Oscillating Pipe

By Mark Czajkowski

This animation showcases the results of the flow in one part of a Coriolis flowmeter. The simulation was conducted to determine the effect of pipe oscillations around an axis parallel to the pipe's centerline. Coherent voticies were identified using a small positive value of Q-criterian which is the second invariant of the velocity gradient tensor. The structures are then colored by axial vorticity such that blue structures are rotating counter-clockwise and red structures clockwise. The oscillations initially create large counter-clockwise rotating structures. Then when the oscillation changes direction the counter-clockwise rotating structures weaken and clockwise rotating structures dominate the flow until the oscillation direction changes and the process starts over.