DNS and LES of spark ignition with an automotive coil

The cycle to cycle combustion variability which is observed in spark-ignition engines is often caused by fluctuations of the early flame development. LES can be exploited for a better understanding and mastering of their origins. For that purpose appropriate models taking into account energy deposition, mixture ignition and transition to propagation are necessary requirements. This paper presents first DNS and LES of spark ignition with a real automotive coil and simplified pin-pin electrodes. The electrical circuit characteristics are provided by ISSIM while the energy deposition is modelled by Lagrangian particles. The ignition model is first evaluated in terms of initial spark radius on a pin-pin ignition experiment in pure air performed at CORIA and EM2C laboratories, showing that it pilots the radius of the torus formed by the initial shock wave. DNS of a quiescent lean propane/air mixture are then performed with this ignition system and a two-step mechanism. The impact of the modelled transferred energy during glow phase as well as the initial arc radius on the minimum ignition energy (MIE) are examined and compared to experimental values. Replacing the two-step chemistry by an analytically reduced mechanism leads to similar MIE but shows a different ignition kernel shape. Finally, LES of turbulent ignition using a Lagrangian arc model show a realistic prediction of the arc shape and its important role on the energy transfer location and thus on the flame kernel shape.     

A Non-Linear SGS Model Based On The Spatial Velocity Increment

A new subgrid scale (SGS) modelling concept for large-eddy simulation (LES) of incompressible flow is proposed based on the three-dimensional spatial velocity increment δ u _i . The new model is inspired by the structure function formulation developed by Métais and Lesieur [39] and applied in the context of the scale similarity type formulation. First, the similarity between the SGS stress tensor τ _ij and the velocity increment tensor Q _ij = δ u _i δ u _j is analyzed analytically and numerically using a priori tests of fully developed pipe flow at Re _τ = 180. Both forward and backward energy transfers between resolved and unresolved scales of the flow are well predicted with a SGS model based on Q _ij . Secondly, a posteriori tests are performed for two families of turbulent shear flows. LES of fully developed pipe flow up to Re _τ = 520 and LES of round turbulent jet at Re _D = 25000 carried out with a dynamic version of the model provide promising results that confirm the power of this approach for wall-bounded and free shear flows.     

A New Version of Detached-eddy Simulation, Resistant to Ambiguous Grid Densities

Detached-eddy simulation (DES) is well understood in thin boundary layers, with the turbulence model in its Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) mode and flattened grid cells, and in regions of massive separation, with the turbulence model in its large-eddy simulation (LES) mode and grid cells close to isotropic. However its initial formulation, denoted DES97 from here on, can exhibit an incorrect behavior in thick boundary layers and shallow separation regions. This behavior begins when the grid spacing parallel to the wall Δ_∥ becomes less than the boundary-layer thickness δ, either through grid refinement or boundary-layer thickening. The grid spacing is then fine enough for the DES length scale to follow the LES branch (and therefore lower the eddy viscosity below the RANS level), but resolved Reynolds stresses deriving from velocity fluctuations (“LES content”) have not replaced the modeled Reynolds stresses. LES content may be lacking because the resolution is not fine enough to fully support it, and/or because of delays in its generation by instabilities. The depleted stresses reduce the skin friction, which can lead to premature separation.For some research studies in small domains, Δ_∥ is made much smaller than δ, and LES content is generated intentionally. However for natural DES applications in useful domains, it is preferable to over-ride the DES limiter and maintain RANS behavior in boundary layers, independent of Δ_∥ relative to δ. For this purpose, a new version of the technique – referred to as DDES, for Delayed DES – is presented which is based on a simple modification to DES97, similar to one proposed by Menter and Kuntz for the shear–stress transport (SST) model, but applicable to other models. Tests in boundary layers, on a single and a multi-element airfoil, a cylinder, and a backward-facing step demonstrate that RANS function is indeed maintained in thick boundary layers, without preventing LES function after massive separation. The new formulation better fulfills the intent of DES. Two other issues are discussed: the use of DES as a wall model in LES of attached flows, in which the known log-layer mismatch is not resolved by DDES; and a correction that is helpful at low cell Reynolds numbers.     

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.     

流对波边界层湍流运动的影响

采用大涡模拟方法和Smagorinsky亚格子模型，求解三维Navier-Stokes方程，研究了波流边界层中的湍流特性．将大涡模拟结果与相应的直接数值模拟结果和实验数据进行比较，吻合较好．获得了不同波雷诺数，不同波流比情况下的大涡模拟数据库，并由此分析了波流边界层中各种湍流统计量，如速度廓线、剪应力、湍流强度等的变化规律．     

后台阶流动的数值模拟

访述了大涡模拟的基本思想，指出大涡模拟的效率主要取决于四个因素，即流动中须有大尺度涡存在、合理的计算格式、合适的滤波器和亚格子应力模型。在深入考虑粘性不可压缩流Navier—Stokes方程各个子项作用的基础上，提出二阶全展开Euler—Taylor—Galerkin有限元方法作为大涡模拟的离散格式，并采用Gauss滤波器，对典型算例——后台阶处的流动进行大涡模拟，计算结果与相关文献符合的很好。从计算结果还可以看出大涡模拟与二阶全展开ETG有限元方法的结合在捕捉涡系及反映涡动时变过程方面具有明显的优势，说明大涡模拟适合于边界几何形状复杂区域流动的模拟。同时应用二阶全展开ETG有限元方法对低雷诺数粘性不可压缩后台阶流动进行了计算，得到与相关文献符合良好的计算结果，即该方法也可独立用于对低雷诺数粘性不可压缩流动的计算。     

超声速燃烧火焰稳定凹腔质量交换特性的数值研究

对超声速冷流条件下用于超燃冲压发动机的凹腔火焰稳定器的质量交换特性进行研 究. 采用混合RANS/LES方法对非定常流场进行数值模拟，考虑了凹腔的长深比和后缘角度两 个关键参数. 计算得到了凹腔剪切层拟序结构的演化过程. 对凹腔压力振荡历程进行幅频分 析，所得到的频率和理论分析结果及一些计算结果十分吻合. 结果表明，凹腔的长深比和后 缘倾角对凹腔质量交换过程都有较大的影响. 凹腔驻留时间随着长深比的增加而增加. 随着 后缘倾角减小，长深比较小的凹腔的驻留时间增加，长深比较大的凹腔则完全相反. 该计算 结果为凹腔设计提供了新认识.     

Progress in subgrid-scale transport modelling for continuous hybrid non-zonal RANS/LES simulations

The partially integrated transport modelling (PITM) method can be viewed as a continuous approach for hybrid RANS/LES modelling allowing seamless coupling between the RANS and the LES regions. The subgrid turbulence quantities are thus calculated from spectral equations depending on the varying spectral cutoff location [Schiestel, R., Dejoan, A., 2005. Towards a new partially integrated transport model for coarse grid and unsteady turbulent flow simulations. Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics 18, 443–468; Chaouat, B., Schiestel, R., 2005. A new partially integrated transport model for subgrid-scale stresses and dissipation rate for turbulent developing flows. Physics of Fluids, 17 (6)] The PITM method can be applied to almost all statistical models to derive its hybrid LES counterpart. In the present work, the PITM version based on the transport equations for the turbulent Reynolds stresses together with the dissipation transport rate equation is now developed in a general formulation based on a new accurate energy spectrum function E(κ) valid in both large and small eddy ranges that allows to calibrate more precisely the c_sgs2 function involved in the subgrid dissipation rate _sgs transport equation. The model is also proposed here in an extended form which remains valid in low Reynolds number turbulent flows. This is achieved by considering a characteristic turbulence length-scale based on the total turbulent energy and the total dissipation rate taking into account the subgrid and resolved parts of the dissipation rate. These improvements allow to consider a large range of flows including various free flows as well as bounded flows. The present model is first tested on the decay of homogeneous isotropic turbulence by referring to the well known experiment of Comte-Bellot and Corrsin. Then, initial perturbed spectra E(κ) with a peak or a defect of energy are considered for analysing the model capabilities in strong non-equilibrium flow situations. The second test case is the classical fully turbulent channel flow that allows to assess the performance of the model in non-homogeneous flows characterised by important anisotropy effects. Different simulations are performed on coarse and refined meshes for checking the grid independence of solutions as well as the consistency of the subgrid-scale model when the filter width is changed. A special attention is devoted to the sharing out of the energy between the subgrid-scales and the resolved scales. Both the mean velocity and the turbulent stress computations are compared with data from direct numerical simulations.     

A scaling analysis for point–particle approaches to turbulent multiphase flows

Simple dimensional arguments are used in establishing three different regimes of particle time scale, where explicit expression for particle Reynolds number and Stokes number are obtained as a function of nondimensional particle size (d/η)$(d/\eta )$ and density ratio. From a comparative analysis of the different computational approaches available for turbulent multiphase flows it is argued that the point–particle approach is uniquely suited to address turbulent multiphase flows where the Stokes number, defined as the ratio of particle time scale to Kolmogorov time scale (_τp/_τk)$({\tau }_p/{\tau }_k)$, is greater than 1. The Stokes number estimate has been used to establish parameter range where point–particle approach is ideally suited. The point–particle approach can be extended to handle “finite-sized” particles whose diameter approach that of the smallest resolved eddies. However, new challenges arise in the implementation of Lagrangian–Eulerian coupling between the particles and the carrier phase. An approach where the inter-phase momentum and energy coupling can be separated into a deterministic and a stochastic contribution has been suggested.     

Visualisation and les simulation of cavitation cloud formation and collapse in an axisymmetric geometry

Visualisation and Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of cavitation inside the apparatus previously developed by Franc (2011) for surface erosion acceleration tests and material response monitoring are presented. The experimental flow configuration is a steady-state closed loop flow circuit where pressurised water, flowing through a cylindrical feed nozzle, is forced to turn 90° and then, move radially between two flat plates towards the exit of the device. High speed images show that cavitation is forming at the round exit of the feed nozzle. The cavitation cloud then grows in the radial direction until it reaches a maximum distance where it collapses. Due to the complexity of the flow field, direct observation of the flow structures was not possible, however vortex shedding is inferred from relevant simulations performed for the same conditions. Despite the axisymmetric geometry utilized, instantaneous pictures of cavitation indicate variations in the circumferential direction. Image post-processing has been used to characterize in more detail the phenomenon. In particular, the mean cavitation appearance and the cavity length have been estimated, showing good correlation with the erosion zone. This also coincides with the locations of the maximum values of the standard deviation of cavitation presence. The dominant frequency of the ‘large-scale’ cavitation clouds has been estimated through FFT. Cloud collapse frequencies vary almost linearly between 200 and 2000 Hz as function of the cavitation number and the downstream pressure. It seems that the increase of the Reynolds number leads to a reduction of the collapse frequency; it is believed that this effect is due to the agglomeration of vortex cavities, which causes a decrease of the apparent frequency. The results presented here can be utilized for validation of relevant cavitation erosion models which are currently under development.