Quantitative imaging of acoustically coupled flows over symmetrically located side branches

Fully turbulent inflow past symmetrically located side branches mounted in a duct can give rise to pronounced flow oscillations due to coupling between separated shear layers and standing acoustic waves. Experimental investigation of acoustically coupled shear layers was conducted using digital particle image velocimetry in conjunction with unsteady pressure measurements. Global instantaneous and time-averaged flow images, as well as turbulence statistics, were evaluated to provide insight into the flow physics during flow tone generation. The emphasis was on the acoustic response of the resonator during the first and second hydrodynamic modes of the shear layer oscillation. Onset of the locked-on resonant states was characterized in terms of the acoustic pressure amplitude and the quality factor of the corresponding spectral peak. In addition, visco-thermal acoustic damping and patterns of generated acoustic power were calculated using a semi-empirical approach.