Some characteristics of low-speed streaks under sheared air-water interfaces

The characteristics of low-speed fluid streaks occurring under sheared air-water interfaces were examined by means of hydrogen bubble visualization technique. A critical shear condition under which the streaky structure first appears was determined to be u(tau) approximate to 0.19 cm/s. The mean spanwise streak spacing increases with distance from the water surface owing to merging and bursting processes, and a linear relationship describing variation of non-dimensional spacing <(+)over bar> versus y(+) was found essentially independent of shear stress on the interface. Values of <(+)over bar>, however, are remarkably smaller than their counterparts in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers. Though low-speed streaks occur randomly in time and space, the streak spacing exhibits a lognormal probability distribution behavior. A tentative explanation concerning the formation of streaky structure is suggested, and the fact that <(+)over bar> takes rather smaller values than that in wall turbulence is briefly discussed.

An experimental study on turbulent coherent structures near a sheared air-water interface

The turbulence structures near a sheared air-water interface were experimentally investigated with the hydrogen bubble visualization technique. Surface shear was imposed by an airflow over the water flow which was kept free from surface waves. Results show that the wind shear has the main influence on coherent structures under air-water interfaces. Low- and high- speed streaks form in the region close to the interface as a result of the imposed shear stress. When a certain airflow velocity is reached, "turbulent spots" appear randomly at low-speed streaks with some characteristics of hairpin vortices. At even higher shear rates, the flow near the interface is dominated primarily by intermittent bursting events. The coherent structures observed neat sheared air-water interfaces show qualitative similarities with those occurring in near-wall turbulence. However, a few distinctive phenomena were also observed, including the fluctuating thickness of the instantaneous boundary layer and vertical vortices in bursting processes, which appear to be associated with the characteristics of air-water interfaces.

Evaluation of the Cumulative Formation of High-Speed Liquid Jets

This paper describes the generation of pulsed, high-speed liquid jets using the cumulation method. This work mainly includes (1) the design of the nozzle assembly, (2) the measurement of the jet velocity and (3) flow visualization of the injection sequences. The cumulation method can be briefly described as the liquid being accelerated first by the impact of a moving projectile and then further after it enters a converging section. The experimental results show that the cumulation method is useful in obtaining a liquid jet with high velocity. The flow visualization shows the roles of the Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in the breakup of the liquid depend on the jet diameter and the downstream distance. When the liquid jet front is far downstream from the nozzle exit, the jet is decelerated by air drag. Meanwhile, large coherent vortex structures are formed surrounding the jet. The liquid will break up totally by the action of these vortices. Experimental results showing the effect of the liquid volume on the jet velocity are also included in this paper. Finally, a method for measuring the jet velocity by cutting two carbon rods is examined.

Investigation of High-Speed Combustible Gas Ignited by a Hot Gas Jet Produced in the Shock Tube

The high-speed combustible gas ignited by a hot gas jet, which is induced by shock focusing, was experimentally investigated. By use of the separation mode of shock tube, the test section of a single shock tube is split into two parts, which provide the high-speed flow of combustible gas and pilot flame of hot gas jet, respectively. In the interface of two parts of test sections the flame of jet was formed and spread to the high-speed combustible gas. Two kinds of the ignitions, 3-D “line-flame ignition” and 2-D “plane-flame ignition”, were investigated. In the condition of 3-D “lineflame ignition” of combustion, thicker hot gas jet than pure air jet, was observed in schlieren photos. In the condition of 2-D “plane-flame ignition” of combustion, the delay time of ignition and the angle of flame front in schlieren photos were measured, from which the velocity of flame propagation in the high-speed combustible gas is estimated in the range of 30–90 m/s and the delay time of ignition is estimated in the range of 0.12–0.29 ms.

Comparison-speed liquid jets

The performance of a small high-speed liquid jet apparatus is described. Water jets with velocities from 200 to 700 m/s were obtained by firing a deformable lead slug from an air rifle into a stainless steel nozzle containing water sealed with a rubber diaphragm. Nozzle devices using the impact extrusion (IE) and cumulation (CU) methods were designed to generate the jets. The effect of the nozzle diameter and the downstream distance on the jet velocity is examined. The injection sequences are visualized using both shadowgraphy and schlieren photography. The difference between the IE and CU methods of jet generation is found.

Studies on two-phase co-current air/non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluid flows in inclined smooth pipes

In this work. co-current flow characteristics of air/non-Newtonian liquid systems in inclined smooth pipes are studied experimentally and theoretically using transparent tubes of 20, 40 and 60 turn in diameter. Each tube includes two 10 m lone pipe branches connected by a U-bend that is capable of being inclined to any angle, from a completely horizontal to a fully vertical position. The flow rate of each phase is varied over a wide range. The studied flow phenomena are bubbly, plug flow, slug flow, churn flow and annular flow. These are observed and recorded by a high flow. stratified flow. -speed camera over a wide range of operating conditions. The effects of the liquid phase properties, the inclination angle and the pipe diameter on two-phase flow characteristics are systematically studied. The Heywood-Charles model for horizontal flow was modified to accommodate stratified flow in inclined pipes, taking into account the average void fraction and pressure drop of the mixture flow of a gas/non-Newtonian liquid. The pressure drop gradient model of Taitel and Barnea for a gas/Newtonian liquid slug flow was extended to include liquids possessing shear-thinning flow behaviour in inclined pipes. The comparison of the predicted values with the experimental data shows that the models presented here provide a reasonable estimate of the average void fraction and the corresponding pressure drop for the mixture flow of a gas/ non-Newtonian liquid. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation of High-Speed Combustible Gas Ignited by a Hot Gas Jet Produced in the Shock Tube

The high-speed combustible gas ignited by a hot gas jet, which is induced by shock focusing, was experimentally investigated. By use of the separation mode of shock tube, the test section of a single shock tube is split into two parts, which provide the high-speed flow of combustible gas and pilot flame of hot gas jet, respectively. In the interface of two parts of test sections the flame of jet was formed and spread to the high-speed combustible gas. Two kinds of the ignitions, 3-D "line-flame ignition" and 2-D "plane-flame ignition", were investigated. In the condition of 3-D "line-flame ignition" of combustion, thicker hot gas jet than pure air jet, was observed in schlieren photos. In the condition of 2-D "plane-flame ignition" of combustion, the delay time of ignition and the angle of flame front in schlieren photos were measured, from which the velocity of flame propagation in the high-speed combustible gas is estimated in the range of 30-90m/s and the delay time of ignition is estimated in the range of 0.12-0.29ms.

Performance of a small high-speed liquid jet apparatus

The performance of a small high-speed liquid jet apparatus is described. Water jets of 200m/s to 700m/s have been obtained by firing a deformable lead slug from an air rifle into a stainless steel nozzle containing water sealed with a rubber diaphragm. Nozzle devices of using the impact extrusion (IE) method and cumulation (CU) method are designed to generate jets. The injection sequences are visualized using schlieren photography. The difference between the IE and CU methods in the jet generation is found.

Formation of X-waves at fundamental and harmonics by infrared femtosecond pulse filamentation in air

We experimentally observe the formation of X-waves at fundamental, third harmonic, and fifth harmonic wavelengths by infrared (central wavelength at similar to 1500 nm) femtosecond laser pulse filamentation in air. By fitting the angularly resolved spectra of the fundamental and harmonic waves using X-wave relations, we confirm that all the X-waves have nearly the same group velocity, indicating that they are locked in space and time during their propagation in filament.

Effect of wind speed on loss of water from Nostoc flagelliforme colonies

The effects of wind speed on loss of water from N. flagelliforme colonies were investigated indoors in an attempt to assess its ecological significance in field. Wind enhanced the process of waterless; the half-time of desiccation at wind speeds of 2.0 and 3.4 m s(-1) was, respectively, shortened to one-third and one-fifth at 20 degrees C and, to one-sixth and one-eighth at 27 degrees C that of still air. Photosynthetic efficiency was not affected before the wet alga lost about 50% water.

Dissolved oxygen and O-2 flux across the water-air interface of the Changjiang Estuary in May 2003

The field observation of this study was carried out in the Changjiang Estuary from May 19 to 26,2003, just a few days before the Three Gorges Dam began to store water. A total of 29 stations, including 2 anchor stations, were distributed through almost the whole salinity gradient Based on the data gained from these stations, the biogeochemical characteristics of dissolved oxygen (DO) were examined. Spatial distribution of DO concentrations showed the pattern that it increased in a downriver direction. DO concentration generally varied within a narrow range of 733-8.10 mg l(-1) in the freshwater region and the west part of the mixed water region, and after that it increased rapidly. In vertical direction, the differences in DO concentrations between surface and 2 m above the bottom were big at the stations with water depths exceeding 20 m; DO concentration up to 14.88 mg l(-1) was recorded at the sea surface, while at 2 m above the bottom its concentration was only about 4 mg l(-1). The fluctuation in DO concentrations was small during a period of 48 h in the mixed water region and 2 m above the bottom of the seawater region; while it was large during the same period in the seawater region for surface and 5 m below the surface layer, and a maximum variation from 8.77 to 12.66 mg l(-1) in 4 h was recorded. Oxygen fluxes also showed a marked spatio-temporal variation. As a whole, the freshwater region and mixed water region were an oxygen sink while the seawater region was a source. Relationships between dissolved oxygen and some biogeochemical parameters which could markedly influence its spatio-temporal distribution were discussed in this paper. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.