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This paper investigates and compares four commonly used flow transport equation-based cavitation models and their applicability to predict the cavitation performance of an industrial centrifugal pump with a helical inducer. The main purpose of this study is to identify, for this specific application, the most appropriate cavitation model and the associated empirical constants. Each cavitation model is reviewed in detail and the uniqueness of each model is outlined. Each cavitation model is incorporated in a computational fluid dynamics code to study the vaporization and condensation transport rate of the fluid. Experimental tests are conducted on a pump system to determine the true cavitation performance in terms of net positive suction head (NPSH). Experimental results are compared to simulation results for different cavitation models to validate cavitation performance predictions, along with the empirical constants. Lastly, bubble formation, cavitation inception, and bubble growth predicted by each cavitation model are compared with the experimental results. A sensitivity analysis is conducted in order to determine the impact of each set of empirical constants to the condensation and the vaporization rate in the centrifugal pump. Results show that two of the cavitation models exhibit high dependency on the empirical constants in terms of change in vaporization rate. Modifications to empirical constants for two of the four cavitation models are suggested to obtain agreement with the experimentally observed cavitation behavior and better predict NPSH performance for the industrial pump studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study torsional oscillations of a cross section of a thin plate submerged in a quiescent, Newtonian, incompressible, and viscous fluid. The plate is subjected to a prescribed shape-morphing deformation in phase with the rigid oscillation. The problem is completely described by three nondimensional parameters indicating oscillation frequency and amplitude and intensity of the shape-morphing deformation. We conduct a parametric study to investigate the possibility of controlling hydrodynamic moments and power dissipation through an active time-varying shape-morphing strategy. The problem is studied in both the linear and nonlinear flow regimes, by employing the boundary element method and direct numerical simulations via computational fluid dynamics methods, respectively. Investigation of flow physics demonstrates that, similarly to what is observed for the case of flexural oscillations, the shape-morphing strategy is effective in modulating vortex shedding in torsional oscillations. The results show that hydrodynamic power dissipation can be minimized and hydrodynamic moments can be controlled through an optimal imposed shape-morphing deformation. Findings from this study are directly applicable to torsional oscillation-based underwater energy harvesting or sensing and actuation systems, where control of hydrodynamic moments and reduction of hydrodynamic power losses are necessary for optimal device operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of the inducer tip clearance is studied to understand its impact on the cavitating and noncavitating performance of centrifugal pumps. Helical inducers with constant pitch and with variable (progressive) pitch are considered. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of a single stage pump are conducted on each inducer type to determine the cavitating (two-phase) and noncavitating (single-phase) performance for varying inducer tip clearance. The Rayleigh-Plesset cavitation model is used to understand the bubble dynamics under the assumptions of single fluid undergoing no thermal energy transfer between each phase. Experimental tests are conducted on a pump with the variable pitch inducer to determine the true performance in cavitating and noncavitating operating conditions. Experimental results are compared to the simulations to validate the accuracy of the proposed numerical modeling. Net positive suction head (NPSH) with 3% differential head drop is used as a criterion to identify the true cavitation performance of each inducer configuration. It is found that, as the inducer tip clearance increases, excessive back leakage and larger vortex recirculation occur at the tip location. This results in pressure loss within the inducer and, consequently, degrades the cavitation performance. In addition, the change in cavitation performance with the tip clearance is much more evident for variable pitch inducer geometries as compared to the constant pitch case. Furthermore, the impact on the noncavitating performance of inducer tip clearance is found to be minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider nonlinear oscillations of a shape-morphing plate submerged in a quiescent, Newtonian, viscous fluid. We investigate the two-dimensional problem arising from two prescribed concurrent periodic motions of the plate: a rigid oscillation along its transverse direction coupled to a shape-morphing deformation to an arc of a circle with prescribed maximum curvature. As opposed to existing literature concerned with passive flexible structures, this study focuses on actively prescribed deformations of the structure as a means to manipulate the vortex-shedding and convection patterns responsible for hydrodynamic forces and power dissipation during underwater oscillations. We elucidate the potential of the proposed shape-morphing strategy in regulating the added mass and damping effects along with the hydrodynamic power dissipation both in the linear and nonlinear hydrodynamic regime, by utilizing a linear boundary integral formulation as well as computational fluid dynamics simulations. Results show the possibility of minimizing the hydrodynamic power dissipation for optimal values of the imposed curvature, along with significant reduction of the hydrodynamic forces. A simplified semianalytical argument relates these novel effects to specific geometric properties of the plate motion. Findings from this study are directly relevant to cantilever-based sensing and actuation systems operating in fluids, where control and modulation of oscillation quality factors, hydrodynamic forces, and power losses is beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the problem of harmonic oscillations of a flanged lamina in a quiescent Newtonian incompressible viscous fluid. We conduct a comprehensive fluid–structure interaction investigation with the goal of assessing the effect of the presence of the flanges on the added mass and hydrodynamic damping experienced by the oscillating solid. We determine the complex nonlinear hydrodynamic function incorporating these effects via its real and imaginary parts, respectively, and its dependence on three nondimensional parameters that govern the flow evolution. We further investigate in detail the flow physics and the effects of nonlinearities on vortex shedding, convection, and diffusion in the vicinity of the oscillating structure. We find that the added mass effect is relatively independent of the oscillation amplitude and increases with the flange size. On the other hand, the hydrodynamic damping effect is remarkably affected by the interplay of geometry and dynamic parameters resulting into a peculiar non-monotonic behavior. We show the existence of a minimum in the hydrodynamic damping which can be attained via specific control of vortex–structure interaction dynamics and discuss its properties and significance from a physical perspective through analysis of the relevant flow fields. This novel finding has potential application for damping reduction in elastic systems where reduction of energy losses and increase of oscillation quality factor are desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we study finite amplitude vibrations of a cantilever beam of rectangular cross section immersed in a viscous fluid under harmonic base excitation. Fluid–structure interactions are modeled through a complex hydrodynamic function that describes added mass and damping effects in response to moderately large oscillation amplitudes. The hydrodynamic function is identified from the analysis of the two-dimensional flow physics generated by a rigid rectangle undergoing harmonic oscillations in a quiescent fluid. Computational fluid dynamics is used to investigate the effects of three salient non-dimensional parameters on the flow physics and inform the formulation of a tractable expression for the hydrodynamic function. Theoretical results are validated against experimental findings on underwater vibration of compliant beams of varying cross sections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports a study on the effect of orifice thickness-to-diameter ratio (τ / d) on the turbulent flow through an orifice plate. Details of the flow characteristics downstream of the orifice are investigated both experimentally and numerically for a Reynolds number of 25,000. For this purpose, seven orifice plates are manufactured with τ / d ranging between 0.27 and 1.37. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used to experimentally study the flow patterns downstream of the orifices, with particular focus on instantaneous and time-averaged velocity distributions, streamline patterns, turbulent kinetic energy, Reynolds shear stress, and out-of-plane vorticity. Results show that, with increasing τ / d , the location of the vena contracta moves closer to the orifice plate, and eventually inside for τ / d > 0.55. Increasing τ / d also results in decreasing turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds shear stress. For the selected τ / d range, experimental and numerical results are in good agreement with the thick and thin orifice classification available in the literature. • Effect of orifice thickness-to-diameter ratio, τ/ d on flow structures is studied. • Quantitative visualization of details of the orifice flow characteristics of hydrodynamics is reported. • As orifice thickness-to-diameter ratioincreases, decreasing velocity gradients and turbulence intensity are observed. • The minimum pressure downstream of the orifice is increased with increasing τ/ d , reached a peak value at τ/ d = 0.55 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]