B. F. Armaly

This laboratory is located in room M1 and M3 of the Mechanical Engineering Building and is equipped with the latest diagnostic tools, hardware and software, for studying flow and heat transfer in complex geometry. Heat is generated in many industrial components /processes and optimizing its removal/transfer is critical to the performance of systems. In many cases the thermal and the flow phenomena are coupled and the geometry is complex, thus leading to three-dimensional turbulent flow. Measurements are normally used to validate/develop models for simulating the phenomena, and these models can then be used (as design tools) for predicting behavior in flow regimes/geometry where measurements are not available. Several computer codes and workstations are available in the department for such simulation.

The laboratory is equipped with three components, fiber optics, laser Doppler velocimeter. This system utilizes digital burst correlators and a three axis traverse system along with computer hardware and software, to measure non-intrusively and simultaneously the three velocity components at any point in the flow domain. These measurements are utilized to determine the flow behavior along with normal and shear stresses. A separate and fully equipped two component laser Doppler velocimeter is also available in the laboratory for use with other experiments. A laser light sheet apparatus, and a high power collimated light source are also available for flow visualization and diagnostics.

A high-resolution digital imaging system is also available for use in this laboratory. This system is being used now with liquid crystal for measuring, non-intrusively, the local wall temperature in the three-dimensional flow geometry. Hot and cold wire anemometer system, with a selection of probes, is also available for use in measuring flow velocity and temperature. Probe calibration and welding/repair facilities are available for use with the hot wire anemometer. Temperature measurements are utilized to determine the thermal field and the local heat transfer coefficient.

Several open circuit air tunnels along with the needed supporting facilities, such as electric heaters, power supplies, controllers, thermocouples, circulators, and other measuring devices are available for use in constructing the needed flow apparatus. Presently an apparatus is being used in the air tunnel for studying turbulent mixed convection in three-dimensional separated flow. Several computer codes are being modified for simulating the measured phenomena. The project is being supported by the National Science Foundation.