Anisotropic Reynolds stress tensor representation in shear flows using DNS and experimental data

Tensorial decompositions and projections are used to study the performance of algebraic non-linear models and predict the anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) data for plane channel flows at friction Reynolds number (Re_τ = 180, 395, 590, 1000), and for the boundary layer using both DNS (Re_τ = 359, 830, 1271) and experimental data (Re_τ = 2680, 3891, 4941, 7164) are used to build and evaluate the models. These data are projected into tensorial basis formed from the symmetric part of mean velocity gradient and non-persistence-of-straining tensor. Six models are proposed and their performances are investigated. The scalar coefficients for these six different levels of approximations of the Reynolds stress tensor are derived, and made dimensionless using the classical turbulent scales, the kinetic turbulent energy (κ) and its dissipation rate (ε). The dimensionless coefficients are then coupled with classical wall functions. One model is selected by comparing the predicted Reynolds stress components with experimental and DNS data, presenting a good prediction for the shear and normal Reynolds stresses.     

Vorticity,backscatter and counter-gradient transport predictions using two-level simulation of turbulent flows

The two-level simulation (TLS) method evolves both the large-and the small-scale fields in a two-scale approach and has shown good predictive capabilities in both isotropic and wall-bounded high Reynolds number (Re) turbulent flows in the past. Sensitivity and ability of this modelling approach to predict fundamental features (such as backscatter, counter-gradient turbulent transport, small-scale vorticity, etc.) seen in high Re turbulent flows is assessed here by using two direct numerical simulation (DNS) datasets corresponding to a forced isotropic turbulence at Taylor’s microscale-based Reynolds number Re_λ ≈ 433 and a fully developed turbulent flow in a periodic channel at friction Reynolds number Re_τ ≈ 1000. It is shown that TLS captures the dynamics of local co-/counter-gradient transport and backscatter at the requisite scales of interest. These observations are further confirmed through a posteriori investigation of the flow in a periodic channel at Re_τ = 2000. The results reveal that the TLS method can capture both the large- and the small-scale flow physics in a consistent manner, and at a reduced overall cost when compared to the estimated DNS or wall-resolved LES cost.     

Effect of Microbubble Gas Saturation on Near-Wall Turbulence and Drag Reduction

The article presents results of an experimental study of the effect of gravitational orientation of the flow along its lower/upper solid boundaries on reduction of turbulent drag and void fraction profiles with injection of gas through a porous channel wall. The shear stress on the wall was measured in the Reynolds number range Re_x = (0.23–1.1) × 10⁷ by floating element transducers; the void fraction profile was determined using a fiber-optic sensor. The void fraction in the inner (near-wall) region of the boundary layer was shown to be a key parameter for turbulent drag reduction. The size of the inner region depends on the gas flow rate, the fluid velocity, the distance downstream of the gas generator, and the gravitational orientation of the wall.     

POD-based wall boundary conditions for the numerical simulation of turbulent channel flows

Simulation of turbulent wall-bounded flows requires a high spatial resolution in the wall region, which limits the range of Reynolds numbers which can be effectively reached. In previous work, we proposed proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) based wall boundary conditions to bypass the simulation of the inner wall region. Tests were carried out for direct numerical simulation at a low Reynolds number Re_τ = 180. The boundary condition is based on the POD spatial eigenfunctions which are determined a priori in the full channel. It consists of a three-component velocity field on the plane y⁺ = 50 which is reconstructed at each instant from a combination of selected eigenfunctions. The coefficients of the combination are estimated from the simulation in the reduced domain using the threshold-based reconstruction method described in Podvin et al. The study is now extended to large-eddy simulation at higher Reynolds numbers Re_τ = 295 and Re_τ = 590. Two versions of the reconstruction method are considered. In the first version, both the phases and the moduli of the coefficients are allowed to vary. In the second version, only the phases are adjusted. We find that the latter method is associated with improved statistics and is relatively robust with respect to the reconstruction threshold. However, it is sensitive to the details of the numerical simulation, unlike the former method, which is associated with less accurate statistics and is more dependent on the reconstruction threshold.     

Origin of effectiveness degradation in active drag reduction control of turbulent channel flow at Reτ = 1000

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows are performed with opposition control at Re_τ = 180 and 1000. The drag reduction rate at the higher Reynolds number is reduced by 25% compared with that at the lower Reynolds number. In order to investigate the reason for the degradation of the control effectiveness, we examine the response of Reynolds stresses and coherent structures in both the outer and inner regions to the control and the role that large-scale motions play therein. In the outer region, the Reynolds stresses at different length scales are reduced at the same rate as the drag reduction rate, and conditionally averaged large-scale motions with spanwise scale larger than half channel width are still large-scale low-speed streaks flanked by a pair of large-scale counter-rotating streamwise vortices but with reduced velocity amplitudes. In the inner region, the effectiveness of the control in suppressing the turbulence deteriorates at the higher Reynolds number. In response to the superimposition effect of large-scale motions, the contribution to near-wall wall-parallel velocity fluctuations from large-scale motions becomes larger at the higher Reynolds number, while the suppression of large-scale motions by the control is weaker than that of near-wall coherent structures. In both controlled and uncontrolled cases, large-scale motions can modulate the amplitudes of near-wall coherent structures, and the attenuation of streamwise vortices by the control under large-scale high-speed streaks is significantly less effective than that under large-scale low-speed streaks. As a result, the effectiveness of control in suppressing near-wall coherent structures and Reynolds shear stresses becomes weaker at the higher Reynolds number. The quantitative analysis of the contributions to the drag reduction rate from outer and inner regions shows that the effectiveness of the control is mainly determined by the suppression degree of near-wall motions. Furthermore, budgets of streamwise enstrophy are analysed to reveal the interaction of large-scale motions with near-wall streamwise vorticity. The titling effect induced by large-scale motions is positive under large-scale high-speed streaks, but negative under large-scale low-speed streaks, which could be a possible way of large-scale motion to modulate streamwise vorticity. In the controlled cases, the positive titling effect induced by large-scale motions under large-scale high-speed streaks is even enhanced, while other terms in the budgets are reduced, which could explain the degradation of control effectiveness in suppressing near-wall streamwise vortices under large-scale high-speed streaks. Therefore, the loss in the drag reduction rate at the higher Reynolds number is due to the weakened control effectiveness on near-wall coherent structures, which are exposed to the modulation effect of large-scale motions.     

On the effect of an anisotropy-resolving subgrid-scale model on large eddy simulation predictions of turbulent open channel flow with wall roughness

A large eddy simulation (LES) was conducted of turbulent flow in a channel with a rough wall on one side and a free surface on the other by adopting an anisotropy-resolving subgrid-scale (SGS) model. A shear Reynolds number of Re_τ = 395 was used based on the mean friction velocity and channel height. To investigate the grid dependency of the LES results caused by the SGS model, three grid resolutions were tested under the same definition of a roughness shape by using the immersed boundary method. The results obtained were compared with direct numerical simulation data with and without the wall roughness and those without the extra anisotropic term. The primary focus was on how the present anisotropic SGS model with coarser grid resolutions can properly provide the effects of roughness on the mean velocity and turbulent stresses, leading to a considerable reduction of the computational cost of LES.     

Aspect ratio effects in turbulent duct flows studied through direct numerical simulation

Three-dimensional effects in turbulent duct flows, i.e., sidewall boundary layers and secondary motions, are studied by means of direct numerical simulation (DNS). The spectral element code Nek5000 is used to compute turbulent duct flows with aspect ratios 1–7 (at Re_{b, c} = 2800, Re_{τ, c} ? 180) and aspect ratio 1 (at Re_{b, c} = 5600, Re_{τ, c} ? 330), in streamwise-periodic boxes of length 25h. The total number of grid points ranges from 28 to 145 million, and the pressure gradient is adjusted iteratively in order to keep the same bulk Reynolds number in the centreplane with changing aspect ratio. Turbulence is initiated via a trip forcing active during the initial stages of the simulation, and the statistical convergence of the data is discussed both in terms of transient approach and averaging period. Spanwise variations in wall shear, mean-flow profiles, and turbulence statistics are analysed as a function of aspect ratio, and also compared with the spanwise-periodic channel (as idealisation of an infinite aspect ratio duct). The computations show good agreement with experimental measurements carried out in parallel at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, and highlight the relevance of sidewall boundary layers and secondary vortices in the physics of the duct flow. The rich array of secondary vortices extending throughout the upper and lower walls of the duct, and their dependence on Reynolds number and aspect ratio, had not been reported in the literature before.     

Large-eddy simulations of temporally accelerating turbulent channel flow

The unsteady turbulent channel flow subject to the temporal acceleration is considered in this study. Large-eddy simulations were performed to study the response of the turbulent flow to the temporal acceleration. The simulations were started with the fully developed turbulent channel flow at an initial Reynolds number of Re₀ = 3500 (based on the channel half-height and the bulk-mean velocity), and then a constant temporal acceleration was applied. During the acceleration, the Reynolds number of the channel flow increased linearly from the initial Reynolds number to the final Reynolds number of Re₁ = 22,600. The effect of grid resolution, domain size, time step size on the simulation results was assessed in a preliminary study using simulations of the accelerating turbulent flow as well as simulations of the steady turbulent channel flow at various Reynolds numbers. Simulation parameters were carefully chosen from the preliminary study to ascertain the accuracy of the simulation. From the accelerating turbulent flow simulations, the delays in the response of various flow properties to the temporal acceleration were measured. The distinctive features of the delays responsible for turbulence production, energy redistribution, and radial propagation were identified. Detailed turbulence statistics including the wall shear stress response during the acceleration were examined. The results reveal the changes in the near-wall structures during the acceleration. A self-sustaining mechanism of turbulence is proposed to explain the response of the turbulent flow to the temporal acceleration. Although the overall flow characteristics are similar between the channel and pipe flows, some differences were observed between the two flows.     

On mean flow universality of turbulent wall flows. II. Asymptotic flow analysis

Understanding of the structure of turbulent flows at extreme Reynolds numbers (Re) is relevant because of several reasons: almost all turbulence theories are only valid in the high Re limit, and most turbulent flows of practical relevance are characterized by very high Re. Specific questions about wall-bounded turbulent flows at extreme Re concern the asymptotic laws of the mean velocity and turbulence statistics, their universality, the convergence of statistics towards their asymptotic profiles, and the overall physical flow organization. In extension of recent studies focusing on the mean flow at moderate and relatively high Re, the latter questions are addressed with respect to three canonical wall-bounded flows (channel flow, pipe flow, and the zero-pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer). Main results reported here are the asymptotic logarithmic law for the mean velocity and corresponding scale-separation laws for bulk flow properties, the Reynolds shear stress, the turbulence production and turbulent viscosity. A scaling analysis indicates that the establishment of a self-similar turbulence state is the condition for the development of a strict logarithmic velocity profile. The resulting overall physical flow structure at extreme Re is discussed.     

Large-eddy simulation of plane channel flow with Vreman's model

In this paper, large-eddy simulations of Vreman's model (VM) have been carried out to investigate its performances in a temporal transitional channel flow and in high Reynolds number turbulent channel flows. As a preliminary work, it is found that cubic root of the cell volume is the best choice of filter width for both VM and dynamic VM based on Germano identity (DVM), according to comparative studies and a-posteriori analyses at Re_τ = 590. VM and DVM are then used to simulate the temporal laminar–turbulent transitional channel flow, and the results turn out that VM and DVM are capable to simulate this temporal transient flow. In simulating high Reynolds number turbulent channel flows with a relatively coarse grid resolution, DVM itself shares the same weakness as the dynamic Smagorinsky model, while it can successfully predict the mean velocity profile and skin friction coefficient when it is coupled with the constrained large eddy simulation methodology. The coupling highly promotes the capability of Vreman's model, offering a new promising approach to simulate high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows.     

Direct numerical simulation of the turbulent flows of power-law fluids in a circular pipe

Fully developed turbulent pipe flows of power-law fluids are studied by means of direct numerical simulation. Two series of calculations at generalised Reynolds numbers of approximately 10000 and 20000 were carried out. Five different power law indexes n from 0.4 to 1 were considered. The distributions of components of Reynolds stress tensor, averaged viscosity, viscosity fluctuations, and measures of turbulent anisotropy are presented. The friction coefficient predicted by the simulations is in a good agreement with the correlation obtained from experiment. Flows of power-law fluids exhibit stronger anisotropy of the Reynolds stress tensor compared with the flow of Newtonian fluid. The turbulence anisotropy becomes more significant with the decreasing flow index n. An increase in apparent viscosity away from the wall leads to the damping of the wall-normal velocity pulsations. The suppression of the turbulent energy redistribution between the Reynolds stress tensor components observed in the simulations leads to a strong domination of the axial velocity pulsations. The damping of wall-normal velocity pulsations leads to a reduction of the fluctuating transport of momentum from the core toward the wall, which explains the effect of drag reduction.     

Drag reduction in spatially developing turbulent boundary layers by spatially intermittent blowing at constant mass-flux

A series of large-eddy simulations of spatially developing turbulent boundary layers with uniform blowing at moderate Reynolds numbers (based on free-stream velocity, U_∞, and momentum thickness, θ) up to Re_θ ≈ 2500 were performed with the special focus on the effect of intermittent (separated in streamwise direction) blowing sections. The number of blowing sections, N, investigated is set to be 3, 6, 20, 30 and compared to N = 1, which constitutes the reference case, while the total wall-mass flux is constrained to be the same for all considered cases, corresponding to a blowing amplitude of 0.1% of U_∞ for the reference case. Results indicate that the reference case provides a net-energy saving rate of around 18%, which initially decreases at most 2% points for N = 3 but recovers with increasing N, where the initial reduction of the drag reduction is found to be related to the shorter streamwise length of the intermittent blowing sections. The physical decomposition of the skin friction drag through the Fukagata-Iwamoto-Kasagi (FIK) identity shows that the distribution of all components over each blowing section has similar trends, resulting in similar averaged values over the whole control region.     

Effects of upstream roughness and Reynolds number on separated and reattached turbulent flow

This paper presents experimental investigation of upstream roughness and Reynolds number effects on the recirculation region over a smooth forward facing step. The upstream rough wall was produced from 1.5 mm sand grains and the Reynolds number based on step height, Re_h, was varied from 2040 to 9130 for both the upstream smooth and rough walls. For the smooth wall, the reattachment length increased monotonically with Re_h to an asymptotic value of 2.2 step heights for Re_h ≥ 6380. Upstream roughness reduced the reattachment length by 44% because of larger momentum deficit and higher turbulence level in the rough wall boundary layer. The mean velocities and Reynolds stresses were also reduced by roughness. The Reynolds shear stress and production of turbulent kinetic energy showed high negative values at the leading edge of the step indicating counter-gradient diffusion. The implications of these results for standard eddy viscosity models are discussed.     

Investigating asymptotic suction boundary layers using a one-dimensional stochastic turbulence model

The turbulent asymptotic suction boundary layer is studied using a one-dimensional turbulence (ODT) model. ODT is a fully resolved, unsteady stochastic simulation technique. While flow properties reside on a one-dimensional domain, turbulent advection is represented using mapping events whose occurrences are governed by a random process. Due to its reduced spatial dimensionality, ODT achieves major cost reductions compared to three-dimensional (3D) simulations. A comparison to recent direct numerical simulation (DNS) data at moderate Reynolds number (Re = u_∞ / v₀ = 333, where u_∞ and v₀ are the free stream and suction velocity, respectively) suggests that the ODT model is capable of reproducing several velocity statistics, i.e. mean velocity and turbulent kinetic energy budgets, while peak turbulent stresses are under-estimated by ODT. Variation of the Reynolds number in the range Re ∈ [333,400,500,1000] shows that ODT can reproduce various trends observed as a result of increased suction in turbulent asymptotic suction boundary layers, i.e. the reduction of Reynolds stresses and enhanced skin friction. While up to Re = 500 our results can be directly compared to recent LES data, the simulation at Re = 1000 is currently not feasible through full 3D simulations, hence ODT may assist the design of future DNS or LES simulations at larger Reynolds numbers.     

Analytic prediction for planar turbulent boundary layers

Analytic predictions of mean velocity profile(MVP) and streamwise(x) development of related integral quantities are presented for flows in channel and turbulent boundary layer(TBL), based on a symmetry analysis of eddy length and total stress. Specific predictions include the relations for momentum Reynolds number(Reθ) with friction Reτ and streamwise Re_x: Re_θ≈ 3.27Re_τ,and Re_x/Re_θ = 4.94(lnRe_θ + 1.88)~2 + 1; the streamwise development of the friction velocity u_τ: U_e/u_τ≈ 2.22 lnRe_x + 2.86. 3.83ln(lnRe_x), and of the boundary layer thickness δ_e: x/δ_e ≈ 7.27 lnRe_x.5.18.12.52ln(lnRe_x), which are fully validated by recent reliable data.     

Observation of vortex packets in direct numerical simulation of fully turbulent channel flow

A number of experimental studies have inferred the existence of packets of inclined, hairpinlike vortices in wall turbulence on the basis of observations made in two-dimensional x−y planes using visualization and particle image velocimetry (PIV). However, there are very few observations of hairpins in existing three-dimensional studies made using direct numerical simulation (DNS), and no such study claims to have revealed packets. We demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of hairpin vortex packets in DNS of turbulent flow. The vortex packet structure found in the present study at low Reynolds number,Re _t=300, is consistent with and substantiates the observations and the results from twodimensional PIV measurements at higher Reynolds numbers in channel, pipe and boundary layer flows. Thus, the evidence supports the view that vortex packets are a universal feature of wall turbulence, independent of effects due to boundary layer trips or critical conditions in the aforementioned numerical studies. Visualization of the DNS velocity field and vortices also shows the close association of hairpin packets with long low-momentum streaks and the regions of high Reynolds shear stress.     

HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER AND WALL SHEAR STRESS IN VERTICAL GAS-LIQUID FLOW

Results of an experimental investigation of heat and mass transfer and wall shear stress at gas-liquid flow in a vertical tube are presented. Local wall shear stress and mass transfer coefficients were measured by an electrochemical method. Experiments were performed in the range of Reynolds number variation with respect to liquid Rc_i, = 8.5 × 10³-5.4 × 10⁴, gas Re_g = 3 × 10³-1.4 × 10⁵, pressure 0.1-1 MPa. The relationship between heat and mass transfer and wall shear at gas-liquid flows is shown to exist. The results of measuring heat and mass transfer coefficients are generalized by formulas applied to calculate heat and mass transfer in single-phase turbulent flow.     

Three measuring techniques for assessing the mean wall skin friction in wall-bounded flows

The present paper aims at evaluating the mean wall skin friction data in laminar and turbulent boundary layer flows obtained from two optical and one thermal measuring techniques, namely, laser-Doppler anemometry (LDA), oil-film interferometry (OFI), and surface hot-film anemometry (SHFA), respectively. A comparison among the three techniques is presented, indicating close agreement in the mean wall skin friction data obtained, directly, from both the OFI and the LDA near-wall mean velocity profiles. On the other hand, the SHFA, markedly, over estimates the mean wall skin friction by 3.5–11.7% when compared with both the LDA and the OFI data, depending on the thermal conductivity of the substrate and glue material, probe calibration, probe contamination, temperature drift and Reynolds number. Satisfactory agreement, however, is observed among all three measuring techniques at higher Reynolds numbers, Re _x >10⁶, and within ±5% with empirical relations extracted from the literature. In addition, accurate velocity data within the inertial sublayer obtained using the LDA supports the applicability of the Clauser method to evaluate the wall skin friction when appropriate values for the constants of the logarithmic line are utilized.     

Investigation of scaling laws in a turbulent boundary layer flow with adverse pressure gradient using PIV

We present an experimental investigation and data analysis of a turbulent boundary layer flow at a significant adverse pressure gradient at Reynolds number up to Re_θ = 10, 000. We combine large-scale particle image velocimetry (PIV) with microscopic PIV for measuring the near wall region including the viscous sublayer. We investigate scaling laws for the mean velocity and for the total shear stress in the inner part of the boundary layer. In the inner part the mean velocity can be fitted by a log-law. In the outer part of the inner layer the log-law ceases to be valid. Instead, a modified log-law provides a good fit, which is given in terms of the pressure gradient parameter and a parameter for the mean inertial effects. Finally we describe and assess a simple quantitative model for the total shear stress distribution which is local in wall-normal direction without streamwise history effects.