Modeling of unsteady transitional boundary layers

In turbomachinery, a considerable proportion of the blade surface area can be covered by transitional boundary layers. This means that accurate prediction of the profile loss and boundary layer behavior in general depends on the accurate modeling of the transitional boundary layers, especially at low Reynolds numbers. This paper presents a model for determining the intermittency resulting from the unsteady transition caused by the passage of wakes over a blade surface. The model is founded on work by Emmons (1951) who showed that the intermittency could be calculated from a knowledge of the behavior of randomly formed turbulent spots. The model is used to calculate the development of the boundary layer on the rotor of a low Reynolds number single-stage turbine. The predictions are compared with experimental results obtained using surface-mounted hot-film anemometers and hot-wire traverses of the rotor midspan boundary layer at two different rotor-stator gaps. The validity and limitations of the model are discussed.

Reprint of: Flow filtering and the physical sources of aerodynamic sound

The physical sources of sound are expressed in terms of the non-radiating part of the flow. The non-radiating part of the flow can be obtained from convolution filtering, as we demonstrate numerically by using an axi-symmetric jet satisfying the Navier-Stokes equations. Based on the frequency spectrum of the source, we show that the sound sources exhibit more physical behaviour than sound sources based on acoustic analogies. To validate the sources of sound, one needs to let them radiate within the non-radiating flow field. However, our results suggest that the traditional Euler operator linearized about the time-averaged part of the flow should be sufficient to compute the sound field. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

CFD-DEM simulation of propagation of sound waves in fluid particles fluidised medium

In this work, speed of sound in 2 phase mixture has been explored using CFD-DEM (Computational Fluid Dynamcis - Discrete Element Modelling). In this method volume averaged Navier Stokes, continuity and energy equations are solved for fluid. Particles are simulated as individual entities; their behaviour is captured by Newton's laws of motion and classical contact mechanics. Particle-fluid interaction is captured using drag laws given in literature.The speed of sound in a medium depends on physical properties. It has been found experimentally that speed of sound drops significantly in 2 phase mixture of fluidised particles because of its increased density relative to gas while maintaining its compressibility. Due to the high rate of heat transfer within 2 phase medium as given in Roy et al. (1990), it has been assumed that the fluidised gas-particle medium is isothermal.The similar phenomenon has been tried to be captured using CFD-DEM numerical simulation. The disturbance is introduced and fundamental frequency in the medium is noted to measure the speed of sound for e.g. organ pipe. It has been found that speed of sound is in agreement with the relationship given in Roy et al. (1990). Their assumption that the system is isothermal also appears to be valid.

Active control of sound radiated by a submarine hull in bending vibration using inertial actuators

Submarines are efficient sources of low frequency radiated noise due to the vibrations induced by the rotation of the propeller in a non uniform wake. In this work the possibility of using inertial actuators to reduce the far field sound pressure is investigated. The submerged vessel is modelled as a cylindrical shell with two conical end caps. Complicating effects such as ring stiffeners, bulkheads and the fluid loading are taken into account. A harmonic radial force is transmitted from the propeller to the hull through the stern end cone and it is tonal at the blade passing frequency (rotational speed of the shaft multiplied by the number of blades). The actuators are attached at the inside of the prow end cone to form a circumferential array. Both Active Vibration Control (AVC) and Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC) are analysed and it is shown that the inertial actuators can significantly reduce the far field sound pressure.

Comment on "Acoustic chaos in a duct with two separate sound sources" [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 120-126 (2001)] (L)

In a paper published in this journal in 2001 by Dong [W. G. Dong, X. Y. Huang, and Q. L. Wo, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 120-126 (2001)] it was claimed that acoustic chaos was obtained experimentally by the nonlinear interaction of two acoustic waves in a duct. In this comment a simple experimental setup and an analytical model is used to show that the dynamics of such systems corresponds to a quasiperiodic motion, and not to a chaotic one. © 2008 Acoustical Society of America.

Influence of physical parameters of sound on the sensory gating effects of N40 in rats

Sensory gating is the ability of the brain to modulate its sensitivity to incoming stimuli. The N40 component of the auditory evoked potential, evaluated with the paired click paradigm, was used to probe the gating effect in rats. The physical characteris