scholarly journals Switching Action of a Bistable Fluidic Amplifier for Ultrasonic Testing

Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Thorge Schweitzer ◽  
Marla Hörmann ◽  
Benjamin Bühling ◽  
Bernhard Bobusch

Air-coupled ultrasonic testing is widely used in the industry for the non-destructive testing of compound materials. It provides a fast and efficient way to inspect large concrete civil infrastructures for damage that might lead to catastrophic failure. Due to the large penetration depths required for concrete structures, the use of traditional piezoelectric transducer requires high power electric systems. In this study, a novel fluidic transducer based on a bistable fluidic amplifier is investigated. Previous experiments have shown that the switching action of the device produces a high-power broadband ultrasonic signal. This study will provide further insight into the switching behaviour of the fluidic switch. Therefore, parametric CFD simulations based on compressible supersonic RANS simulations were performed, varying the inlet pressure and velocity profiles for the control flow. Switching times are analyzed with different methods, and it was found that these are mostly independent of the slope of the velocity profile at the control port. Furthermore, it was found that an inversely proportional relationship exists between flow velocity in the throat and the switching time. The results agree with the theoretical background established by experimental studies that can be found in the literature.

1970 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Wormley ◽  
H. H. Richardson

A rational procedure is developed for the design of a class of vortex amplifiers which operate in the incompressible flow regime. The procedure is based upon analytical and experimental studies conducted to determine the effects of fluid properties and geometry on vortex amplifier behavior. These studies indicate that the nondimensional amplifier characteristic is essentially independent of the maximum flow Reynolds number, vortex chamber height, and supply port area if each of these parameters is within a specified broad range of values. The nondimensional characteristic was found to depend fundamentally upon the chamber exit to outer periphery radius ratio and the control port area to exit port area ratio. A systematic method is provided for progressing from a set of desired amplifier performance specifications, which include maximum control and supply port pressure and flow requirements, to a specification of each critical amplifier dimension. Three-point predictions of the transfer characteristics are obtained and the characteristics are checked to determine if multiple values of total flow exist at the cutoff value of control flow. The measured performance of a planar vortex amplifier designed with the aid of the procedure was found to agree closely with the desired performance specifications.


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