Experimental Fluid Dynamics

Associate Professor A. Ekmekci
University of Toronto
Institute for Aerospace Studies
4925 Dufferin St., Ontario, Canada M3H 5T6

Phone:  +1-416-667-7855
Fax:  +1-416-667-7799
Email:  ekmekci (at) utias.utoronto.ca
Web: https://arrow.utias.utoronto.ca/~ekmekci/

Education

  • Ph.D. - Lehigh University
  • M.S. - Lehigh University
  • B.S. - Istanbul Technical University

Research Overview

Dr. Alis Ekmekci leads the experimental fluids lab at UTIAS, where she conducts research in flow control, flow-induced noise and vibration, flow-structure interactions, low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics, unsteady separated flows, and vortex dynamics. The main facilities available in this lab include: a re-circulating water channel, a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system, Volumetric 3-Component Velocimetry (V3V) system, hydrogen bubble and dye visualization systems, hot film anemometers, pressure transducers, several motorized linear and rotary traverse systems, and motion control and DAQ systems. This infrastructure leads to a unique capability to conduct several experimental projects in fluid mechanics research. Recent and ongoing projects carried out by her group are as follows:

Passive control of flow past slender structures: This project investigates manipulation of flow past slender structures through various patterns of surface protrusions. We explore the conditions that particularly attain attenuation or enhancement in vortex shedding. In turn, insight into the attenuation aids the development of methods for suppressing vortex-induced structural vibrations, while the enhancement unveils the conditions that exacerbates vibrations for energy harvesting.

Flow structure around landing gear models: This is a collaborative project with Bombardier. Landing gears are known to be a major source of aircraft noise. This noise mainly results from the fluctuating flow structure. Hence, we explore the unsteady flow topology around landing gear models in relation to the components of the model. Knowledge of this, in turn, can reveal the sources of noise and aid the design of next-generation quieter aircraft.

Flow-induced cavity resonance and its control: This project investigates the resonant coupling phenomena in flow past cavity configurations. Flow-induced cavity resonance is encountered, for example, in the cavities located on the fuselage of an aircraft, the hull of marine vessel, and the ballast tank of a submarine, to name a few.

Junction flows, horseshoe vortex dynamics: Horseshoe vortices form in many real scenarios, such as at wing-body junctions in airplanes, turbine blade-hub junctions, cooling flow past computer chips. They often have large effects on skin friction, noise and the local heat transfer in junction regions. This project investigates how the oncoming boundary layer and the geometry of the wing-body affect unsteady dynamics of horseshoe vortices.

Wake behind a pair of bluff bodies: Understanding of the flow past bundled cylindrical bodies is of great significance for the control of flow-induced vibrations in heat exchanger tubes, adjacent tall buildings, and piles of offshore platforms. In this project, flow past two cylinders in tandem and side-by-side arrangements are investigated. Both stationary and forced oscillating cylinders are tested.

Unsteady vortex dynamics in delta wings: Delta wings are employed in a variety of aerospace vehicles, such as in micro air vehicles and unmanned combat air vehicles. This project explores the unsteady aspects of flow over non-slender delta wings under stationary and manoeuvring conditions.

Interfacing of experimental investigations with numerical simulations: We welcome collaborative research with groups conducting numerical simulations. Our experimental work can easily interface the work of numerical simulations in validation efforts.