Transient Metastability and Selective Decay for the Coherent Zonal Structures in Plasma Drift Wave Turbulence

The emergence of persistent zonal structures is studied in freely decaying plasma flows. The plasma turbulence with drift waves can be described qualitatively by the modified Hasegawa–Mima (MHM) model, which is shown to create enhanced zonal jets and more physically relevant features compared with the original Charney–Hasegawa–Mima model. We analyze the generation and stability of the zonal state in the MHM model following the strategy of the selective decay principle. The selective decay and metastable states are defined as critical points of the enstrophy at constant energy. The critical points are first shown to be invariant solutions to the MHM equation with a special emphasis on the zonal modes, but the metastable states consist of a zonal state plus drift waves with a specific smaller wavenumber. Further, it is found with full mathematical rigor that any initial state will converge to some critical point solution at the long-time limit under proper dissipation forms, while the zonal states are the only stable ones. The selective decay process of the solutions can be characterized by the transient visits to several metastable states, then the final convergence to a purely zonal state. The selective decay and metastability properties are confirmed by numerical simulations with distinct initial structures. One highlight in both theory and numerics is the tendency of Landau damping to destabilize the selective decay process.

     

Intermittency in flux driven kinetic simulations of trapped ion turbulence

Flux driven kinetic transport is analysed for deeply trapped ion turbulence with the code GYSELA. The main observation is the existence of a steady state situation with respect to the statistics, in particular the balance between the injected energy and the time averaged energy flowing out through the outer edge boundary layer. The temperature is characterised by a very bursty behaviour with a skewed PDF. Superimposed to these short time scale fluctuations, one finds a regime with a strong increase of the zonal flows and a quenching of the turbulent energy. During this phase of such a predator-prey cycle, the core temperature rapidly increases while the edge temperature gradually decreases. The end of this reduced transport regime is governed by the onset of turbulence that governs large relaxation events, and a strong modification of the zonal flow pattern.     

Assessment of an improved turbulence model in simulating the unsteady flows around a D-shaped cylinder and an open cavity

Most engineering flows are still predicted by the conventional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes method because of the low requirements of the computational quantities. However, the resolution capability of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes models is still open to deliberation, especially in the recirculation and wake regions, where the vortical flows dominate. In the present work, an improved turbulence model derived from the original shear stress transport k-ω model is proposed and its superiority is assessed by our modeling the unsteady flows around a D-shaped cylinder and an open cavity, corresponding to two different Reynolds numbers. The results are compared with results from experiments and other turbulence models in terms of the flow morphology and mean velocity profiles. This shows that the predictive accuracy of the modified turbulence model is increased significantly in the bluff body wake flows and in the shear layer and separation flows of the cavity. Some special vortex structures can be captured in the open cavity, in which the secondary vortex emerging from the shear layer and the separation vortex near the trailing edge can induce large flow instability, and this phenomenon should be eliminated in engineering applications. It is believed that this improved turbulence model can be used for the more complex turbomachinery flows with better prediction of the hydrodynamic/aerodynamic performance and the unsteady vortical flows, which can provide some guidelines to design or optimize rotating machines.     

On the Generation of Mean Flows by the Interaction of Görtler Vortices and Tollmien-Schlichting Waves in Curved Channel Flows

There are many fluid flows where the onset of transition can be caused by different instability mechanisms which compete in the nonlinear regime. Here the interaction of a centrifugal instability mechanism with the viscous mechanism which causes Tollmien-Schlichting waves is discussed. The interaction between these modes can be strong enough to drive the mean state; here the interaction is investigated in the context of curved channel flows so as to avoid difficulties associated with boundary layer growth. Essentially it is found that the mean state adjusts itself so that any modes present are neutrally stable even at finite amplitude. In the first instance the mean state driven by a vortex of short wavelength in the absence of a Tollmien-Schlichting wave is considered. It is shown that for a given channel curvature and vortex wavelength there is an upper limit to the mass flow rate which the channel can support as the pressure gradient is increased. When Tollmien-Schlichting waves are present then the nonlinear differential equation to determine the mean state is modified. At sufficiently high Tollmien-Schlichting amplitudes it is found that the vortex flows are destroyed, but there is a range of amplitudes where a fully nonlinear mixed vortex-wave state exists and indeed drives a mean state having little similarity with the flow which occurs without the instability modes. The vortex and Tollmien-Schlichting wave structure in the nonlinear regime has viscous wall layers and internal shear layers; the thickness of the internal layers is found to be a function of the Tollmien-Schlichting wave amplitude.     

固液两相流中的K-ε双方程湍流模式*

建立了固液两相流中更一般的K-ε双方程湍流模式。模化了固相和液相的连续方程、动量方程及K方程和ε方程。该湍流模型考虑了固液两相间速度的滑移,颗粒间的作用及相间作用。使用本文所建立的湍流模型,数值预测了一管湍流中的沙水混合流动,其预测结果与实验结果比较一致。     

Gyroaverage effects on nontwist Hamiltonians: Separatrix reconnection and chaos suppression

A study of finite Larmor radius (FLR) effects on E × B test particle chaotic transport in non-monotonic zonal flows with drift waves in magnetized plasmas is presented. Due to the non-monotonicity of the zonal flow, the Hamiltonian does not satisfy the twist condition. The electrostatic potential is modeled as a linear superposition of a zonal flow and the regular neutral modes of the Hasegawa-Mima equation. FLR effects are incorporated by gyro-averaging the E × B Hamiltonian. It is shown that there is a critical value of the Larmor radius for which the zonal flow transitions from a profile with one maximum to a profile with two maxima and a minimum. This bifurcation leads to the creation of additional shearless curves and resonances. The gyroaveraged nontwist Hamiltonian exhibits complex patterns of separatrix reconnection. A change in the Larmor radius can lead to heteroclinic-homoclinic bifurcations and dipole formation. For Larmor radii for which the zonal flow has bifurcated, double heteroclinic-heteroclinic, homoclinic-homoclinic and heteroclinic-homoclinic separatrix topologies are observed. It is also shown that chaotic transport is typically reduced as the Larmor radius increases. Poincare sections show that, for large enough Larmor radius, chaos can be practically suppressed. In particular, changes of the Larmor radius can restore the shearless curve.     

On the structure and growth rate of unstable modes to the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave

The normal mode instability study of a steady Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is considered both theoretically and numerically. This wave is exact solution of the nonlinear barotropic vorticity equation describing the dynamics of an ideal fluid on a rotating sphere, as well as the large‐scale barotropic dynamics of the atmosphere. In this connection, the stability of the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is of considerable mathematical and meteorological interest. The structure of the spectrum of the linearized operator in case of an ideal fluid is studied. A conservation law for perturbations to the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is obtained and used to get a necessary condition for its exponential instability. The maximum growth rate of unstable modes is estimated. The orthogonality of the amplitude of a non‐neutral or non‐stationary mode to the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is shown in two different inner products. The analytical results obtained are used to test and discuss the accuracy of a numerical spectral method used for the normal mode stability study of arbitrary flow on a sphere. The comparison of the numerical and theoretical results shows that the numerical instability study method works well in case of such smooth solutions as the zonal flows and Rossby‐Haurwitz waves. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2005     

Non-linear k– turbulence model results for flow over a building at full-scale

Turbulence modelling is a crucial question in the application of CFD to flows over buildings. The impinging flow and anisotropic nature of the turbulence present severe challenges. This paper presents a comparison of CFD against full-scale results. It differs from previous work which has concentrated on the wind-tunnel scale. In order to better account for the production of turbulent kinetic energy and the anisotropic nature of the turbulence a non-linear k– model is implemented. The results are discussed for different turbulence models and for the comparison of computed results with the measurements from full-scale.     

Comparison of Inviscid and Viscous Two‐Phase Calculations of Cavitating Pump Flow

In cavitating flows there is a strong interaction between the fine dispersed vapor bubbles and turbulence. Therefore in two‐phase flow calculations the prediction of turbulence is a matter of great difficulties and uncertainties. To get an idea of the influence of turbulence modelling on the calculated result, viscous and inviscid two‐phase calculations of cavitating pump flow were performed. In the inviscid calculations the influence of cavitation is isolated from turbulence effects. In the viscous calculations the effect of turbulence is modelled with a k – ϵ turbulence model. The results show that the influence of viscous effects on the flow field is weak in comparison to cavitation. However, in contrast to the steady cavitation behaviour predicted by the viscous calculations, the inviscid calculations show unsteady behaviour of the cavitation (as can be seen in the experiment).     

一种各向异性多重尺度的湍流模型

本文给出了一种适用于复杂湍流流动计算的各向异性、多重尺度的湍流模型(MS/ASM).这种模型对雷诺应力进行直接的模拟,并可模拟湍流流动的多重尺度影响.对自由应力流动、旋转流动和回流的湍流流动的计算表明,它比常用的单重尺度的k-ε模型有明显的改进.由于计算机工作量增加得不多,所以它在工程计算中,具有广泛的应用前景.     

Can properly discounted projects follow geometric Brownian motion?

The geometric Brownian motion is routinely used as a dynamic model of underlying project value in real option analysis, perhaps for reasons of analytic tractability. By characterizing a stochastic state variable of future cash flows, this paper considers how transformations between a state variable and cash flows are related to project volatility and drift, and specifies necessary and sufficient conditions for project volatility and drift to be time-varying, a topic that is important for real option analysis because project value and its fluctuation can only seldom be estimated from data. This study also shows how fixed costs can cause project volatility to be mean-reverting. We conclude that the conditions of geometric Brownian motion can only rarely be met, and therefore real option analysis should be based on models of cash flow factors rather than a direct model of project value.     

Modified k – ω Model for Simulation of Cavitating Flows

Although cavitating flows are generally turbulent, the interaction of turbulence and cavitation dynamics is still not well understood. In general, two‐equation models are employed, which were originally developed for single‐phase flows. Therefore they fail by handling cavitation based flow phenomena with very high density variations (dependent on operating condition up to 40000:1). This sudden change of the density causes strong pressure gradients, secondary flows and local compressibility. The aim of this study is to enhance the Wilcox's k‐? model with empirical correlations in order to simulate turbulent cavitating flows more precisely and effciently.     

Long-Wave Instability in a Three-Layer Stratified Shear Flow

In inviscid fluid flows, instability can occur because of a resonance between two wave modes. For the case when the modes remain distinct at the critical point where the wave phase speeds coincide, then in the weakly nonlinear, long-wave limit, there is an expectation that the generic outcome is a model consisting of two coupled Korteweg–deVries equations. This situation is examined for a certain three-layer stratified shear flow.     

On the stability and uniqueness of the flow of a fluid through a porous medium

In this short note, we study the stability of flows of a fluid through porous media that satisfies a generalization of Brinkman’s equation to include inertial effects. Such flows could have relevance to enhanced oil recovery and also to the flow of dense liquids through porous media. In any event, one cannot ignore the fact that flows through porous media are inherently unsteady, and thus, at least a part of the inertial term needs to be retained in many situations. We study the stability of the rest state and find it to be asymptotically stable. Next, we study the stability of a base flow and find that the flow is asymptotically stable, provided the base flow is sufficiently slow. Finally, we establish results concerning the uniqueness of the flow under appropriate conditions, and present some corresponding numerical results.     

Trapped instability and vortex formation by an unstable coastal current

This paper addresses the instability of a two-layer coastal current in a quasigeostrophic model; the potential vorticity (PV) structure of this current consists in two uniform cores, located at different depths, with finite width and horizontally shifted. This shift allows both barotropic and baroclinic instability for this current. The PV cores can be like-signed or opposite-signed, leading to their vertical alignment or to their hetonic coupling. These two aspects are novel compared to previous studies. For narrow vorticity cores, short waves dominate, associated with barotropic instability; for wider cores, longer waves are more unstable and are associated with baroclinic processes. Numerical experiments were performed on the f-plane with a finite-difference model. When both cores have like-signed PV, trapped instability develops during the nonlinear evolution: vertical alignment of the structures is observed. For narrow cores, short wave breaking occurs close to the coast; for wider cores, substantial turbulence results from the entrainment of ambient fluid into the coastal jet. When the two cores have opposite-signed PV, the nonlinear regimes range from short wave breaking to the ejection of dipoles or tripoles, via a regime of dipole oscillation near the wall. The Fourier analysis of the perturbed flow is appropriate to distinguish the regimes of short wave breaking, of dipole formation, and of turbulence, but not the differences between regimes involving only vortex pairs. To explain more precisely the regimes where two vortices (and their wall images) interact, a point vortex model is appropriate.     

Numerical simulation of the three-dimensional Kolmogorov flow in a shear layer

Numerical simulation is used to study the Kolmogorov flow in a shear layer of a compressible inviscid medium. A periodic permanent force applied to the flow gives rise to a vortex cascade of instabilities. The influence exerted by the size of the computational domain, the initial conditions, and the amplitude of the force on the formation of an instability cascade and the transition to turbulence is studied. It is shown that the mechanism of the onset of turbulence has an essentially three-dimensional nature. For the turbulent flows computed, the classical Kolmogorov ?5/3 power law holds in the inertial range.     

Localized asymptotic solutions of the navier-stokes equations and laminar wakes in an incompressible fluid

Equations are derived to describe the far-field laminar wake behind a body in incompressible fluid flow with an arbitrary distribution of the free-stream (unperturbed flow) velocity. For certain classes of free-stream flows, analysis of these equations enables various processes in narrow wakes or jets to be described (the interaction of the longitudinal transverse velocity components in a jet, cause it to accelerate or decelerate and conservation of the energy of the wake by distortion of its trajectory regardless of viscous dissipation). In particular, conditions are obtained for the wake growth in spiral flows, analogous to the Rayleigh conditions for the instability of two-dimensionally radially symmetric flows relative to three-dimensional short-wave perturbations.     

反映强流动曲率效应的非线性湍流模型

首先定性地分析了流线曲率效应对流场湍流结构的影响,然后以U型槽道流为典型算例,对多种湍流模型进行了评估．评估的模型包括:线性涡粘性模型,二阶和三阶非线性涡粘性模型,二阶显式代数应力模型和Reynolds应力模型．评估结果表明,性能良好的三阶非线性涡粘性模型,如黄于宁等人发展的HM模型以及CLS模型,可以较好地描述流线的曲率效应对湍流结构的影响,如凸曲率作用下内壁附近湍流强度的衰减和凹曲率作用下外壁附近湍流的增强,并且较好地确定了管道下游的分离点位置和分离泡长度,其预测的结果和实验符合较好,与Reynolds力模型的结果十分接近,因此可以较好地应用于具有曲率效应的工程湍流的计算．     

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of nonisotropic thermal density flow in a strongly curved open channel

The results from a 3D nonisotropic algebraic stress/flux turbulence model are presented to investigate the structure of thermal density flow and the temperature distribution in a strongly curved open channel (180° bend). The numerically simulated results show that (i) several secondary flows take place at the bend cross-section 90° of the curved open channel, the feature which is not found for the isothermal flows and thermal density flow in a straight channel, and (ii) the thermocline in a curved channel is thicker than that in a straight channel due to the secondary flows-induced strong mixing process taking place in the former. Such features may be ascribed to the complex interaction of the buoyant force, the centrifugal force and the Reynolds stresses taking place only in curved channels. The simulated results are in good agreement with available experimental data, which indicates that the developed model can be applied for predicting the motion of the nonisotropic thermal density flow in the curved open channel.     

A rate-dependent algebraic stress model for turbulence

Based on the stress transport model, a rate-dependent algebraic expression for the Reynolds stress tensor is developed. It is shown that the new model includes the normal stress effects and exhibits viscoelastic behavior. Furthermore, it is compatible with recently developed improved models of turbulence. The model is also consistent with the limiting behavior of turbulence in the inertial sublayer and is capable of predicting secondary flows in noncircular ducts. The TEACH code is modified according to the requirements of the rate-dependent model and is used to predict turbulent flow fields in a channel and behind a backward-facing step. The predicted results are compared with the available experimental data and those obtained from the standard k-ε and algebraic stress models. It is shown that the predictions of the new model are in better agreements with the experimental data.