Cross-Stream Vorticity Field Induced by Streamwise Vortices in Unbounded and Wall-Bounded Shear Flows

This computational study examines the unsteady cross-stream vorticity structures that form when one or more streamwise vortices are immersed in homogeneous and boundary-layer shear flows. A quasi-two-dimensional limit is considered in which the velocity and vorticity fields, while still possessing three nonzero components, have vanishing gradient in the streamwise direction. This idealization is suitable to applications such as streamwise vortices that occur along a ship hull or airplane fuselage and it can be used as an idealized representation of the quasi-streamwise vortices in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer. In this quasi-two-dimensional idealization, the streamwise velocity has no effect on the cross-stream velocity associated with the vortex. However, the vortex acts to modify the cross-stream vorticity component, resulting in regions of the flow with strong deviations in streamwise velocity. This paper examines the complex structures that form as the cross-stream vorticity field is wrapped up by the vortex and the effect of these structures on the streamwise velocity field, first for vortices immersed in homogeneous shear flow and then for vortices immersed in a boundary layer along a flat wall. Received 2 January 2002 and accepted 13 August 2002 Published online 3 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*" This project was supported by the Office of Naval Research under Grant Number N00014-01-1-0015. Dr. Thomas Swain is the program manager. Communicated by T.B. Gatski     

FLOW STRUCTURE IN THE TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYER OVER DIRECTIONAL RIBLETS SURFACES

本文采用时间解析的二维粒子图像测速技术,对零压力梯度光滑以及汇聚和发散沟槽表面平板湍流边界层统计特性和流动结构进行了研究.结果表明在垂直于汇聚和发散沟槽表面的对称平面内,相对于光滑壁面,发散沟槽壁面使当地边界层厚度、壁面摩擦阻力、湍流脉动、雷诺应力等明显减小;而汇聚沟槽壁面对湍流边界层特性和流动结构的影响正好相反,汇聚沟槽使壁面流体有远离壁面向上运动的趋势,因而导致边界层厚度增加了约43%;同时,在汇聚沟槽表面情况下流向大尺度相干结构更容易形成,这对减阻是不利的.此外,顺向涡数量在湍流边界层的对数区均存在一个极大值,发散沟槽表面所对应的极大值位置更靠近沟槽壁面,而在汇聚沟槽表面则有远离壁面的趋势,由顺向涡诱导产生的较强的喷射和扫掠运动会在湍流边界层中产生较强的剪切作用,顺向涡数量的减少是发散沟槽壁面当地摩擦阻力降低的主要原因.     

Modelling the time-dependent flow over riblets in the viscous wall region

The flow over drag reducing riblets is examined computationally using a time-dependent model of the viscous wall region. The flow at the upper bound of the computational domain (y ⁺?40) is described using a streamwise eddy model consisting of two scales. A control-volume finite-element method utilizing triangular meshes is used to exactly fit the riblet cross-sectional geometry. Observations of the transient flow conditions suggest that the riblets limit the lateral spread of fluid inrushes towards the wall and retain low momentum fluid in the riblet valleys effectively isolating much of the wall from such inrushes. The generation of intermittent secondary vortices within the riblet valleys also occurs; however, these appear to be quite weak and fairly short-lived.     

Reynolds stress and vorticity in turbulent wall flows

Experimental measurements in a boundary layer and a large-eddy simulation of plane channel flow have been used to study the dynamics of vorticity and mass transport in the nearwall region. It was found that Reynolds stress generation occurs in the vicinity of quasi-streamwise vortices, and that smoke particles tend to be ejected from the wall near these vortical structures.     

On the friction drag reduction mechanism of streamwise wall fluctuations

Understanding how to decrease the friction drag exerted by a fluid on a solid surface is becoming increasingly important to address key societal challenges, such as decreasing the carbon footprint of transport. Well-established techniques are not yet available for friction drag reduction. Direct numerical simulation results obtained by Józsa et al. (2019) previously indicated that a passive compliant wall can decrease friction drag by sustaining the drag reduction mechanism of an active control strategy. The proposed compliant wall is driven by wall shear stress fluctuations and responds with streamwise wall velocity fluctuations. The present study aims to clarify the underlying physical mechanism enabling the drag reduction of these active and passive control techniques. Analysis of turbulence statistics and flow fields reveals that both compliant wall and active control amplify streamwise velocity streaks in the viscous sublayer. By doing so, these control methods counteract dominant spanwise vorticity fluctuations in the near-wall region. The lowered vorticity fluctuations lead to an overall weakening of vortical structures which then mitigates momentum transfer and results in lower friction drag. These results might underpin the further development and practical implementation of these control strategies.     

Flow field analysis of a turbulent boundary layer over a riblet surface

The near-wall flow structures of a turbulent boundary layer over a riblet surface with semi-circular grooves were investigated experimentally for the cases of drag decreasing (s ⁺=25.2) and drag increasing (s ⁺=40.6). One thousand instantaneous velocity fields over riblets were measured using the velocity field measurement technique and compared with those above a smooth flat plate. The field of view was 6.75 × 6.75 mm² in physical dimension, containing two grooves. Those instantaneous velocity fields were ensemble averaged to get turbulent statistics including turbulent intensities and turbulent kinetic energy. To see the global flow structure qualitatively, flow visualization was also carried out using the synchronized smoke-wire technique under the same experimental conditions. For the case of drag decreasing (s ⁺=25.2), most of the streamwise vortices stay above the riblets, interacting with the riblet tips frequently. The riblet tips impede the spanwise movement of the streamwise vortices and induce secondary vortices. The normalized rms velocity fluctuations and turbulent kinetic energy are small near the riblet surface, compared with those over a smooth flat plate. Inside the riblet valleys, these are sufficiently small that the increased wetted surface area of the riblets can be compensated. In addition, in the outer region (y ⁺ > 30), these values are almost equal to or slightly smaller than those for the smooth plate. For the case of drag increasing (s ⁺=40.6), however, most of the streamwise vortices stay inside the riblet valleys and contact directly with the riblet surface. The high-speed down-wash flow penetrating into the riblet valley interacts actively with the wetted riblet surface and increases the skin friction. The rms velocity fluctuations and turbulent kinetic energy have larger values compared with those over a smooth flat plate. Received: 24 March 1999/Accepted: 10 March 2000     

Bypass transition through interactions of localized disturbances in wall-bounded flows

A new mechanism bypass in a wall-bounded internal flow is proposed and the proposal is checked by direct numerical simulations of high temporal and spatial resolution. The mechanism is based on the interactions of the localized perturbations, rather than the effect of a single perturbation investigated so far in the classical bypass transition process. It is first shown by theoretical considerations that two pairs of quasistreamwise vortices can interact near the wall in such a manner that the compression (stretching) of the existing wall-normal vorticity induced by one of the pairs can enhance a new streamwise vorticity zone that can lead to new coherent structures and enhance considerably the transition process. Direct numerical simulations confirm this hypothesis.     

固体颗粒对沟槽湍流边界层影响的实验研究

本文采用粒子图像测速技术(particles image velocimetry, PIV)研究固体颗粒对放置在平板湍流边界层中的平壁和沟槽壁面减阻效果的影响. 实验对清水和加入粒径为155 μm聚苯乙烯颗粒的流法向二维速度场信息进行采集, 对不同工况下的平均速度剖面、雷诺应力和湍流度等统计量进行对比, 分析流体在边界层中的行为. 运用空间局部平均结构函数提取了不同工况湍流边界层喷射?扫掠行为的空间拓扑结构并进行比较. 结果发现, 在不同的壁面条件下, 粒子加入后的对数律区中无量纲速度均略大于清水组, 雷诺切应力有所降低, 湍流度有所减弱. 对于不同流场速度下的沟槽而言, 颗粒的加入均降低了壁面附近的阻力, 而颗粒单独作用于光滑壁面的减阻效果并不明显. 加入粒子后的相干结构数目有所增加, 法向脉动速度下降. 沟槽壁面附近的相干结构数目有所增加, 法向脉动速度在自由来流速度较大时有所上升, 在速度较小时有所下降. 这表明不同减阻状况下的沟槽均能将大涡破碎成更多的涡, 并且粒子的加入强化了这种破碎作用.      

Turbulence in a skewed three‐dimensional wall‐bounded shear flow: effect of mean vorticity on structure modification

Mean‐flow three‐dimensionalities affect both the turbulence level and the coherent flow structures in wall‐bounded shear flows. A tailor‐made flow configuration was designed to enable a thorough investigation of moderately and severely skewed channel flows. A unidirectional shear‐driven plane Couette flow was skewed by means of an imposed spanwise pressure gradient. Three different cases with 8°, 34°and 52°skewing were simulated numerically and the results compared with data from a purely two‐dimensional plane Couette flow. The resulting three‐dimensional flow field became statistically stationary and homogeneous in the streamwise and spanwise directions while the mean velocity vector V and the mean vorticity vector Ω remained parallel with the walls. Mean flow profiles were presented together with all components of the Reynolds stress tensor. The mean shear rate in the core region gradually increased with increasing skewing whereas the velocity fluctuations were enhanced in the spanwise direction and reduced in the streamwise direction. The Reynolds shear stress is known to be closely related to the coherent flow structures in the near‐wall region. The instantaneous and ensemble‐averaged flow structures were turned by the skewed mean flow. We demonstrated for the medium‐skewed case that the coherent structures should be examined in a coordinate system aligned with V to enable a sound interpretation of 3D effects. The conventional symmetry between Case 1 and Case 2 vortices was broken and Case 1 vortices turned out to be stronger than Case 2. This observation is in conflict with the common understanding on the basis of the spanwise (secondary) mean shear rate. A refined model was proposed to interpret the structure modifications in three‐dimensional wall‐flows. What matters is the orientation of the mean vorticity vector Ω relative to the vortex vorticity vector ω _v, that is, the sign of Ω · ω _v. In the present situation, Ω · ω _v > 0 for the Case 1 vortices causing a strengthening relative to the Case 2 vortices. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A tentative approach to the direct simulation of drag reduction by polymers

An efficient technique for drag reduction uses dilute solutions of a few p.p.m. of polymers. A possible reduction in drag of up to 80% is achieved. Several experimental observations have been made which tend to indicate that the polymers modify the turbulence structures within the buffer layer. Flow visualisations have shown that the changes consist of a weakening of the strength of the streamwise vortices. Existing literature reveals no attempts of numerical simulation of this phenomenon. In this paper an approach is pursued by using a constitutive equation which relates the elongation viscosity to the local properties of the flow. According to this model this viscosity is large in zones where the amount of strain rate is greater than the amount of vorticity, and is zero when the vorticity exceeds the strain rate. Simulations have been performed in a “minimal channel” to give good resolution with a limited number of grid points. The accuracy of the method is tested by comparison with the results of other techniques. For simulations with polymers, quantitative comparisons cannot be made, but the results reproduce the qualitative outputs of the experiments. The mean streamwise velocity is modified in the buffer layer; the peak of the streamwise turbulent intensity, in wall units, increases and its maximum moves far from the wall; and the vertical turbulent intensity is largely reduced in the wall region. An interesting outcome from both the simulation and the experiments is that the strength of the longitudinal vortices is reduced when the polymers are present.     

Riblet drag reduction in mild adverse pressure gradients: A numerical investigation

Riblet films are a passive method of turbulent boundary layer control that can reduce viscous drag. They have been studied with great detail for over 30 years. Although common riblet applications include flows with Adverse Pressure Gradients (APG), nearly all research thus far has been performed in channel flows. Recent research has provided motivation to study riblets in more complicated turbulent flows with claims that riblet drag reduction can double in mild APG common to airfoils at moderate angles of attack. Therefore, in this study, we compare drag reduction by scalloped riblet films between riblets in a zero pressure gradient and those in a mild APG using high-resolution large eddy simulations. In order to gain a fundamental understanding of the relationship between drag reduction and pressure gradient, we simulated several different riblet sizes that encompassed a broad range of s⁺ (riblet width in wall units), similarly to many previously published experimental studies. We found that there was only a slight improvement in drag reduction for riblets in the mild APG. We also observed that peak values of streamwise turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and streamwise vorticity scale with riblet width. Primary Reynolds shear stresses and turbulence kinetic energy production however scale with the ability of the riblet to reduce skin-friction.     

Direct simulation of breakdown to turbulence following oblique instability waves in a supersonic boundary layer

The late stages of transition to turbulence in a Mach two boundary layer are investigated by direct numerical simulation of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The primary instability at this Mach number consists of oblique waves, which are known to form a pattern of quasi-streamwise vortices. It is found that breakdown does not follow immediately from these vortices, which decay in intensity. The generation of new vortices is observed by following the evolution of the pressure and vorticity in the simulation, and analysed by consideration of vorticity stretching. It is found that the slight inclined and skewed nature of the quasi-streamwise vortices leads to a production of oppositely signed streamwise vorticity, which serves as a strong localised forcing of the shear layer alongside the original vortices, formed by convection and stretching of spanwise vorticity. The shear layer rolls up into many new vortices, and is followed by a sharp increase in the energy of higher frequencies and in the skin friction.     

Skin-friction drag reduction in turbulent channel flow based on streamwise shear control

It is known that stretching and intensification of a hairpin vortex by mean shear play an important role to create a hairpin vortex packet, which generates the large Reynolds shear stress associated with skin-friction drag in wall-bounded turbulent flows. In order to suppress the mean shear at the wall for high efficient drag reduction (DR), in the present study, we explore an active flow control concept using streamwise shear control (SSC) at the wall. The longitudinal control surface is periodically spanwise-arranged with no-control surface while varying the structural spacing, and an amplitude parameter for imposing the strength of the actuating streamwise velocity at the wall is introduced to further enhance the skin-friction DR. Significant DR is observed with an increase in the two parameters with an accompanying reduction of the Reynolds stresses and vorticity fluctuations, although a further increase in the parameters amplifies the turbulence activity in the near-wall region. In order to study the direct relationship between turbulent vortical structures and DR under the SSC, temporal evolution with initial eddies extracted by conditional averages for Reynolds-stress-maximizing Q2 events are examined. It is shown that the generation of new vortices is dramatically inhibited with an increase in the parameters throughout the flow, causing fewer vortices to be generated under the control. However, when the structural spacing is sufficiently large, the generation of new vortex is not suppressed over the no-control surface in the near-wall region, resulting in an increase of the second- and fourth-quadrant Reynolds shear stresses. Although strong actuating velocity intensifies the near-wall turbulence, the increase in the turbulence activity is attributed to the generation of counter-clockwise near-wall vortices by the increased vortex transport.     

PIV investigation of flow behind surface mounted permeable ribs

The flow behind surface mounted permeable rib geometries, i.e. solid, slit, split-slit and inclined split-slit ribs have been studied using flow visualization and PIV (2-C and 3-C) technique in streamwise and cross-stream measurement planes. The objective behind this study is to understand the flow structures responsible for heat transfer/mixing enhancement with simultaneous pressure penalty reduction by permeable rib geometries. The Reynolds number based on the rib height has been set equal to 5,538 and the open area ratio of permeable ribs is equal to 20%. The permeable rib geometries have shorter reattachment length in comparison to the solid rib. The maximum 41% reduction in reattachment length is observed for the inclined split-slit rib. The splitter mounted inside the slit leads to two corner vortices behind it. The corner vortices drag the flow from the primary recirculation bubble region towards the rib resulting in drop of the reattachment length. Two horseshoe vortices are present in the flow through the slit at both sides of the splitter due to the upstream flow separation. The slit inclination moves these horseshoe vortices closer to the bottom wall. A film like flow through the slit is present near the downstream corner of the inclined split-slit rib. The spanwise velocity gradient due to the splitter leads to vorticity and turbulence enhancement by vortex stretching. The inclination of the slit and the use of a splitter inside the slit are two important design parameters responsible in generation of near-wall longitudinal vortices. The flow field behind permeable ribs is dominated by vortical structures with definable critical flow patterns, i.e. node, saddle and foci. These predominant swirling flow motions contribute to the mixing enhancement behind permeable rib geometries. On leave from Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Kanpur, U.P. 208016, India     

Numerical simulation of quasi-streamwise hairpin-like vortex generation in turbulent boundary layer

A mechanism for generation of near wall quasi-streamwise hairpin-like vortex （QHV） and secondary quasi-streamwise vortices （SQV） is presented. The conceptual model of resonant triad in the theory of hydrodynamic instability and direct numerical simulation of a turbulent boundary layer were applied to reveal the formation of QHV and SQV. The generation procedures and the characteristics of the vortex structures are obtained, which share some similarities with previous numerical simulations. The research using resonant triad conceptual model and numerical simulation provides a possibility for investigating and controling the vortex structures, which play a dominant role in the evolution of coherent structures in the near-wall region.     

沟槽面湍流边界层结构实验研究

应用激光测速技术和氢气泡流动显示技术对沟槽面湍流边界层特性及近壁区拟序结构特征进行了精细的测量和观察。实验结果表明：与光滑面湍流边界层相比,沟槽面端流边界层的黏性底层厚度、过渡层厚度及流速分布对数公式中的积分常数C均有所增大,说明采用的沟槽面具有减阻特性。此外,无量纲低速带条间距明显减小,最多减小20%,说明无量钢低速带条平均间距的缩短与湍流减阻密切联系。     

低雷诺数沟槽表面湍流/非湍流界面特性的实验研究

湍流/非湍流界面是流动中湍流和无旋流的边界,其相关研究在加深对湍流与无旋流之间的物质、动量和能量交换的理解有重要意义.本文采用时间解析的二维粒子图像测速技术,分别对零压梯度光滑、顺流向锯齿形沟槽表面平板在不同雷诺数下对湍流/非湍流界面的几何特征及动力学特性进行了实验研究.实验雷诺数为$Re_{\tau } =400\sim1000$.本文采用了湍动能准则对湍流/非湍流界面进行了识别,并分析界面高度分布、分形特征及界面附近的条件平均速度和涡量.结果表明在不同雷诺数下, 无论是光滑壁面还是沟槽壁面,界面平均高度在0.8 $\sim$ 0.9$\delta_{99} $附近. 对于沟槽壁面而言,减阻时对应的界面高度的概率密度分布与光滑壁面基本一致, 均遵循正态分布,而当阻力增大时, 界面高度分布偏离正态分布出现正的偏度. 在本实验情况下,界面分形维度、跨界面速度跳变均会随着雷诺数增大而增大. 此外,不同壁面情况下无量纲条件平均涡量在界面附近的分布相近,而界面附近无量纲速度梯度最大值近似为常数.      

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON PROPERTIES OF TURBULENT/NON-TURBULENT INTERFACE OVER RIBLETS SURFACES AT LOW REYNOLDS NUMBERS1)

湍流/非湍流界面是流动中湍流和无旋流的边界,其相关研究在加深对湍流与无旋流之间的物质、动量和能量交换的理解有重要意义.本文采用时间解析的二维粒子图像测速技术,分别对零压梯度光滑、顺流向锯齿形沟槽表面平板在不同雷诺数下对湍流/非湍流界面的几何特征及动力学特性进行了实验研究.实验雷诺数为$Re_{\tau } =400\sim1000$.本文采用了湍动能准则对湍流/非湍流界面进行了识别,并分析界面高度分布、分形特征及界面附近的条件平均速度和涡量.结果表明在不同雷诺数下, 无论是光滑壁面还是沟槽壁面,界面平均高度在0.8 $\sim$ 0.9$\delta_{99} $附近. 对于沟槽壁面而言,减阻时对应的界面高度的概率密度分布与光滑壁面基本一致, 均遵循正态分布,而当阻力增大时, 界面高度分布偏离正态分布出现正的偏度. 在本实验情况下,界面分形维度、跨界面速度跳变均会随着雷诺数增大而增大. 此外,不同壁面情况下无量纲条件平均涡量在界面附近的分布相近,而界面附近无量纲速度梯度最大值近似为常数.     

Numerical Simulation of Riblet Controlled Spatial Transition in a Zero-Pressure-Gradient Boundary Layer

To analyze the fundamental physical mechanism which determines the damping effect of a riblet surface on three-dimensional transition several numerical simulations of spatial transition in a flat plate zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer above a riblet wall are performed in this study. Two types of forced transition scenarios are investigated. The first type of transition is defined by K-type transition induced by a dominant two-dimensional Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) wave and a weak spanwise disturbance. The second type of transition is purely excited by two oblique waves. By a qualitative analysis of the occurring maximum wall-normal and spanwise velocity components and the Fourier modes of the disturbances the two-dimensional TS waves are found to be amplified by riblets, whereas three-dimensional structures, i.e., Λ-, hairpin, and streamwisely aligned vortices, are damped. At oblique transition the breakdown to turbulence is delayed by the riblets compared to transition on a clean surface. The investigation of the near wall flow structure reveals secondary flows induced by the riblets and reduced wall normal ejections as well as a reduced downwash.     

Parallel spectral-element—Fourier simulation of turbulent flow over riblet-mounted surfaces

The flow in a channel with its lower wall mounted with streamwise V-shaped riblets is simulated using a highly efficient spectral-element—Fourier method. The range of Reynolds numbers investigated is 500 to 4000, which corresponds to laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow states. Our results suggest that in the laminar regime there is no drag reduction, while in the transitional and turbulent regimes drag reduction up to 10% exists for the riblet-mounted wall in comparison with the smooth wall of the channel. For the first time, we present detailed turbulent statistics in a complex geometry. These results are in good agreement with available experimental data and provide a quantitative picture of the drag-reduction mechanism of the riblets.This work was supported by National Science Foundation Grants CTS-8906432, CTS-8906911, and CTS-8914422, AFOSR Grant No. AFOSR-90-0124, and DARPA Grant No. N00014-86-K-0759. The computations were performed on the Cray Y/MP's of NAS at NASA Ames and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, and on the Intel 32-node iPSC/860 hypercube at Princeton University.