A film-based wall shear stress sensor for wall-bounded turbulent flows

In wall-bounded turbulent flows, determination of wall shear stress is an important task. The main objective of the present work is to develop a sensor which is capable of measuring surface shear stress over an extended region applicable to wall-bounded turbulent flows. This sensor, as a direct method for measuring wall shear stress, consists of mounting a thin flexible film on the solid surface. The sensor is made of a homogeneous, isotropic, and incompressible material. The geometry and mechanical properties of the film are measured, and particles with the nominal size of 11 μm in diameter are embedded on the film’s surface to act as markers. An optical technique is used to measure the film deformation caused by the flow. The film has typically deflection of less than 2% of the material thickness under maximum loading. The sensor sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the layer or the shear modulus of the film’s material. The paper reports the sensor fabrication, static and dynamic calibration procedure, and its application to a fully developed turbulent channel flow at Reynolds numbers in the range of 90,000–130,000 based on the bulk velocity and channel full height. The results are compared to alternative wall shear stress measurement methods.     

Propagating structures in wall-bounded turbulent flows

The Karhunen—Loève procedure is used to analyze two turbulent channel flow simulations. In both instances this reveals the presence of propagating plane wave structures in the turbulent flows. These waves appear to play an essential role in the local production of turbulence via bursting or sweeping events. The envelope of the propagating modes propagates with a speed which is equal to the mean velocity at the locus of maximal average Reynolds stress. Despite marked differences between the two flows similar results are obtained from each simulation. This is suggestive of the existence of universal or near universal features in the turbulent boundary layer. An analogy with critical layer mechanisms of transitional flows is discussed.Dedicated to Professor J.L. Lumley on the occasion of his 60th birthday.We gratefully acknowledge support provided by DARPA-URI under Contract Number N00014-86-K0754. The use of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center is also acknowledged.     

A method for estimating wall friction in turbulent wall-bounded flows

We describe a simple method for estimating turbulent boundary layer wall friction using the fit of measured velocity data to a boundary layer model profile that extends the logarithmic profile all the way to the wall. Two models for the boundary layer profile are examined, the power-series interpolation scheme of Spalding and the Musker profile which is based on the eddy viscosity concept. The performance of the method is quantified using recent experimental data in zero pressure gradient flat-plate turbulent boundary layers, and favorable pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers in a pipe, for which independent measurements of wall shear are also available. Between the two model profiles tested, the Musker profile performs much better than the Spalding profile. Results show that the new procedure can provide highly accurate estimates of wall shear with a mean error of about 0.5% in friction velocity, or 1% in shear stress, an accuracy that is comparable to that from independent direct measurements of wall shear stress. An important advantage of the method is its ability to provide accurate estimates of wall shear not only based on many data points in a velocity profile but also very sparse data points in the velocity profile, including only a single data point such as that originating from a near-wall probe.     

Isolating curvature effects in computing wall-bounded turbulent flows

An adjoint optimization method is utilized to design an inviscid outer wall shape required for a turbulent flow field solution of the So–Mellor convex curved wall experiment using the Navier–Stokes equations. The associated cost function is the desired pressure distribution on the inner wall. Using this optimized wall shape with a Navier–Stokes method, the abilities of various turbulence models to simulate the effects of curvature without the complicating factor of streamwise pressure gradient are evaluated. The one-equation Spalart–Allmaras (SA) turbulence model overpredicts eddy viscosity, and its boundary layer profiles are too full. A curvature-corrected version of this model improves results, which are sensitive to the choice of a particular constant. An explicit algebraic stress model does a reasonable job predicting this flow field. However, results can be slightly improved by modifying the assumption on anisotropy equilibrium in the model's derivation. The resulting curvature-corrected explicit algebraic stress model (EASM) possesses no heuristic functions or additional constants. It slightly lowers the computed skin friction coefficient and the turbulent stress levels for this case, in better agreement with experiment. The effect on computed velocity profiles is minimal.     

A segregated explicit algebraic structure-based model for wall-bounded turbulent flows

The Algebraic Structure-based Model (ASBM) is an engineering model of turbulence that incorporates information about the morphology of turbulent structures, and thus characterizes additional turbulence information beyond what is provided solely by the Reynolds stresses. In this work, a new formulation of the ASBM is developed that exhibits three defining characteristics. The first is a near-wall correction segregated from the homogeneous component of the model, which allows for a new paradigm for model development and comparison. The second characteristic is a set of fully-explicit equations that replace the original implicit formulation and make evident the highly nonlinear nature of the model. Finally, the last defining characteristic is based on the coupling of the ASBM with turbulent transport equations that provide the required turbulent scales. Using arguments of consistency, stability, and accuracy we arrive at a model that uses transport equations for k and ϵ. The resulting model is simpler to implement, more robust, and amenable to further development. The analysis of the new ASBM formulation is carried out by computing fully-developed channel, pipe and squared duct flows.     

Steady conjugate heat transfer in turbulent channel flows

The characteristics of steady conjugate heat transfer in turbulent channel flow which is uniformly heated over a finite length are numerically studied. The influences of wall thickness, wall-to-fluid conductivity ratio, and Prandtl number on the nondimensional heat flux and the evolution of temperature field are discussed in great detail. Particular attention is paid to study the wall conduction effects on low-Reynolds number turbulent forced convection heat transfer. The results show that the effects of wall conduction on turbulent forced convection channel flow are significant, especially for the cases with larger wall thickness and wall-to-fluid conductivity ratio.In einer numerischen Studie werden die Eigenschaften der stetig konjugierten Wärmeübertragung in einer turbulenten Kanalströmung, die über eine endliche Länge gleichmäßig beheizt wird, untersucht. Der Einfluß der Wandstärke, des Wärmeleitfähigkeitsverhältnisses von Wand zu Fluid und der Prandtl-Zahl auf den dimensionslosen Wärmestrom und auf die Entwicklung des Temperaturfeldes sind detailliert besprochen worden. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird der Untersuchung des Einflusses der Wandwärmeleitung bei niedrigen Reynolds-Zahlen auf die Wärmeübertragung bei turbulenter Zwangskonvektion gewidmet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß der Einfluß der Wandwärmeleitung auf die turbulente Zwangskonvektion bei Kanalströmung sehr bedeutend ist. Dies gilt besonders für den Fall, daß größere Wanddicken und ein hohes Wärmeleitfähigkeitsverhältnis von Wand zu Fluid vorliegen.     

A general one-equation turbulence model for free shear and wall-bounded flows

The purpose of thiswork is to introduce a complete and general one-equation model capable of correctly predicting a wide class of fundamental turbulent flows like boundary layer, wake, jet, and vortical flows. The starting point is the mature and validated two-equation k−ω turbulence model of Wilcox. The newly derived one-equation model has several advantages and yields better predictions than the Spalart-Allmaras model for jet and vortical flows while retaining the same efficiency and quality of the results for near-wall turbulent flows without using a wall distance. The derivation and validation of the new model using findings computed by the Spalart-Allmaras and the k−ω models are presented and discussed for several free shear and wall-bounded flows.     

Calculation of Reynolds stresses in turbulent supersonic flows

The baseline numerical procedure of interest in this study combines flux vector splitting, flux difference splitting and an explicit treatment of the diffusion terms of the flow equations. The viscous terms are treated explicitly to preserve the wave propagation properties of the Euler fluxes and permit splitting. The experience with this scheme has been limited to laminar or, at best, ‘eddy viscosity’ flows. In this paper the applicability of the scheme is extended to include the calculation of turbulent Reynolds stresses in supersonic flows. The schemes and our implementation are discussed. Both laminar and turbulence subsets of the Reynolds/Favre-averaged equations are tested, with a discussion of relative performance. The test problem for turbulence consists of a zero-pressure-gradient supersonic boundary layer as well as a supersonic boundary layer experiencing the combined effects of adverse pressure gradient, bulk compression and a concave streamline curvature. Excellent agreement with experimental measurements is observed for most of the quantities compared, which suggests that the numerical procedures presented in this paper are potentially very useful.     

Calculation of the momentum and heat transfer in turbulent gas-particle jet flows

The equations for the second moments of the dispersed-phase velocity and temperature fluctuations are used for calculating gas-suspension jet flows within the framework of the Euler approach. The advantages of introducing the equations for the second moments of the particle velocity fluctuations has previously been quite convincingly demonstrated with reference to the calculation of two-phase channel boundary flows [9–11]. The flows considered below have a low solid particle volume concentration, so that interparticle collisions can be neglected and, consequently, the stochastic motion of the particles is determined exclusively by their involvement in the fluctuating motion of the carrier flow. In addition to the equations for the turbulent energy of the gas and its dissipation, the calculation scheme includes the equations for the turbulent energy and turbulent heat transfer of the solid phase; however, the model constructed does not contain additional empirical constants associated with the presence of the particles in the flow.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.3, pp. 69–80, May–June, 1992.     

Assessment of the validity of a log-law for wall-bounded turbulent bubbly flows

There has been considerable discussion in recent years concerning whether a log-law exists for wall-bounded, turbulent bubbly flows. Previous studies have argued for the existence of such a log-law, with a modified von Kármán constant, and this is used in various modelling studies. We provide a critique of this idea, and present several theoretical reasons why a log-law need not be expected in general for wall-bounded, turbulent bubbly flows. We then demonstrate using recent data from interface-resolving Direct Numerical Simulations that when the bubbles make a significant contribution to the channel flow dynamics, the mean flow profile of the fluid can deviate significantly from the log-law behaviour that approximately holds for the single-phase case. The departures are not surprising and the basic reason for them is simple, namely that for bubbly flows, the mean flow is affected by a number of additional dynamical parameters, such as the void fraction, that do not play a role for the single-phase case. As a result, the inner/outer asymptotic regimes that form the basis of the derivation of the log-law for single-phase flow do not exist in general for bubbly turbulent flows. Nevertheless, we do find that for some cases, the bubbles do not cause significant departures from the unladen log-law behaviour. Moreover, we show that if departures occur these cannot be understood simply in terms of the averaged void fraction, but that more subtle effects such as the bubble Reynolds number and the competition between the wall-induced turbulence and the bubble-induced turbulence must play a role.     

Statistical analysis of instantaneous turbulent heat transfer in circular pipe flows

Turbulent heat transfer in circular pipe flow with constant heat flux on the wall is investigated numerically via Large Eddy Simulations for frictional Reynolds number Re _τ  = 180 and for Prandtl numbers in the range 0.1 ≤ Pr ≤ 1.0. In our simulations we employ a second-order finite difference scheme, combined with a projection method for the pressure, on a collocated grid in cylindrical coordinates. The predicted statistical properties of the velocity and temperature fields show good agreement with available data from direct numerical simulations. Further, we study the local thermal flow structures for different Prandtl numbers. As expected, our simulations predict that by reducing the Prandtl number, the range of variations in the local heat transfer and the Nusselt number decrease. Moreover, the thermal flow structures smear in the flow and become larger in size with less sharpness, especially in the vicinity of the wall. In order to characterize the local instantaneous heat transfer, probability density functions (PDFs) for the instantaneous Nusselt number are derived for different Prandtl number. Also, it is shown that these PDFs are actually scaled by the square root of the Prandtl number, so that a single PDF can be employed for all Prandtl numbers. The curve fits of the PDFs are presented in two forms of log-normal and skewed Gaussian distributions.     

Conjugate heat transfer study of incompressible turbulent offset jet flows

In the present case, the conjugate heat transfer involving a turbulent plane offset jet is considered. The bottom wall of the solid block is maintained at an isothermal temperature higher than the jet inlet temperature. The parameters considered are the offset ratio (OR), the conductivity ratio (K), the solid slab thickness (S) and the Prandtl number (Pr). The Reynolds number considered is 15,000 because the flow becomes fully turbulent and then it becomes independent of the Reynolds number. The ranges of parameters considered are: OR = 3, 7 and 11, K = 1–1,000, S = 1–10 and Pr = 0.01–100. High Reynolds number two-equation model (k–ε) has been used for turbulence modeling. Results for the solid–fluid interface temperature, local Nusselt number, local heat flux, average Nusselt number and average heat transfer have been presented and discussed.     

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.     

Dispersion of particles in wall-bounded particle-laden turbulent flows with high wall permeability

A series of numerical simulations were performed to investigate the distribution and deposition properties of particles in turbulent flows bounded by permeable walls using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with a Lagrangian trajectory approach. The wall permeation speeds were taken from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² of the bulk velocity. The directions of the permeation speed were the same at both walls, and they were inward on one wall but outward on the other wall to reserve the fluid mass. Particles with Stokes number (respecting viscous time scale) around 0.1, 1 and 10 were released in the fully developed turbulent channel flow. The particle–particle interaction and the retroaction from particles to the fluid were neglected. The fluid-phase turbulence statistical properties and particle's transport characteristics by vortexes were then analyzed in details. If the wall permeation exists, the turbulence intensities will be depressed close to the outward permeable wall but increased near the inward permeable wall. Not influenced by the wall permeation, the suspended particles with St⁺ ∼O(1) tend to accumulate in the less vortical zones away from the wall, while those particles in the flow regions near the outward permeable wall will distribute disregarding of the vorticity. The turbulence structures near the outward permeable wall are found to exert promotional effects on the particle deposition rate, but such effects are different for particles with various Stokes number. A distribution tendency of streamwise streaks for the deposited particles is also found on the wall imposed by the high outward permeation speed and the clustering deposition pattern is more obvious with increasing particle Stokes number.     

A variable angle method of calibration for X-probes applied to wall-bounded turbulent shear flow

A variable angle calibration technique for hot wire and hot film X-probes incorporating a new method of interpolation is described here along with measurements in a fully developed turbulent channel flow. Results based on the new method of calibration include the mean velocity profile, Reynolds stress, and probability density distributions for fluctuating velocity components u and and for the flow angle. Also skewness and flatness factors for u and are given. Measurement data were also evaluated using the conventional method. A comparison of both techniques shows that the new method does not yield appreciable differences in statistical flow analyses but is more accurate in measuring rare flow events associated with large flow angles. An extended version of the new method of calibration allowing three dimensional measurements in turbulent flow will be discussed.     

Molecular transfer in turbulent flows

For modeling the molecular transfer of a passive scalar in a known turbulent field, the equations for the average scalar value and the correlation function for the scalar field are written in a form which makes it possible to examine the effect of molecular transfer on turbulent transfer and scalar dissipation. For the closure of the equation for the correlation function, the Prandtl hypothesis is used. The statistical reliability of this closure is demonstrated. The system proposed makes it possible to predict the dynamics of a decaying uniform scalar field and to explain why the effect of the real value of the molecular-transfer coefficient on the decaying scalar field is weak. Specific features of the transport process in a plane layer with prescribed scalar values on the layer boundaries are considered.