Simulation and Modelling of Turbulent Trailing-Edge Flow

Computations of turbulent trailing-edge flow have been carried out at a Reynolds number of 1000 (based on the free-stream quantities and the trailing-edge thickness) using an unsteady 3D Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) code, in which two-equation (k–ε) turbulence models with various low-Re near wall treatments were implemented. Results from a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the same flow are available for comparison and assessment of the turbulence models used in the URANS code. Two-dimensional URANS calculations are carried out with turbulence mean properties from the DNS used at the inlet; the inflow boundary-layer thickness is 6.42 times the trailing-edge thickness, close to typical turbine blade flow applications. Many of the key flow features observed in DNS are also predicted by the modelling; the flow oscillates in a similar way to that found in bluff-body flow with a von Kármán vortex street produced downstream. The recirculation bubble predicted by unsteady RANS has a similar shape to DNS, but with a length only half that of the DNS. It is found that the unsteadiness plays an important role in the near wake, comparable to the modelled turbulence, but that far downstream the modelled turbulence dominates. A spectral analysis applied to the force coefficient in the wall normal direction shows that a Strouhal number based on the trailing-edge thickness is 0.23, approximately twice that observed in DNS. To assess the modelling approximations, an a priori analysis has been applied using DNS data for the key individual terms in the turbulence model equations. A possible refinement to account for pressure transport is discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The 3D Transition to Turbulence in Wake Flows by Means of Direct Numerical Simulation

The three-dimensional transition to turbulence in flows around bodies of non-rectangular configuration has been analysed physically by performing direct numerical simulation to solve the system of Navier-Stokes equations. The successive stages of 3D transition, beyond the first bifurcation, have been detected first in the incompressible regime, for a circular cylinder configuration. The generation of streamwise vorticity, organised according to spanwise periodic cells has been associated with the development of large-scale coherent spanwise undulations of the originally rectilinear (nominally 2D) alternating vortex rows. The wavelengths of these undulations have been determined as a function of Reynolds number. As this parameter increases, a further inherent change of the flow transition is obtained and analysed, the natural vortex dislocations pattern. Beyond this change, the increase of Reynolds number yields an abrupt shortening of the spanwise wavelength and the flow undergoes another transition step, whose critical Reynolds number is evaluated by the present DNS approach in association with the Ginzburg-Landau model. Therefore, the linear and non-linear parts of the flow transition have been quantified by means of the amplitude evolution versus time obtained by the present DNS, in conjunction with the mentioned global oscillator model. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical Investigation of Unsteady Transitional Flows in Turbomachinery Components Based on a RANS Approach

This paper presents results of the numerical simulation of periodically unsteady flows with focus on turbomachinery applications. The unsteady CFD solver used for the simulations is based on the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The numerical scheme applies an extended version of the Spalart–Allmaras one-equation turbulence model coupled with a transition correlation. The first example of validation consists of boundary layer flow with separation bubble on a flat plate, both under steady and periodically unsteady main flow conditions. The investigation includes a variation of the major parameters Strouhal number, amplitude, and Reynolds number. The second, more complex test case consists of the flow through a cascade of turbine blades which is influenced by wakes periodically passing over the cascade. The computations were carried out for two different blade loadings. The results of the numerical simulations are discussed and compared with experimental data in detail. Special emphasis is given to the investigation of boundary layers with regard to transition, separation and reattachment under the influence of main flow unsteadiness. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Experiment on smooth,circular cylinders in cross-flow in the critical Reynolds number regime

Experiments were conducted for 2D circular cylinders at Reynolds numbers in the range of 1.73 × 10⁵–5.86 × 10⁵. In the experiment, two circular cylinder models made of acrylic and stainless steel, respectively, were employed, which have similar dimensions but different surface roughness. Particular attention was paid to the unsteady flow behaviors inferred by the signals obtained from the pressure taps on the cylinder models and by a hot-wire probe in the near-wake region. At Reynolds numbers pertaining to the initial transition from the subcritical to the critical regimes, pronounced pressure fluctuations were measured on the surfaces of both cylinder models, which were attributed to the excursion of unsteady flow separation over a large circumferential region. At the Reynolds numbers almost reaching the one-bubble state, it was noted that the development of separation bubble might switch from one side to the other with time. Wavelet analysis of the pressure signals measured simultaneously at θ = ±90° further revealed that when no separation bubble was developed, the instantaneous vortex-shedding frequencies could be clearly resolved, about 0.2, in terms of the Strouhal number. The results of oil-film flow visualization on the stainless steel cylinder of the one-bubble and two-bubble states showed that the flow reattachment region downstream of a separation bubble appeared not uniform along the span of the model. Thus, the three dimensionality was quite evident.     

Numerical simulation of an axisymmetric separated and reattached flow over a longitudinal blunt circular cylinder

This article presents a numerical investigation of turbulent flow in an axisymmetric separated and reattached flow over a longitudinal blunt circular cylinder. The governing equations were discretized by the finite-volume method and SIMPLER method was applied to solve the equations on a staggered grid. The turbulent flow was numerically simulated using the standard k–ε, Abe–Kondoh–Nagano (AKN) and Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence models. The comparisons made between numerical results and experimental measurements showed that the SST model is superior to other models in the present calculation.Computations were performed for three different Reynolds numbers of 6000, 10 000 and 20 000 based on the cylinder diameter. To our knowledge, this study represents the first numerical investigation of the present flow configuration. The computational results were validated with the available experimental data of reattachment length, mean velocity distribution and wall static pressure coefficient in the turbulent blunt circular cylinder flows. Further, other characteristics of the flow, such as turbulent kinetic energy, pressure, streamlines, and the velocity vectors are discussed.The results show that the main characteristics of the turbulence flow in the separation region, such as reattachment length or velocity profiles, are nearly independent of the Reynolds number. The obtained results showed that a secondary separation bubble may appear in the main separation bubble near the leading edge. Furthermore, it was found that the turbulent kinetic energy has a large effect on the formation of the secondary bubble.     

基于车身绕流的低雷诺数湍流模型改进研究

本文将汽车绕流模块化为各典型局部流动,通过常用湍流模型对各典型局部流动进行数值模拟,结果验证了湍流模型对转捩的捕捉能力是准确模拟汽车绕流的关键. 在分析汽车绕流分离及转捩机理的基础上,优化了稳态和瞬态求解方法,改进了湍流模型对转捩的预测能力,进而提高了湍流模型在汽车流场模拟上的精度. 针对汽车绕流的稳态问题,将流线曲率因子及 响应阈值引入 LRN $k$-$\varepsilon $ (low Reynolds number $k$-$\varepsilon $) 模型,获得了一种能够更准确预 测转捩的改进低雷诺数湍流模型 (modified LRN $k$-$\varepsilon $),改善了原模型对湍流耗散率的过强依赖性及全应力发展预测不足等问题;针对汽车绕流瞬态求解,通过分析 RANS/LES 混合湍流模型的构造思想及特点,引入约束大涡模拟方法,结合本文提出的改进的 LRN $k$-$\varepsilon $ 湍流模型,提出了一种能准确捕捉转捩现象 的转捩 LRN CLES 模型. 分别将改进的模型用于某实车外流场和风振噪声仿真中,通过 Ansys Fluent 求解器计算,并将计算结果与常用湍流模型的仿真结果、HD-2 风洞试验结果和实车道路实验结果进行对比,表明改进后的湍流模型能够更准确模拟复杂实车的稳态和瞬态特性,为汽车气动特性的研究提供了可靠理论依据及有效数值解决方法.      

Numerical calculations of three-dimensional turbulent vortex breakdown

Numerical solutions to the three-dimensional, unsteady, incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations have been obtained for bubble-type vortex breakdown. Two different turbulence models were employed: (1) standard K-ε and (2) an explicit, regularized algebraic Reynolds stress model. Results are computed at a Reynolds number of 10,000. The algebraic Reynolds stress model produced a breakdown bubble with a larger length-to-diameter ratio than did the K-ε model. Breakdown also occurred at lower levels of adverse pressure gradient for the algebraic stress model than for the K-ε model. In each case single-cell breakdown structures resulted. This is contrasted with numerical calculations for laminar breakdown which reveal the existence of complex multicell bubble breakdown structures.     

RESEARCH ON IMPROVEMENTS OF LRN TURBULENCE MODEL BASED ON FLOW AROUND AUTOMOBILE BODY 1)

本文将汽车绕流模块化为各典型局部流动,通过常用湍流模型对各典型局部流动进行数值模拟,结果验证了湍流模型对转捩的捕捉能力是准确模拟汽车绕流的关键. 在分析汽车绕流分离及转捩机理的基础上,优化了稳态和瞬态求解方法,改进了湍流模型对转捩的预测能力,进而提高了湍流模型在汽车流场模拟上的精度. 针对汽车绕流的稳态问题,将流线曲率因子及 响应阈值引入 LRN $k$-$\varepsilon $ (low Reynolds number $k$-$\varepsilon $) 模型,获得了一种能够更准确预 测转捩的改进低雷诺数湍流模型 (modified LRN $k$-$\varepsilon $),改善了原模型对湍流耗散率的过强依赖性及全应力发展预测不足等问题;针对汽车绕流瞬态求解,通过分析 RANS/LES 混合湍流模型的构造思想及特点,引入约束大涡模拟方法,结合本文提出的改进的 LRN $k$-$\varepsilon $ 湍流模型,提出了一种能准确捕捉转捩现象 的转捩 LRN CLES 模型. 分别将改进的模型用于某实车外流场和风振噪声仿真中,通过 Ansys Fluent 求解器计算,并将计算结果与常用湍流模型的仿真结果、HD-2 风洞试验结果和实车道路实验结果进行对比,表明改进后的湍流模型能够更准确模拟复杂实车的稳态和瞬态特性,为汽车气动特性的研究提供了可靠理论依据及有效数值解决方法.     

On the modeling and simulation of a laser‐induced cavitation bubble

Single cavitation bubbles exhibit severe modeling and simulation difficulties. This is due to the small scales of time and space as well as due to the involvement of different phenomena in the dynamics of the bubble. For example, the compressibility, phase transition, and the existence of a noncondensable gas inside the bubble have strong effects on the dynamics of the bubble. Moreover, the collapse of the bubble involves the occurrence of critical conditions for the pressure and temperature. This adds extra difficulties to the choice of equations of state. Even though several models and simulations have been used to study the dynamics of the cavitation bubbles, many details are still not clearly accounted for. Here, we present a numerical investigation for the collapse and rebound of a laser‐induced cavitation bubble in liquid water. The compressibility of the liquid and vapor are involved. In addition, great focus is devoted to study the effects of phase transition and the existence of a noncondensable gas on the dynamics of the collapsing bubble. If the bubble contains vapor only, we use the six‐equation model for two‐phase flows that was modified in our previous work [A. Zein, M. Hantke, and G. Warnecke, J. Comput. Phys., 229(8):2964‐2998, 2010]. This model is an extension to the six‐equation model with a single velocity of Kapila et al. (Phys. Fluid, 13:3002‐3024, 2001) taking into account the heat and mass transfer. To study the effect of a noncondensable gas inside the bubble, we add a third phase to the original model. In this case, the phase transition is considered only at interfaces that separate the liquid and its vapor. The stiffened gas equations of state are used as closure relations. We use our own method to determine the parameters to obtain reasonable equations of state for a wide range of temperatures and make them suitable for the phase transition effects. We compare our results with experimental ones. Also our results confirm some expected physical phenomena. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A numerical study of the turbulent flow around the stern of ship models

The present work is concerned with the numerical calculation of the turbulent flow field around the stern of ship models. The finite volume approximation is employed to solve the Reynolds equations in the physical domain using a body-fitted, locally orthogonal curvilinear co-ordinate system. The Reynolds stresses are modelled according to the standard k-ε turbulence model. Various numerical schemes (i.e. hybrid, skew upwind and central differencing) are examined and grid dependence tests have been performed to compare calculated with experimental results. Moreover, a direct solution of the momentum equations within the near-wall region is tried to avoid the disadvantages of the wall function approach. Comparisons between calculations and measurements are made for two ship models, i.e. the SSPA and HSVA model.     

Numerical simulation of high‐Reynolds number flow around circular cylinders by a three‐step FEM–BEM model

An innovative computational model, developed to simulate high‐Reynolds number flow past circular cylinders in two‐dimensional incompressible viscous flows in external flow fields is described in this paper. The model, based on transient Navier–Stokes equations, can solve the infinite boundary value problems by extracting the boundary effects on a specified finite computational domain, using the projection method. The pressure is assumed to be zero at infinite boundary and the external flow field is simulated using a direct boundary element method (BEM) by solving a pressure Poisson equation. A three‐step finite element method (FEM) is used to solve the momentum equations of the flow. The present model is applied to simulate high‐Reynolds number flow past a single circular cylinder and flow past two cylinders in which one acts as a control cylinder. The simulation results are compared with experimental data and other numerical models and are found to be feasible and satisfactory. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Turbulent flow past a bubble and an ellipsoid using shadow-image and PIV techniques

An experimental investigation on flow around an oscillating bubble and solid ellipsoid with a flat bottom was conducted. A single air bubble (equivalent diameter D_e=9.12 mm) was attached to a small disk (1 mm) at the end of a needle and suspended across a vertical square channel (100 mm) by wire wherein water flowed downward at a constant flowrate. The solid ellipsoid (D_e9.1 mm) was suspended across the square channel in the same manner. The equivalent diameter-based Reynolds and Eotvos number range, 1950<Re<2250 and 11<Eo<11.5, placed the bubble in the ‘wobbly’ regime while the flow in its wake was turbulent. A constant flowrate and one bubble size was used such that flow in the wake was turbulent. Velocity measurements of the flow field around the bubble or solid were made using a one CCD camera Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) system enhanced by Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). The shape of the bubble or solid was simultaneously recorded along with the velocity using a second CCD camera and an Infrared Shadow Technique (IST). In this way both the flow-field and the boundary of the bubble (solid) were measured. The velocity vector plots of flow around and in the wake of a bubble/solid, supplemented by profiles and contours of the average and root-mean-square velocities, vorticity, Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy, revealed differences in the wake flow structure behind a bubble and solid. One of the significant differences was in the inherent, oscillatory motion of the bubble which not only produced vorticity in the near-wake, but as a result of apparent vorticity stretching distributed the turbulent kinetic energy associated with this flow more uniformly on its wake, in contrast to the solid.     

Heat transfer enhancement in grooved channels due to flow bifurcations

The flow bifurcation scenario and heat transfer characteristics in grooved channels, are investigated by direct numerical simulations of the mass, momentum and energy equations, using the spectral element methods for increasing Reynolds numbers in the laminar and transitional regimes. The Eulerian flow characteristics show a transition scenario of two Hopf bifurcations when the flow evolves from a laminar to a time-dependent periodic and then to a quasi-periodic flow. The first Hopf bifurcation occurs to a critical Reynolds number Rec₁ that is significantly lower than the critical Reynolds number for a plane-channel flow. The periodic and quasi-periodic flows are characterized by fundamental frequencies ω₁ and m· ω₁+n·ω₂, respectively, with m and n integers. Friction factor and pumping power evaluations demonstrate that these parameters are much higher than the plane channel values. The time-average mean Nusselt number remains mostly constant in the laminar regime and continuously increases in the transitional regime. The rate of increase of this Nusselt number is higher for a quasi-periodic than for a periodic flow regime. This higher rate originates because better flow mixing develops in quasi-periodic flow regimes. The flow bifurcation scenario occurring in grooved channels is similar to the Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse transition scenario of Eulerian chaos, observed in symmetric and asymmetric wavy channels.     

Regularization modeling for LES of separated boundary layer flow

Regularization models for the turbulent stress tensor are applied to mixing and separated boundary layers. The Leray and the NS-α models in large-eddy simulation (LES) are compared to direct numerical simulation (DNS) and (dynamic) eddy-viscosity models. These regularization models are at least as accurate as the dynamic eddy-viscosity model, and can be derived from an underlying dynamic principle. This allows one to maintain central transport properties of the Navier-Stokes equations in the model and to extend systematically toward complex applications. The NS-α model accurately represents the small-scale variability, albeit at considerable resolution. The Leray model was found to be much more robust, allowing simulations at high Reynolds number. Leray simulations of a separated boundary layer are shown for the first time. The strongly localized transition to turbulence that arises under a blowing and suction region over a flat plate was captured accurately, quite comparable to the dynamic model. In contrast, results obtained with the Smagorinsky model, either with or without Van Driest damping, yield considerable errors, due to its excessive dissipation.     

Experimental assessment of scale effects affecting two-phase flow properties in hydraulic jumps

A hydraulic jump is the rapid transition from a supercritical to subcritical free-surface flow. It is characterised by strong turbulence and air bubble entrainment. New air–water flow properties were measured in hydraulic jumps with partially developed inflow conditions. The data set together with the earlier data of Chanson (Air bubble entrainment in hydraulic jumps. Similitude and scale effects, 119 p, 2006) yielded similar experiments conducted with identical inflow Froude numbers Fr ₁ = 5 and 8.5, but Reynolds numbers between 24,000 and 98,000. The comparative results showed some drastic scale effects in the smaller hydraulic jumps in terms of void fraction, bubble count rate and bubble chord time distributions. The present comparative analysis demonstrated quantitatively that dynamic similarity of two-phase flows in hydraulic jumps cannot be achieved with a Froude similitude. In experimental facilities with Reynolds numbers up to 10⁵, some viscous scale effects were observed in terms of the rate of entrained air and air–water interfacial area.     

High-fidelity simulations of moving and flexible airfoils at low Reynolds numbers

The present paper highlights results derived from the application of a high-fidelity simulation technique to the analysis of low-Reynolds-number transitional flows over moving and flexible canonical configurations motivated by small natural and man-made flyers. This effort addresses three separate fluid dynamic phenomena relevant to small fliers, including: laminar separation and transition over a stationary airfoil, transition effects on the dynamic stall vortex generated by a plunging airfoil, and the effect of flexibility on the flow structure above a membrane airfoil. The specific cases were also selected to permit comparison with available experimental measurements. First, the process of transition on a stationary SD7003 airfoil section over a range of Reynolds numbers and angles of attack is considered. Prior to stall, the flow exhibits a separated shear layer which rolls up into spanwise vortices. These vortices subsequently undergo spanwise instabilities, and ultimately breakdown into fine-scale turbulent structures as the boundary layer reattaches to the airfoil surface. In a time-averaged sense, the flow displays a closed laminar separation bubble which moves upstream and contracts in size with increasing angle of attack for a fixed Reynolds number. For a fixed angle of attack, as the Reynolds number decreases, the laminar separation bubble grows in vertical extent producing a significant increase in drag. For the lowest Reynolds number considered (Re _c  = 10⁴), transition does not occur over the airfoil at moderate angles of attack prior to stall. Next, the impact of a prescribed high-frequency small-amplitude plunging motion on the transitional flow over the SD7003 airfoil is investigated. The motion-induced high angle of attack results in unsteady separation in the leading edge and in the formation of dynamic-stall-like vortices which convect downstream close to the airfoil. At the lowest value of Reynolds number (Re _c  = 10⁴), transition effects are observed to be minor and the dynamic stall vortex system remains fairly coherent. For Re _c  = 4 × 10⁴, the dynamic-stall vortex system is laminar at is inception, however shortly afterwards, it experiences an abrupt breakdown associated with the onset of spanwise instability effects. The computed phased-averaged structures for both values of Reynolds number are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. Finally, the effect of structural compliance on the unsteady flow past a membrane airfoil is investigated. The membrane deformation results in mean camber and large fluctuations which improve aerodynamic performance. Larger values of lift and a delay in stall are achieved relative to a rigid airfoil configuration. For Re _c = 4.85 × 10⁴, it is shown that correct prediction of the transitional process is critical to capturing the proper membrane structural response.     

Experimental Study on the Behaviour of Local Laminar Separation Bubble at a Rectangular Wing Section

This paper identifies laminar separation bubbles at the root or span-wise midsection of a rectangular wing using direct surface pressure measurements in the wind tunnel and analyses their behavior at different Reynolds numbers and angles of attack. The separation, transition, and reattachment locations are determined as functions of the angles of attack and the Reynolds number. The transition structure and turbulence characteristics in the separated shear layer are studied using laser Doppler velocimetry. Surface pressure data and simultaneously acquired velocity signals are correlated to show the pattern of growing disturbances in the shear layer. Surface oil flow visualizations clarified the wingtip and separation bubble’s interactions near the leading edge of the wing at the higher angles of attack. Turbulence statistics are also calculated from the streamwise velocity distributions, and an apparent deviation is observed for the skewness and flatness values from the normal distributions in the near-wall region. The separation bubble effect on aerodynamic coefficients of a 3D rectangular wing root section is studied and reported.

     

Direct numerical simulation of bubble dynamics in subcooled and near-saturated convective nucleate boiling

With the long-term objective of Critical Heat Flux (CHF) prediction, bubble dynamics in convective nucleate boiling flows has been studied using a Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). A sharp-interface phase change model which was originally developed for pool boiling flows is extended to convective boiling flows. For physical scales smaller than the smallest flow scales (smaller than the grid size), a micro-scale model was used. After a grid dependency study and a parametric study for the contact angle, four cases of simulation were carried out with different wall superheat and degree of subcooling. The flow structures around the growing bubble were investigated together with the accompanying physics. The relation between the heat flux evolution and the bubble growth was studied, along with investigations of bubble diameter and bubble base diameter evolutions across the four cases. As a validation, the evolutions of bubble diameter and bubble base diameter were compared to experimental observations. The bubble departure period and the bubble shapes show good agreement between the experiment and the simulation, although the Reynolds number of the simulation cases is relatively low.     

Asymptotic solutions of the two-dimensional equations for a thin viscous shock layer in a rarefied gas

Two-dimensional hypersonic rarefied gas flow around blunt bodies is investigated for the continuum to free-molecular transition regime. In [1], as a result of an asymptotic analysis, three rarefied gas flow regimes, depending on the relationship between the problem parameters, were detected and one of these regimes was investigated. In the present study, asymptotic solutions of the thin viscous shock layer equations at small Reynolds numbers are obtained for the other two flow regimes. Analytical expressions for the heat transfer, friction and pressure coefficients are obtained as functions of the incident flow parameters and the body geometry and temperature. As the Reynolds number tends to zero, the values of these coefficients approach their values in free-molecular flow. The scaling parameters of hypersonic rarefied gas flow around bodies are determined for different regimes. The asymptotic solutions are compared with the results of direct Monte Carlo simulation.     

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of air bubbles and hot water by direct contact

 This paper has dealt with direct contact heat and mass transfer characteristics of air bubbles in a hot water layer. The experiments were carried out by bubbling air in the hot water layer under some experimental conditions of air flow rate, inlet air temperature and humidity as a dispersion fluid, and hot water temperature and hot water layer depth as a continuous fluid. Heat transfer and evaporation of water vapor from hot water to air bubbles occurred during air bubbles ascending into the hot water. Air bubble flow patterns were classified into three regions of independent air bubble flow, transition and air bubble combination growth. Non-dimensional correlation equations of direct contact heat and mass transfer between air bubbles and hot water were derived by some non- dimensional parameters for three regions of bubble flow pattern. Received on 14 July 2000 / Published online: 29 November 2001