Browsing by Subject "PIV"
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Item Analysis, comparison and modification of various Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) algorithms(Texas A&M University, 2005-02-17) Estrada Perez, Carlos EduardoA program based on particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) was developed in this work. The program was successfully validated by means of artificial images where parameters such as radius, concentration, and noise were varied in order to test their influence on the results. This program uses the mask cross correlation technique for particle centroid location. The sub-pixel accuracy is achieved using two different methods, the three point Gaussian interpolation method and the center of gravity method. The second method is only used if the first method fails. The object matching algorithm between frames uses cross correlation with a non binarized image. A performance comparison between different particle image velocimetry (PIV) and PTV algorithms was done using the international standard PIV challenge artificial images. The best performance was obtained by the program developed in this work. It showed the best accuracy, and the best spatial resolution by finding the larger number of correct vectors of all algorithm tested. A procedure is proposed to obtain error estimates for real images based on errors calculated with experimental ones. Using this procedure a real PIV image with 20% noise has an estimated average error of 0.1 pixel. Results of the analysis of 200 experimental images are shown for the two best PTV algorithms.Item Development of scalar and velocity imaging diagnostics for supersonic hypermixing strut injector flowfields(2014-12) Burns, Ross Andrew; Clemens, Noel T.A new diagnostic technique for studying the turbulent mixing characteristics of supersonic mixing flowfields is developed and implemented in two Mach 3 mixing flowfields. The diagnostic utilizes simultaneous particle image velocimetry and quantitative planar laser-induced fluorescence of krypton gas to study the interaction between turbulent scalar and velocity fields. The fluorescence properties of krypton gas are determined; measurements of the pressure and temperature dependence of the collisional quenching rates and cross-sections are made for various mixtures with krypton. The gases tested in this fashion include helium, nitrogen, air, oxygen, and ethylene. Additional measurements are performed to measure the relative two-photon absorption cross-section for krypton gas. The non-dimensional quenching rates are found to follow a power-law dependence for temperature, while the pressure dependence of the total quenching rate is found to be linear. Two injection flowfields are studied for their general topology and kinematic characteristcs. The first injector model is a basic injector meant to serve as a baseline case; there are no hypermixing elements present in this model. The second model is an asymmetric, unswept hypermixing injector featuring 15 degree expansive ramps flanking a central block. These studies utilize particle image velocimetry in planar and stereoscopic configurations in various planes. Results for the mean flowfield show distinct differences between the two flowfields; the planar injector flowfield is shown to be highly two-dimensional and exhibits minimal coherent unsteady behavior. The hypermixing injector flowfield exhibits a highly three-dimensional wake, with a pair of stream-wise vortices driving both mean deviations in the flowfield and considerable vortical coupling in the span-wise direction. Simultaneous krypton PLIF and PIV are employed in the two mixing flowfields. An assay of the dependence of the krypton mole fraction calculations on the fluorescence signal is performed. The overall sensitivity and the resulting dynamic range of the calibration is dictated largely by the reference mole fraction. Additionally, several different theoretical models of the temperature dependence of the fluorescence signal are studied to assess their validity and influence over the PLIF calibration procedure. Finally, the technique is employed in the two mixing flowfields, and a brief analysis of the mean and unsteady behavior of the two is conducted.Item Entrainment and mixing properties of multiphase plumes: Experimental studies on turbulence and scalar structure of a bubble plume(2009-05-15) Seol, Dong GuanThis dissertation presents a series of laboratory experiments to study flow and mixing properties of multiphase plumes. The particle image velocimetry (PIV) and laserinduced fluorescence (LIF) techniques are developed to measure two-dimensional velocity and concentration fields of multiphase plumes. The developed measurement techniques are applied to bubble plumes in different ambient conditions. The problems and errors in the two-phase PIV application to a bubble plume case are addressed through a comparative study between the optical separation method using fluorescent particles and a new phase separation method using vector postprocessing. The study shows that the new algorithm predicts well the instantaneous and time-averaged velocity profiles and has errors comparable to those for image masking techniques. The phase separation method developed in the previous section is applied to study the mean flow characteristics of a bubble plume in quiescent and unstratified condition. The entrainment coefficients representing the mixing properties of a bubble plume are calculated to lie between 0.08 near the plume source and 0.05 in the upper region, and to depend on the non-dimensional quantity us/(B/z)1/3, where us is the bubble slip velocity, B is the initial buoyancy flux, and z is the height from the diffuser. Further, the LIF technique is investigated to measure the scalar concentration field around a bubble plume in quiescent, unstratified condition. This new application to bubble plumes accounts for light scattering by bubbles using an attenuation coef- ficient that is proportional to the local void fraction. Measured scalar concentration fields show similar trend in concentration fluctuation to turbulent plume cases. Finally, the velocity and concentration field measurements using the developed two-phase PIV and LIF methods are applied for a bubble plume in a density-stratified ambient. The turbulent flow characteristics induced by a bubble plume in a stratified ambient water are studied. The plume fluctuation frequency is measured as about 0.1 Hz and compares well to plume wandering frequency measured in unstratified plume cases.Item Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Vibrational Non-Equilibrium on the Decay of Grid-Generated Turbulence(2010-10-12) Fuller, T. J.The technical feasibility of hypersonic flight (i.e., re-entry, hypersonic flight vehicles, cruise missiles, etc.) hinges on our ability to understand, predict, and control the transport of turbulence in the presence of non-equilibrium effects. A theoretical analysis of the governing equations suggests a mechanism by which fluctuations in internal energy are coupled to the transport of turbulence. Numerical studies of these flows have been conducted, but limited computational power results in reduced fidelity. Experimental studies are exceedingly rare and, consequently, experimental data available to build and evaluate turbulence models is nearly non-existent. The Decaying Mesh Turbulence (DMT) facility was designed and constructed to generate a fundamental decaying mesh turbulent flow field with passive grids. Vibrational non-equilibrium was achieved via a capacitively-coupled radio-frequency (RF) plasma discharge which required an operating pressure of 30 Torr. The flow velocity was 30 m/s. Data was recorded with each grid at multiple plasma powers (Off, 150 W, and 300 W). Over two terabytes of highly resolved (3,450 image pairs) two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) was acquired and archived. Temperature measurements were carried out using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). The primary objective of this study was to answer the fundamental scientific question: "Does thermal non-equilibrium alter the decay rate of turbulence?" The results of this study show that the answer is "Yes." The results demonstrate a clear coupling between thermal non-equilibrium and turbulence transport. The trends observed agree with those expected based on an analysis of the Reynolds stress transport equations, which provides confidence in transport equation-based modeling. A non-trivial reduction (~30%) in the decay rate downstream of the 300 W plasma discharge was observed. The data also show that the decay of TKE downstream of the plasma discharge was delayed (~20% downstream shift). In addition, the thermal non-equilbrium was observed to have no effect on the transverse stress. This suggests that, for this flow, the energy dilatation terms are small and unaffected by the plasma discharge, which simplifies modeling.Item Experimental analysis of the vorticity and turbulent flow dynamics of a pitching airfoil at realistic flight (helicopter) conditions(Texas A&M University, 2008-10-10) Sahoo, DipankarImproved basic understanding, predictability, and controllability of vortex-dominated and unsteady aerodynamic flows are important in enhancement of the performance of next generation helicopters. The primary objective of this research project was improved understanding of the fundamental vorticity and turbulent flow physics for a dynamically stalling airfoil at realistic helicopter flight conditions. An experimental program was performed on a large-scale (C = 0.45 m) dynamically pitching NACA 0012 wing operating in the Texas A&M University large-scale wind tunnel. High-resolution particle image velocimetry data were acquired on the first 10-15% of the wing. Six test cases were examined including the unsteady (k>0) and steady (k=0) conditions. The relevant mechanical, shear and turbulent time-scales were all of comparable magnitude, which indicated that the flow was in a state of mechanical non-equilibrium, and the expected flow separation and reattachment hystersis was observed. Analyses of the databases provided new insights into the leading-edge Reynolds stress structure and the turbulent transport processes. Both of which were previously uncharacterized. During the upstroke motion of the wing, a bubble structure formed in the leading-edge Reynolds shear stress. The size of the bubble increased with increasing angle-of-attack before being diffused into a shear layer at full separation. The turbulent transport analyses indicated that the axial stress production was positive, where the transverse production was negative. This implied that axial turbulent stresses were being produced from the axial component of the mean flow. A significant portion of the energy was transferred to the transverse stress through the pressure-strain redistribution, and then back to the transverse mean flow through the negative transverse production. An opposite trend was observed further downstream of this region.Item Experimental Design and Flow Visualization for the Upper Plenum of a Very High Temperature Gas Cooled for Computer Fluid Dynamics Validation(2014-08-08) Mcvay, KyleThe Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is a Generation IV nuclear reactor that is currently under design. It modifies the current high temperature gas reactor (HTGR) design to have a 1000 ^(0)C coolant outlet. This increases fuel efficiency and allows for other industrial applications. During the design process several studies are performed to develop safety codes for the reactor. One major accident of interest is the Pressurized Conduction Cooldown (PCC) scenario. The PCC scenario involves loss of forced coolant to the core but the loop stays pressurized. This results in a large buoyancy force that through natural convection reverses the flow of the core coolant loop to circulate into the upper plenum of the VHTR. Computer codes may be developed to simulate the phenomenon that occurs in a PCC scenario, but benchmark data is needed to validate the simulations. There are currently no experimental models to provide benchmark data for the PCC scenario. This study will cover the design, construction, and testing of a 1/16th scaled model of a VHTR that uses Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) for flow visualization in the upper plenum. Three tests were run for a partially heated core at statistically steady state, and PIV was used to generate the velocity field of three naturally convective adjacent jets. Recirculation between the jets occurred until the jets reached the mixing point three cm from the outlet where turbulent mixing was observed. A sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm 1000 image pairs was sufficient to correctly represent the flow. The results were then validated by comparing the PIV results with experimental data and calculated values.Item Experimental Observation and Measurements of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer using PIV, Shadowgraphy, RICM Techniques(2012-12-05) Di, Yuan 1988-This present study seeks to contribute detailed visualization data on a pool boiling experiments using HFE-7000. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure the time resolved whole field liquid velocity. Bubble dynamic parameters such as nucleation site density, bubble departure diameter, contact angles and frequency were obtained in shadowgraphy measurements. Infrared thermometry with an IR camera was used for observation of temperature fluctuations of nucleation sites. The experiments were taken for the heat flux from 0.042 kW/m^2 to 0.266 kW/m^2, six experimental conditions in total. To provide a supplementary description of heat transfer mechanism, a novel bubble characterization technique, reflection interference contrast microscopy (RICM), was used to obtain detailed information on bubble dynamic parameters on the microscopic scale. Bubble diameter was obtained from RICM pictures. Comparison between the experiments results and previous empirical correlation were made. Agreements and discrepancies were discussed.Item Experimental Study on Kinematics and Dynamics of Breaking Waves in Deep Water(2011-10-21) Lim, Ho JoonA new measurement technique called fiber optic reflectometer (FOR) was developed to investigate multiphase flows. The principle and setup of the FOR technique were introduced and applied to various experiments. Based on the coherently mixed signal between the Fresnel reflection off the fiber-liquid interface and the scattered signal off the object, such as a gas bubble, and a solid particle, this single probe technique is capable of simultaneously measuring the velocity of the object with a high accuracy and the phase of the fluid. In addition, bubble diameter, velocity, and void fraction were measured directly. By means of a simple modification of the FOR technique, solute concentration and refractive index change were measured with a greatly improved accuracy. This modified technique was used for measuring of a NaCl concentration in deionized water to validate a new normalization technique. In the second part of this thesis, a plunging breaking wave in deep water has been studied. Using the wave focusing method, a strong plunging breaker was generated with accuracy in the deep water condition in a two-dimensional wave tank. It was possible to describe the breaking process in detail using a high speed camera with a frame rate of 500 or 1000 fps. Four kinds of experimental techniques were employed or developed to investigate the plunging breaker. Bubble image velocimetry (BIV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) were used to measure the velocity fields. The velocity fields of the highly aerated region were obtained from the BIV measurements. In addition, the modified PIV technique is capable of measuring the velocities in the entire flow field including the aerated region. Mean and turbulent properties were obtained by the ensemble average. The mean velocity, mean vorticity, and mean kinetic energy were examined over the entire flow field. In addition, the Reynolds stresses and turbulent kinetic energy were calculated with high temporal and spatial resolutions. Free surface elevation was obtained from wave gauge measurements. BIV and PIV images were also used to obtain the free surface elevation and the boundary of the aerated region for more accurate results. The FOR technique was used to obtain the void ratio at each splash-up region. Compressibility of the plunging breaker was considered. Mass flux, momentum flux, kinetic energy, and Reynolds stresses at each FOR station were recalculated using the void ratio obtained from the FOR measurements. All terms at the first splash-up region were highly overestimated more than 100 percent unless the void ratio was applied to the calculation of fluxes and energies. Compared with the fully developed first splash-up region, the overestimation at the second and third splash-up was less significant. However, most terms were overestimated by 20~30 percent when the void ratio was not considered.Item Experimental study on rectangular barge in beam sea(Texas A&M University, 2005-08-29) Jung, Kwang-HyoThis study presents laboratory observations of flow characteristics for regular waves passing a rectangular barge in a two dimensional wave tank. The rectangular barge was fixed and free to roll (one degree of freedom) in a beam sea. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was employed to measure the velocity field in the vicinity of the structure. The mean velocity and turbulence properties were obtained by phase-averaging the velocity profiles from repeated test runs. The quantitative flow characteristics were represented to elucidate the coupled interactions between the regular wave and the barge in roll motion or fixed condition. Additionally, the turbulence properties including the turbulence length scale and the turbulent kinetic energy budget were investigated to characterize the flow pattern due to the wave interaction. Because all the data including wave elevations, roll motion, and dynamic pressure were synchronized with velocity profiles, the results between the roll motion and the fixed condition were compared. The viscous effects due to the flow separation depend on the relative relation between the wave water particle motion and the roll motion of the barge. The viscous damping mechanism that reduces the roll motion at the roll natural period wave is illustrated. It shows that the vortex flow was mainly induced by the roll motion. For wave periods longer than the roll natural period, the flow was separated in different directions accompanying the roll natural period wave. The longer waves may help the roll motion with the vortex flow predominantly separated by the wave water particle motion rather than the barge motion. This may be called the viscous exciting effect. Moreover, the variations of dynamic pressures near the corners were measured and analyzed along with the viscous effect for both the roll motion and the fixed barge cases.Item Modification of turbulent structure in channel flows by microbubble injection close to the wall(Texas A&M University, 2005-11-01) Gutierrez Torres, Claudia del CarmenAn investigation of turbulent structure modification of a boundary layer for a fully developed channel flow by microbubble injection close to the upper wall was carried out using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Two-dimensional velocity components in an x-y plane at Reynolds number of 5128 based on the half height of the channel and bulk velocity were measured. Microbubbles, with an average diameter of 30 ??m were produced by electrolysis and injected in the buffer layer. Different values of the void fraction were attained and used to evaluate the effects of the presence of microbubbles and their concentration within the boundary layer. A reduction in drag was observed due to the injection of microbubbles. Drag reduction augments as the value of the void fraction increases. Furthermore, increases in both the non-dimensional values of streamwise and normal turbulent intensities, normalized by the friction velocity were observed with the void fraction growth. A gradual decrease in the Reynolds shear stresses was achieved as the void fraction increases. This effect is due to a ??decorrelation?? or ??decoupling?? between the streamwise and normal fluctuating velocities. Modifications in the length and time scales due to the presence of microbubbles were detected by calculating two-point correlation coefficients in one and two dimensions and the autocorrelation coefficient at various locations within the measurement zone. Streamline length and time scales were increased. On the contrary, the normal length and time scales were decreased. The vorticity and strain rate values decreased with the injection of microbubbles. Turbulent energy production was also decreased within the boundary layer. Quadrant analysis was used to find out the contribution of the u?? and v?? fluctuating velocity components to the Reynolds stress. The presence of microbubbles reduces the contribution to the Reynolds stresses by Q4 events (sweeps), which are responsible for the production of skin friction. Vortical structure detection in the measurement area was pursued. The structure with and without the microbubble injection is compared. In this study the presence of microbubbles within the boundary layer has produced several modifications in the flow structure as well as reduction in the drag.Item On the Effect of Initial Conditions on Rayleigh-Taylor Mixing(2014-12-16) Kuchibhatla, Sarat ChandraAn experimental investigation of the effects of Initial Conditions (ICs) on Rayleigh-Taylor Instability (RTI) is performed using theWater Channel facility at Texas A&M University. Hot and cold water (with a temperature difference of ~ 5-8 ?C) selected as working fluids are unstably stratified initially. The resulting Atwood number for this instability is of the order of 10^-3. In this dissertation, effect of the composition of the initial perturbations generated by a flapper mechanism is studied. Using the servo controlled flapper system, initial wavelengths are varied between 2-8 cm and phase angles within 0-180?, and the dependence of ensemble averaged mixing width in the linear and nonlinear stages of growth on low Atwood number Rayleigh-Taylor mixing is studied. The Interaction of multiple (up to 11) modes of the IC is studied by varying the wavelengths and phase angles that are generated at the interface of these fluids. High resolution Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) images of the flow field indicate that changing the phase angle results in the leaning phenomenon, i.e. the leaning of bubbles and spikes with respect to gravitational acceleration, and relative to each other. Experimental measurement of total mixing width, quality of molecular mixing and scalar dissipation rate are performed using ensemble averaging technique. The results indicate that nonlinear mode coupling of the initial modes affects the rate of mixing as well as the transition to turbulence. Molecular mixing measurements indicate that the molecular mixing rate depends upon the ICs. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) data indicates that late-time velocity profiles of the mixing layer depend upon ICs. While the density power spectra indicate independence of ICs in the inertial range, the turbulent velocity statistics indicate that increasing the number of modes of the IC quickens the transition to turbulence. It also results in greater mixing, which reduces the density gradients as the flow evolves with time. Thus, the memory of the ICs is lost sooner with increasing number of initial modes.Item Particle image velocimetry in an advanced, serpentine jet engine inlet duct(2009-05-15) Tichenor, Nathan RyanThe overarching objective of this research project was to gain improved basic understanding of the fluid mechanisms governing the development of secondary flow structures in complex, three-dimensional inlet ducts. To accomplish this objective, particle image velocimetry measurements were employed to document the mean and turbulent flow properties within the complex flow regions. Complimentary, surface oil flow visualizations and static pressures were obtained to aid in the interpretation of the PIV data. Using these diagnostic techniques, the formation of a pair of counter-rotating vortices was revealed. Two-dimensional PIV measurements were conducted along 20 planes near the two bends of the duct model. All data was collected with an incoming freestream of 40 m/s. Over 2000 image pairs were collected for each measurement location, which were then processed and averaged to generate mean velocity, variance intensity, and velocity gradient statistics. The data was analyzed and it was determined that the experimental PIV data corresponded well with the qualitative flow visualization. This research will contribute to the particle image velocimetry database and subsequent analyses, which will provide additional insight into the flow structure and provide a new database for numerical model validation.Item Particle Image Velocimetry Near the Leading Edge of a Sikorsky SSC-A09 Wing During Dynamic Stall(2012-02-14) Vannelli, Rachel ReneeDynamic stall has proven to be a complex problem in helicopter aerodynamics because it limits the helicopter flight regime. Dynamic stall is characterized by drastic increases in lift and a delay of stall due to rapid pitching motions of aerodynamic surfaces. Prediction and control of dynamic stall requires an understanding of the leading edge flow structure. An investigation was conducted of dynamic stall near the leading edge of a large-scale Sikorsky SSC-A09 airfoil, dynamically pitching about its quarter chord, under realistic helicopter flight conditions (M_infinity = 0.1, k = 0.1, Re_c = 1.0 x 10^6). A testing model with a chord of 0.46 m and a span of 2.13 m was designed and constructed for experimentation in the Dynamic Stall Facility at Texas A&M University. Particle image velocimetry data were recorded for the first 15% of the airfoil chord. Mean velocities, Reynolds stresses, and vorticity were computed. Analyses revealed that during the upstroke, stall onset is delayed in the leading edge region and the first indications of separation are observed at 18 degree angle of attack. The edge of the boundary layer has been characterized for alpha = 18 degrees. The roles of the Reynolds stresses and vorticity are examined.Item PIV measurements of flow-field downstream of a cylinder with and without fairing and comparison with CFD(2013-05) Stetson, Peter Burrows; Kinnas, Spyros A.This work examines the ability of two dimensional CFD models to predict the unsteady flow downstream of a cylinder, with and without fairing, in uniform flow. PIV measurements of the flow-field downstream of the cylinder and fairing in uniform flow are first presented. “Slices” of the flow at several locations along the cylinder are compared to show the variation of the flow in the cross-stream direction. Then the PIV flow is compared with RANS and LES simulations of the flow. Velocity time histories are compared and hydrodynamic coefficients are discussed. In a general sense, two dimensional CFD can give a functional approximation of the unsteady flow field downstream of the cylinder or fairing.Item Quantitative measurements of ablation-products transport in supersonic turbulent flows using planar laser-induced fluorescence(2015-08) Combs, Christopher Stanley; Clemens, Noel T.; Danehy, Paul M; Ezekoye, Ofodike A; Raja, Laxminarayan; Varghese, Philip LA recently-developed experimental technique based on the sublimation of naphthalene, which enables imaging of the dispersion of a passive scalar using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), is applied to a Mach 5 turbulent boundary layer and a NASA Orion capsule flowfield. To enable the quantification of naphthalene PLIF images, quantitative fluorescence and quenching measurements were made in a temperature- and pressure-regulated test cell. The test cell measurements were of the naphthalene fluorescence lifetime and integrated fluorescence signal over the temperature range of 100 K to 525 K and pressure range of 1 kPa to 40 kPa in air. These data enabled the calculation of naphthalene fluorescence yield and absorption cross section over the range of temperatures and pressures tested, which were then fit to simple functional forms for use in the calibration of the PLIF images. Quantitative naphthalene PLIF images in the Mach 5 boundary layer revealed large-scale naphthalene vapor structures that were regularly ejected out to wall distances of approximately y/δ = 0.6 for a field of view that spanned 3δ to 5δ downstream of the trailing edge of the naphthalene insert. The magnitude of the calculated naphthalene mole fraction in these structures at y/δ = 0.2 ranged from approximately 1-6% of the saturation mole fraction at the wind tunnel recovery temperature and static pressure. An uncertainty analysis showed that the uncertainty in the inferred naphthalene mole fraction measurements was ± 20%. Mean mole fraction profiles collected at different streamwise locations were normalized by the mole fraction measured at the wall and a characteristic height of the scalar boundary layer, causing the profiles to collapse into one “universal” mole fraction profile. Two-dimensional fields of naphthalene mole fraction were also obtained simultaneously with velocity by using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and PLIF. The images show large-scale naphthalene vapor structures that coincide with regions of relatively low streamwise velocity. The covariance of naphthalene mole fraction with velocity indicates that an ejection mechanism is transporting low-momentum, high-scalar-concentration fluid away from the wall, resulting in the protrusions of naphthalene vapor evident in the instantaneous PLIF images. Lastly, naphthalene PLIF was used to visualize the dispersion of gas-phase ablation products on a scaled Orion capsule model at four different angles of attack at Mach 5. High concentrations of scalar were imaged in the capsule recirculation region. Additionally, intermittent turbulent structures were visualized on the heat shield surface, particularly for the 12° and 52° AoA cases.Item Wall-pressure and PIV analysis for microbubble drag reduction investigation(Texas A&M University, 2005-11-01) Dominguez Ontiveros, Elvis EfrenThe effects of microbubbles injection in the boundary layer of a turbulent channel flow are investigated. Electrolysis demonstrated to be an effective method to produce microbubbles with an average diameter of 30 ??m and allowed the placement of microbubbles at desired locations within the boundary layer. Measurement of velocity fluctuations and the instantaneous wall shear stress were carried out in a channel flow facility. The wall shear stress is an important parameter that can help with the characterization of the boundary layer. This parameter can be obtained indirectly by the measurement of the flow pressure at the wall. The wall shear stress in the channel was measured by means of three different independent methods: measurement of the pressure gradient by a differential pressure transducer, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), and an optical wall shear stress sensor. The three methods showed reasonable agreement of the wall shear stress values for single-phase flow. However, differences as skin friction reductions were observed when the microbubbles were injected. Several measurements of wall-pressure were taken at various Reynolds numbers that ranged from 300 up to 6154. No significant drag reduction was observed for flows in the laminar range; however, a drag reduction of about 16% was detected for turbulent Reynolds numbers. The wall-pressure measurements were shown to be a powerful tool for the measurement of drag reduction, which could help with the design of systems capable of controlling the skin friction based on feedback given by the wall-pressure signal. The proposed measurement system designed in this work has capabilities for application in such diverse fields as multiphase flows, drag reduction, stratified flows, heat transfer among others. The synchronization between independent systems and apparatus has the potential to bring insight about the complicated phenomena involved in the nature of fluid flows.Item Wavelet analysis study of microbubble drag reduction in a boundary channel flow(Texas A&M University, 2006-04-12) Zhen, LingParticle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and pressure measurement techniques were performed to investigate the drag reduction due to microbubble injection in the boundary layer of a fully developed turbulent channel flow. Two-dimensional full-field velocity components in streamwise-near-wall normal plane of a turbulent channel flow at Reynolds number of 5128 based on the half height of the channel were measured. The influence of the presence of microbubbles in the boundary layer was assessed and compared with single phase channel flow characteristics. A drag reduction of 38.4% was achieved with void fraction of 4.9%. The measurements were analyzed by studying the turbulence characteristics utilizing wavelet techniques. The wavelet cross-correlation and auto-correlation maps with and without microbubbles were studied and compared. The two-dimensional and threedimensional wavelet maps were used to interpret the results. The following observations were deduced from this study: 1. The microbubble injection within the boundary layer increases the turbulent energy of the streamwise velocity components of the large scale (large eddy size, low frequency) range and decreases the energy of the small scale (small eddy size, high frequency) range. 2. The wavelet cross-correlation maps of the normal velocities indicate that the microbubble presence decrease the turbulent energy of normal velocity components for both the large scale (large eddy size, low frequency) and the small scale (small eddy size, high frequency) ranges. 3. The wavelet auto-correlation maps of streamwise velocity shows that the intensities at low frequency range were increased with microbubble presence and the intensities at high frequency range were decreased. 4. The turbulent intensities for the normal fluctuating velocities at both low frequency and high frequency range were decreased with microbubble injection. This study presents the modifications in the characteristics of the boundary layer of channel flow which are attributed to the presence of microbubbles. Drag reduction studies with microbubble injections utilizing wavelet techniques are promising and are needed to understand the drag reduction phenomena.