Project #1: Quantitative local measurements in isotropic compressible turbulence
The Variable Density and Viscosity Vessel (VDSSV) is a pressure vessel about one meter in diameter. It is a laboratory in which the atmosphere can be changed – different gases such as air or sulfur hexafluoride can be maintained at pressures between 0.01 and 15 bar. Experiments in this laboratory quantify the effects of widely variable densities, viscosities and speeds of sound on fluid mechanics and turbulence.Inside the VDSSV, a fan generates a Mach 0.7 turbulent jet in sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The surrounding loudspeakers modulate the balance between solenoidal and dilatational motions in the turbulence. For more details, please see my recent publication in Experiments in Fluids.
Project #2: Three-dimensional mixing layer with an adjustable crossflow component
The Variable Density and Speed of Sound Vessel (VDSSV) is a pressure vessel about one meter in diameter. It is a laboratory in which the atmosphere can be changed – different gases such as air or sulfur hexafluoride can be maintained at pressures between 0.01 and 15 bar. Experiments in this laboratory quantify the effects of widely variable densities, viscosities and speeds of sound on fluid mechanics and turbulence.The active grid generates homogenous turbulence. Combined with a splitter and other flow modifiers, it produces a mixing layer with adjustable lateral velocity. Credits: Peter McGurk & team
Past research projects
Project #3: Nanofabrication of turbulence sensors
To resolve the increasingly smaller physical scales that arise with increasing flow speed, nanometers-thick, streamlined probes were nanofabricated at CNF using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. The design is inspired by Hultmark et al. (2011). Credits: Edmund Liu
Project #4: Bird flight dynamics captured in a field experiment
The flight dynamics of a red-tail hawk were analyzed from data collected in a field experiment. Rear-view and side-view trajectories were captured by cameras, whereas turbulence and wind data were collected using a sonic anemometer and a Pitot tube.
