Browsing by Author "Tipnis, T. J."

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    Density Measurements for Rectangular Free Jets Using Background Oriented Schlieren
    (Royal Aeronautical Society, 2013-08-30T00:00:00Z) Tipnis, T. J.; Finnis, Mark V.; Knowles, Kevin; Bray, Derek
    An experimental study incorporating the use of the Background-Oriented Schlieren (BOS) technique was performed to measure the density field of a rectangular supersonic jet. This technique is easier to set up than conventional schlieren since the optical alignment involving the various mirrors, lenses and knife-edge is replaced by a background pattern and a single digital camera. The acquired images which contain information of density gradients in the flow are solved as a Poisson equation and further processed using deconvolution and tomographic algorithms to generate a 3-D domain which contains information about the actual density. 2-D slices can then be extracted to quantitatively visualise the density along any required planes. The results from supersonic axisymmetric jets are used for validation of the code; these show excellent agreement with pre-validated CFD data. The results for a rectangular supersonic jet are then obtained. These show good agreement with the CFD data, in terms of shock-cell spacing and overall structure of the jet. The technique has proved useful for investigating axis-switching, a phenomenon generally associated with non-axisymmetric jets.
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    Effects of upstream nozzle geometry on rectangular free jets
    (2010-09-17) Tipnis, T. J.; Bray, Derek; Knowles, Kevin
    This study is aimed at understanding the effects of changing the upstream nozzle geometry on the development of rectangular free jets. An existing converging rectangular nozzle with an exit aspect ratio of 4 and a circular inlet (AR4 nozzle) has been used as the basic configuration for this work. The study is primarily based on the results of numerical simulations wherein the internal geometry variation is accomplished by changing the inlet aspect ratio (AR,) and the length of the converging section, expressed as a ratio with respect to the length of the nozzle (called 'converging section ratio*, CSR); all the other parameters are kept constant. The results from LDA experiments done on the AR4 nozzle are presented and used as validation data for the CPD simulations. Analyses of the numerical results help in understanding the variation of the jet spreading for different combinations of AR, and CSR. Two parameters are identified for describing the jet development: the cross-over point (XC), defined as the location downstream of the exit where the jet half-velocity-widths (B) along the major and minor axes are equal, and the difference in the half-velocity-widths at 30 nozzle equivalent diameters (Dm) from the exit (AB30), to ascertain the occurrence of axis-switching. For a given AR,, XC varies linearly with CSR; the variation of XC is non-linear with AR, for a constant CSR. The A1330 variation is non-linear with both AR, and CSR; the other variable being kept constant. The data obtained from the simulations are further used to propose two parametric models which can be used to predict the occurrence of axis-switching, within the scope of this work. The parametric models are validated and future work is proposed.
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    Statistical modelling for prediction of axis-switching in rectangular jets
    (Professional Engineering Publishing, 2013-08-01T00:00:00Z) Tipnis, T. J.; Knowles, Kevin; Bray, Derek
    Rectangular nozzles are increasingly used for modern military aircraft propulsion installations, including the roll nozzles on the F-35B vertical/short take-off and landing strike fighter. A peculiar phenomenon known as axis-switching is generally observed in such non-axisymmetric nozzle flows during which the jet spreads faster along the minor axis compared to the major axis. This might affect the under-wing stores and aircraft structure. A computational fluid dynamics study was performed to understand the effects of changing the upstream nozzle geometry on a rectangular free jet. A method is proposed, involving the formulation of an equation based upon a statistical model for a rectangular nozzle with an exit aspect ratio (ARe) of 4; the variables under consideration (for a constant nozzle pressure ratio (NPR)) being inlet aspect ratio (ARi) and length of the contraction section. The jet development was characterised using two parameters: location of the cross-over point (Xc) and the difference in the jet half-velocity widths along the major and minor axes (ΔB30). Based on the observed results, two statistical models were formulated for the prediction of axis-switching; the first model gives the location of the cross-over point, while the second model indicates the occurrence of axis-switching for the given configuration.