Thin Shear Layers in High Reynolds Number Turbulence—DNS Results

Using direct numerical simulation of turbulence in a periodic box driven by homogeneous forcing, with a maximum of 4096³ grid points and Taylor micro-scale Reynolds numbers R _λ up to 1131, it is shown that there is a transition in the forms of the significant, high vorticity, intermittent structures, from isolated vortices when R _λ is less than 10² to complex thin-shear layers when R _λ exceeds about 10³. Both the distance between the layers and their widths are comparable with the integral length scale. The thickness of each of the layers is of the order of the Taylor micro-scale λ. Across the layers the velocity ‘jumps’ are of the order of the rms velocity u _o of the whole flow. Within the significant layers, elongated vortical eddies are generated, with microscale thickness ? _v ~10η???λ, with associated peak values of vorticity as large as 35ω _rms and with velocity jumps as large as 3.4u _o , where η is the Kolmogorov micro scale and ω _rms the rms vorticity. The dominant vortical eddies in the layers, which are approximately parallel to the vorticity averaged over the layers, are separated by distances of order ? _v . The close packing leads to high average energy dissipation inside the layer, as large as ten times the mean rate of energy dissipation over the whole flow. The interfaces of the layers act partly as a barrier to the fluctuations outside the layer. However, there is a net energy flux into the small scale eddies within the thin layers from the larger scale motions outside the layer.     

Effects of the Reynolds number on a scale-similarity model of Lagrangian velocity correlations in isotropic turbulent flows

A scale-similarity model of a two-point two-time Lagrangian velocity correlation(LVC) was originally developed for the relative dispersion of tracer particles in isotropic turbulent flows(HE, G. W., JIN, G. D., and ZHAO, X. Scale-similarity model for Lagrangian velocity correlations in isotropic and stationary turbulence. Physical Review E, 80, 066313(2009)). The model can be expressed as a two-point Eulerian space correlation and the dispersion velocity V. The dispersion velocity denotes the rate at which one moving particle departs from another fixed particle. This paper numerically validates the robustness of the scale-similarity model at high Taylor micro-scale Reynolds numbers up to 373, which are much higher than the original values(R_λ = 66, 102). The effect of the Reynolds number on the dispersion velocity in the scale-similarity model is carefully investigated. The results show that the scale-similarity model is more accurate at higher Reynolds numbers because the two-point Lagrangian velocity correlations with different initial spatial separations collapse into a universal form compared with a combination of the initial separation and the temporal separation via the dispersion velocity.Moreover, the dispersion velocity V normalized by the Kolmogorov velocity V_η≡η/τ_η in which η and τ_η are the Kolmogorov space and time scales, respectively, scales with the Reynolds number R_λ as V/V_η∝ R_λ~(1.39) obtained from the numerical data.     

A spectral chart method for estimating the mean turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate

We present an empirical but simple and practical spectral chart method for determining the mean turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate $ \left\langle \varepsilon \right\rangle $ in a variety of turbulent flows. The method relies on the validity of the first similarity hypothesis of Kolmogorov (C R (Doklady) Acad Sci R R SS, NS 30:301–305, 1941) (or K41) which implies that spectra of velocity fluctuations scale on the kinematic viscosity ν and $ \left\langle \varepsilon \right\rangle $ at large Reynolds numbers. However, the evidence, based on the DNS spectra, points to this scaling being also valid at small Reynolds numbers, provided effects due to inhomogeneities in the flow are negligible. The methods avoid the difficulty associated with estimating time or spatial derivatives of the velocity fluctuations. It also avoids using the second hypothesis of K41, which implies the existence of a ?5/3 inertial subrange only when the Taylor microscale Reynods number R _λ is sufficiently large. The method is in fact applied to the lower wavenumber end of the dissipative range thus avoiding most of the problems due to inadequate spatial resolution of the velocity sensors and noise associated with the higher wavenumber end of this range.The use of spectral data (30?≤?R _λ?≤?400) in both passive and active grid turbulence, a turbulent mixing layer and the turbulent wake of a circular cylinder indicates that the method is robust and should lead to reliable estimates of $ \left\langle \varepsilon \right\rangle $ in flows or flow regions where the first similarity hypothesis should hold; this would exclude, for example, the region near a wall.     

A novel tethered-sphere add-on to enhance grid turbulence

The new turbulence generator consists of a standard uniform grid with tethered spheres attached to its nodes and is capable of producing approximately twice the turbulence energy per unit pressure drop coefficient C _p than the same bare grid without the spheres. At the same time, the Reynolds number Re_λ based on the Taylor microscale is also amplified by a factor of roughly 2, and the turbulence anisotropy is reduced to a constant level of 10% at all downstream distances without further flow conditioning after the grid. The new grid’s simple design makes it suitable for a variety of fluid-flow facilities, in particular smaller water tunnels. Its performance in comparison with the plain grid is documented by measurements of the streamwise decay of turbulence energy and velocity spectra in the Re_λ range of 50–100.     

Extension of the Kida law in turbulenceExtension de la loi de Kida en turbulence

We extend the validity range of Kida's log-stable law of stability index α=1.65 and intermittency parameter μ=0.2 to a new range of Reynolds number. This law describes intermittencies in fully developed turbulent flows or more precisely the p.d.f. of turbulence dissipation. Former measurements of the hyper-flatness factors of order 4, 5, 6 of turbulent velocity increments, coming from both experimental works and numerical simulations are used. We show that the power-law variation of these hyper-flatness factors with Taylor scale based Reynolds numbers Re_λ can be fitted, for Re_λ ranging from 35 to 750, by a log-stable law of stability index α=1.65 and intermittency parameter μ=0.21. To cite this article: N. Rimbert, O. Séro-Guillaume, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

On Near-Wall Treatment in (U)RANS-Based Closure Models

The present work is concerned with computational evaluation of a recently formulated near-wall relationship providing the value of the dissipation rate ε of the kinetic energy of turbulence k through its exact dependence on the Taylor microscale λ: ε = 10νk/λ ², (Jakirli? and Jovanovi?, J. Fluid Mech. 656:530–539, 2010). Dissipation rate determination benefits from the asymptotic behavior of the Taylor microscale resulting in its linear variation in terms of the wall distance (λ?∝?y) being valid throughout entire viscous sublayer. Accordingly, it can be applied as a unified near-wall treatment in all computational frameworks relying on a RANS-based model of turbulence (including also hybrid LES/RANS schemes) independent of modeling level—both main modeling concepts eddy-viscosity and Reynolds stress models can be employed. Presently, the feasibility of the proposed formulation was demonstrated by applying a conventional near-wall second-moment closure model based on the homogeneous dissipation rate ε _h ( ${\varepsilon_h =\varepsilon -0.5\partial \left( {{\nu \partial k}/ {\partial x_j }} \right)} / {\partial x_j }$ ; Jakirli? and Hanjali?, J. Fluid Mech. 539:139–166, 2002) and its instability-sensitive version, modeled in terms of the inverse turbulent time scale ω _h (ω _h ?=?ε _h /k; Maduta and Jakirli?, 2011), to a fully-developed channel flow with both flat walls and periodic hill-shaped constrictions mounted on the bottom wall in a Reynolds number range. The latter configuration is subjected to boundary layer separation from a continuous curved wall. The influence of the near-wall resolution lowering with respect to the location of the wall-closest computational node, coarsened even up to the viscous sublayer edge situated at $y_P^+ \approx 5$ in equilibrium flows, is analyzed. The results obtained follow closely those pertinent to the conventional near-wall integration with the wall-next node positioned at $y_P^+ \le 0.5$ .     

Very large‐scale computation of very small‐scale motions in a fully developed pipe flow

Local isotropy theory is examined using direct numerical simulation in a fully developed pipe flow at two Reynolds numbers Re_τ=1285.6 and 684.8. The approach to local isotropy is assessed with reference to the two Kolmogorov classical equations for longitudinal and transverse velocity structure functions. The results for the second‐order longitudinal structure functions in both the dissipative and inertial ranges indicate an improved agreement with the local isotropy hypothesis as the centreline is approached. However, the transverse structure functions satisfy isotropy neither in the dissipative range or in the inertial range. The distribution of the longitudinal and transverse structure functions also shows a substantial Reynolds number dependance in the logarithmic region of the flow and beyond. The results for the third‐order longitudinal structure function demonstrate an increased Reynolds number influence, and a deteriorating tendency to local isotropy for large separations. Contour images of axial velocity differences in the dissipative and inertial ranges have exhibited interesting patterns in relation to those of the instantaneous axial velocity. Finally, the results obtained in this investigation are in very good agreement with other published experimental and numerical data on channel and duct flows. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A second-order dynamic subgrid-scale stress model

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Acoustic Lagrangian velocity measurement in a turbulent air jet

Measuring Lagrangian velocities in a turbulent flow is of a great interest for turbulence modeling. We report measurements made in an axisymmetric turbulent air jet at Reynolds number R _λ ≃ 320, using acoustical Doppler scattering. Helium-filled soap bubbles are used as Lagrangian tracers. We describe an experimental setup which allows the simultaneous measurement of the full three-component Lagrangian velocity and the longitudinal Eulerian one. Lagrangian velocity probability density functions (PDF) are found Gaussian, close to Eulerian ones. Velocity correlations are analysed as well as the statistical dependence between components.     

Flow stability in a channel with porous walls

We study the stability of the flow which forms in a plane channel with influx of an incompressible viscous fluid through its porous parallel walls. Under certain assumptions the study of the stability reduces to the solution of modified Orr-Sommerfeld equation accounting for the transverse component of the main-flow velocity. As a result of numerical integration of this equation we find the dependence of the local critical Reynolds number on the blowing Reynolds number R₀, which may be defined by two factors: the variation of the longitudinal velocity profile with R₀ and the presence of the transverse velocity component. A qualitative comparison is made of the computational results with experimental data on transition from laminar to turbulent flow regimes in channels with porous walls, which confirms that it is necessary to take into account the effect of the transverse component of the main-flow velocity on the main-flow stability in the problem in question.Flows in channels with porous walls are of interest for hydrodynamic stability theory in view of the fact that they can be described by the exact solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations by analogy with the known Poiseuille and Couette flows. However, in contrast with the latter, the flows in channels with porous walls (studies in [1], for example) will be nonparallel.The theory of hydrodynamic stability of parallel flows has frequently been applied to nonparallel flows (in the boundary layer, for example). In so doing the nonparallel nature of the flow has been taken into account only by varying the longitudinal velocity component profiles. A study was made in [2, 3] of the effect of the transverse component of the main flow on its stability. In the case of the boundary layer in a compressible gas, a considerable influence of the transverse velocity component on the critical Reynolds number was found in [2] and confirmed experimentally. A strong influence of the transverse velocity component on the instability region was also found in [3] in a study of the flow stability in a boundary layer with suction for an incompressible fluid.     

Measurement and decomposition of periodic flow structures downstream of a test turbine

The temperature dissipation rate inferred from the balance of $\overline{\theta^{2}}/2$ budget is used for the purpose of studying different methods employed to directly measure dissipation. The terms involved in the budget equation of temperature variance are measured with laser Doppler velocimetry and cold-wire thermometry used simultaneously. This study focuses on the centerline of a turbulent round jet, in the far field, at high Reynolds number (x/D = 30, Re _D  = 1.5 × 10⁵ and Re _λ  = 548). Particular attention is devoted to statistical convergence of second- and third-order moments of velocity and temperature fluctuations. Temperature dissipation obtained by Taylor’s hypothesis and radial temperature derivative spectra confirm local isotropy. A high level of low wave number content is reported for the longitudinal derivative spectra, probably due to transverse mode spectral aliasing and noise contamination for small wire separation. A parallel is drawn between finite difference formulations and the behavior of the autocorrelation coefficient for small wire separations. The temperature dissipation estimates found are close to the budget reference value, but spectral analysis cast doubts on the validity of the streamwise derivative obtained with a pair of probes.     

Effect of Flow Structures on Turbulence Statistics of Taylor-Couette Flow in the Torque Transition State

Direct numerical simulations of Taylor-Couette flow from Re= 8000 to 25000 have been conducted to investigate changes of turbulence statistics in the transition of the Reynolds number dependency of the mean torque near Re= 10000. The velocity fluctuations are decomposed into the contributions of the Taylor vortex and remaining turbulent fluctuations. Significant Reynolds number dependencies of these components are observed in the radial profiles of the Reynolds stress and the transmission of the mean torque. The contributions of Taylor vortex and turbulent components in the net amount of mean torque are evaluated. The Taylor vortex component is overtaken by the turbulent counterpart around Re= 15000 when they are defined as the azimuthally averaged component and the remnants. The results show that the torque transition can be explained by the competition between the contributions of azimuthally averaged Taylor vortex and the remaining turbulent components.     

Turbulent Energy Scale-Budget Equations for nearly Homogeneous Sheared Turbulence

For moderate Reynolds numbers, the isotropic relation between second-order and third-order moments for velocity increments (Kolmogorov's equation) is not respected, reflecting a non-negligible correlation between the scales responsible for the injection, transfer and dissipation of the turbulent energy. For (shearless) grid turbulence, there is only one dominant large-scale phenomenon, which is the non-stationarity of statistical moments resulting from the decay of energy downstream of the grid. In this case, the extension of Kolmogorov's analysis, as carried out by Danaila, Anselmet, Zhou and Antonia, J. Fluid Mech. 391, 1999 359-369) is quite straightforward. For shear flows, several large-scale phenomena generally coexist with similar amplitudes. This is particularly the case for wall-bounded flows, where turbulent diffusion and shear effects can present comparable amplitudes. The objective of this work is to quantify, in a fully developed turbulent channel flow and far from the wall, the influence of these two effects on the scale-by-scale energy budget equation. A generalized Kolmogorov equation is derived. Relatively good agreement between the new equation and hot-wire measurements is obtained in the outer region (40 < x ⁺ ₃ < 150) of the channel flow, for which the turbulent Reynolds number is R _λ≈ 36.     

MHD mixed convection stagnation-point flow of a nanofluid over a vertical permeable surface: a comprehensive report of dual solutions

The steady laminar magnetohydrodynamic mixed convection boundary layer flow of a nanofluid near the stagnation-point on a vertical permeable plate with prescribed external flow and surface temperature is investigated in this study. Here, both assisting and opposing flows are considered and studied. Using appropriate similarity variables, the governing equations are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations in the dimensionless stream function, which is solved numerically using the Runge–Kutta scheme coupled with a conventional shooting procedure. Three different types of nanoparticles, namely copper Cu, alumina Al₂O₃ and titania TiO₂ with water as the base fluid are considered. Numerical results are obtained for the skin-friction coefficient and Nusselt number as well as for the velocity and temperature profiles for some values of the governing parameters, namely, the volume fraction of nanoparticles ?, permeability parameter f _o , magnetic parameter M and mixed convection parameter λ. It is found that dual solutions exist for both assisting and opposing flows, and the range of the mixed convection parameter for which the solution exists, increases with suction, magnetic field and volume fraction of nanoparticles.     

Terminal velocities of clean and fully-contaminated drops in vertical pipes

Terminal velocities and shapes of drops rising through vertical pipes in clean and fully-contaminated systems are measured by using a high-speed video camera and an image processing method. Silicon oils and glycerol water solutions are used for the dispersed and continuous phases, respectively. Triton X-100 is used for surfactant. Clean and contaminated drops take either spherical, spheroidal or deformed spheroidal shapes when the diameter ratio λ is less than a critical value, λ_C, whereas they take bullet shapes for λ > λ_C (Taylor drops). The applicability of available drag and Froude number correlations is examined through comparisons with the measured data. Effects of surfactant on the shape and terminal velocity of a Taylor drop are also discussed based on the experimental data and interface tracking simulations. The conclusions obtained are as follows: (1) drag and Froude number correlations proposed so far give reasonable estimations of the terminal velocities of clean drops at any λ, (2) the terminal velocities of contaminated drops are well evaluated by making the viscosity ratio μ^* infinity in the drag correlation for clean drops in the viscous force dominant regime, (3) the effects of surfactant on the shape and terminal velocity of a Taylor drop become significant as the Eötvös number, Eo_D, decreases and μ^* increases, and (4) the reduction in surface tension due to the addition of surfactant would be the cause of the increase in the terminal velocity and elongation of a contaminated Taylor drop.     

Reynolds Number Dependence of Velocity Structure Functions in a Turbulent Pipe Flow

Low-order moments of the increments δu andδv where u and v are the axial and radial velocity fluctuations respectively, have been obtained using single and X-hot wires mainly on the axis of a fully developed pipe flow for different values of the Taylor microscale Reynolds numberR _λ. The mean energy dissipation rate〉ε〈 was inferred from the uspectrum after the latter was corrected for the spatial resolution of the hot-wire probes. The corrected Kolmogorov-normalized second-order structure functions show a continuous evolution withR _λ. In particular, the scaling exponentζ _v , corresponding to the v structure function, continues to increase with R _λ in contrast to the nearly unchanged value of ζ _u . The Kolmogorov constant for δu shows a smaller rate of increase with R _λ than that forδv. The level of agreement with local isotropy is examined in the context of the competing influences ofR _λ and the mean shear. There is close but not perfect agreement between the present results on the pipe axis and those on the centreline of a fully developed channel flow. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Skewed Poiseuille-Couette flows of sPTT fluids in concentric annuli and channels

Analytical solutions have been derived for the helical flow of PTT fluids in concentric annuli, due to inner cylinder rotation, as well as for Poiseuille flow in a channel skewed by the movement of one plate in the spanwise direction, which constitutes a simpler solution for helical flow in the limit of very thin annuli. Since the constitutive equation is a non-linear differential equation, the axial and tangential/spanwise flows are coupled in a complex way. Expressions are derived for the radial variation of the axial and tangential velocities, as well as for the three shear stresses and the two normal stresses. For engineering purposes expressions are given relating the friction factor and the torque coefficient to the Reynolds number, the Taylor number, a nondimensional number quantifying elastic effects (εDe²) and the radius ratio. For axial dominated flows fRe and C_M are found to depend only on εDe² and the radius ratio, but as the strength of rotation increases both coefficients become dependent on the velocity ratio (ξ) which efficiently compacts the effects of Reynolds and Taylor numbers. Similar expressions are derived for the simpler planar case flow using adequate non-dimensional numbers.     

Time periodic electroosmotic flow of the generalized Maxwell fluids between two micro-parallel plates

Analytical solutions are presented using method of separation of variables for the time periodic EOF flow of linear viscoelastic fluids between micro-parallel plates. The linear viscoelastic fluids used here are described by the general Maxwell model. The solution involves analytically solving the linearized Poisson–Boltzmann equation, together with the Cauchy momentum equation and the general Maxwell constitutive equation. By numerical computations, the influences of the electrokinetic width K denoting the characteristic scale of half channel width to Debye length, the periodic EOF electric oscillating Reynolds number Re and normalized relaxation time λ₁ω on velocity profiles and volumetric flow rates are presented. Results show that for prescribed electrokinetic width K, lower oscillating Reynolds number Re and shorter relaxation time λ₁ω reduces the plug-like EOF velocity profile of Newtonian fluids. For given Reynolds number Re and electrokinetic width K, longer relaxation time λ₁ω leads to rapid oscillating EOF velocity profiles with increased amplitude. With the increase of the K, the velocity variations are restricted to a very narrow region close to the EDL for small relaxation time. However, with the increase of the relaxation time, the elasticity of the fluid becomes conspicuous and the velocity variations can be expanded to the whole flow field. As far as volume flow rates are concerned, for given electrodynamic width K, larger oscillating Reynolds number Re results in a smaller volume flow rates. For prescribed oscillating Reynolds number Re, with the changes of relaxation time λ₁ω, volume flow rates will produce some peaks no matter how the electrodynamic width K varies. Moreover, the time periodic evolution of the velocity profiles provides a detail insight of the flow characteristic of this flow configuration.     

Numerical analysis of the rotating viscous flow approaching a solid sphere

A numerical simulation is performed to investigate the flow induced by a sphere moving along the axis of a rotating cylindrical container filled with the viscous fluid. Three‐dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations are solved using a finite element method. The objective of this study is to examine the feature of waves generated by the Coriolis force at moderate Rossby numbers and that to what extent the Taylor–Proudman theorem is valid for the viscous rotating flow at small Rossby number and large Reynolds number. Calculations have been undertaken at the Rossby numbers (R_o) of 1 and 0.02 and the Reynolds numbers (R_e) of 200 and 500. When R_o=O(1), inertia waves are exhibited in the rotating flow past a sphere. The effects of the Reynolds number and the ratio of the radius of the sphere and that of the rotating cylinder on the flow structure are examined. When R_o ? 1, as predicted by the Taylor–Proudman theorem for inviscid flow, the so‐called ‘Taylor column’ is also generated in the viscous fluid flow after an evolutionary course of vortical flow structures. The initial evolution and final formation of the ‘Taylor column’ are exhibited. According to the present calculation, it has been verified that major theoretical statement about the rotating flow of the inviscid fluid may still approximately predict the rotating flow structure of the viscous fluid in a certain regime of the Reynolds number. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transverse velocity and temperature derivative measurements in grid turbulence

The same probe, comprising two parallel wires, is used to measure either velocity or temperature derivatives in shearless grid turbulence at a Taylor microscale Reynolds number of about 40. The aerodynamic interference of the probe affects the mean velocity when the transverse separation jy between the wires is smaller than about 3m, where m (ۂ.4 mm for the present experiments) is the Kolmogorov length scale, but not the mean temperature. Spectra and corresponding moments of transverse velocity and temperature derivatives are significantly but similarly affected when jyh3m, thus suggesting that this effect is more likely to be caused by electronic noise than aerodynamic interference. Indeed, after noise corrections are applied, the resulting derivative variances are brought into alignment with values inferred from two-point correlations with respect to y. Transverse derivative variances and their corresponding spectra satisfy isotropy closely but second-order structure functions satisfy it only when the separation is less than about 10m, i.e. the dissipative range scales.