Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University of Technology

Final-year Projects, for Semester 1, 2015 Offered by:

Prof A.(Tony) D. Lucey & Dr R. M. Howell
1. Flow through/past sparse bodies (2 projects)
Field of Study: Fluid Mechanics (Experimental & Theoretical), Design
A sparse body is defined here as being an overall shape (e.g. a sphere) which is made
up from a collection of smaller solid elements (e.g. little cylinders laced together). A
fluid flow can either go round the overall shape (like flow past a solid sphere) or
through it in the spaces between the small cylinder elements. It seems that little is
known about such flows. The project seeks to characterise such flows, for example
the drag coefficient of the sparse body and how it depends upon a number of system
parameters. This project is a continuation of three run since 2010 that generated very
useful scientific initial results as well as establishing a test facility. The project is
experimental and will entail building/assembling sparse bodies and windtunnel/water-channel testing of the models.
2. Flow in gutters and downpipes (2 projects)
Field of Study: Fluid Mechanics (Experimental & Theoretical), Design
The flow of rainwater (coming from the edge of a roof) along a gutter is an example
of a spatially-varying channel flow. For the design of rainwater harvesting (RWH)
systems, we would like to generate design tools for the prediction of such flows in
order that this element of a RWH system can be optimised. So too, do we wish to
characterise the flow of water from the gutter into the down-pipe (which leads to the
water storage tank). A large and versatile test rig will be the principal facility for this
project.
2.1 Further experimental work on the spatially-varying flow in the gutter
would be undertaken for a range of simulated rainfall scenarios. We would
also like to investigate the linked problem of how the flow is removed from
the gutter end, either through a down-pipe connection or by free overflow; this
feature of the system may very well impact upon the optimal choice of gutter.
This project would entail both experimental work and modelling of the
system.
2.2 A mathematical model using non-dimensional analysis and asymptotic
expansions has been proposed. The purpose of this model is to predict the
variation of depth along the gutter. Further work on the improvement and
validation (against our growing body of experimental data) of this model
needs to be conducted so that it could be used as a powerful predictive tool. In
tandem, numerical methods can be used to solve the governing equations. To
do so requires an initial estimate of depth that would require some
experimental work on the RHW rig. Note that this project would require a
person with good mathematical skills.
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3. CFD using the discrete-vortex method (2 projects)

Field of Study: Fluid Mechanics Computational Methods
Vorticity is a fundamental feature of fluid flow. A non-conventional computational
approach to model fluid flows dominated by vortical motions is the discrete-vortex
method wherein the vorticity is discretised into numerous small elements. Each
element induces a velocity on the others and the resulting flow field moves the
elements so that features like a von Karman wake are captured. In this project, the
method will be used to study the roll up of the mixing layer that separates two streams
of fluid moving at different speeds. A 2007 project made considerable progress on
this problem that will serve as a good starting point. This type of interface undergoes
an elegant destabilisation that manifests itself as spiral-like waves. We will investigate
the use of different types of vortex element and consider further refinements such as
inter-vortex-element forces that could model a particle-laden flow and/or the effect of
viscous forces. Clearly, the project student would have to be unafraid of developing
computer code.
4. Energy harvesting - flutter of lifting surfaces (up to 5 projects)
Field of Study: Fluid Mechanics (Experimental & possibly Theoretical), Design,
Dynamics
In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in harvesting the energy generated
by the flutter of flexible surfaces. The preliminary objective will be to create a basic
rig to carry out a number of varying physical experiments. In the main we wish to
model cantilevered plates but also beams supported at both ends. Published designs
have concentrated on using electricity generated by straining piezo-electrics
distributed along the surface of the plate. These systems have the disadvantage of
fatigue failure and we propose alternative designs as detailed below.
4.1 Flutter (in an air flow) of a flexible plate on a spring mounting that allows
vertical motion or rotational motion of the mounting; this movement can be
used to create electricity and has the additional advantages over a piezoelectric
strain based system as the energy of the movement of the entire beam is
captured in the mounting. Both rigid and flexible plates would be investigated
in the wind tunnel. Of primary interest is the `tuning' of the system to extract
maximum power for various free-stream conditions by encouraging a steady
oscillation of the beam by variation of the electrical load. The rotational
system may well be more applicable to lower frequency oscillations induced in
heavier plates by heavier fluids
4.2 Flutter (in an air flow) of a flexible plate in a cross-flow: as above but with
the plate at a right angle to the oncoming flow. Analogous to air flow over a
bridge, this design has already been used in wind belts for a hinge-hinge
configuration. Similar to 4.1 above, we wish to formally investigate the
stability characteristics of this design and for other end conditions to validate a
numerical model developed in the department.
4.3 Effect of a free surface on the flutter of a cantilevered plate in a waterchannel flow: an initial experimental analysis of flutter of cantilevers in a
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heavier fluid. It is known that the flexible plate will undergo a greater amount
of flexure as the ratio of fluid mass to beam mass is increased. This would be a
precursor project to the development of a submerged flutter power device.
This project could have a computational component (second student) to use an
existing numerical-simulation model that has been developed in the
department.
4.4 Experimental and theoretical modelling of the vibration of a flexible band
in a cross flow, replicating the wind-belt technology. This is a different
mechanism to those discussed above because the belt chord is very short
compared to its width and thus its deformation occurs in the transverse
direction (the deformation of the flexible plates and flags occurs along their
streamwise extent).
5. Instability of flexible plates held along their edges (3 projects)
Field of Study: Fluid Mechanics (Experimental & possibly Theoretical), Design,
Dynamics
The instability of flexible plates subjected to a fluid flow over one side has many
engineering applications including those of the panel flutter of ship hulls, aircraft
skins and even the curtain walls often used on modern high-rise buildings. Our recent
interest has been focused on the effect of the proximity of a channel wall to the
flexible surface as found in many situations in flows in the human body. The
following projects are envisaged. Each project would entail design, build and test of a
small experimental rig.
5.1 Experimentally investigate the effect of an upper channel wall on the
stability of the flexible plate in the wind tunnel; a numerical-simulation of this
model is currently being developed in the Department and insight into the
numerical findings via these experiments would be valuable. We are especially
interested to see whether the channel-wall proximity destabilises the system as
predicted by the Bernoulli effect: a possibility exists that a narrow channel
may actually delay the instability onset in the flexible surface.
5.2 Effect of a closed baffle and stiffeners on the stability of a flexible plate to
investigate the possibility of instability delay. These situations have been
recently modelled via numerical simulation in the Department and
experimental confirmation of observed phenomena is of a high priority.
Surface instability delay of this type is of interest in drag reduction technology
which has many engineering applications and is observed in Nature most
famously in dolphin skin.
5.3 Experimental study of the stability of a flexible membrane separating two
channel flows of the same speed, or different speeds, or in opposing directions.
This study has application in reed musical-instrument design but also possibly
in the pathogenesis of the spinal disease Syringomyelia. Little is known about
this system and the instabilities/vibrations of the membrane that may occur
and this would therefore be novel research work.