The present study aims investigating experimentally wing/blade geometries in which the leading edge is modified by the presence of artificial bumps, following examples in nature (“biomimetics”). Specifically, the tubercles observed in humpback whales are considered with a special focus on easy manufacturing and performance improvements, trying to overcome the observed lift coefficient reduction before stall in comparison with a standard wing. To this end, different tubercle geometries are tested, by measuring overall forces acting on the wings and by deriving detailed velocity fields using particle image velocimetry. Measurements indicate performance improvements for all trailing edge tubercle geometries here tested. In addition, the detailed analysis of mechanisms underlying the improvement of performances suggests that a triangular shape of the leading edge combines the advantages of easy manufacturing and improvements of pre-stall behaviour. So far, a simple mathematical model, describing tubercles as delta wings, is presented and verified by experimental data. The objective of the present work is focusing on the basic fluid-mechanics phenomena involved, to show that beneficial effects of tubercles are present even when tubercle details are simplified, in order to couple performance improvement and ease of assembly. Graphical Abstract

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The behavior of dispersed particles in a turbulent round jet is experimentally investigated. The role of particle-to-fluid density ratio [Formula: see text] is analyzed by inspecting particle velocity fields and preferential concentration at four different ratios, from 0.7 to 19.3. The jet near-field region, i.e., up to [Formula: see text], is analyzed and compared to the unladen case. Particle-to-fluid density ratio is reported to have a strong impact on particle velocity field structure, in terms of jet transition and self-similar region as well as on turbulent fluctuations. Concentrations of particles show that increasing particle density corresponds to larger departure from uniformity. This occurrence is limited to the region [Formula: see text], where also the largest differences of average and fluctuating velocities with respect to the unladen case are measured.

Plunging jets are used in many industrial and civil applications, as for example in sewage and water treatment plants, in order to enhance aeration and mass transfer of volatile gases. They are also observed in natural processes as rivers self-purification, waterfalls and weirs. Many investigations dealt with the plunging jets in different configurations, but the dependence on Reynolds number and jet geometry were still not sufficiently addressed. For example, Mishra et al. (2020) studied an oblique submerged water impinging jet at different nozzle-to-plate distances and impingement angles, but only at a rather small Reynolds numbers (2600). On the other hand, different jet geometries have been extensively considered, but not for the plunging jet configuration (Mi, 2000; Hashiehbaf &Romano, 2013). In this work, plunging water jets issuing in air from orifices of different shape are considered. The aim of the work is to detail and compare jet behaviors in terms of velocity fields generated after impacting the air-water interface, as a function of Reynolds number and orifice geometry. However, air bubbles entrainment is mainly avoided in order to study the jet characteristics in a simpler case and use it as a reference starting point for future works.

In the present work we study the topology, mixing properties, turbulence quantities, dependence on the outlet geometry of a sharp-edged orifice plunging jet which first issues horizontally in air and then plunges in a water pool. The investigated orifices shapes are circular and rectangular. Data are acquired at different Reynolds numbers in the range 11000 ÷ 25000, based on the orifice diameter (equal to 2 cm) and on the average exit velocity, as derived from flow rate measurements. A planar time-resolved PIV technique is implemented to derive the velocity field of the jets in vertical and horizontal planes. Results show a clear asymmetry of the cross-velocity profiles both in circular and rectangular cases, with the latter that revealed a shape which is Reynolds number dependent. Axial velocity decays, potential core lengths and spreading rates highlight an opposite trend between the two jet geometries, thus suggesting a higher mixing for the lowest circular Reynolds number and the highest rectangular ones. However, axial velocity rms profiles show an overall greater turbulent production for the highest Reynolds number circular jet. Ambient mass entrainment points out the different interactions of the two plunging jets with the ambient flow: in circular case, it entrains fluid from the surroundings, from horizontal to vertical planes in streamwise direction, while in rectangular one it ejects flow from vertical to horizontal planes. Finally, circular lowest Reynolds number jet findings suggest it is the most promising in terms of mixing.