Project Details
The addition of small amounts of polymer molecules to internal turbulent flows can result in significant drag reduction, which in turn can reduce pumping costs in transport systems, for example. The goal of this project is to study in detail the interaction of the polymer molecules with the near-wall turbulent structures in a channel flow. These local interactions are the key to a better understanding of the global drag-reducing effect that is observed in practice. Discussions in the literature are open and point to the need of further investigation.
Thus, the task here is to perform three-component velocity field measurements, in a thick plane, focusing attention on the small-scale turbulent structures present in that region. The technique employed is the Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry.
The thesis work will consist, in principle, of the following steps:
– Bibliographic update
– Implementation of updates and improvements in reconstruction / processing / velocity field calculation software, already pre-developed in C++
– Final hologram acquisition, with and without polymers
– Processing of raw data and physical analysis of the results
– Preparation of thesis manuscript
Prerequisits
Students graduated in Mechanical Engineering or Physics, interested in at least one of the following fields of knowledge: fluid mechanics, optics, image processing, programming, and with good academic performance.
Scolarship
CAPES/Cnpq scolarship and possibility of supplementary grant.
Contact
Luis Fernando A. Azevedo lfaa@puc-rio.br (021) 3527-1181
Leonardo Fernandes – lsfernandes1990@gmail.com (21) 97218-1245