparison of mean velocity and droplet diameter data are also made to understand the performance under flash boiling conditions. Results show that, under flash boiling conditions, the droplet velocity significantly increases while the droplet size reduces. More importantly, it is found that the impact of the flash boiling environment on sprays of different hole geometries is different. Some hole designs offer more resistance against spray collapse. It was found that the mid-sized of the three hole diameters tested here was found to produce a spray that more readily collapsed than that of the smaller or larger hole diameters. In addition, it was found that under flash boiling conditions, the convergent hole had a greater propensity to exhibit spray collapse.

Inter-Laboratory Characterization of the Velocity Field in the FDA Blood Pump Model Using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).

A credible computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model can play a meaningful role in evaluating the safety and performance of medical devices. A key step towards establishing model credibility is to first validate CFD models with benchmark experimental datasets to minimize model-form errors before applying the credibility assessment process to more complex medical devices. However, validation studies to establish benchmark datasets can be cost prohibitive and difficult to perform. The goal of this initiative sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is to generate validation data for a simplified centrifugal pump that mimics blood flow characteristics commonly observed in ventricular assist devices. The centrifugal blood pump model was made from clear acrylic and included an impeller, with four equally spaced, straight blades, supported by mechanical bearings. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements were performed at several locations throughout the pump by three independent laboratories. A standard protocol was developed for the experiments to ensure that the flow conditions were comparable and to minimize systematic errors during PIV image acquisition and processing. Velocity fields were extracted at the pump entrance, blade passage area, back gap region, and at the outlet diffuser regions. A Newtonian blood analog fluid composed of sodium iodide, glycerin, and water was used as the working fluid. Velocity measurements were made for six different pump flow conditions, with the blood-equivalent flow rate ranging between 2.5 and 7 L/min for pump speeds of 2500 and 3500rpm. Mean intra- and inter-laboratory variabilities in velocity were ~ 10% at the majority of the measurement locations inside the pump. However, the inter-laboratory variability increased to more than ~ 30% in the exit diffuser region. The variability between the three laboratories for the peak velocity magnitude in the diffuser region ranged from 5 to 25%. The bulk velocity field near the impeller changed proportionally with the rotational speed but was relatively unaffected by the pump flow rate. In contrast, flow in the exit diffuser region was sensitive to both the flow rate and the rotational speed. Specifically, at 3500rpm, the exit jet tilted toward the inner wall of the diffuser at a flow rate of 2.5 L/min, but the jet tilted towards the outer wall when the flow rate was 7 L/min. Inter-laboratory experimental mean velocity data (and the corresponding variance) were obtained for the FDA pump model and are available for download at https://nciphub.org/wiki/FDA_CFD . Experimental datasets from the inter-laboratory characterization of benchmark flow models, including the blood pump model presented herein and our previous nozzle model, can be used for validating future CFD studies and to collaboratively develop guidelines on best practices for verification, validation, uncertainty quantification, and credibility assessment of CFD simulations in the evaluation of medical devices (e.g. ASME V&V 40 standards working group).

Mean circulation of the Mid-Atlantic Bight from a climatological data assimilative model

The along-shelf momentum balance of the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) coastal ocean includes a significant contribution from the along-shelf gradient in sea level. This sea level tilt, of order 10−7, and other features of the mean sea level are not captured well in global mean dynamic topography (MDT) derived from hydrographic observations or satellite altimetry and gravity data, and is poorly represented in global and basin scale dynamical models. This is problematic for applications that would use coastal satellite altimeter data to estimate total water level above datum. We have produced a MDT for the MAB using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) with 4-dimensional variational (4D-Var) data assimilation configured to obtain climatological annual and monthly mean results. The observations assimilated were a regional hydrographic climatology of temperature and salinity, and long-term mean velocity from HF-radar, shipboard ADCP, and current-meters. Assimilation adjusts the 3-dimensional ocean state, boundary conditions, and air-sea fluxes to minimize the model-data misfit. The assimilation of mean velocity data is vital to obtaining a realistic circulation result. The MDT exhibits a strong across-shelf sea level slope in geostrophic balance with the southwestward mean flow. The subtle along-shelf tilt is recovered and is relatively uniform throughout the MAB inside the 50 m isobath, but on the southern outer shelf it reverses sign and drives significant across-isobath flow, partially draining the southward mean transport. In the north, across-shelf flow is offshore in the surface and bottom Ekman layers, but largely balanced locally by inflow in the interior depth range.

Validity and reliability of the Balance Tracking System during feet together stance

Laboratory and clinical measures of postural control are commonly used in the diagnosis of concussion. A novel instrument, the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS), has similar instrumentation to a force platform (FP), with greater portability and reduced cost. The purpose was to evaluate the concurrent validity of derived center of pressure (CoP) excursion and mean velocity for the raw CoP coordinates produced by the BTrackS and FP during feet together quiet upright stance. Participants stood on the BTrackS and FP at two time points. The BTrackS excursion values were significantly lower than the FP values at both time points but the devices CoP excursion values were strongly related at both time points and in all conditions. For mean velocity data, there were no significant differences between the devices at any time point. The BTrackS had excellent test–retest reliability over time in all conditions for both the excursion and mean velocity data.

Computational study of turbulent flow interaction between twin rectangular jets

Turbulent jets are commonly used in engineering applications. Systems of multiple parallel jets have an important flow structure that could accomplish rapid and efficient mixing. The mixing feature of parallel jets has several engineering applications, such as its application in Generation IV very-high-temperature nuclear reactors, where the coolants merge in the upper or lower plenum after passing through the reactor core. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are extensively employed in the study of the mixing phenomenon of parallel jets. Therefore, the validation of various turbulence models is of great importance to the process of ensuring that the numerical results are trustworthy and that they serve as a guide for future designs.In this study, an open source CFD library, namely OpenFOAM, was utilized to conduct the numerical simulation of the twinjets. This work consists of two parts; one part focuses on steady-state simulations, and the other on transient simulations. In the first part, the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models, such as the realizable k–ε and the shear stress transport (SST) k–ω, were used for the steady-state validation study. Steady-state simulations showed that with proper boundary conditions at the inlets, the mean velocity data agreed with the experimental data well within an engineering accuracy (14%). In the second part, the partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) models were implemented in the code, and were utilized to conduct transient simulations. Experimental fluctuating inlet boundary conditions were employed. The results obtained from the PANS and the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) models were compared with the experimental data. The PANS model presented good agreement in terms of the merging point (4.3%). In addition, the k–ε PANS model was compared with the k–ε URANS model. Power spectrum density (PSD) analysis was performed based on the velocity at four sample locations to compare resolved frequencies between the PANS and the URANS models. It was observed that PANS model presented better capabilities in resolving higher turbulence flow frequencies compared with the URANS, based on the PSD analysis.

The Force-Velocity Relationship in Older People: Reliability and Validity of a Systematic Procedure.

This study compared the reliability and validity of different protocols evaluating the force-velocity (F-V) relationship and muscle power in older adults. Thirty-one older men and women (75.8±4.7 years) underwent two F-V tests by collecting the mean and peak force and velocity data exerted against increasing loads until one repetition maximum (1RM) was achieved in the leg press exercise. Two attempts per load were performed, with a third attempt when F-V points deviated from the linear F-V regression equation. Then, the subjects performed 2×3 repetitions at 60% 1RM to compare purely concentric and eccentric-concentric repetitions. The Short Physical Performance Battery was conducted to assess the validity of the different protocols. Significant differences were found in maximal power (Pmax) between mean and peak values and between protocols differing in the number of attempts per load (p<0.01). Registering mean values, a third attempt, and multiple loads (>3), was significantly more reliable (Pmax: CV=2.6%; ICC=0.99) than the other alternatives. Mean values were also observed to be more associated with physical function than peak values (R2=0.34 and 0.15, respectively; p<0.05). No significant differences were observed between concentric and eccentric-concentric repetitions. Thus, collecting mean force and velocity values against multiple loads, while monitoring the linearity of the F-V relationship, seemed to be the more adequate procedure to assess the F-V profile and muscle power in older adults.

An experimental and LES comparison of water- and air-based swirling flow test rigs in vertical and horizontal configurations

A 2D PIV experiment was carried out on the confined swirling flow and compared with simulation results. Simulations were performed using Star CCM+ commercial software. The LES WALE method of air and water was used to investigate the effect of working fluid on the swirling flow field. A second comparison was conducted to study the gravitational effects on the swirling flow. Velocity analyses were performed by extracting the mean velocity data, and FFT analysis was conducted on the instantaneous flow field of axial and pressure distribution. In general, good agreements were obtained using the experimental data; interestingly, the air simulation showed relatively higher performance in terms of predicting the asymmetric behavior of the flow. Energy cascade was studied at two different points, which indicated a similar tendency between air and water, with a slight shift of 0.1 Strouhal number in terms of dominant frequencies. The discrepancy of the CRZ and CTRZ formation was found to be of minor degree due to changes in the working fluid or the gravitational effect. Thus, a conclusion was made regarding whether applying water instead of air or altering the vertical test rigs affects the structure of the flow.

A modified log-law of flow velocity distribution in partly obstructed open channels

Flow through rigid and emergent/submerged cylinder arrays are commonly found in several engineering application such as offshore structures, transmission lines, chimneys, array of silos and field array of trees. Various hydrodynamic phenomena may be occurring in the interaction between a flowing fluid and these structures. In this manuscript we focus on the study of flow structures in a channel partially obstructed by an array of equi-spaced, vertical, rigid, emergent, circular steel cylinders. Experimental results show that the presence of the cylinders array strongly affects the flow velocity distribution, forming a transversal sharp transition region at the interface between the obstructed and the unobstructed domains. At the interface, for the current and previous studies, it was observed that the flow distribution always resembles a boundary layer feature. This similarity in feature of the flow distribution as a boundary layer has led to adapting the universal law of the wall to describe the transversal profile of the mean flow velocity, considering, by analogy, the interface separating both domains as a virtual wall. The specific objectives addressed in this study is to propose and validate a new modified log-law predicting the representative transversal profile of the mean flow velocity at the interface between the obstructed and the unobstructed domains. The proposed analytical model is validated by a series of experiments carried out on a very large rectangular channel in the Department of Civil, Environmental, Building Engineering and Chemistry of the Technical University of Bari—Italy. The three-dimensional flow velocity components were measured using a 3D Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter ADV. As a result, it is observed that the measured and the predicted, applying the proposed modified log-law, mean flow velocity data have a perfect matching between them. Moreover, in the second part of the paper, detailed observations on the flow turbulence structure are analyzed and discussed.

CFD simulation of wind flow over natural complex terrain: Case study with validation by field measurements for Ria de Ferrol, Galicia, Spain

Accurate and reliable Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of wind flow over natural complex terrain are important for a wide range of applications including dispersion of pollutants, wind energy resource assessment and ship manoeuvring in channels and near harbours. In the past 50 years, a very large number of CFD studies of wind flow over hills have been performed. However, a detailed review of the literature shows a lack of CFD studies including validation by field measurements for natural complex terrain beyond the case of isolated hills. Therefore, this paper presents a CFD study with field measurement validation for natural complex terrain that consists of an irregular succession of hills and valleys surrounding a narrow entrance channel. The aim of the study is twofold: (1) to evaluate the accuracy of 3D steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations with a revised k–ε model for calculating mean wind-velocity patterns over this type of natural complex terrain; and (2) to provide mean velocity data that can be used as input for real-time ship manoeuvring simulations to evaluate accessing the LNG terminal with larger LNG carriers. The irregular hilly terrain is expected to yield complex wind environmental conditions in the channel and complex forces on the LNG carriers. The study focuses on high wind speed conditions, for which the atmospheric boundary layer exhibits neutral stratification. The simulations are performed with 3D steady RANS and the realisable k–ε model for 12 wind directions. Special attention is given to surface roughness parameterisation and specification. The simulation results of mean wind speed and wind direction are generally within 10–20% of the corresponding measurement values. The results show that for wind directions 60° and 90°, the funnelling effect leads to an increase of wind speed in the channel compared to the wind speed over open sea. For other wind directions, the topography leads to a reduction of the wind speed in the channel, but also to strong wind speed gradients along the channel axis, which are important for ship manoeuvring. The study shows that for the present application, the 3D steady RANS approach with the realisable k–ε model can provide an accurate assessment of the complex mean wind-flow patterns and the funnelling effect by the natural complex topography on the wind.

Unsteady Numerical Simulation of Flow in Draft Tube of a Hydroturbine Operating Under Various Conditions Using a Partially Averaged Navier–Stokes Model

The variable energy demand requires a great flexibility in operating a hydroturbine, which forces the machine to be operated far from its design point. One of the main components of a hydroturbine where undesirable flow phenomena occur under off-design conditions is the draft tube. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the present paper studies the flow in the draft tube of a Francis turbine operating under various conditions. Specifically, four operating points with the same head and different flow rates corresponding to 70%, 91%, 99%, and 110% of the flow rate at the best efficiency point (BEP) are considered. Unsteady numerical simulations are performed using a recently developed partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) turbulence model, and the results are compared to the available experimental data, as well as the numerical results of the traditionally used Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models. Several parameters including the pressure recovery coefficient, mean velocity, and time-averaged and fluctuating wall pressure are investigated. It is shown that RANS and PANS both can predict the flow behavior close to the BEP operating condition. However, RANS results deviate considerably from the experimental data as the operating condition moves away from the BEP. The pressure recovery factor predicted by the RANS model shows more than 13% and 58% overprediction when the flow rate decreases to 91% and 70% of the flow rate at BEP, respectively. Predictions can be improved significantly using the present unsteady PANS simulations. Specifically, the pressure recovery factor is predicted by less than 4% and 6% deviation for these two operating conditions. A similar conclusion is reached from the analysis of the mean velocity and wall pressure data. Using unsteady PANS simulations, several transient features of the draft tube flow including the vortex rope and associated pressure fluctuations are successfully modeled. The formation of the vortex rope in partial load conditions results in severe pressure fluctuations exerting oscillatory forces on the draft tube. These pressure fluctuations are studied for several locations in the draft tube and the critical region with highest fluctuation amplitude is found to be the inner side of the elbow.

Reprint of: A multiphase, micro-scale PIV measurement technique for liquid film velocity measurements in annular two-phase flow

Prediction methods for two-phase annular flow require accurate knowledge of the velocity profile within the liquid film flowing at its perimeter as the gradients within this film influence to a large extent the overall transport processes within the entire channel. This film, however, is quite thin and variable and traditional velocimetry methods have met with only very limited success in providing velocity data. The present work describes the application of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to the measurement of velocity fields in the annular liquid flow. Because the liquid is constrained to distances on the order of a millimeter or less, the technique employed here borrows strategies from micro-PIV, but micro-PIV studies do not typically encounter the challenges presented by annular flow, including very large velocity gradients, a free surface that varies in position from moment to moment, the presence of droplet impacts and the passage of waves that can be 10 times the average thickness of the base film. This technique combines the seeding and imaging typical to micro-PIV with a unique lighting and image processing approach to deal with the challenges of a continuously varying liquid film thickness and interface. Mean velocity data are presented for air–water in two-phase co-current upward flow in a rectangular duct, which are the first detailed velocity profiles obtained within the liquid film of upward vertical annular flow to the authors’ knowledge. The velocity data presented here do not distinguish between data from waves and data from the base film. The resulting velocity profiles are compared with the classical Law of the Wall turbulent boundary layer model and found to require a decreased turbulent diffusivity for the model to predict well. These results agree with hypotheses previously presented in the literature.