Turbulent pipe flow downstream a 90° pipe bend with and without superimposed swirl

In the present work, the turbulent flow downstream a 90° pipe bend is investigated by means of stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. In particular, the three dimensional flow field at the exit of the curved pipe is documented for non-swirling and swirling flow conditions, with the latter being generated through a unique axially rotating pipe flow facility. The non-swirling flow was examined through snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) with the aim to reveal the unsteady behaviour of the Dean vortices under turbulent flow conditions, the so-called “swirl-switching” phenomenon. In respect to the swirling turbulent pipe flow, covering a wide range of swirl strengths, POD has been employed to study the effect of varying strength of swirl on the Dean vortices as well as the interplay of swirling motion and Dean cells. Furthermore, the visualised large scale structures in turbulent swirling flows through the bend are found to incline and tear up with increasing swirl intensity. The present time-resolved, three component, experimental velocity field data will provide a unique and useful database for future studies; in particular for the CFD community.

► Turbulent curved pipe flow w/o superimposed swirl is investigated by means of stereo PIV.
► “Swirl-switching” phenomenon is characterised with the aid of snapshot POD.
► Increasing swirl strength merges the Dean vortices gradually and stabilizes the flow.
► Dean-like cells are exposed as energetic structures underlying the imposed swirling motion.
► Large scale structures incline and tear up with increasing swirl strength.