Extension of an algebraic intermittency model for better prediction of transition in separated layers under strong free-stream turbulence

A constitutive law describing the Reynolds stresses in boundary layers undergoing laminar-to-turbulent transition, constructed in previous work by elastic-net regression on an experimental data base, is used to improve an algebraic intermittency model for cases with transition in a separated layer influenced by a high level of free-stream turbulence. The intermittency model is combined with a k-ω turbulence model and the basic version, developed in previous work, functions well for bypass transition in attached boundary layers and for transition in separated boundary layers under a low free-stream turbulence level. The basic model version is extended by an additional production term in the transport equation for turbulent kinetic energy. A sensor detects the front part of a separated layer and activates the production term. The term expresses the effect of Klebanoff streaks generated upstream of separation on the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability rolls in the separated part of the layer. The Klebanoff streaks cause faster breakdown by the combined effects of a large adverse pressure gradient and an elevated free-stream turbulence level. The extended model does not alter the results of the basic model version for bypass transition in an attached boundary layer and for transition in a separated boundary layer under a low free-stream turbulence level. The extended model significantly improves the predictions of the previous model version for transition in a separated boundary layer under a high free-stream turbulence level.     

Simulation of the Effect of the Freestream Turbulence Parameters on the Boundary Layer of a Curvilinear Airfoil

Modified variants of differential turbulence models which make it possible continuously to calculate both the entire flow region with laminar, transition and turbulent regimes and local low Reynolds number zones are proposed for investigating the flow and heat transfer in the boundary layers developing in compressible gas flow past curvilinear airfoils. The effect of the intensity and scale of free-stream turbulence and their variability along the outer boundary layer edge, as well as the combined action of the turbulence intensity and the streamwise pressure gradient in flow past blade profiles, on the heat transfer and near-wall turbulence characteristics is analyzed. The numerical results are compared with experimental and theoretical data.     

Transition to Turbulence in the Boundary Layer on a Plate in the Presence of a Negative Free-Stream Pressure Gradient

Transition to turbulence in the boundary layer on a flat plate is investigated numerically for an incompressible fluid flow with a given negative free-stream pressure gradient. The transition is investigated using the three-parameter turbulence model developed by the authors. The calculation results are compared with the available experimental data.     

Application of the method of near-wall boundary conditions to an investigation of turbulent flows with longitudinal pressure gradients

The dynamic and thermal characteristics of steady near-wall boundary layers in flow deceleration regions are studied on the basis of differential turbulencemodels. The method of transferring the boundary conditions from the wall into the flow is tested for flows with variable longitudinal pressure gradients. Using differential turbulence models in the transition and low-Reynolds-number regions near surfaces the effect of the parameters of highly turbulent free stream on the development of dynamic processes in the developed turbulent boundary layer in the flow deceleration region is studied. The calculated profiles of the velocity, the kinetic energy of turbulence, the friction and thermal conductivity coefficients, and the temperature factor are compared with the experimental data in the cases in which the boundary conditions are preassigned both on the wall and in the flow. The effect of an intermediate boundary condition on the results of the calculations is analyzed.     

Simulation of the Effect of the Freestream Turbulence Parameters on Heat Transfer in an Unsteady Boundary Layer

A variant of the two-parameter turbulence model which makes it possible continuously to calculate a flow region with laminar, transition and turbulent regimes is proposed for investigating the flow under conditions of high freestream turbulence intensity. It is shown that the properties of the thermal transition can be theoretically described using the quasi-steady turbulence model in the case of periodic freestream velocity distribution. The numerical results are compared with theoretical and experimental data. The approach proposed is developed for determining the combined effect of the parameters of harmonic fluctuations of the external velocity and freestream turbulence on the heat transfer characteristics on a flat plate with different boundary conditions for the enthalpy.     

From Streaks to Spots and on to Turbulence: Exploring the Dynamics of Boundary Layer Transition

“...an eerie type of chaos can lurk just behind a facade of order, and yet deep inside the chaos lurks an even eerier type of order.” Douglas Hofstadter Bypass transition to turbulence in boundary layers is examined using linear theory and direct numerical simulations (DNS). First, the penetration of low-frequency free-stream disturbances into the boundary layer is explained using a model problem with two time scales, namely the shear and wall-normal diffusion. The simple model provides a physical understanding of the phenomenon of shear sheltering. The second stage in bypass transition is the amplification of streaks. Streak detection and tracking algorithms were applied to examine the characteristics of the streak population inside the boundary layer, beneath free-stream turbulence. It is demonstrated that simple statistical averaging masks the wealth of streak amplitudes in transitional flows, and in particular the high-amplitude, relatively rare events that precede the onset of turbulence. The third stage of the transition process, namely the secondary instability of streaks, is examined using secondary instability analysis. It is demonstrated that two types of instability are possible: An outer instability arises near the edge of the boundary layer on the lifted, low-speed streaks. An inner instability also exists, and has the appearance of a near-wall wavepacket. The stability theory is robust, and can predict the particular streaks which are likely to undergo secondary instability and break down in transitional boundary layers beneath free-stream turbulence. Beyond the secondary instability, turbulent spots are tracked in DNS in order to examine their characteristics in the subsequent non-linear stages of transition. At every stage, we compare the findings from linear theory to the empirical observations from direct solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations. The complementarity between the theoretical predictions and the computational experiments is highlighted, and it leads to a detailed view of the mechanics of transition.     

Analysis and modelling of the relation between the shear rate and Reynolds stress tensors in transitional boundary layers

A non-linear eddy-viscosity transition model is presented, tuned by a large experimental data set describing transitional boundary layers. Data have been acquired by TR-PIV on a flat plate placed in a 2D converging-diverging channel with variable opening angle, allowing variation of the adverse pressure gradient, the free-stream turbulence intensity and the flow Reynolds number. Overall, 48 different combinations of these flow parameters encompass different modes of transition from bypass to separated-flow mechanisms, thus allowing fine tuning of the model, spanning significantly different conditions. The model is tuned locally as a function of the turbulent kinetic energy, a Reynolds number based on the wall distance and the ℓ₂-norm of the shear rate tensor. A first correlation determines the rotation for alignment of the principal axes of the shear and stress tensors. By a second correlation, the eigenvalues of the stress tensor are obtained. The non-linear eddy-viscosity relation reproduces the anisotropy of the turbulence field observed for both bypass and separated-flow transitional cases. The relation has been applied to another experimental data set that did not participate to the fitting of the model and that is characterized by a different range of Reynolds number and turbulence intensity and a significantly stronger adverse pressure gradient with respect to the tuning dataset. Such application further strengthens the capability of the proposed correlations, that can easily be implemented in existing CFD solvers.     

DNS of heat transfer in transitional, accelerated boundary layer flow over a flat plate affected by free-stream fluctuations

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of flow over and heat transfer from a flat plate affected by free-stream fluctuations were performed. A contoured upper wall was employed to generate a favourable streamwise pressure gradient along a large portion of the flat plate. The free-stream fluctuations originated from a separate LES of isotropic turbulence in a box. In the laminar portions of the accelerating boundary layer flow the formation of streaks was observed to induce an increase in heat transfer by the exchange of hot fluid near the surface of the plate and cold fluid from the free-stream. In the regions where the streamwise pressure gradient was only mildly favourable, intermittent turbulent spots were detected which relaminarised downstream as the streamwise pressure gradient became stronger. The relaminarisation of the turbulent spots was reflected by a slight decrease in the friction coefficient, which converged to its laminar value in the region where the streamwise pressure gradient was strongest.     

Turbulent boundary layer with positive pressure gradient on a permeable surface under nonisothermal conditions

It is known that the longitudinal pressure gradient can exert a strong influence on the friction law and the characteristics of a dynamic turbulent boundary layer. The thermal and diffusion boundary layers are more conservative to the effect of the pressure gradient, and, hence, methods of analyzing them are based, in the majority of cases, on the hypothesis of conservativity of the heat- and mass-transfer laws to the longitudinal pressure gradient [1]. This hypothesis is verified by experimental results [2, 3] on heat transfer on an impermeable surface in a turbulent stream with positive pressure gradient under almost isothermal conditions. However, such investigations under nonisothermal conditions are practically nonexistent. An approximate theoretical analysis of the heat transfer in a turbulent boundary layer of a nonisothermal stream with a positive pressure gradient is given in this paper. Experimental results are presented. The experimental investigation was conducted in a burned-out graphite diffuser both with and without injection of an inert gas through the wall.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 43–49, July–August, 1976.     

基于直接数值模拟的可压缩湍流模型评估和改进

对来流Mach数2.25和6的平板边界层湍流进行了直接数值模拟, 并通过与理论、实验及他人计算结果的对比对数值结果进行了验证. 基于直接数值模拟得到的湍流数据库, 对常用的湍流模型进行了先验评估. 评估的湍流模型有k-εvarepsilon模型(包括标准k-εvarepsilon 模型、可实现的k-εvarepsilon模型及低Reynolds数k-εvarepsilon模型)、SA模型及BL模型. 结果显示, 对于Mach2.25的平板边界层, 可实现的k-εvarepsilon 模型及低Reynolds 数k-εvarepsilon模型具有较好的预测能力, 而标准k-εvarepsilon模型预测的湍流黏性系数偏高; SA模型在边界层内层预测准确度较高, 而在外层预测值偏高. 而对于Mach6的平板边界层, k-εvarepsilon模型及SA模型预测的湍流黏性系数均偏高, 尤其是标准k-εvarepsilon模型. 对于Mach6的平板边界层, BL模型低估了内-外层交界位置, 造成湍流黏性系数预测值严重偏低. 作者通过修改模型系数及内-外层交界位置对BL模型进行了修改, 修改后模型预测的湍流黏性系数与DNS给出的值吻合较好.     

Comparison of turbulence models for attached boundary layers relevant to aeronautics

With a single numerical method the performance of three classes of turbulence models is compared for different types of attached boundary layers, for which direct numerical simulations or experiments are available in the literature. The boundary-layer equations are solved with the following turbulence models: an algebraic model, two-equation models (k-ε andk-ω), and a differential Reynolds-stress model. The test cases are the channel flow, and boundary layers with zero, favourable and adverse streamwise pressure gradient. The differential Reynolds-stress model gives the best overall performance, whereas the performance of the algebraic model and thek-ω model is reasonably good. The performance of thek-ε model is less good for boundary layers with a non-zero streamwise pressure gradient, but it can easily be improved by an additional source term in the ε equation, which is also applied in the considered differential Reynolds-stress model.     

DNS of a Laminar Separation Bubble in the Presence of Oscillating External Flow

A three-dimensional Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of a laminar separation bubble in the presence of oscillating flow is performed. The oscillating flow induces a streamwise pressure gradient varying in time. The special shape of the upper boundary of the computational domain, together with the oscillating pressure gradient causes the boundary layer flow to alternately separate and re-attach. When the inflow decelerates, the shear layer starts to separate and rolls up. Simultaneously the flow becomes 3D. After a transient period, the phase-averaged reverse flow inside the separation bubble reaches speeds ranging from 20 up to 150% of the free-stream velocity. During these phases, the flow is absolutely unstable and self-sustained turbulence can exist. When the inflow starts to accelerate, a spanwise roll of turbulent flow is shed from the shear layer. Shortly after this, the remainder of the separation bubble moves downstream and rejoins with the shed turbulent roll. During the flow-acceleration phase, a patch of laminar boundary layer flow is obtained. Along the flat plate, a series of turbulent patches of flow travelling downstream, separated by laminar flow can be observed, reminiscent of boundary layer flow in a turbine cascade with periodically appearing free-stream disturbances.     

An experimental investigation of heat transfer characteristics for turbulent flow over staggered ribs in a square duct

An experimental study of developing and fully developed turbulent air flow in a square duct with two opposite rib-roughened walls in which the ribs are attached in a staggered fashion was conducted to determine the heat transfer characteristics. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D_H) was 0.19, the rib pitch-to-height ratio (p/e) was 5.31. The streamwise temperature distribution was measured, and a law of the wall for the thermal boundary layer at each free-stream turbulence level was obtained. The effects of free-stream turbulence intensity with variations of 4–11% on heat transfer coefficients were also examined. Finally, the relationship between Nusselt number and Reynolds number was correlated. The results might be used in the design of turbine blade cooling channels.     

LES of the adverse-pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer

We describe large-eddy simulations (LES) of the flat-plate turbulent boundary layer in the presence of an adverse pressure gradient. The stretched-vortex subgrid-scale model is used in the domain of the flow coupled to a wall model that explicitly accounts for the presence of a finite pressure gradient. The LES are designed to match recent experiments conducted at the University of Melbourne wind tunnel where a plate section with zero pressure gradient is followed by section with constant adverse pressure gradient. First, LES are described at Reynolds numbers based on the local free-stream velocity and the local momentum thickness in the range 6560–13,900 chosen to match the experimental conditions. This is followed by a discussion of further LES at Reynolds numbers at approximately 10 times and 100 times these values, which are well out of range of present day direct numerical simulation and wall-resolved LES. For the lower Reynolds number runs, mean velocity profiles, one-point turbulent statistics of the velocity fluctuations, skin friction and the Clauser and acceleration parameters along the streamwise, adverse pressure-gradient domain are compared to the experimental measurements. For the full range of LES, the relationship of the skin-friction coefficient, in the form of the ratio of the local free-stream velocity to the local friction velocity, to both Reynolds number and the Clauser parameter is explored. At large Reynolds numbers, a region of collapse is found that is well described by a simple log-like empirical relationship over two orders of magnitude. This is expected to be useful for constant adverse-pressure gradient flows. It is concluded that the present adverse pressure gradient boundary layers are far from an equilibrium state.     

Direct Numerical Simulation of Self-Similar Turbulent Boundary Layers in Adverse Pressure Gradients

Direct numerical simulations of the Navier–Stokes equations have been carried out with the objective of studying turbulent boundary layers in adverse pressure gradients. The boundary layer flows concerned are of the equilibrium type which makes the analysis simpler and the results can be compared with earlier experiments and simulations. This type of turbulent boundary layers also permits an analysis of the equation of motion to predict separation. The linear analysis based on the assumption of asymptotically high Reynolds number gives results that are not applicable to finite Reynolds number flows. A different non-linear approach is presented to obtain a useful relation between the freestream variation and other mean flow parameters. Comparison of turbulent statistics from the zero pressure gradient case and two adverse pressure gradient cases shows the development of an outer peak in the turbulent energy in agreement with experiment. The turbulent flows have also been investigated using a differential Reynolds stress model. Profiles for velocity and turbulence quantities obtained from the direct numerical simulations were used as initial data. The initial transients in the model predictions vanished rapidly. The model predictions are compared with the direct simulations and low Reynolds number effects are investigated.     

An immersed boundary/wall modeling method for RANS simulation of compressible turbulent flows

In this paper, an immersed boundary (IB) method is developed to simulate compressible turbulent flows governed by the Reynolds‐averaged Navier‐Stokes equations. The flow variables at the IB nodes (interior nodes in the immediate vicinity of the solid wall) are evaluated via linear interpolation in the normal direction to close the discrete form of the governing equations. An adaptive wall function and a 2‐layer wall model are introduced to reduce the near‐wall mesh density required by the high resolution of the turbulent boundary layers. The wall shear stress modified by the wall modeling technique and the no‐penetration condition are enforced to evaluate the velocity at an IB node. The pressure and temperature at an IB node are obtained via the local simplified momentum equation and the Crocco‐Busemann relation, respectively. The SST k ? ω and S‐A turbulence models are adopted in the framework of the present IB approach. For the Shear‐Stress Transport (SST) k ? ω model, analytical solutions in near‐wall region are utilized to enforce the boundary conditions of the turbulence equations and evaluate the turbulence variables at an IB node. For the S‐A model, the turbulence variable at an IB node is calculated by using the near‐wall profile of the eddy viscosity. In order to validate the present IB approach, numerical experiments for compressible turbulent flows over stationary and moving bodies have been performed. The predictions show good agreements with the referenced experimental data and numerical results.     

Modelling of Unsteady Transition in Low-Pressure Turbine Blade Flows with Two Dynamic Intermittency Equations

A transition model for describing wake-induced transition is presented based on the SST turbulence model by Menter and two dynamic equations for intermittency: one for near-wall intermittency and one for free-stream intermittency. In the Navier-Stokes equations, the total intermittency factor, which is the sum of the two, multiplies the turbulent viscosity computed by the turbulence model. The quality of the transition model is illustrated on the T106A test cascade for two Reynolds numbers, using experimental results by Stieger and Hodson for transition mainly due to kinematic wake impact on a separation bubble. The quality of the model is also revealed on the T106D test cascade using experimental results from Hilgenfeld, Stadtmuller and Fottner for wake turbulence induced transition. The test cases differ in pitch to chord ratio, Reynolds number and inlet free-stream turbulence intensity, causing different transition mechanisms. The unsteady results are presented in space-time diagrams of shape factor and wall shear stress on the suction side. The results show the capability of the model to capture the physics of unsteady transition in separated state. Inevitable shortcomings are revealed as well.     

Numerical calculation of transitional boundary layers

A computational procedure for compressible axisymmetric boundary layers, on bodies of revolution, in transition from laminar to turbulent flow, is introduced. The procedure is an extension of a former method, due to Patankar and Spalding. The flow field is computed by solution of four simultaneous equations for the momentum, the thermal energy, the turbulence energy amplitude and the turbulent scale. The results show good agreement with existing theoretical and experimental data.     

Direct numerical simulation of the transition to turbulence in a supersonic boundary layer on smooth and rough surfaces

Direct numerical simulations of instability development and transition to turbulence in a supersonic boundary layer on a flat plate are performed. The computations are carried out for moderate supersonic (free-stream Mach number M = 2) and hypersonic (M = 6) velocities. The boundary layer development is simulated, which includes the stages of linear growth of disturbances, their nonlinear interaction, stochastization, and turbulent flow formation. A laminar–turbulent transition initiated by distributed roughness of the plate surface at the Mach number M = 2 is also considered.