Non-Gaussian Phase Screen Based on log-Poisson Distribution and Effect on Imaging

Gaussian models without intermittency are extensively used in estimating the effect of turbulence, but it also brings some puzzles, for example the observed pulse shape that disagrees with the result of the standard theory of interstellar scintillations. Indeed the property of intermittency is inherent in turbulence, i.e., all the quantities that characterize it suffer from strong fluctuations. So it is necessary to consider turbulent intermittency in many applications. In this paper we propose a non-Gaussian phase screen, which obeys log-Poisson statistics, and also offers the corresponding point spread function （PSF）. These results describe that intermittency leads to the more extent and different directional distribution of PSF. Theoretical analysis is made under the hypothesis of the phase difference satisfying log-Poisson statistics, and the average point spread function, which accord qualitatively with the result of the above generated phase screen, is derived.     

Experimental validation of two depth‐averaged turbulence models

A finite volume turbulence model for the resolution of the two‐dimensional shallow water equations with turbulent term is presented. After making a finite volume discretization of the depth‐averaged k–ε equations in conservative form, the q–r equations, that give stability to the process, are obtained. Wall and inlet boundary conditions for the turbulent equations and wall conditions for the hydrodynamic equations are discussed. A comparison between the k–ε and q–r models and some experimental results is made. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Corrections to the scaling of the second-order structure function in isotropic turbulence

The approach of Obukhov assuming a constant skewness was used to obtain analytical corrections to the scaling of the second order structure function, starting from Kolmogorov＇s 4/5 law. These corrections can be used in model applications in which explicit expressions, rather than numerical solutions are needed. The comparison with an interpolation formula proposed by Batchelor, showed that the latter gives surprisingly precise results. The modification of the same method to obtain analytical corrections to the scaling law, taking into account the possible corrections induced by intermittency, is also proposed.     

Large-eddy simulation of wing tip vortex in the near field

Large-eddy simulation with filtered-structure-function subgrid model and implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES without explicit subgrid model) using high-order accuracy and high resolution compact scheme have been performed on the tip vortex shedding from a rectangular half-wing with a NACA 0012 airfoil section and a rounded wing tip. The formation of the tip vortex and its initial development in the boundary layer and the near field wake are investigated and analysed in detail. The physics, why the tip vortex, which is originally turbulent in the boundary layer, is re-laminarised and becomes stable and laminar rapidly after shedding in the near field, is revealed by this simulation. The computation also shows the widely used second-order subgrid model is not consistent to six-order compact scheme and would degenerate the six-order LES results to second-order. Therefore, high-order schemes, grid refinement and six-order subgrid models are critical to LES approaches.     

Inflow conditions for inhomogeneous turbulent flows

A cost‐effective method to generate inflow conditions for direct numerical simulations of wall‐bounded flows is presented. The method recycles a finite‐length time series of instantaneous velocity planes extracted from a precursor simulation and has earlier proved efficient for free shear layers. Now a spatially developing plane channel flow is considered. Different durations t_s of the time series are tested and compared. Excellent agreement with fully developed channel flow statistics is observed when t_s equals or exceeds the large‐eddy turnover time scale. The present results are more realistic than those obtained with synthetic turbulence generation and at the same time substantially cheaper than running an auxiliary simulation in parallel. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study of implicit and subgrid‐scale model large‐eddy simulation techniques for low‐Reynolds number airfoil applications

A computational study of a high‐fidelity, implicit large‐eddy simulation (ILES) technique with and without the use of the dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid‐scale (SGS) model is conducted to examine the contributions of the SGS model on solutions of transitional flow over the SD7003 airfoil section. ILES without an SGS model has been shown in the past to produce comparable and sometimes favorable results to traditional SGS‐based large‐eddy simulation (LES) when applied to canonical turbulent flows. This paper evaluates the necessity of the SGS model for low‐Reynolds number airfoil applications to affirm the use of ILES without SGS‐modeling for a broader class of problems such as those pertaining to micro air vehicles and low‐pressure turbines. It is determined that the addition of the dynamic Smagorinsky model does not significantly affect the time‐mean flow or statistical quantities measured around the airfoil section for the spatial resolutions and Reynolds numbers examined in this study. Additionally, the robustness and reduced computational cost of ILES without the SGS model demonstrates the attractiveness of ILES as an alternative to traditional LES. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Recent fluid deformation closure for velocity gradient tensor dynamics in turbulence: Timescale effects and expansions

In order to model pressure and viscous terms in the equation for the Lagrangian dynamics of the velocity gradient tensor in turbulent flows, Chevillard & Meneveau [L. Chevillard, C. Meneveau, Lagrangian dynamics and geometric structure of turbulence, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 (174501) (2006) 1-4] introduced the Recent Fluid Deformation closure. Using matrix exponentials, the closure allows us to overcome the unphysical finite-time blow-up of the well-known Restricted Euler model. However, it also requires the specification of a decorrelation timescale of the velocity gradient along the Lagrangian evolution, and when the latter is chosen too short (or, equivalently, the Reynolds number is too high), the model leads to unphysical statistics. In the present paper, we explore the limitations of this closure by means of numerical experiments and analytical considerations. We also study the possible effects of using time-correlated stochastic forcing instead of the previously employed white-noise forcing. Numerical experiments show that reducing the correlation timescale specified in the closure and in the forcing does not lead to a commensurate reduction of the autocorrelation timescale of the predicted evolution of the velocity gradient tensor. This observed inconsistency could explain the unrealistic predictions at increasing Reynolds numbers. We perform a series expansion of the matrix exponentials in powers of the decorrelation timescale, and we compare the full original model with a linearized version. The latter is not able to extend the limits of applicability of the former but allows the model to be cast in terms of a damping term whose sign gives additional information about the stability of the model as a function of the second invariant of the velocity gradient tensor.     

Constraints on the “rapid” part of the pressure-strain rate correlations derived from the spectral presentation

Based on the exact spectral presentation of the “rapid” part of the pressure-strain rate correlations, semi-empirical approximations used for these correlations within the framework of the second-order closures are analyzed. Simple inequalities relating the values of the model constants, mean velocity parameters, and Reynolds tensor invariants are derived. For certain types of flows, in contrast to conditions of realizability, these inequalities allow verification of the approximations before solving differential equations. It is demonstrated that some models cannot be considered as sufficiently precise ones to describe flows with high degrees of anisotropy. In particular, the condition of non-negative determinacy of the spectral matrix is violated in a considerable region of the physically admissible range of parameters. The boundaries of this region are calculated for an irrotational three-dimensional distortion and for an arbitrary two-dimensional distortion of turbulence in channel flows. Simple constraints on model constants are obtained, which allow these violations to be avoided. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 29–39, March–April, 2008.     

Cumulative compressibility effects on slow reactive dynamics in turbulent flows

Reactions in turbulent flows, chemical reactions or combustion, are common. Typically reaction time scales are much shorter than turbulence timescales. In biological applications, as it is the case for bacterial and plankton populations living under the influence of currents in oceans and lakes, the typical lifetime can be long and thus can fall well within the inertial range of turbulence time scales. Under these conditions, turbulent transport interacts in a very complex way with the dynamics of growth and death of the individuals in the population. In the present paper, we quantitatively investigate the effect of the flow compressibility on the dynamics of populations. Small effective compressibility can be induced by several physical mechanisms, such as, e.g., by the density mismatch, by a small but finite size of microorganisms, and by gyrotaxis (an interaction between swimming and shear). We report, for the first time, how even a tiny effective compressibility can produce a dramatically large effect on global quantities like the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. We interpret our findings by means of a cumulative effect made possible by the long replication times of the organisms with respect to turbulence time scales. A statistical quantification of the fluctuations of population concentration is presented.