MRV Challenge 3: velocity and passive scalar comparison in a 3D turbulent flow
Abstract The third iteration of a Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry (MRV) Challenge comparison activity consisting of 3D flow measurements for a turbulent flow in a water channel moving past centrally positioned cubic obstacles is reported. In this challenge iteration, MRV measurements are coupled with either temperature or concentration measurements to extend the diagnostic utility. Five research teams from around the world conducted the measurements on a single shared apparatus. The water channel included partial elements along the channel sidewalls that varied in height and precluded easy optical accessibility. In addition to a turbulent mainstream flow, a secondary flow entered the channel between the second and third cubic elements from a square injector hole at the channel bottom wall. The injector jet interacts with the mainstream flow and mixes turbulently as it advects downstream. For the selected flow regime and water solutions used as working fluids, the mixing of the higher temperature or concentration through the secondary flow with the mainstream flow satisfies the same dynamics so that both temperature and concentration fields behave as passive scalars and can be directly compared. The measurements are explained in detail by each participating team, and the results are interpolated onto a common grid and compared using line profiles, contour plots, and isosurfaces.
Authors
- Bradley P. Sutton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8443-0408)
- Andrew Banko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7150-137X)
- Laura Villafañe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2972-127X)
- Swantje Romig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5901-4130)
- Thien Nguyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9667-4469)
- Kristine John (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-2982)
- Sven Grundmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3116-1918)
- Michael Benson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3210-116X)
- Hangfei Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3433-6300)
- Martin Bruschewski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0133-8348)
- Tuhin Bandopadhyay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0973-7343)
- Christopher J. Elkins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2750-022X)
- Daniel D. Borup (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1743-2216)
- Simon Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8029-9310)
- Louis Dagobert
Institutions
- Binghamton University (US)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US)
- Davis & Elkins College (US)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- United States Military Academy (US)
- Military Medical Academy (BG)
- American Military Academy (PR)
- Hanyang University (KR)
- University of Rostock (DE)
- BorgWarner (Brazil) (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Experiments in Fluids
- Published
- 2026-08-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-026-04234-x
- Primary Topic
- Fluid Dynamics and Turbulent Flows
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Battelle
- UT-Battelle
- National Research Foundation
- Hanyang University
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Universität Rostock
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory