Experimental Study on Turbulence and Pressure Drop Characteristics in a Rectangular Duct Fitted with Semicircular Ribs

Abstract

The article represents an experimental investigation on friction and turbulent flow characteristics of free airflow through a rectangular duct fitted with semicircular ribs of uniform height (e = 3.5 mm) on one principle wall. The aspect ratio of the rectangular duct was AR= 5 where the duct height (H) was of 30 mm. Four different rib pitches (P) of 28 mm, 35 mm, 42 mm and 49 mm were used for constant rib height to hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh = 0.07) and constant rib height to channel height ratio (e/H = 0.11). The experimental results show some significant effects on pressure drop as well as turbulent characteristics at various configurations among different numbers of rib arrangements varying Reynolds number in the range of 15000 to 30000. Pressure transducer and hot wire anemometer were used for data acquisition of this experiment.