CANDIDATE: Maria Gudisey
DEGREE SOUGHT: MASc
DATE: 3/14/2025
TIME: 10:30am
PLACE: Room 1102 CEI
TITLE: Passive Modification of a Circular Cylinder Wake
Abstract
Passive flow control techniques are useful for applications such as convection cooling of power electronics where rows of fins act as heat sinks, promoting uniform heat dissipation. This method does not require external power and instead relies on its geometry to produce vortices and turbulence to increase heat transfer. Typical geometries of the fins are cylinders and one relevant model that can be explored is the flow past circular cylinders. Various modifications can be applied to alter the flow field and structures that form behind these cylinders such as slots, helical strakes and holes. This research focuses on the flow past an emergent bed-mounted circular cylinder with and without a row of vertically aligned holes. These configurations are analyzed using the method of particle image velocimetry (PIV) in a water channel. Utilizing a cylinder with a diameter D = 25.4mm, and holes of diameter d = 0.1D the flow past a cylinder with holes is investigated at a Reynolds number based on cylinder diameter of ReD = 8400. Velocity measurements in the vertical midplane reveal high momentum fluid emitting from the holes and multiple vortex formations. The offset planes reveal that the jets minimally affect the separated shear layers and instantaneous velocity contours show interactions between the jets which results in fluid mixing. The fluid behavior behind this cylinder body is explored to find alternative solutions for compact thermal management systems.