Self-similar solutions for energy liberation in a gas stream

By using dimensional analysis some possible kinds of nonstationary and stationary gas flows with energy liberation which result in self-similar problems are investigated. The cases of energy liberation in a gas at rest and in uniform supersonic and hypersonic streams are examined. The gas is assumed inviscid and perfect. Results of a computation of some hypersonic self-similar gas motions are presented. Three classes of self-similar gas motions have been well studied at this time: the strong explosion, the power-law flow caused by the expansion of a plane, cylindrical, or spherical piston [1], and conical flow (including combustion and detonation waves [2–4]). Some new self-similar motions caused by energy liberation on certain lines, surfaces, or in volumes will be examined below.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 106–113, November–December, 1974.     

Similarity method for imploding strong shocks in a non-ideal relaxing gas

Self-similar solutions arise naturally as special solutions of system of partial differential equations (PDEs) from dimensional analysis and, more generally, from the invariance of system of PDEs under scaling of variables. Usually, such solutions do not globally satisfy imposed boundary conditions. However, through delicate analysis, one can often show that a self-similar solution holds asymptotically in certain identified domains. In the present paper, it is shown that self-similar phenomena can be studied through use of many ideas arising in the study of dynamical systems. In particular, there is a discussion of the role of symmetries in the context of self-similar dynamics. We use the method of Lie group invariance to determine the class of self-similar solutions to a problem involving plane and radially symmetric flows of a relaxing non-ideal gas involving strong shocks. The ambient gas ahead of the shock is considered to be homogeneous. The method yields a general form of the relaxation rate for which the self-similar solutions are admitted. The arbitrary constants, occurring in the expressions for the generators of the local Lie group of transformations, give rise to different cases of possible solutions with a power law, exponential or logarithmic shock paths. In contrast to situations without relaxation, the inclusion of relaxation effects imply constraint conditions. A particular case of the collapse of an imploding shock is worked out in detail for radially symmetric flows. Numerical calculations have been performed to determine the values of the self-similarity exponent and the profile of the flow variables behind the shock. All computations are performed using the computation package Mathematica.     

One class of self-similar flows of a radiating gas

This article discusses self-similar statements of the problem of the motion of a completely radiating and absorbing gas. The field of radiation is assumed to be quasi-steady-state, and the contribution of the radiation to the internal energy, as well as the pressure and the viscosity of the medium, are not taken into account. The presence of local thermodynamic equilibrium is assumed. The absorption coefficient is approximated by a power function of the pressure and the density. Scattering of the radiation is not taken into account. Under these assumptions, there exist self-similar statements of the problem for one-dimensional unsteady-state flows (a strong detonation, the problem of plug-flow, motion under the effect of a radiation source, and others) and two-dimensional steady-state flows (flow in a diffuser, supersonic flow around a wedge or a cone). It is shown that there exists a non steady-state spherically symmetrical flow depending on four parameters; this flow is adiabatic in spite of the presence of radiation. This article is made up of seven sections. It is shown in the first section that the presence of radiation leads to the appearance of new dimensional constants, entering into the equations of the problem. The second section is devoted to self-similar nonsteady-state one-dimensional flows. The third section contains a detailed study of one class of such flows. In a partial case, adiabatic flows of a radiating gas are obtained. In the fourth and fifth sections, a detailed analysis is made of the initial and boundary conditions from the point of view of dimensionality. The sixth section describes self-similar two-dimensional steady-state flows of a radiating-absorbing gas. The seventh section consists of remarks with respect to approximations of the transfer equation.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 8–22, July–August, 1970.     

Breakaway self-similar flows in a laminar magnetohydrodynamic boundary layer with blowing and suction

A study was made of self-similar flows in a magnetohydrodynamic boundary layer in the presence of a pressure gradient and with the blowing and suction of a conducting liquid. The region of the existence of self-similar solutions for breakaway flow conditions, characterized by a friction at the wall equal to zero, was determined. The regions of a change in the determining parameters, with which nonbreakaway flows are established at impermeable and permeable surfaces, are indicated. It is noted that under diffusion flow conditions the self-similar equation of a magnetohydrodynamic boundary layer with fixed boundary conditions at the wall and at infinity permits an innumerable set of solutions. The article proposes a method for selecting a solution and indicates a calculating method for determining it. It demonstrates the possibility of a considerable broadening of the region of flows without breakaway with the imposition of electric and magnetic fields.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 38–46, May–June, 1972.     

On the theory of supersonic inviscid flow separation in gasdynamic problems

A general schematic flow representation that explains the mechanism of inviscid gas separation in time-dependent and three-dimensional gas flows is presented. The scenario of gas flow separation from a body surface or a mixing layer is described as a vortex which induces in the flowfield a velocity opposing to that of the main flow, thus decelerating it. Within the framework of this scenario the analytical conditions of separation are obtained for conical and self-similar gas flows which coincide with the results of experimental and numerical simulations.     

Development of pulsation regimes in one-dimensional unsteady MHD flows with switching off of the electrical conductivity

This paper investigates the gas flow in an electromagnetic field when the conductivity, being a function of the thermodynamic gas parameters, vanishes during the flow (switching off of the conductivity). In the case of steady supersonic flows in an expanding nozzle it was first shown analytically [1] and then confirmed by numerical experiment [2] that stable steady flow is not possible for all the problem parameters (for example, the values of the magnetic field at the exit). Instead of a steady flow a periodic regime is realized when narrow regions of conducting gas with currents flowing through them detach from the conducting region and propagate down the channel. In these papers the conductivity was assumed to be a function of only the temperature, such that for T T* (T) = 0. In [3, 4] the flows of conducting gas in the channels were calculated both with the given dependence of the gas conductivity on the temperature and on the basis of a three-component model by means of the Saha equation. At the same time, the development of periodic regimes in the flow in the nozzle was observed in both cases, but the mechanism of the origin of the current layers was not explained. The self-similar problem of the withdrawal of a nonconducting piston from a half-space occupied by a conducting gas with a magnetic field was investigated in [5] in a linear formulation. At the same time, regions of the problem parameters (the velocity of the piston and the magnetic field on it) were found when, in spite of the self-similar formulation of the problem, there is no self-similar solution. At the same time, regions exist where several solutions are possible. The possibility of the formation of isothermal rarefaction zones with low electrical conductivity when the Joule heating is balanced by the cooling of the gas on expansion (Butler waves) [6] was not taken into account in this paper, since they are unstable with respect to superheating. However, in the case of flow in a nozzle it was shown [2] that precisely the development of instabilities in these zones leads to the formation of the periodic regime. In the present paper the solution of the self-similar problem is constructed in a nonlinear formulation. The reason for the occurrence of regions in which the solution is multiply valued, which is associated with the process of arrival at self-similar boundary conditions, is explained. It is shown that a quasiperiodic regime can arise in the solution, occurring, in particular, in the regions of the problem parameters where there is no self-similar solution.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 115–122, July–August, 1986.     

Electrosolenoidal flows in a cylindrical cavity

The main difficulties in investigating three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows with vorticity arise, first, because it is necessary to solve an independent boundary-value problem in order to find the field of the electromagnetic forces and, second, because the regimes of these flows are strongly nonlinear for the majority of high-power technological MHD processes and a number of natural phenomena. Particular importance attaches to MHD flows generated by the interaction of an electric current applied to the fluid with the magnetic self-field. This class of MHD flows has become known as electrosolenoidal flows [1]. The presence of a definite symmetry in the distribution of the electromagnetic forces and the geometry of the region of the liquid conductor makes it possible to find a solution in self-similar form. The present paper is devoted to exact solutions of the nonlinear equations for axisymmetric electrosolenoidal flows of a conducting incompressible fluid in infinite cylindrical cavities.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 48–53, May–June, 1991.     

The coefficient of regeneration of the enthalpy in a three-dimensional laminar boundary layer

Self-similar solutions of the equations of a three-dimensional laminar boundary layer are of interest from two points of view. In the first place, they can be used to construct approximate calculating methods, making it possible to analyze several variants and to consider complex flows, in which it is impossible to neglect the interaction between the boundary layer and the external flow (for example, in the region of hypersonic interaction [1–3]). In the second place, the analysis of self-similar solutions permits clarifying the effect of individual parameters on one or another characteristic of the boundary layer and representing this effect in predictable form. One of the principal characteristics of a three-dimensional boundary layer, as also of a two-dimensional, is the coefficient of regeneration of the enthalpy. The value of this coefficient is needed for determining the temperature of a thermally insulated surface, as well as for finiing the real temperature (or enthalpy) head, which determines the value of the heat flux from a heated gas to the surface of the body around which the flow takes place. The article presents the results of calculations of the coefficient of regeneration of the enthalpy for locally self-similar solutions of the equations of a three-dimensional boundary layer, forming with flow around a cylindrical thermally insulated surface at an angle. It is clarified that the dependence of the coefficient of regeneration of the enthalpy on the determining parameters is not always continuous.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 60–63, January–February, 1973.     

Some self-similar viscous gas flows in a channel

We consider the class of self-similar axisymmetric and two-dimensional laminar flows of a viscous gas in a long channel with smooth contour, in which the longitudinal component of the velocity and the gas temperature are functions of a single dimensionless transverse coordinate. Such flows correspond to exponential (axisymmetric flow) or linear (two-dimensional flow) increase of the radius or height of the channel and corresponding exponential or hyperbolic decrease of the static pressure along the channel.     

Interaction Between a Slow Magnetohydrodynamic Shock Wave and a Tangential Discontinuity

The self-similar problem of the oblique interaction between a slow MHD shock wave and a tangential discontinuity is solved within the framework of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic model. The constraints on the initial parameters necessary for the existence of a regular solution are found. Various feasible wave flow patterns are found in the steady-state coordinate system moving with the line of intersection of the discontinuities. As distinct from the problems of interaction between fast shock waves and other discontinuities, when the incident shock wave is slow the state ahead of it cannot be given and must to be determined in the process of solving the problem. As an example, a flow in which the slow shock wave incident on the tangential discontinuity is generated by an ideally conducting wedge located in the flow is considered. The basic features of the developing flows are determined.     

Flows Resulting from the Incidence of a Discontinuous Wave on a Bottom Step

The solvability of the problem of the flows resulting from the incidence of a discontinuous wave on a bottom step is studied using a single-layer shallow water model. Solutions in which the total energy of the flow is conserved at the step and those in which it is lost at the step are considered. Regions of double and triple hystereses in the obtained self-similar solutions are found. An analogy is drawn with the problem of single-layer flow over a bottom obstacle. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 8–22, March–April, 2006.     

Calculation of supersonic viscid flow near stagnation line of a blunt body

A numerical study is made of supersonic flow of a viscous gas in the vicinity of the stagnation line of plane and axisymmetric blunt bodies (cylinder, sphere). As in [1–5], which consider the compressed layer of a viscous gas in the vicinity of the stagnation point, use is made of the locally self-similar approximation, which is used to transform the Navier-Stokes equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. In the present paper the solution is sought with the simplifications of [5] and with more general conditions, which makes it possible to study a broad class of flows. The proposed numerical algorithm permits obtaining the structure of the compressed layer near the stagnation line, including the shock wave and the boundary layer. The calculations made on a computer for different flow conditions are illustrated by graphs.The author wishes to thank G. I. Petrov, G. F. Telenin, and L. A., Chudov for their interest in the study and for their helpful discussions. discussions.     

Interaction of shear flows of an ideal incompressible fluid in a channel

The problem of the decay of an arbitrary discontinuity for the equations describing plane-parallel shear flows of an ideal fluid in a narrow channel is considered. The class of particular solutions corresponding to fluid flows with piecewise constant vorticity is studied. In this class, the existence of self-similar solutions describing all possible unsteady wave configurations resulting from the nonlinear interaction of the specified shear flows is established. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 34–47, November–December, 2006.     

Choice of a self-similar solution in boundary-layer theory

If the speed of the outer flow at the edge of the boundary layer does not depend on the time and is specified in the form of a power-law function of the longitudinal coordinate, then a self-similar solution of the boundary-layer equations can be found by integrating a third-order ordinary differential equation (see [1–3]). When the exponent of the power in the outerflow velocity distribution is negative, a self-similar solution satisfying the equations and the usually posed boundary conditions is not uniquely determinable [4], A similar result was obtained in [5] for flows of a conducting fluid in a magnetic field. In the present paper we study the behavior of non-self-similar perturbations of a self-similar solution, enabling us to provide a basis for the choice of a self-similar solution.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 42–46, July–August, 1974.     

Limiting regimes of self-similar gas flows with account for finite chemical-reaction rate

One-dimensional unsteady flows of a combustible gas mixture with account for the finite chemical-reaction rate were studied in [1]. The conditions for self-similarity of such flows were indicated, mathematical formulation of the problem was given, and several numerical calculations were carried out.The authors pointed out the necessity for conducting additional studies, since they were not able to obtain numerically, by means of passages to the limit, self-sustaining detonation waves propagating with the Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) velocity.In this article we point out the reason why it was not possible to reach the CJ regime in [1], and a qualitative analysis is made, by means of the results of [2], of the system of equations describing the self-similar flows of a gas with finite chemical-reaction rate, and the passage to the limit is made to the self-sustaining CJ detonation waves in the presence of chemical reactions. It is also shown that the problem of unsteady flows of a combustible mixture of gases with finite chemical-reaction rate is analogous to the problem of the flow of a gas heated by radiation, examined in [3].In conclusion the authors wish to thank I. V. Nemchinov and A. G. Kulikovskii for discussions of this study.     

A class of unsteady self-similar flows without an “essential” singularity and a mechanism of whirlwind formation

This article is a continuation of reference [1], in which the author represented the known self-similar incompressible flows by means of a single table. The table incorporated more than 50 problems of practical interest. Although such a representation can never be complete, the method of representation itself also proved useful, since it drew attention to the existence of interesting uninvestigated self-similar flows corresponding to the empty boxes of the table. For example, it turned out that the problem of unconfined flow resulting from the instantaneous generation of finite momentum at a point had been considered in the case of turbulent viscosity [2], but the analogous formulation for an ideal fluid was not known, although on the basis of dimensional considerations such a self-similar flow can exist and, in fact, was subsequently found [3]. A class of self-similar flows comprising more than 20 problems which can be combined in five different formulations is considered. These flows can have an essential singularity only at the initial instant of time (for example, a powerful explosion) and subsequently do not contain singularities of the energy or mass source type. Flows caused by the motion of bodies are excluded from consideration, i.e., cases in which the flow is bounded by fixed or free boundaries with zero pressure on the latter are considered. In the case of an ideal fluid vortex singularities at which no energy is released are admitted.Based on a paper read at the Seventh Congress on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Moscow, August 1991. Presented by A. G. Terent'ev.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.6, pp. 3–14, November–December, 1992.     

Problem of the Sand Production in a Producing Well

The problem of sand production (dilatant-plastic reservoir fragmentation) in the process of pumping-out fluid through an uncased borehole is considered. Taking the dilatant change in reservoir porosity into account makes it possible to find a relation between the fluid and solid mass flow rates. There is no steady-state solution if the elasto-plastic boundary does not coincide with the supply contour. In this case a self-similar problem of well start-up with a constant production rate is considered.     

Self-similar regimes of liquid-layer spreading along a superhydrophobic surface

Within the Stokes film approximation, unsteady spreading of a thin layer of a heavy viscous fluid along a horizontal superhydrophobic surface is studied in the presence of a given localized mass supply in the film. The forced (induced by the mass supply) spreading regimes are considered, for which the surface tension effects are insignificant. Plane and axisymmetric flows along the principal direction of the slip tensor of the superhydrophobic surface are studied, when the corresponding slip tensor component is either a constant or a power function of the spatial coordinate, measured in the direction of spreading. An evolution equation for the film thickness is derived. It is shown that this equation has self-similar solutions of a source type. The examples of self-similar solutions are constructed for power and exponential time dependences of mass supply. In the final part of the paper, some of the solutions constructed are generalized to the case of a weak dependence of the flow on the second spatial coordinate, caused by a slight variability of the slip coefficient in the direction normal to that of spreading. The constructed self-similar solutions can be used for experimental determination of the parameters important for hydrodynamics, e.g. the slip tensor components of commercial superhydrophobic surfaces.     

Investigation of slow monatomic gas flows past a circular cylinder

Slow low-Knudsen-number monatomic-gas flow past a circular cylinder is numerically investigated on the basis of a model kinetic equation. The gas flow is described by a new kinetic equation, from which the continuum equations for slow nonisothermal gas flows containing temperature stresses follow rigorously. It is shown that a closed convective-flow region arises near a nonuniformly heated cylinder in a slow gas flow if the flow impinges on the hot side of its surface. Using a new model of the Boltzmann equation makes it possible to study gas flows both in continuum and rarefied flow regimes.     

Bifurcation of self-similar solutions describing a thermocapillary flow of a fluid in a thin layer

Thermocapillary flows of a fluid in a lamina with a rigid lower wall and a free upper surface, along which the temperature gradient is given in the radial direction, are investigated for large Marangoni numbers. Self-similar solutions which describe the axisymmetric flow regimes of a fluid without the circumferential velocity component are constructed numerically and asymptotically for a system of Prandtl equations. It is shown that a pair of new self-similar flow regimes of a fluid with rotation branches off from the regimes obtained. The new regimes ere calculated numerically and asymptotically. Rostov State University, Rostov-on-Don 344090. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 137–142, May–June, 1999.