Effects of element order and interface reconstruction in FEM/volume‐of‐fluid incompressible flow simulation

In previous studies, the moment‐of‐fluid interface reconstruction method showed dramatic accuracy improvements in static and pure advection tests over existing methods, but this did not translate into an equivalent improvement in volume‐tracked multimaterial incompressible flow simulation using low‐order finite elements. In this work, the combined effects of the spatial discretization and interface reconstruction in flow simulation are examined. The mixed finite element pairs, Q₁Q₀ (with pressure stabilization) and Q₂P _{? 1} are compared. Material order‐dependent and material order‐independent first and second‐order accurate interface reconstruction methods are used. The Q₂P _{? 1} elements show significant improvements in computed flow solution accuracy for single material flows but show reduced convergence using element‐average piecewise constant density and viscosity in volume‐tracked simulations. In general, a refined Q₁Q₀ grid, with better material interface resolution, provided an accuracy similar to the Q₂P _{? 1} element grid with a comparable number of degrees of freedom. Moment‐of‐fluid shows more benefit from the higher‐order accurate flow simulation than the LVIRA, Youngs', and power diagram interface reconstruction methods, especially on unstructured grids, but does not recover the dramatic accuracy improvements it has shown in advection tests. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

A theory of homogeneous isotropic turbulence

Summary Homogeneous and isotropic turbulence has been discussed in the present paper. An attempt has been made to find the simplifying hypothesis for connecting the higher order correlation tensor with the lower ones. Starting from the Navier-Stokes equations of motion for an incompressible fluid and following the usual method of taking the averages, a differential equation in Q and X, the defining scalar of the second order correlation tensor Q _x and the defining scalar of a third order isotropic tensor X _ijk , has been derived. The tensor X _ijk stands for a tensorial expression containing the derivatives of the third and the fourth order tensors. Then the hypothesis is used that X=F(Q), where F is an unknown function. To find the forms of F, Kolmogoroff's similarity principles have been used, and thus two forms for F(Q) corresponding to two regions of the validity of these principles have been deduced.     

A generating function for the yield criterion of isotropic and anisotropic polycrystalline materials

Summary A yield criterion for elastic pure-plastic polycrystalline materials is generated under simplified conditions by assuming that for yielding a certain fraction Q _c of the total number of slip planes in the material has to be active. This fraction Q _c is called the critical active quantity. We suppose Q _c to be independent of the state of stress. The yield criterion is mathematically expressed as an integral, which is a function of Q _c. This criterion can also be used for anisotropic materials.For isotropic materials the ratio (r) of the yield stress in torsion to that in tension is calculated as a function of Q _c. We find 0.5r0.61.The value r=0.5 (Tresca's criterion) is obtained for Q _c=0 and Q _c=1. The value r=0.577 (von Mises criterion) is obtained for Q _c=0.34 and Q _c=0.79. The difference between two criteria with the same r is the magnitude of the yield stress. We think the value Q _c=0.79 corresponds to the experiments for f.c.c. materials, since a rough estimation gives Q _c>0.75 for yielding.The independence of Q _c on the state of stress brings on that r>0.5 is more probable. This is caused by the slower increase to Q _c in torsion compared with the case of tension.From the theory follows that in the general case (Q _c0) the middle principal stress has influence on yielding.In this paper we don't determine Q _c, but adapt its value to the experimental results. However, a rough estimation of Q _c is given for isotropic materials.     

Transition bifurcation branches in non-linear water waves

We are concerned with the numerical computation of progressive free surface gravity waves on a horizontal bed. They are regarded as families of bifurcation branches (λ,A)_Q of constant discharge Q. Numerically we determine two transition values Q₁ and Q₂ with corresponding transition bifurcation branches that classify waves into three disjoint branch sets B₁, B₂ and B₃. Their members are families of waves (λ,A)_Q satisfying the conditions 0<Q² ?Q, Q <Q² ?Q and Q <Q² <B/27, respectively. The bifurcation patterns are analysed in some detail from the computed bifurcation diagram, which shows that in B₁ bifurcation is to the left and the amplitude A increases as the wavelength λ decreases; in B₂ bifurcation is to the right and turning points are observed nearly at breaking point. In B₃ bifurcation is to the right and A increases monotonically with λ.     

Effects of Reynolds number on physiological‐type pulsatile flows in a pipe with ring‐type constrictions

The effects of Reynolds number on the physiological‐type of laminar pulsatile flow fields within the vicinity of mechanical ring‐type constriction in small pipes were studied numerically. The parameters considered are: the Reynolds number (Re) in the range of 50–1500; Strouhal number (St) in the range of 0.00156–3.98; Womersley number (Nw) from 0.0 to 50.0. The pulsatile flows considered were physiological‐type of simulated flows. Within a pulsating cycle, detailed flow characteristics were studied through the pulsating contours of streamline (ψ), vorticity (Ω), shear stress (τ) and isobar. The relations between the instantaneous flow rate (Q) and instantaneous pressure gradients (dp/dz) are observed to be elliptic. The relations between the instantaneous flow rate (Q) and pressure loss (P_loss) are quadratic. Linear relations were observed between the instantaneous flow rate (Q) and the maximum velocity, maximum vorticity and maximum shear stress. The Reynolds number of the flow in a pulsating cycle was found to have significant effects on the recirculation length and the pressure gradient within the pulsatile flow regime. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculation of viscous compressible gas flow past a corner

We consider the problem of calculating the parameters for supersonic viscous compressible gas flow past a corner (angle greater than ). The complete system of Navier-Stokes equations for the viscous compressible gas is solved in the small vicinity Q₁. (characteristic dimensionl~1/R) of the corner point. The conditions for smooth matching of the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and the solution of the ideal gas or boundary layer equations are specified on the boundary of Q₁. All these solutions are a priori unknown, and the conditions for smooth matching reduce to certain differential equations on the boundary of Q₁. Here account is taken of the interaction of the flows near the wall surface and in the so-called outer region [1].We note that no a priori assumptions are made in Q₁ concerning the qualitative behavior of the solution, in contrast with other studies on viscous flow past a corner (for example, [2–4]).The Navier-Stokes system in Q₁ is solved numerically, using the difference scheme suggested in [5]. This scheme permits obtaining the steady-state solution by the asymptotic method for large Reynolds numbers R, and also has an approximation accuracy adequate to account for the effects of low viscosity and thermal conductivity.     

Monolithic Newton‐multigrid solution techniques for incompressible nonlinear flow models

We present special Newton‐multigrid techniques for stationary incompressible nonlinear flow models discretized by the high order LBB‐stable Q₂P₁ element pair. We treat the resulting nonlinear and the corresponding linear discrete systems by a fully coupled monolithic approach to maintain high accuracy and robustness, particularly with respect to different rheological behaviors and also regarding different problem sizes and types of nonlinearity. Here, local pressure Schur complement techniques are presented as a generalization of the classical Vanka smoother. The discussed methodology is implemented for the well‐known flow around cylinder benchmark configuration for generalized Newtonian as well as non‐Newtonian flows including non‐isothermal, shear/pressure dependent and viscoelastic effects.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

NUMERICAL STUDY OF EFFECTS OF PULSATILE AMPLITUDE ON UNSTEADY LAMINAR FLOWS IN RIGID PIPE WITH RING-TYPE CONSTRICTIONS

The effects of pulsatile amplitude on sinusoidal laminar flows through a rigid pipe with sharp-edged ring-type constrictions have been studied numerically. The parameters considered are: mean Reynolds number (Re) of the order of 100; Strouhal number (St) in the range 0·0–3·98; Womersley number (Nw) in the range 0·0–50·0. The pulsatile amplitude (A) varies in the range 0·0–2·0. The flow characteristics were studied through the pulsatile contours of streamline, vorticity, shear stress and isobars. Within a pulsatile cycle the relations between instantaneous flow rate (Q) and instantaneous pressure gradient (dp/dz) are observed to be elliptic. The relations between instantaneous flow rate (Q) and pressure loss (P_loss) are quadratic. Linear relations exist between instantaneous flow rate (Q) and maximum velocity, maximum vorticity and maximum shear stress. © by 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A photoelastic study of friction at multipoint contacts

A new method of measuring the normal and sliding loads associated with multiple-point contact is introduced. A multiple-point contact is modeled with a steel die with a profile that simulates a rough surface. A very large scale factor is used in modeling this surface. The steel die is placed in contact with a photoelastic model of a half plane and is subjected to a normal load. This normal load is partitioned over the multiple points of contact producing an isochromatic fringe pattern that describes the stress distribution in the local neighborhood of the contact points. A sliding load is then imposed on the model which destroys the symmetry of this fringe pattern. The fringe data in this pattern are sufficient to determine the local loadsP _i andQ _i and the local coefficient of frictionf _i =Q _i /P _i at each contact point. An overdeterministic method is introduced which gives the solution forP _i ,Q _i andf _i using many data points taken from the isochromatic pattern in the local neighborhood of the contacts.Paper was presented at the 1991 SEM Spring Conference on Experimental Mechanics held in Milwaukee, WJ on June 9–13.     

Melt-particle mixing in gas-stirred ladles with throughflow

An experimental study is performed on a gas-particle stirred ladle system with throughflow, using a simplified water model. Narrow ladles are used to produce 2-D flows. Flow visualization by the direct photographic method is employed to investigate the effects of ladle geometry, throughflow rate, air flow rate and its injection location on the melt-particle mixing performance. Image processing is applied to aid in determining the mixing performance. It is disclosed that an efficient mixing may be achieved if the gas at a higher flow rate is injected with particles through a nozzle near the bottom corner of the ladle wall on the melt inlet side. The mixing performance is better in a rectangular ladle (aspect ratio of 2) than in a square ladle (aspect ratio of unity). The effect of throughflow rate on mixing is minor. The study has an important application in manufacturing processes, such as continuous casting process, and materials processing.List of symbols AR aspect ratio - B width of water vessel, m - Bn Nozzle location on bottom surface of water vessel, m - H height of water vessel or height between bottom surface and free surface of water vessel, m - Hn Nozzle location on vertical (inlet side) surface of water vessel, m - Q _g volumetric rate of gas, m³/s - Q _l volumetric rate of water, m³/s - Q _s volumetric rate of particle, m³/s - x transverse coordinate, m - y longitudinal coordinate, m Visiting scholar on leave from the Mechanical Engineering Department, Kagoshima University, Japan     

Behaviour of the Reynolds stress on rough walls

Quadrant analysis is used to study the contributions, associated to the four quadrants of the (u,v) plane, to the production of the turbulent shear stress on rough walls. The measurements are described for a fully developed turbulent flow between two rough plates with varying the parameterλ _z(span/height ratio of roughness elements). The application of this technique indicates that the (Q ₂) events (ejections) and (Q ₄) events (sweeps) cause an intense production of the Reynolds stress —ρ as compared with the (Q ₁) and (Q ₃) quadrants. The (Q ₂) contribution to the Reynolds stress depends on the geometry factorλ _z. Variation of the parameterλ _zaffects the distributions of and forH⩽3, whereH is a particular threshold. Comparison with boundary layer flow shows that the region 0.2⩽y/h⩽0.7 is characterized by a Reynolds stress production, independent of the flow nature. The third moment of the longitudinal velocity fluctuations is found to be sensitive to the surface roughness.     

Flow between parallel walls containing the lines of neutrally buoyant circular cylinders

The motions of a single and two lines of neutrally buoyant circular cylinders in fluid between flat parallel walls are numerically investigated over the range of the Reynolds number of 12 < Re < 96, the ratio of the diameter of the cylinder D_s to the channel width D of 0.25≤D_s/D≤0.5, and the ratio of the streamwise spacing of the cylinders L to the channel width of 0.75≤L/D≤2. The lattice Boltzmann method is used for computations of the fluid phase and the cylinders are moved according to Newton’s law of motion. The Segré–Silberberg effect is found for both a single and two lines of cylinders. It is also found that for two lines of cylinders with D_s/D=0.25 and L/D=1, the equilibrium positions of the two lines are arranged to be staggered with respect to each other in the flow direction. The effects of the Reynolds number Re, D_s/D, and L/D on the equilibrium position of the lines of cylinders and on the friction factor of the cylinder–fluid mixture are presented and discussed.     

The unsteady heat transfer due to a heat source in an MHD stretching sheet flow

The time evolution in the temperature field resulting from the sudden introduction of a heat source into the already fully established steady MHD flow of an electrically conducting fluid past a linearly stretching isothermal surface is considered. The problem is shown to be fully described by two dimensionless parameters, a modified magnetic field strength ?? and a heat source strength Q. Numerical solutions of the initial-value problem show that there is a critical value Q _c of the parameter Q, dependent on ??, such that, for Q<Q _c , the solution approaches a steady state at large times and, for Q>Q _c , the solutions grows exponentially large as time increases. This growth rate is determined through an eigenvalue problem which also determines the critical value Q _c . The limits of Q _c for both small and large values of ?? are discussed.     

Stability of MHD Couette flow in a narrow gap annulus

A numerical solution to the MHD stability problem for dissipative Couette flow in a narrow gap is presented under following conditions: (i) the inner cylinder rotating with the outer one stationary, (ii) co-rotating cylinders, (iii) counter-rotating cylinders, (iv) an axially applied magnetic field, and (v) conducting and non-conducting walls.Results for the critical wave number and the critical Taylor number are presented and are compared with those of Chandrasekhar (1953). The agreement is very good. The amplitude of the radial velocity and the cell-pattern are shown on graphs for both the conducting and non-conducting walls and for different values of ± (=₂/₁, ₂-the angular velocity of the outer cylinder, ₁-the angular velocity of the inner cylinder) and Q the magnetic field parameter which is the square of the Hartman number. The effects of ± and Q on the stability of the flow are discussed. It is seen that the effect of the magnetic field is to inhibit the onset of instability, it being more so in the presence of conducting walls than in the presence of non-conducting walls.     

Stability of some low‐order approximations for the Stokes problem

Two‐level low‐order finite element approximations are considered for the inhomogeneous Stokes equations. The elements introduced are attractive because of their simplicity and computational efficiency. In this paper, the stability of a Q₁(h)–Q₁(2h) approximation is analysed for general geometries. Using the macroelement technique, we prove the stability condition for both two‐ and three‐dimensional problems. As a result, optimal rates of convergence are found for the velocity and pressure approximations. Numerical results for three test problems are presented. We observe that for the computed examples, the accuracy of the two‐level bilinear approximation is compared favourably with some standard finite elements. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diffusion of macromolecular solutions in the turbulent boundary layer of a cylindrical pipe

This paper presents a model for the evolution of a transversal concentration profile of a macromolecular solution (PEO) injected into a cylindrical pipe at turbulent flow conditions (R 40000). This model, based on the diffusion of a scalar quantity emitted by two diametrically opposed point sinks, proves to be in good agreement with the experimental data. C concentration - C _w wall concentration - C _i initial concentration before injection - x downstream distance from the slot - y normal distance from the wall - characteristic height of diffusion, i.e. the value ofg at whichC/C _w = 0.5 - n characteristic exponent - R radius of pipe - D diameter of pipe - a, b constants - L _m mixing length, i.e. the value ofx at whichC _w /C _i =Q _i /Q _T - Q _i flow rate of injection - Q _T flow rate - f, g annex functions - n ₀ maximal value ofn     

Analysis of Cross Correlations Between Well Logs of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

We carry out a series of cross-correlation analysis of raw well-log data, in order to study the possible connection between natural gamma ray (GR) logs and other types of well logs, such as neutron porosity (NPHI), sonic transient time (denoted usually by DT), and bulk density (RHOB) of oil and gas reservoirs. Three distinct, but complementary, methods are used to analyze the cross correlations, namely, the multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis (MF-DXA), the so-called Q _cc(m) test in conjunction with the statistical test—the χ ²(m) distribution—and the cross-wavelet transform (XWT) and wavelet coherency. The Q _cc(m) test and MF-DXA are used to identify and quantify the strength of long-range cross correlations between the porosities derived based on the NPHI, DT, and RHOB logs on the one hand, and the GR log that is indicative of the presence of clay minerals in reservoir rocks, on the other hand. The Q _cc(m) test describes qualitatively the presence of such cross correlations between the porosity and GR logs. Analysis by the MF-DXA method also indicates that the various porosity logs, the GR log, and the cross correlations between them are multifractal, hence confirming the long-range nature of the correlations. The results are confirmed further by the XWT, and indicate that the porosities estimated based on the NPHI logs are only weakly, if at all, affected by the natural GR radioactivity of reservoir rock and are, therefore, most reliable. The effect of length scale on the correlations and cross correlations was studied in detail. It is shown that such correlations exist at all length scales, and that they are of multifractal type that must be characterized by a spectrum of exponents.     

A new method for measuring the complex shear modulus of a viscoelastic material coupled with an elastic material

Summary In the mechanical-dynamic characterization of viscoelastic materials as a function of temperature, considerable difficulties are encountered, due to the change of joint, to the strong variation of the modulus of elasticity and the increase ofQ ^–1.This paper deals with a theoretical and experimental method for the determination of the shear modulusG₂ and of the internal lossQ ₂ ^–1 of a viscoelastic material by measurements at torsional vibration of a composite test-piece. Experimental measurements were carried out on composite test-pieces by gluing of polystyrene and of pinchbeck. The results obtained are in good agreement with the values found by other methods.     

A crack perpendicular to and terminating at a bimaterial interface

Using dislocation simulation approach, the basic equation for a finite crack perpendicular to and terminating at a bimaterial interface is formulated. A novel expansion method is proposed for solving the problem. The complete solution to the problem, including the explicit formulae for theT stresses ahead of the crack tip and the stress intensity factors are presented. The stress field characteristics are analysed in detail. It is found that normal stresses {ie27-1} and {ie27-2} ahead of the crack tip, are characterised byQ fields if the crack is within a stiff material and the parameters |p _T | and |q _T | are very small, whereQ is a generalised stress intensity factor for a crack normal to and terminating at the interface. If the crack is within a weak material, the normal stresses {ie27-3} and {ie27-4} are dominated by theQ field plusT stress. This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council for Engineering Sciences.     

Anisotropy of Seismic Attenuation in Fractured Media: Theory and Ultrasonic Experiment

This is a study on anisotropy of seismic attenuation in a transversely isotropic (TI) model, which is a long-wavelength equivalent of an isotropic medium with embedded parallel fractures. The model is based on Schoenberg’s linear-slip theory. Attenuation is introduced by means of a complex-valued stiffness matrix, which includes complex-valued normal and tangential weaknesses. To study the peculiarities of seismic attenuation versus wave-propagation direction in TI media, numerical modeling was performed. The model-input data were the complex-valued weaknesses found from the laboratory ultrasonic experiment made with a Plexiglas plate-stack model, oil-saturated (wet) and air-filled (dry). The laboratory experiment and the numerical modeling have shown that in the vicinity of the symmetry axis, in the wet model, P-wave attenuation is close to S-wave attenuation, while in the dry model, P-wave attenuation is much greater than S-wave attenuation. Moreover, the fluid fill affects the P-wave attenuation pattern. In the dry (air-saturated) model, the attenuation pattern in the vicinity of the symmetry axis exhibits steeper slope and curvature than in the wet (oil-saturated) model. To define the slope or the curvature, a QVO gradient was introduced, which was found to be proportional to the symmetry-axis Q _S/Q _P-ratio, which explains the differences between dry and wet models. Thus, depending on the Q _S/Q _P-ratio, the QVO gradient can serve as an indicator of the type of fluid in fractures, because the QVO gradient is greater in gas-saturated than in liquid-saturated rocks. The analysis of P-wave attenuation anisotropy in seismic reflection and vertical seismic profiling data can be useful in seismic exploration for distinguishing gas from water in fractures.