Particle Image Velocimetry Technique Research Articles

Particle image velocimetry analysis of the protective layer in embankment dams

The growing requirement imposed by dam safety regulations and guidelines necessitates the improvement and rehabilitation of rockfill embankment dams. These hydraulic structures are of great importance, and they can be subjected to overtopping flows which can significantly compromise the structural integrity. One of the defense mechanisms utilized is the placement of riprap on the downstream shoulder of the dam. This article explores eight experimental tests comprising of four different dam model configurations and investigates the possibility of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques to explore the characteristics of the protective riprap layer, such as breach initiation, failure mechanism, and velocity pattern. The models varied from full to half dam profiles, constituted of placed or dumped riprap, with or without downstream toe support, and with or without downstream shell material. Leveraging the PIV technique, the study provides insight into the area of breach initiation within riprap protection on the downstream shoulder of rockfill embankment dams and thus breach initiation of protected rockfill dams. The study brings to light that for models with placed riprap, the initiation occurs simultaneously at the top and the bottom of the protective layer confirming the assertions made in prior studies regarding a failure mechanism marked by a sliding process. The study further confirms that for structures with toe support, the breach initiation occurs at the top of the protective layer. This analysis also revealed that in the case of dumped riprap, the precise position of the breach initiation was indeterminate. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that there is a significant drop in the velocity readings at the downstream section of the riprap layer when supported by a toe, underscoring the significance of having toe support. Another revelation from this analysis was the contrasting velocity readings with substantially higher readings for placed riprap as compared to dumped riprap reaffirming the fact that placed riprap can endure higher discharges as compared to dumped riprap. Furthermore, this investigation also detected that a graph of the velocity pattern depicting the placed riprap exhibited a higher singular peak while such a graph depicting the dumped riprap exhibited a bimodal characteristic.

Influence of internal components on gas-solid flow characteristics in fluidized bed reactor for organic silicon monomer synthesis

Internal components play a crucial role in the synthesis of organic silicon monomer in gas-solid fluidized bed reactors (FBRs). Finger-tube (F-tube) and U-tube components are commonly utilized to control the temperature and ensure its homogeneity in FBRs, thereby guaranteeing a high selectivity of the target product. The main objective of this work is to better understand the influence of F-tube and U-tube on the hydrodynamics in FBRs. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combined with the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique were employed to explore the flow characteristics. The numerical data were validated against the particle velocity using an image processing technique. The results revealed that the F-tube increases the bed voidage by 3.2% and reduces the pressure drop by 13.0%. While the U-tube increases the bed voidage by 2.1% and reduces the pressure drop by 11.2%. These internals improve fluidization by ensuring even particle distribution and enhancing intra-particle circulation compared to reactors without internals.

Flow characterization of a submerged inclined impinging pulse jet

This study investigated flow characteristics associated with a circular pulse-impinging jet on an inclined surface using dye visualization and particle image velocimetry techniques. The experiments are carried out for various pulse frequencies (0.1 < St < 0.9) of the jet, a constant angle of surface inclination (θ = 26°), and fixed surface spacing. The primary objective is to explore the flow dynamics aspect of pulse-inclined impinging jets with respect to the pulse frequency and Reynolds number. The present observation shows that at a certain degree of surface inclination (θ ≈ 28°), the jet momentum drives the entire flow in the downhill direction, which represents the critical angle of inclination. Furthermore, the critical angle of the inclination remains unchanged for both steady and pulse jets. The interaction of the inner and outer shear layers of the jet in the downhill direction highly depends on the pulse frequency, which is indeed triggered by the free jet vortices. In a free jet, the vortex formation and their growth depend on the jet shear layer response (convective acceleration) and the time available for vortex formation (local acceleration). Moreover, the instantaneous jet information reveals that the presence of the growing vortices increases the jet entrainment, and its movement along the surface enhances the mixing (shear stress) between the surrounding and boundary layer fluid. The results show that pulsation at Strouhal Number (St) = 0.44 help develop more coherent and durable vortices impinging on the surface, which is identical to the critical St for free and normal impinging jets. Pulsation near the critical St increases the jet entrainment and mixing between the inner and outer jet shear layers and is responsible for enhancement in the heat transfer rate. The results improve our understanding of heat transfer from pulse-inclined impinging jet and reinforce the existence of a critical St (= 0.44) with an inclined pulsing jet, providing the criteria for maximizing the heat transfer rate.

Modification of the uniform momentum zones in the turbulent boundary layer by superhydrophobic surface

Experimental investigation is carried out in a water tunnel to study the influence of the superhydrophobic (SHPo) surface on the coherent structures, especially the uniform momentum zones (UMZs) and their edges, in a zero-pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer (TBL) at the friction Reynolds number of 650. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique is applied to capture the instantaneous velocity field in the streamwise-wall-normal plane. The UMZs are detected based on the probability density function of the PIV-measured instantaneous streamwise velocity. The mean value of the UMZ number is reduced by the SHPo surface, indicating the more organized coherent structures. The modal velocity of the UMZs under SHPo surface is always higher than that with smooth wall at the same wall-normal location, which may directly result from the velocity slip on the wall. The internal interfaces between the neighboring UMZs are further examined. The area fraction of the internal interfaces relative to the total TBL is reduced by the SHPo surface, consistent with the smaller number of the detected UMZs. Conditional average is carried out based on the internal interfaces and the statistical characteristics of the velocity gradient at the interface are compared. Both the mean and root mean square values of the velocity gradient are reduced for the SHPo surface, resulting from the weakened spanwise vortices at the internal interfaces.

Experimental investigation of turbulent energy spectra affected by submerged vegetation in shallow open channel flows

In the presence of vegetation in open channel flows, various physical processes, such as sediment transport, may be dominated by large-scale eddies, of which mechanisms are not well understood at present. In this study, we aimed to explore vegetation-affected turbulence from the perspective of energy spectral analysis. First, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments of open channel flows with submerged vegetation by varying the flow rate, water depth, and vegetation density. With flow velocities measured using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, energy spectral analyses were then performed over several representative locations in the flow field. The results show that the Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) vortices dominate the flow in the surface layer, while the shedding wake controls the flow in the vegetation layer, particularly downstream of individual vegetation stems. The normalized frequency of the KH vortices increases for flows with dense vegetation, of which the peak value, when normalized as the Strouhal number, has an average of 0.21. Furthermore, by applying Taylor's frozen turbulent hypothesis, it is shown that both the scale of the KH vortices and the penetration depth reduce when the vegetation becomes dense. Within the vegetation layer, the minimum of the peak streamwise wavelength is observed to be related to the shedding wake, while its maximum scales with the size of the penetrating KH vortices.

Hydrodynamics of cruise swimming and turning maneuvers in Euchaeta antarctica

The hydrodynamic disturbance generated by the adult copepod Euchaeta antarctica during cruise swimming is quantified. Kinematic results are compared to previous results reported for different Euchaeta species. The results reveal a linear relationship between cruise speed and prosome length across Euchaeta species, indicating a size-proportional trend that is indicative of a complicated interaction of species size and environmental factors such as fluid temperature and viscosity. The detailed fluid flow measurements using the tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (tomo-PIV) technique provide insight into copepod cruise propulsion during turning events in comparison to straight motions. During straight swimming, E. antarctica demonstrates streamlined flow patterns and reduced vorticity in the near-body fluid shear layer, which is beneficial for sustained motion and energy conservation. In contrast, turning maneuvers are characterized by maximum flow velocities reaching 1.5 times greater values than during straight cruising with increased flow field complexity and enhanced vorticity. The viscous dissipation rate generated in the flow disturbance is also greater during turning events, with the total dissipation rate reaching 3.5-3.8×10-8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bf3.5-3.8\ imes 10^{-8}$$\\end{document} W compared to 2.6-2.8×10-8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bf2.6-2.8\ imes 10^{-8}$$\\end{document} W during straight cruising. The flow disturbance also generates a hydrodynamic cue that prey may sense in order to avoid the predator E. antarctica. For the adult E. antarctica, the hydrodynamic cue extends to a volume that is 11–13 times larger than the copepod exoskeleton volume during the straight swimming motion and 22–25 times larger during the turn events.

Movement Characteristics of Droplet Deposition in Flat Spray Nozzle for Agricultural UAVs

At present, research on aerial spraying operations with UAVs mainly focuses on the deposition outcomes of droplets, with insufficient depth in the exploration of the movement process of droplet deposition. The movement characteristics of droplet deposition as the most fundamental factors affecting the effectiveness of pesticide application by UAVs are of great significance for improving droplet deposition. This study takes flat spray nozzles as the research object, uses the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique to obtain movement data of water droplet deposition under the influence of rotor flow fields, and investigates the variation characteristics of droplet deposition speed under different influencing factors. The results show that the deposition speed and the distribution area of high-speed (>12 m/s) particles increase with the increase of rotor speed, spraying pressure, and nozzle size. When the rotor speed increases from 0 r/min to 1800 r/min, the average increase in maximum droplet deposition speed for nozzle models LU120-02, LU120-03 and LU120-04 is 33.26%, 19.02%, and 7.62%, respectively. The rotor flow field significantly increases the number of high-speed droplets, making the dispersed droplet velocity distribution more concentrated. When the rotor speed is 0, 1000, 1500, and 1800 r/min, the average decay rates of droplet deposition speed are 36.72%, 20.00%, 15.47%, and 13.21%, respectively, indicating that the rotor flow field helps to reduce the decrease in droplet deposition speed, enabling droplets to deposit on the target area at a higher speed, reducing drift risk and evaporation loss. This study’s results are beneficial for revealing the mechanism of droplet deposition movement in aerial spraying by plant protection UAVs, improving the understanding of droplet movement, and providing data support and guidance for precise spraying operations.

Characterization of droplet clusters in a turbulent multiphase gas cloud using a model cough simulator

This study aims to investigate the transport of droplets ejected from an artificial cough simulator, which releases a turbulent puff of droplets into the surrounding air, closely resembling the human coughing process. The focus is on understanding droplet clustering within the multiphase gas cloud across various operating conditions that emulate the wide variation in the spray characteristics in actual human subjects owing to infection severity, age, and gender. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was employed to measure the velocity of both droplet and gas phases. It also facilitates the identification and characterization of droplet clusters through Voronoi analysis of the PIV images. The area and length scale of individual droplet clusters were measured, and the degree of droplet clustering was quantified using the clustering index and relative droplet number density within the clusters. Additionally, the interferometric laser imaging for droplet sizing technique was utilized for planar measurement of individual droplet sizes. The range of Stokes number indicated partial to poor response of the droplets to the turbulent eddies. The results reported, for the first time, the presence of droplet clusters in the simulated coughing process. The wide spectrum of cluster size and self-similar evolution of droplet clusters unveil a multi-scale clustering phenomenon, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of the respiratory droplet dispersion process. The study comprehensively investigates the role of injection pressure on droplet clustering and the spatial development of the clusters, revealing some interesting findings, which are discussed.

Identification of left ventricular flow features in healthy and pathological conditions

Abstract Background In the presence of mitral valve diseases or following surgical interventions, the hemodynamics in the left ventricle (LV) are significantly altered [1]. These maladaptive intraventricular hemodynamic alterations can stimulate a cascade of events leading to progressive adverse LV remodeling and eventual heart failure [2]. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of LV flow features may provide a potential for sensitive risk stratification of clinical cardiac function [3]. Purpose The purpose of this study is to identifying LV flow features using in vitro experiments under both normal and pathological conditions, including mitral regurgitation (MR), mitral valve replacement with bioprosthetic/mechanical valve, and transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TEER). Methods We utilized a biohybrid approach to construct the in vitro experimental platform, where the native mitral valve (including chordae tendineae and papillary muscles) and aortic valve from porcine were combined with a 3D-printed silicon LV (figure 1). To ensure comparability across different conditions, we maintained consistency by utilizing the same native valve and 3D-printed LV. For pathological conditions, we cut the chordae tendineae in A2 zone to induce the severe degenerative MR, and TEER was performed on this prolapsed valve by placing two clips in A2-P2 zone. Then, the anterior leaflet of valve was cut, and a bioprosthetic valve and mechanical valve were sutured to mitral annulus to simulate surgical valve replacement, respectively. Left ventricular flow fields were measured using four-dimensional particle image velocimetry (4D-PIV) technique, with vector interval of 0.9 mm in all the spatial directions and temporal resolution of 10 ms. Results Significant differences in mean flow field were observed among healthy and pathological conditions (figure 2). Firstly, the vortex orientation was clockwise in healthy, MR, bioprosthetic valve replacement, and TEER conditions, which could accompany the redirection of blood flows towards the aortic valve. However, the replacement with a mechanical valve resulted in an alteration in vortex orientation from clockwise to counterclockwise. Secondly, the position of the center of the vortex changed in pathological conditions, with the center of the vortex closest to the apex and the left ventricle outflow tract in the healthy condition. Thirdly, the maximum Reynolds shear stress (RSS), which may be responsible for thrombus formation, significantly increased after TEER procedure and bioprosthetic valve replacement. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant changes in LV hemodynamics across different conditions. The flow features, including vortex orientations, vortex positions and the RSS, may potentially become crucial considerations for the optimization of artificial valves and mitral valve repair devices.Figure 1 Figure 2

Particle image velocimetry study of the flow control effects of singular and multiple curved serration models

This paper reports on preliminary observations of an investigation of flows associated with models that mimic serrations on the leading edge of barn owl feathers. The objective was to use particle image velocimetry measurements to determine the capacity of singular and multiple curved (three-dimensional) serration models to modify the noise-reducing indicators of a narrow-channeled flow past a cylinder. Four models were tested: 3 singular serration models of respective angles of inclination, α = 24°, 27.5° and 31°, and a model consisting of an array of 3 serrations of α = 24°, 27.5° and 31°. Each case was subjected to flow of Reynolds number (based on the serration height and maximum velocity of the flow) of ∼2,000, simulating the flow regime of local flow around barbs of real barn owl flights. A planar particle image velocimetry technique was used to capture the midspan plane velocities to determine the effects of each model. The results show that using singular serration models of inclination angles than 30° may lead to disorganized spatial structures and enhanced turbulence levels. On the other hand, an array of only 3 curved serrations of different geometries can modify the spatial flow structure into a well-ordered one, resulting in a 50% reduction in turbulence intensities. These initial results suggest that under complex flow conditions, the insertion of single and multiple curved serrations can lead to significant flow changes that may result in potential noise modifications.

The variation of particle concentration with height of wind-blown coral sand

Wind-blown coral sand movement is common in the marine coral sand island environment but received much less research attention compared to desert and coastal sands. We used the particle image velocimetry technique with wind tunnel experiments to determine the decay trends of the particle number density, nominal particle area density, and actual particle area density with height for wind-blown coral sands from the South China Sea. Then, a new morphology factor FM that consists of volume V, density ρs, drag coefficient CD, and projected area A of sand particles, was defined to evaluate the influences of particle characteristics on wind-blown sand movement and the results were compared with those of quartz sands from an inland desert. We found that the average FM of coral sands is more comparable to that of coarse quartz sands than smaller size groups. Coral sands tend to move nearer the surface during aeolian processes compared to smaller quartz ones due to their larger FM. The decay rate of particle number density of coral sands with height is similar to that of coarse (0.8–1 mm) quartz sands, but significantly larger than that of smaller quartz ones. The decay rate of the actual particle area density of coral sands with height is larger than that of their nominal particle area density, so that significant deviations may exist if a fixed particle size and spherical shape are assumed to study wind-blown particle movement. The present work contributes to understand the effect of particle characteristics on the wind-blown sand movement from a physical mechanism perspective for both desert quartz sands and marine coral sands.

Microjet Flow Control on an Airfoil Flap: Particle Image Velocimetry Characterization

Normal-blowing microjets near the trailing edge of a flap can improve the aerodynamic performance of high-lift systems, potentially without some of the system-integration drawbacks of traditional systems. Previous two-dimensional simulations and a preliminary wind-tunnel test demonstrated the effectiveness of the microjet concept on a deployed flap. To further validate microjet effectiveness, this study uses a specially developed particle image velocimetry technique to estimate the momentum injected by a microjet on a deployed Fowler flap of a two-element NLR7301 airfoil while simultaneously measuring the lift enhancement provided by the microjet via surface pressure taps. The test results are broadly consistent with numerical simulations that predict lift increases proportionally to the square root of momentum injection. Within the experimental uncertainties, the test results show slightly less lift benefit for a given level of estimated momentum injection compared to the simulations, possibly due to three-dimensional effects such as spanwise variability and spanwise velocity components of the injected air, which could not be measured with the current instrumentation.

Comparative study of analytical models with linear and quadratic pressure drop conditions on a perforated plate in water waves

Proper pressure drop conditions are essential in predicting hydrodynamic performance of perforated structures in the framework of a potential flow theory. In this study, we investigate water waves passing through a perforated plate with various pressure drop models to examine how pressure drop conditions affect the hydrodynamic performance of perforated structures. We derive the analytical solutions of waves across the perforated plate by adopting three commonly pressure drop conditions, including one linear pressure drop condition (LPDC), and two quadratic pressure drop conditions (QPDCs). A series of laboratory experiments are conducted to validate the present theoretical results. We compare the hydrodynamic performance between the experimental data and the theoretical solutions with the three different pressure drop models, typically for wave reflection coefficients, dynamic pressures, and velocity fields measured by the technique of particle image velocimetry in the experiments. It is found that the existing pressure drop models can predict well wave reflection coefficients, dynamic pressure, and velocity profiles at certain conditions. However, the linear wave solutions associated with LPDC or QPDCs generally underpredict the amplitude of particle velocity near the free surface on the perforated plate. This underestimation increases largely as the wave steepness increases. The LPDC performance relies much on the selection of empirical coefficients. For the QPDCs, the analytical models show deviated results from the experimental data for wave reflection coefficients when the wave steepness is relatively low.

Analysis of drag reduction and partial setup of riblets surface on the airfoil

Using riblet structures to modulate the turbulent boundary layer to reduce frictional drag is important for vehicle stability and range. The flow on the airfoil surface at different angles of attack is different, and the effect of the riblets structure on the turbulent boundary layer flow will be changed, which in turn affects the drag reduction effect. In this paper, the drag reduction characteristics of V-shaped riblets are investigated experimentally by the particle image velocimetry technique. The distributions of mean velocity, friction coefficient, drag reduction rate, and coherent structure in the boundary layer on the airfoil surface at angles of attack from 0° to 12° are analyzed, and the effects of smooth and riblets surfaces on the turbulent flow characteristics near the wall are compared. Based on these results, the airfoil surface was zonally covered with riblets to investigate further the effects of the riblets' covering positions on the drag reduction of the airfoil at different angles of attack. The results show that the riblets reduce the intensity, distribution, and probability of the eject and sweep events in the turbulence bursts by suppressing the velocity fluctuations at the near-wall surface, thus realizing the reduction of turbulence drag. The zoned arrangement of riblets can effectively regulate the airfoil surface flow and reduce the unfavorable effects of the riblets on the laminar flow region and flow separation region on the surface of the airfoil with different angles of attack, and the results of the study can provide a reference for the influence of the coverage range of the riblets on the drag reduction effect.

Effects of velocity regularization on neural network performance in processing particle images

Recent studies have witnessed remarkable progress in harnessing convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to overcome the inherent limitations of conventional particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods. Traditional PIV techniques often suffer from compromised resolution and precision, hindering their ability to capture the complexities of fluid dynamics within the observation frame. While CNNs offer promise in addressing these challenges, they face obstacles such as limited accuracy, weak generalization, and a dearth of physical interpretability. In our prior research, we presented a CNN architecture that incorporates optical flow algorithms as supplementary physical constraints, thereby bolstering the model interpretability and precision. Nevertheless, the practical implications of this approach, especially when dealing with multi-dimensional, low-quality particle image data and restricted training sets, have yet to be fully explored. To address this knowledge gap, we have assembled a comprehensive dataset that simulates a wide array of experimental scenarios. We have systematically assessed the influence of velocity regularization on neural network performance, taking into account variations in image quality and the size of training datasets. The results underscore the pivotal importance of velocity regularization in enhancing the predictive prowess of neural networks, particularly when dealing with poor image quality and smaller data sizes. This study provides useful insights into the effective application of CNNs with velocity regularization in the field of experimental fluid dynamics.

An experimental investigation of supersonic conical cooling films with angles of attack

While the flow mechanisms of two-dimensional supersonic cooling films have been studied in-depth, this paper used the nanoparticle planar laser scattering and particle image velocimetry techniques to investigate the flow of supersonic conical cooling films at different angles of attack (AOAs). The mainstream Mach number was Ma∞=3.8, and the supersonic conical cooling film was tangentially injected via a precisely calibrated Maj=2.8 annular nozzle. Initially, the streamwise boundary layer transition process without cooling film injection was analyzed. The boundary layer transition on the leeward side occurred prematurely, whereas on the windward side, the transition process was notably delayed. Subsequently, the supersonic conical cooling film flow was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated from the perspectives of turbulent structures, and the time-averaged and statistical characteristics of the velocity field. On the windward side, as the ratio of static pressure decreased, the effective cooling length also decreased with an increase in AOA. On the leeward side, at a small positive AOA, the supersonic conical cooling film mixed with the low-energy fluid within the thickened inner layer of the mainstream boundary layer, which mitigated the growth rate of the mixing layer and ultimately enhanced the effective cooling length. With a further increase in AOA, the supersonic conical cooling film experienced the three-dimensional detrimental effects of crossflow-separation vortices and downwash mainstream on the leeward surface, resulting in a decrease in the effective cooling length.

High Speed Particle Image Velocimetry in a Large Engine Prechamber

Planar velocity measurements using the particle image velocimetry technique have been performed at a repetition rate of 10 kHz in the prechamber of a large bore gas engine mounted on a rapid compression machine (RCM), to visualize the velocity fields in the non-reacting gas flow during a compression stroke. The prechamber investigated in this work is a prototype with modifications made to facilitate optical access, and it is mounted axially on the RCM combustion chamber. The parameters of the compression stroke in the RCM are set to achieve a compression ratio of 10. After removing outlying data based on pressure and piston displacement curves, PIV data from compression strokes were analyzed. The time-resolved velocity fields capture the formation and motion of a tumble vortex in the imaged plane. Mean flow fields obtained by phase averaging across the datasets are presented, showing the development of the flow field in the prechamber throughout the compression stroke. The data obtained will be used to validate CFD simulations.

Fluid Dynamics of Interacting Rotor Wake with a Water Surface

Rotor-type cross-media vehicles always induce considerably complex mixed air–water flows when approaching the water surface, resulting in relative thrust loss and structural damage on rotor. The interactions between a water surface and rotor wake bring potential risks to the cross-media process, which is known as the near-water effect of the rotor. In this paper, experimental investigations are used to explore the fluid dynamics of the near-water effect of the rotor. Qualitative droplet observation was carried out on the 0.25 m and 0.56 m diameter commercial rotor blades and the 0.07 m diameter ducted fan near the water surface first to gain a qualitative understanding of droplet characteristics. The results show that the rotor wake caused water surface deformation, droplet tearing off, splashing, and entrainment into the rotor disk. The depression formed by the rotor downwash flow impacting the water surface is named as three modes: dimpling, splashing, and penetrating, and the correlation between the depression modes and the aerodynamic characteristics of the rotor is primary analyzed. The flow mechanisms of dimpling mode were studied using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. The results showed that the cavity and liquid crown obviously alter the flow direction of water surface jets, but not all rotors near water enter the vortex ring state. Two splashing mechanisms were revealed, including the direct ejection of droplets at the rim of depression and the tearing of liquid crown by the water surface jets. The blade tip vortex in the surface jet is a potential cause of entrainment into the rotor disk and secondary breakup of the droplet.

Research on the Pile–Soil Interaction Mechanism of Micropile Groups in Transparent Soil Model Experiments

Micropile groups (MPGs) are typical landslide resistant structures. To investigate the effects of these two factors on the micropile–soil interaction mechanism, seven sets of transparent soil model experiments were conducted on miniature cluster piles. The soil was scanned and photographed, and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to obtain the deformation characteristics of the pile and soil during lateral loading. The spatial distribution information of the soil behind the pile was obtained by a 3D reconstruction program. The results showed that a sufficient roughness of the pile surface was a necessary condition for the formation of a soil arch. If the surface of the pile was smooth, stable arch foundation formation was difficult. When the roughness of the pile surface increases, the soil arch range behind the pile and the load-sharing ratio of the pile and soil will increase. After the roughness reaches a certain level, the above indicators hardly change. Pile spacing within the range of 5–7 d (pile diameters) was suitable. The support effect was poor when the pile spacing was too large. No stable soil arch can be formed, and the soil slips out from between the piles.

Horizontal buoyant jets into viscoplastic ambient fluids

This study investigates the horizontal injection of a heavy Newtonian fluid into a lighter viscoplastic ambient fluid, in a large reservoir. The flow dynamics is experimentally captured via camera imaging, laser-induced fluorescence, and particle image velocimetry techniques. The flow parameters include various density differences, injection velocities, and ambient fluid viscoplastic properties. Our analysis identifies two key dimensionless numbers, the Froude number (Fr) and the effective viscosity ratio (m), which includes the rheology of the viscoplastic fluid. Our study also examines the effects of these dimensionless numbers on critical jet characteristics, such as bifurcation length, transition length, deviation length, and jet trajectory, and provides correlations using Fr and m, to predict these characteristic lengths. A regime classification based on the bifurcation phenomenon is also presented in the Fr−m plane.