PIV Measurements of Turbulent Flow in a Channel with Solid or Perforated Ribs

Particle image velocimetry measurements are performed in a channel with periodic ribs on one wall. We investigate the flow around two different rib configurations: solid and perforated ribs with a slit. The ribs obstruct the channel by 20% of its height and are arranged 10 rib heights apart. For the perforated ribs, the slit height is 20% of the rib height, and the open-area ratio is 16%.

We discuss the flow in terms of mean velocity, streamlines, vorticity, turbulence intensity, and Reynolds shear stress. We find that the recirculation bubbles after the perforated ribs are significantly smaller than those after the solid ribs. The reattachment length after perforated ribs is smaller by about 45% compared with the solid ribs.

In addition, the Reynolds shear stresses around the perforated ribs are significantly smaller than in the solid rib case, leading to a reduction of the pressure loss in the perforated rib case. ©2010 ASME