Unsteady Pressure Transducers Research Articles

Instantaneous Pressure Reconstruction From PIV In Compressible Launcher Environments

Modern launcher configurations, often characterized by a larger diameter in the payload fairing than the rest of the launch vehicle (hammerhead configuration), face significant challenges during transonic operations, given their susceptibility to flow separation and intense pressure fluctuations. This experimental study aims to reconstruct pressure from PIV under transonic conditions using Taylor's hypothesis. The focus is on the ESA VEGA-E hammerhead launcher model, investigated in the transonic regime at Ma=0.8 and at α=0°. Initially, the methodology of the pressure reconstruction algorithm is described and the validity of Taylor's hypothesis is established through validation with numerical data. Subsequently, the experimental data are first used to provide a general characterization of the flow phenomenon, highlighting key features such as an oscillating shockwave, separated and reattached flows. Later, the reconstruction of pressure from velocity data is compared to unsteady pressure transducer data, for instantaneous, average and standard deviation values, obtaining a very good agreement (ΔCpAvg~0.01-0.02 and ΔCpStd~0.02). The experimental set-up is also designed to showcase the impact of neglecting the out-of-plane velocity component on pressure reconstruction, showing comparable data for CpAvg, while larger discrepancies in terms of CpStd in particular in the separated area region.

Wind Tunnel Experiments on Parallel Blade–Vortex Interaction with Static and Oscillating Airfoil

This study aims to experimentally investigate the effects of parallel blade–vortex interaction (BVI) on the aerodynamic performances of an airfoil, in particular as a possible cause of blade stall, since similar effects have been observed in literature in the case of perpendicular BVI. A wind tunnel test campaign was conducted reproducing parallel BVI on a NACA 23012 blade model at a Reynolds number of 300,000. The vortex was generated by impulsively pitching a second airfoil model, placed upstream. Measurements of the aerodynamic loads acting on the blade were performed by means of unsteady Kulite pressure transducers, while particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques were employed to study the flow field over the blade model. After a first phase of vortex characterisation, different test cases were investigated with the blade model both kept fixed at different incidences and oscillating sinusoidally in pitch, with the latter case, a novelty in available research on parallel BVI, representing the pitching motion of a helicopter main rotor blade. The results show that parallel BVI produces a thickening of the boundary layer and can induce local flow separation at incidences close to the stall condition of the airfoil. The aerodynamic loads, both lift and drag, suffer important impulsive variations, in agreement with literature on BVI, the effects of which are extended in time. In the case of the oscillating airfoil, BVI introduces hysteresis cycles in the loads, which are generally reduced. In conclusion, parallel BVI can have a detrimental impact on the aerodynamic performances of the blade and even cause flow separation, which, while not being as catastrophic as in the case of dynamic stall, has relatively long-lasting effects.

Mach number influence on low-pressure turbine flutter

The effect of the Mach number on the vibration amplitude trends of an isolated low-pressure turbine rotor is described. The study utilizes an analytical model correlating the aerodynamic work and the dry-friction work. Aerodynamic damping has been obtained using a frequency domain linearized Navier-Stokes solver, whereas friction damping has been modeled using a heuristic micro-slip model calibrated with the experimental data. In order to validate the analytical predictions, an extensive experimental campaign was conducted. Unsteady pressure transducers flushed mounted in the outer casing, one chord downstream of the trailing edge of the rotor, were used to characterize the vibration of the rotor. The analysis reveals a significant influence of the Mach number on the work balance between aerodynamic and mechanical components. It is observed that the vibration amplitude and the flutter-induced unsteady pressure perturbations of low-pressure turbine rotor blades notably increases when the exit Mach number does.

Experimental Investigation of Transient Flow Phenomena in Rotating Compressor Cavities

Abstract The clearance of compressor blade tips during aero-engine accelerations is an important design issue for next-generation engine architectures. The transient clearance depends on the radial expansion of the compressor discs, which is directly coupled to conjugate heat transfer in co-rotating discs governed by unsteady and unstable buoyancy-induced flow. This paper discusses an experimental and modeling study using the Bath Compressor Cavity Rig, which simulates a generic axial compressor at fluid-dynamically scaled conditions. The rig was specifically designed to generate heat transfer of practical interest to the engine designer and validate computational codes. This work presents the first study of the fundamental fluid dynamic and heat transfer phenomena under transient conditions. The rotating flow structure was seen to be characterized by coherent pairs of cyclonic/anticyclonic vortex pairs; the strength, rotational frequency, stability, and number of these unsteady structures changed with changing rotational Reynolds and Grashof numbers during the transients. These structures, measured by unsteady pressure transducers in the rotating frame of reference, were only present when the flow in the rotating cavity was dominated by buoyancy. Experimental correlations of both Nusselt number and radial mass flowrate in the rotating core were correlated against Grashof number. Remarkably, the experiments revealed a consistent correlation for both steady-state and transient conditions over a wide range of Gr. The results have a practical application to thermo-mechanical models for engine design.

Effects of various aftwall edge ramp on open cavities in a confined supersonic flow

An experimental study on the supersonic flow of Mach number 1.81 Over the rectangular cavity of L/D = 3 with different aft wall angles such as Baseline case 90° and aft wall edge ramp of 30°. Measurements of acoustic oscillations were carried out on the wall and floor of the cavity using unsteady pressure transducers. Schlieren flow visualization indicates the presence of a shear layer and the other shock features that are associated with the cavity flow field. In order to obtain the experimental results, data analysis was performed in the unsteady data Using statistical analytical techniques i.e., Fast Fourier Transform, Short Time Fourier Transform, and Coherence. After careful examination of the power spectra of the cavities, it is concluded that as the aft wall angle decreases by introducing the aft wall ramp, the amplitude decreases. It is clearly observed that the complete escape of vortices in Low angled cavity. From the correlation plot, the existence of the acoustic wave inside the cavity for all the cases is deduced. The maximum OASPL and static pressure values are observed at the aft wall. These results, the strength of the self-sustained oscillations and acoustic disturbance and mode switching were observed in the higher angled cavity 90°. Also, the mode switching co-existence was reduced in the aft wall edge ramp angle of 30°.

Mach and Reynolds number effects on transonic buffet on the XRF-1 transport aircraft wing at flight Reynolds number

This work provides an overview of aerodynamic data acquired in the European Transonic Windtunnel using an XRF-1 transport aircraft configuration both at cruise conditions and at the edges of the flight envelope. The goals and design of the wind tunnel test were described, highlighting the use of the cryogenic wind tunnel’s capability to isolate the effects of M_{infty }, {text{Re}}_{infty } and the dynamic pressure q/E. The resulting dataset includes an aerodynamic baseline characterization of the full span model with vertical and horizontal tailplanes and without engine nacelles. The effects of different inflow conditions were studied using data from continuous polars, evaluating the changes in aeroelastic deformation which are proportional to q/E and the influence of M_{infty } and {text{Re}}_{infty } on the shock position. Off-design data was analyzed at the lowest and highest measured Mach numbers of 0.84 and 0.90, respectively. Wing lower surface flow and underside shock motion was analyzed at negative angles of attack using {{c}_{text{p}}} distribution and unsteady pressure transducer fluctuation data, identifying significant upstream displacement of the shock close to the leading edge. Wing upper-side flow and the shock motion near buffet onset and beyond was analyzed using unsteady pressure data from point transducers and unsteady pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) measurements. Buffet occurs at lower angles of attack at high Mach number, and without clearly defined lift break. Spectral contents at the acquired data points in the buffet range suggest broadband fluctuations at Strouhal numbers between 0.2 and 0.6, which is consistent with recent literature. The spanwise shock propagation velocities were determined independently via analysis of unsteady PSP and pressure transducers to be in the range between u_{text{s}} / u_{infty } = 0.24 and 0.32, which is similarly in line with published datasets using other swept wing aircraft models.

Measurement of Inertial and Acoustic Waves in a Turbine Chute Rim Seal Cavity

AbstractA chute rim seal cavity has been instrumented with time-resolved and time-averaged pressure transducers as well as a gas concentration measurement system at the Oxford Rotor Facility. The unsteady pressure transducers were unevenly distributed along the circumference generating 15 combinations of angular spacing to conduct a phase analysis. The test operating conditions were modified through different configurations of mainstream flow, a range of rotational speeds and several rates of purge flow to obtain test data in the regimes of rotationally-driven, pressure-driven, and combined ingestion. The rotating unsteady flow structures within the rim seal cavity were studied through a combination of phase analysis of dynamic pressure signals and inspection of the frequency domain. The introduction of mainstream flow (axial and swirled) increased the overall unsteadiness exciting an additional band of lower frequencies. The phase analysis revealed these were associated with acoustic waves, providing the first experimental evidence of the presence and coexistence of inertial and acoustic waves in the rim seal cavity. The interaction of the inertial and acoustic waves strongly depends on the operating conditions, and may be linked to changes in sealing effectiveness.

Control of High-Temperature Impinging Jet Issued from Overexpanded Rocket Nozzle

High-speed impinging jets issued from the exhaust of a launch vehicle are highly oscillatory and create hazardous conditions for the vehicle structure, affecting the sensitive payloads and personnel due to intense acoustic loads. Therefore, to reduce the unsteadiness of a jet and mitigate its adverse effects, a fundamental understanding of the associated flow and acoustic field is of utmost importance. The present experimental study is one such step to characterize the aeroacoustic properties of a high-temperature jet issued from an overexpanded rocket nozzle. Further, the effectiveness of microjet-based active flow control in reducing the flow unsteadiness and near-field noise levels is also explored. The experiments were performed at different jet stagnation temperatures, and the results were quantified at different impingement heights simulating the takeoff and landing environment of reusable launch vehicles. Mean pressure measurements were mapped on the ground plane using discrete pressure taps. The time-varying pressure component was measured using an unsteady pressure transducer located at the impingement point, and near-field acoustic measurements were carried out using a microphone. In addition, the velocity field was mapped using planar particle image velocimetry. The near-field pressure spectra are broadband, and the magnitude of noise content is a function of jet stagnation temperature. Furthermore, the injection of microjets resulted in a significant attenuation of near-field noise, impingement point pressure fluctuations, and turbulent kinetic energy.

Sensitivity analysis on the impact of geometrical and operational variations on turbine hub cavity modes and practical methods to control them

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the impact of different design and operational variations on the instabilities induced at the hub cavity outlet of a turbine. The experiments were conducted at the “LISA” test facility at ETH Zurich. The axial gap at the 2nd stage hub cavity exit was varied, and also three different flow deflectors were implemented at the cavity exit to control the cavity modes (CMs). Furthermore, the turbine pressure ratio was altered to mimic the off-design condition and study the sensitivity of the CMs to this parameter. Measurements were performed using pneumatic, and Fast Response Aerodynamic Probes (FRAP) at stator and rotor exit. In addition, unsteady pressure transducers were installed at the cavity exit wall to measure the characteristic parameters of the CMs. For the small axial gap, distinct and strong CMs were generated, which actively interacted with stator and rotor hub flow structures. Increasing the gap damped the fluctuations; however, a broader range of frequencies was amplified. The flow deflectors successfully suppressed the CMs by manipulating the shear layer velocity profile and blocking the growing instabilities. Eventually, the increase in the turbine pressure ratio strengthened the CMs and vice versa.

Turbine Hub Cavity Modes and Their Impact on Efficiency

Abstract Non-synchronous pressure and temperature fluctuations at the hub cavity of a turbine stage are the main focus of this study. Cavity modes are unsteady fluctuations generated at the cavity exit due to instabilities in this region. The cavity modes carried into the main flow impose an unsteady flow field in the rotor passages, which varies the passage-wise flow parameters considerably. A two-stage axial turbine was designed and tested in the “LISA” test facility at ETH Zurich. A reference case with baseline geometry and a modified case with an axial deflector at the hub cavity exit were tested. Comprehensive unsteady pressure and temperature measurements were performed using fast response aerodynamic (FRAP) and entropy probes (FENT), respectively. In addition, 12 fast response unsteady pressure transducers were mounted on the stationary wall of the cavity exit to measure the main characteristic parameters of the cavity modes. Full annular unsteady simulations were also carried out for both cases to support the experiments. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) successfully predicted the effect of cavity modes on both frequency and amplitude of the fluctuations. The cavity modes indicated fluctuation amplitudes up to eight times of the blade passing fluctuations at the cavity exit. The analysis shows that the convected cavity modes alter the efficiency of different rotor passages by redistributing the mass flow and the losses resulting in a drop in overall efficiency. This work suggests that implementing a small axial deflector at the hub cavity exit would completely eliminate the cavity modes leading to a reduced pressure unsteadiness and enhanced efficiency.

Evaluating the applicability of a phase-averaged processing of skin-friction field measurement using an optical flow method

The phase-averaged skin-friction analysis based on global luminescent oil film (GLOF) was conducted for periodically fluctuating unsteady phenomena at the frequency of approximately 150 Hz which is estimated based on Karman vortex shedding. An unsteady pressure transducer and a camera were synchronized, and the time-averaged and phase-averaged skin-friction fields were investigated. The time-series image pair data obtained by the camera were decomposed into eight intervals of a phase angle of $$\pi /4$$ with synchronizing the signal of the unsteady pressure. The phase-averaged result shows the periodical pattern corresponding to the vortices structure generated from the edge of the test model which was not resolved by the time-averaged result. The phase-averaged processing was successfully applied to the GLOF measurement, and the results showed the detail information of skin friction at each phase.

Spatially resolved mean and unsteady surface pressure in swept SBLI using PSP

Strong crossflow and swept separation are key aspects of the flow dynamics of 3-D shock wave/boundary layer interactions. This study explores the global surface pressure field beneath the canonical interaction produced by a sharp fin with deflection angle $$15^\circ$$ with a turbulent incoming boundary in a Mach 2 freestream flow. This corresponds to an interaction of moderate strength, and the unsteady pressure distribution captures pressure fluctuations associated with separation shock motion upstream of the interaction. Details of the PSP calibration are also described where the calibration process combines both a priori (with separately painted test coupon) and in situ calibration (with pressure tap measurements during test). Flow features are identified directly from the quantitative pressure distribution and compared to qualitative surface oil flow visualizations. The technique facilitates measurement of the pressure distribution on surfaces that have been difficult or impossible to instrument, such as the face of the shock-generating fin. The unsteady paint response is captured simultaneously with unsteady pressure transducers on the surface underneath the interaction, and a frequency response function based on this comparison is presented. As the results discussed herein demonstrate, the use of PSP allows one to capture significantly more information about this complex, highly three-dimensional interaction with details that are not easily obtained using traditional sensors, while also providing a more informed global view of the interaction. The utility and limitations of the technique in application to supersonic wind tunnel experiments are discussed.

Effect of heat transfer on an angled cavity placed in supersonic flow

Experimental and numerical studies on the effect of heat transfer to an open cavity placed in supersonic crossflow are presented. Cavity floor is subjected to the desired amount of heat flux and the consequent effects in the flow dynamics inside the cavity and its neighborhood are systematically assessed. Cavity flowfield has been visualized using high-speed Schlieren imaging and pressure on the cavity floor has been measured using both steady and unsteady pressure transducers. Two-dimensional unsteady compressible turbulent flow field has been numerically simulated using a Harten-Lax-van Leer-Contact (HLLC) scheme based unstructured finite volume method solver. The numerical method has been validated using both experimental data available in the literature as well as the wall pressure measured in the present study. Significant changes in flow dynamics such as the growth of the recirculation region, shearlayer oscillation, shearlayer impingement on the aft wall of the cavity, and frequency of cavity induced oscillations have been observed. Experimental observations are well complemented by the numerical studies and could reveal the physics of alteration in cavity flow dynamics with the heat addition.

Unsteady pressure-sensitive-paint (PSP) measurement in low-speed flow: characteristic mode decomposition and noise floor analysis

Pressure-sensitive-paint (PSP) measurement was conducted for unsteady phenomena at various frequencies up to the order of kHz in low-speed flow to evaluate measurement accuracy of PSP. Pressure fluctuations on the floor surface induced by the Karman vortex were measured by PSP and unsteady pressure transducer. The dominant frequency of the pressure fluctuations is varied from 0.15 to 1.7 kHz by changing the size of the square cylinder. While regions with large pressure fluctuations could be visualized by calculating root mean square of pressure fluctuations from PSP images, the values significantly differed from those measured by pressure transducer. By applying Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the power spectral density (PSD) at peak frequencies could be obtained within an error of 20%. Singular-value decomposition (SVD) yields a remarkable improvement in signal-to-noise ratio. However, amplitude of pressure fluctuations is changed depending on the way how to select modes. Three mode-selection methods for SVD filtering/reconstruction analysis are proposed in this study which show good improvement compared with convection method and are proved capable of extracting characteristic behaviors of the flow phenomena even below the noise floor.

Optimization of differential infrared thermography for unsteady boundary layer transition measurement

Differential infrared thermography (DIT) is a method of analyzing infrared images to measure the unsteady motion of the laminar–turbulent transition of a boundary layer. It uses the subtraction of two infrared images taken with a short-time delay. DIT is a new technique which already demonstrated its validity in applications related to the unsteady aerodynamics of helicopter rotors in forward flight. The current study investigates a pitch-oscillating airfoil and proposes several optimizations of the original concept. These include the extension of DIT to steady test cases, a temperature compensation for long-term measurements, and a discussion of the proper infrared image separation distance. The current results also provide a deeper insight into the working principles of the technique. The results compare well to reference data acquired by unsteady pressure transducers, but at least for the current setup DIT results in an additional measurement-related lag for relevant pitching frequencies.

A Novel Experiment to Understand the Dynamic Stall Phenomenon in Rotor Axial Flight

A rotor test facility was developed to investigate dynamic stall under optimized boundary conditions compared to conventional hover chambers. lt features a defined axial inflow, reduction of ground effect and recirculation of the rotor wake and good optical access to apply non-intrusive measuring techniques. The rotor consists of two blades with an aspect ratio of 6.8 and a tip radius of 0.65m. lt was operated at a Mach number of 0.21 and a chord based Reynolds number of 350000, both at 75% radius. The flow and blade deformation were analyzed by means of unsteady blade pressure transducers, particle image velocimetry and tip deflection measurements covering the whole azimuth and different radii. Three measurement approaches to detect flow separation: tufts, differential infrared thermography and surface pressure analysis showed comparable results and flow separation over one half of the cycle. A radiusdependent separation point in time and an altering of the dynamic stall behavior near the tip were observed. The recirculation area remained close to the blade's surface with radial jet flow increasing towards the tip. A maximum increase of the effective angle of attack of 1.4° was observed due to blade deformation. For a fully attached flow case the laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition differed along the radius and moved over 70% of the blade's chord.

Flutter Generation and Control Using Mistuning in a Turbine Rotating Rig

The paper describes a free-flutter experiment on a stand-alone low-pressure turbine bladed rotor in a high-speed rotating wind tunnel together with the most relevant design decisions and solutions obtained for a low-reduced frequency cantilever shrouded rotor blade design. The test rotor underwent an experimental campaign with independent control of the shaft speed, pressure ratio, and air density levels. Measurements were obtained entirely by means of nonintrusive techniques such as blade tip-timing optical probes, and unsteady pressure transducers located in the outer casing of the rig downstream of the rotor. The bladed rotor was designed to flutter under a wide range of operating conditions. The independent effects of the shaft speed and the air density level were thoroughly investigated. It was concluded that, first, the higher the density level, the higher the level of instability and, second, that the vibration amplitude of the rotor blade exhibits a maximum with the shaft speed. In addition, the rotor blades were designed in such a way that additional masses could be mounted in the tip-shrouds to create arbitrary mistuning patterns. Two different mistuning patterns were tested: the first consisted of a classical alternate mistuning pattern designed to suppress flutter, whereas a second pattern was designed to halve the vibration amplitude of the tuned bladed disk. Both objectives were successfully achieved during the experiment.

Transient phenomena in separation control over a NACA 0015 airfoil

We present the transient phenomena occurring during the impulsive control of flow separation over a NACA0015 airfoil at an incidence angle of 11° and a chord Reynolds number of 1million. Actuation is performed via pneumatic vortex generators, impulsively activated in order to analyze the transient phenomena corresponding to the attachment process and, conversely, to transient re-separation occurring when the actuators are switched off. Measurements are performed using a linear array of unsteady pressure transducers and a single traversing crosswire. The pressure transducers are positioned in the separated region of the airfoil, which extends ∼0.3c upstream of the trailing edge at the above flow condition. To control the flow, the angled fluidic vortex generators are positioned in a single spanwise array located 0.3c downstream of the leading edge of the airfoil. We establish a statistical relationship between pressure and velocity signals during both the uncontrolled steady state and the transient processes of attachment and separation. The unsteady behavior of the attachment process is also qualitatively analyzed via a 0.3million Reynold number visualizations. The emission of a “starting vortex” is evidenced. This corresponds to a transient increase of drag.

Investigation of impinging jet resonant modes using unsteady pressure-sensitive paint measurements

At given nozzle to plate spacings, the flow field of high-speed impinging jets is known to be characterized by a resonance phenomenon. Large coherent structures that convect downstream and impinge on the surface create strong acoustic waves that interact with the inherently unstable shear layer at the nozzle exit. This feedback mechanism, driven by the coherent structures in the jet shear layer, can either be axisymmetric or helical in nature. Fast-response pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is applied to the impingement surface to map the unsteady pressure distribution associated with these resonant modes. Phase-averaged results acquired at several kHz are obtained using a flush mounted unsteady pressure transducer on the impingement plate as a reference signal. Tests are conducted on a Mach 1.5 jet at nozzle to plate spacings of \(h/D_{j} = 4\, \text{ and}\, 4.5\). The resulting phase-averaged distribution reveals dramatically different flow fields at the corresponding impingement heights. The existence of a purely axisymmetric mode with a frequency of 6.3 kHz is identified at \(h/D_{j} = 4.5\) and is characterized by concentric rings of higher/lower pressure that propagate radially with increasing phase. Two simultaneous modes are observed at \(h/D_{j} = 4\) with one being a dominant symmetric mode at 7.1 kHz and the second a sub-dominant helical mode at 4.3 kHz. Complimentary phase-conditioned Schlieren images are also obtained visualizing the flow structures associated with each mode and are consistent with the PSP results.

Multiple pure tone noise prediction

This paper presents a fully numerical method for predicting multiple pure tones, also known as “Buzzsaw” noise. It consists of three steps that account for noise source generation, nonlinear acoustic propagation with hard as well as lined walls inside the nacelle, and linear acoustic propagation outside the engine. Noise generation is modeled by steady, part-annulus computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. A linear superposition algorithm is used to construct full-annulus shock/pressure pattern just upstream of the fan from part-annulus CFD results. Nonlinear wave propagation is carried out inside the duct using a pseudo-two-dimensional solution of Burgers׳ equation. Scattering from nacelle lip as well as radiation to farfield is performed using the commercial solver ACTRAN/TM. The proposed prediction process is verified by comparing against full-annulus CFD simulations as well as against static engine test data for a typical high bypass ratio aircraft engine with hardwall as well as lined inlets. Comparisons are drawn against nacelle unsteady pressure transducer measurements at two axial locations as well as against near- and far-field microphone array measurements outside the duct.This is the first fully numerical approach (no experimental or empirical input is required) to predict multiple pure tone noise generation, in-duct propagation and far-field radiation. It uses measured blade coordinates to calculate MPT noise.