Statistics of the energy dissipation rate and local enstrophy in turbulent channel flow

Using high-resolution direct numerical simulations, the height and Reynolds number dependence of high-order statistics of the energy dissipation rate and local enstrophy are examined in incompressible, fully developed turbulent channel flow. The statistics are studied over a range of wall distances, spanning the viscous sublayer to the channel flow centerline, for friction Reynolds numbers Re_τ=180 and Re_τ=381. The high resolution of the simulations allows dissipation and enstrophy moments up to fourth order to be calculated. These moments show a dependence on wall distance, and Reynolds number effects are observed at the edge of the logarithmic layer. Conditional analyses based on locations of intense rotation are also carried out in order to determine the contribution of vortical structures to the dissipation and enstrophy moments. Our analysis shows that, for the simulation at the larger Reynolds number, small-scale fluctuations of both dissipation and enstrophy show relatively small variations for z⁺?100.     

A new compact difference scheme for second derivative in non-uniform grid expressed in self-adjoint form

A single-parameter family of self-adjoint compact difference (SACD) schemes is developed for discretizing the Laplacian operator in self-adjoint form. Developed implicit scheme is formally second-order accurate (with respect to truncation error) with a free parameter, α which helps control the numerical properties in the spectral plane. The SACD scheme is analyzed in the spectral plane for its resolution properties for both periodic and non-periodic problems using the matrix spectral analysis [T.K. Sengupta, G. Ganeriwal, S. De, Analysis of central and upwind schemes, J. Comput. Phys. 192 (2) (2003) 677–694]. The major objective here is to identify the advantages of the new scheme over the traditional explicit second order CD2 scheme, in discretizing the Laplacian operator in self-adjoint form. This appears in Navier–Stokes equation and in other transport equations and boundary value problems (bvp) expressed in orthogonal co-ordinate systems, either in physical or in transformed plane. We also compare the developed method with the higher order compact schemes for non-uniform grids. To demonstrate the accuracy of SACD scheme we have tested it for: (i) bi-directional wave propagation problem, given by the second order wave equation and (ii) an elliptic bvp, as in the Stommel ocean model for the stream function. These examples help infer the properties of SACD scheme when solving different types of partial differential equations. Most importantly the effects of grid-stretching and choice of value of the free parameter (α) are investigated here. We also compare the present implicit compact method with explicit compact method known as the higher order compact (HOC) method.Also, the practical applications of the SACD scheme are explored by solving the Navier–Stokes equation for the cases of: (a) a flow inside a lid-driven cavity and (b) the receptivity and instability of an external adverse pressure gradient flow over a flat plate. In the former, unsteadiness of the flow is captured and in the latter, the receptivity of the flow is studied in causing flow instability by triggering Tollmien–Schlichting waves. The new scheme shows a marked improvement over the explicit scheme for low Reynolds number steady flow in lid driven cavity. Whereas for the flow in the same geometry at higher Reynolds numbers, efficacy of the scheme is established by showing the formation of a triangular vortex and secondary vortical structures. Presented scheme is perfectly capable of expressing the diffusion operator accurately as shown via the capturing of instability waves inside the shear layer.     

Numerical study of mixed convection flow in a lid-driven cavity with sinusoidal heating on sidewalls using nanofluid

Mixed convection flow of Cu–water nanofluid inside a lid-driven square cavity with adiabatic horizontal walls and sinusoidal heating on sidewalls has been investigated numerically. The effects of increase in shear force for a fixed buoyancy force and effects of increase in buoyancy force for a fixed shear force were investigated. Effects of variations of Richardson number, phase deviation of sinusoidal heating, and volume fraction of nanoparticles on flow and temperature field were studied. The obtained results showed that for a constant Grashof number at all Richardson numbers, a clockwise eddy was developed inside the cavity, also the rate of heat transfer increases with decrease in Richardson number and increase of volume fraction of nanoparticles. For a constant Reynolds number the clockwise eddy is observed up to Ri = 1. For Ri = 10 a multicellular flow pattern is formed inside the cavity. Moreover it was found that when the Reynolds number is kept constant, the rate of heat transfer increases with increase in Richardson number.     

Temperature measurement of axisymmetric partially premixed methane/air flame in a co-annular burner using Mach–Zehnder interferometry

In this paper partially premixed laminar methane/air co-flow flame is studied experimentally. Methane–air flame is established on an axisymmetric co-annular burner. The fuel-air jet flows from the central tube while the secondary air flows from the region between the inner and the outer tube. The aim is to investigate the flame characteristics for methane/air axisymmetric partially premixed flame using Mach–Zehnder interferometry. Different equivalence ratios (φ=1.4–2.2) and Reynolds numbers (Re=100–1200) are considered in the study. Flame generic visible appearance and the corresponding fringe map structures are also investigated. It is seen that the fringe maps are poorly influenced by equivalence ratio variations at constant Reynolds number but are significantly affected by Reynolds number variations in constant equivalence ratio. Temperatures obtained from optical techniques are compared with those obtained from thermocouples and good agreement is observed. It is concluded that the effect of Reynolds number increment on maximum flame temperature is negligible while equivalence ratio reduction increases maximum flame temperature substantially.     

Study on the dynamic characteristics of flow over building cluster at high Reynolds number by large eddy simulation

In this paper,the dynamic characteristics of building clusters are simulated by large eddy simulation at high Reynolds number for both homogeneous and heterogeneous building clusters.To save the computational cost a channel-like flow model is applied to the urban canopy with free slip condition at the upper boundary.The results show that the domain height is an important parameter for correct evaluation of the dynamic characteristics.The domain height must be greater than 8h(h is the average building height)in order to obtain correct roughness height while displacement height and roughness sublayer are less sensitive to the domain height.The Reynolds number effects on the dynamic characteristics and flow patterns are investigated.The turbulence intensity is stronger inside building cluster at high Reynolds number while turbulence intensity is almost unchanged with Reynolds number above the building cluster.Roughness height increases monotonously with Reynolds number by 20%from Re*=103 to Re*=105 but displacement height is almost unchanged.Within the canopy layer of heterogeneous building clusters,flow structures vary between buildings and turbulence is more active at high Reynolds number.     

Heat Transfer Enhancement from A Rectangular Flat Plate With Constant Heat Flux in Pulsating Flows

Experiments have been carried out to study heat transfer enhancement from a heated rectangular flat plate in pulsating flows. A heat transfer empirical formula of the heated rectangular flat plate in pulsating flows was developed that correlates the heat transfer enhancement factor to the Womersley number (α = 3.3–23.8), the Reynolds number (Re = 527–4,217), and the pressure coefficient (C _p  = 41.3–31,644.6). The results demonstrate that heat transfer from the rectangular flat plate was enhanced significantly under proper conditions. In addition, the influence of the Reynolds number on the heat transfer enhancement factor increases as the pressure amplitude increases.     

On-set of EHD turbulence for cylinder in cross flow under corona discharges

Experimental and theoretical investigations have been conducted for the on-set of electrohydrodynamically (EHD) induced turbulence for cylinder in cross flow. The experiments were conducted for Reynolds numbers from 0.2 to 80 based on cylinder diameters, and Reynolds numbers from 10³ to 4×10³ based on the flow channel width. This flow conditions represent laminar to transitional-flow before the on-set of the EHD-turbulent flow. Theoretical analysis was based on the mass, momentum, and charged particle conservation equations coupled with the Poisson's equation for electric field evaluation. The results showed that: (1) on-set of EHD turbulence is initiated near the real-stagnation point; (2) EHD turbulence can be generated even for Reynolds numbers (Re) less than 0.2, if the EHD number (Ehd) is larger than the critical Reynolds number square (Ehd>Re²); and (3) the electrical origin of instability, which is leading into the on-set of turbulence can be estimated from Ehd/Db²>Re² relation, where Db is the Debye number.     

Solution to the paradox of the linear stability of the Hagen-Poiseuille flow and the viscous dissipative mechanism of the emergence of turbulence in a boundary layer

It has been shown that the conclusion of the linear instability of the Hagen-Poiseuille flow at finite Reynolds numbers requires the refusal of the use of the traditional “normal” form of the representation of disturbances, which implies the possibility of separation of variables describing disturbances as functions of the radial and longitudinal (along the axis of a tube) coordinates. In the absence of such separation of variables in the developed linear theory, it has been proposed to use a modification of the Bubnov-Galerkin theory that makes it possible to take into account the difference between the periods of the longitudinal variability for different radial modes preliminarily determined by the standard application of the Galerkin-Kantorovich method to the evolution equation of extremely small axisymmetric disturbances of the tangential component of the velocity field. It has been shown that the consideration of even two linearly interacting radial modes for the Hagen-Poiseuille flow can provide linear instability only in the presence of the mentioned conditionally periodic longitudinal variability of disturbances along the axis of the tube, when the threshold Reynolds number Re_th(p) is very sensitive to the ratio p of two longitudinal periods each describing longitudinal variability for its radial disturbance mode. In this case, the threshold Reynolds number can tend to infinity, Re_th(p) → ∞, only at p = p _k = k, p = p _1/k = 1/k, and \(p = p_{\sqrt k } = [k + 1 \pm \sqrt {(k + 1)^2 - 4} ]/2\) , where k = 1, 2, 3, …. The minimum Reynolds number Re_th(p) ≈ 448 (at which p ≈ 1.527) for the linear instability of the Hagen-Poiseuille flow quantitatively corresponds to the condition of the excitation of Tollmien-Schlichting waves in the boundary layer, where Re_th = 420. Similarity of the mechanisms of linear viscous dissipative instability for the Hagen-Poiseuille flow and Tollmien-Schlichting waves has been discussed. Good quantitative agreement has been obtained between the phase velocities of the vortex disturbances and the experimental data on the velocities of the leading and trailing edges of turbulent “puffs” propagating along the axis of the tube.     

Spontaneous growth of fluctuations in the viscous flow of a fluid past a soft interface

The flow induced instability in the flow past a soft material is studied in the limit of low Reynolds number where inertial effects are insignificant. A transition from laminar flow to a more complicated flow profile is observed when the strain rate of the base flow increases beyond a critical value; the transition is found to be reproducible. The experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions and quantitative agreement is found with no adjustable parameters.     

Noise generation by instabilities in low Reynolds number supersonic jets

An experimental investigation of noise generation by instabilities in low Reynolds number supersonic air jets has been performed. Sound pressure levels, spectra and acoustic phase fronts were measured with a traversing condenser microphone in the acoustic field of axisymmetric, perfectly expanded, cold jets of Mach numbers 1·4, 2·1 and 2·5. Low Reynolds numbers in the range from Re = 3700 to Re = 8700 were obtained by exhausting the jets into an anechoic vacuum chamber test facility. This contrasts with Reynolds numbers of over 10⁶ for similar jets exhausting into atmospheric pressure. The flow fluctuations of the instability in all three jets have been measured with a hot-wire and the results are documented in a previous paper by Morrison and McLaughlin. Acoustic measurements show that the major portion of the sound radiated by all three jets is produced by the instability's rapid growth and decay that occurs near the end of the potential core. This takes place over a relatively short distance (less than two wavelengths of the instability) in the jet. In the lower two Mach number jets the instability has a phase velocity less than the ambient acoustic velocity. In the Mach number 2·5 jet the instability phase speed is 1·11 times the ambient acoustic velocity. In this case the acoustic phase fronts indicate the possibility of a Mach wave component. It was also determined that low level excitation at the dominant frequency of the instability actually decreased the radiated noise by suppressing the broad band component.     

A flow phase diagram for helium superfluids

The existence of the flow phase diagram predicted by Volovik [JETP Lett. 78, 553 (2003)] is discussed based on the available experimental data for He II and ³He-B. The effective temperature-dependent but scale-independent Reynolds number Re_eff≡1/q≡(1?α′)/α, where α and α′ are the mutual friction parameters, and the superfluid Reynolds number characterizing the circulation of the superfluid component in units of the circulation quantum are used as the dynamic parameters. In particular, the flow diagram permits the identification of the experimentally observed turbulent states I and II in counterflowing He II with the classical and quantum turbulent regimes suggested by Volovik.     

Flow field and acoustic properties of a Mach number 0·9 jet at a low Reynolds number

An experimental study of the flow field and acoustic properties of a low Reynolds number (Re ? 3600), M = 0·9 jet has been performed in our low pressure anechoic test chamber. The mean flow field was surveyed with a conventional Pitot pressure probe and flow fluctuations were detected with a normal hot wire probe. Also, condenser microphone measurements were made in the acoustic field. The major goal of the study was to develop a better understanding of the noise generation mechanisms of subsonic jets. The flow fluctuations within the jet were found to be dominated initially by a relatively discrete, large-scale, wave-like instability centered around a Strouhal number of 0·44. The axial wavelength of this instability was determined to be 1·45 jet diameters and its azimuthal character includes the n = 0 and n = ± 1 modes. The growth of this instability coupled with its non-linear breakdown are major contributors to the termination of the potential core region of the jet. The acoustic field of the jet, in contrast to the flow field, has a broad frequency spectrum with a peak amplitude near a Strouhal number of St = 0·2. The results indicate that a non-linear mechanism involving the large scale flow instability is responsible for a dominant portion of the noise generated from this jet.     

Acoustic testing of the vortex structure produced by an air flow about an array of cylinders

Results of experiments on the scattering of a plane ultrasonic wave from a vortex wake formed in an air flow behind a lattice of vertical cylinders are presented. The lattice is periodic in the direction perpendicular to the oncoming flow. The experiments are performed in a wind tunnel for two values of the Reynolds number, namely, Re = 75 and 500, and for lattices with different numbers of cylinders and with different lattice periods g = (2.5–15)d (where d is the diameter of the cylinders). The measured parameters of the scattered waves are used to estimate the degree of transverse correlation between the vortex wakes formed behind the cylinders for flows with different Reynolds numbers. The results obtained from an analysis of the characteristics of the scattered sound are compared with the results of direct hot-wire anemometer measurements and with the data obtained by other researchers.     

Rotating turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection subject to harmonically forced flow reversals

The characteristics of turbulent flow in a cylindrical Rayleigh–Bénard convection cell which can be modified considerably in case rotation is included in the dynamics. By incorporating the additional effects of an Euler force, i.e., effects induced by non-constant rotation rates, a remarkably strong intensification of the heat transfer efficiency can be achieved. We consider turbulent convection at Rayleigh number Ra = 10⁹ and Prandtl number σ = 6.4 under a harmonically varying rotation, allowing complete reversals of the direction of the externally imposed rotation in the course of time. The dimensionless amplitude of the oscillation is taken as 1/Ro^* = 1 while various modulation frequencies 0.1 ≤ Ro_ω ≤ 1 are applied. Both slow and fast flow-structuring and heat transfer intensification are induced due to the forced flow reversals. Depending on the magnitude of the Euler force, increases in the Nusselt number of up to 400% were observed, compared to the case of constant or no rotation. It is shown that a large thermal flow structure accumulates all along the centreline of the cylinder, which is responsible for the strongly increased heat transfer. This dynamic thermal flow structure develops quite gradually, requiring many periods of modulated flow reversals. In the course of time, the Nusselt number increases in an oscillatory fashion up to a point of global instability, after which a very rapid and striking collapse of the thermal columnar structure is seen. Following such a collapse is another, quite similar episode of gradual accumulation of the next thermal column. We perform direct numerical simulation of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations to study this system. Both the flow structures and the corresponding heat transfer characteristics are discussed at a range of modulation frequencies. We give an overview of typical time scales of the system response.     

油基钻屑螺纹推进式换热器流动传热特性

对油基钻屑在螺纹推进式换热器内的流动换热过程进行了数值模拟,研究了螺杆转速、油基钻屑雷诺数Re和螺纹截面形状对流动换热的影响。结果表明:随着螺杆转速增加,传热系数、油基钻屑出口温度均增大;同时发现,当雷诺数Re<250时,壳侧Nusselt数随雷诺数Re增大而迅速增大,此后雷诺数对Nusselt数影响较小;Nusselt数随曲率比d_i/D增大而增大。为方便工程设计,利用数值结果给出了油基钻屑的流动换热关系式。     

Drag and Lift Forces Acting on a Sphere in Shear Flow of Power-Law Fluid

Laminar flow of a power-law fluid over a sphere is considered for unbounded shear flow. The Navier–Stokes equations with power-law viscosity are solved numerically using an in-house developed CFD package. Vorticities structures downstream of particle are suppressed for powerlaw fluid. The shear rate influence on drag force is negligible for power index close to unit, and the drag force appreciably decreases with falling power index. For small Reynolds numbers, the lift force coefficient monotonically decreases against the power index and exhibits an opposite behavior for moderate values of Reynolds numbers. The results of the parametric studies are used to derive correlations for the drag force and to detect the hydrodynamic differences from uniform flow. The investigation parameters varied within the following ranges: power-law index 0.3 ≤ n ≤ 1, Reynolds number 0 < Re ≤ 150, and dimensionless shear rate 0.05 ≤ s ≤ 0.4.     

Effect of inlet flow turbulence on the combustion instability in a premixed backward-facing step combustor

This paper reports the effect of inlet flow turbulence intensity on the combustion instability characteristics in a backward facing step combustor. The inlet turbulence intensity is varied by a turbulence generator. Unsteady pressure measurements and OH* chemiluminescence images are recorded over a wide range of operating conditions at different inlet turbulence intensities. The study shows an early onset of instability at low turbulence level, i.e., higher turbulence postpones the onset of instability to higher Reynolds number Re and/or higher equivalence ratio Φ. The early onset of instability in the Re and Φ parameter spaces is due to the change in system parameters such as flame speed and size of the recirculation zone downstream of the step at different turbulence levels. Further, the onset is characterized as subcritical bifurcation. At low Re, the hysteresis zone width is small for low turbulence levels and it is large at higher turbulence levels; and at higher Re, the hysteresis width remains constant at all turbulence levels. Investigation of instability characteristics reveals that there are momentary slippages from limit cycle orbit into brief silent regimes in an intermittent manner. The frequency of occurrence of the momentary silent regimes increases with reduction in turbulence, indicating that higher turbulence helps in maintaining the system in a stable limit cycle orbit. High-speed chemiluminescence imaging reveals the necessity of the vortex rollup in the recirculation zone to grow up to the top wall by dilatation from the heat release for the onset of instability. Considerations of the effect of turbulence on both the flame speed and the recirculation zone size together explain all the observed bifurcation trends. These results suggest that inlet flow turbulence should not just be considered as background noise. The turbulence effects on both the flame and flow should be considered in predicting the instability characteristics.     

Modeling of steady Herschel–Bulkley fluid flow over a sphere

Characteristics of the incompressible flow of Herschel–Bulkley fluid over a sphere were studied via systematic numerical modeling. A steady isothermal laminar flow mode was considered within a wide range of flow parameters: the Reynolds number 0 < Re ≤ 200, the Bingham number 0 ≤ Bn ≤ 100, and the power index 0.3 ≤ n ≤ 1. The numerical solution to the hydrodynamic equations was obtained using the finite volume method in the axisymmetric case. The changes in flow structures, pressure and viscous friction distribution, and integral drag as a function of the flow rate and fluid rheology are shown. Depending on whether plastic or inertial effects dominate in the flow, the limiting cases were identified. The power law and Bingham fluid flows were studied in detail as particular cases of the Herschel–Bulkley rheological model. Based on the modeling results, a new correlation was developed that approximates the calculated data with an accuracy of about 5% across the entire range of the input parameters. This correlation is also applicable in the particular cases of the power law and Bingham fluids.     

MHD effects on the channel flow of a fractional viscous fluid through a porous medium: An application of the Caputo-Fabrizio time-fractional derivative

This research article considers the exact solutions and theoretical aspects of the channel flow of a fractional viscous fluid which is electrically conducting and flowing through a porous medium. Joint Laplace and Fourier transform techniques are used to solve the momentum equation. The Caputo-Fabrizio time fractional derivative is used in the constitutive equations. Exact solutions for an arbitrary velocity are obtained, and then in the limiting cases over a bottom plate three types of flow are considered: that is, the impulsive, accelerating and oscillating motion of the fluid. The case where the flow of the fractional fluid is unaffected by the side walls, is correspondingly taken into account. For oscillating flow the solutions are separated into steady and transient parts for both sine and cosine oscillations. Moreover these solutions are captured graphically, and the effect of the Reynolds number “Re”, fractional parameter “α”, effective permeability “K_eff” and the time “t”, on the fluid's motion are observed.     

Cyclone–anticyclone vortex asymmetry mechanism and linear Ekman friction

Allowance for the linear Ekman friction has been found to ensure a threshold (in rotation frequency) realization of the linear dissipative–centrifugal instability and the related chiral symmetry breaking in the dynamics of Lagrangian particles, which leads to the cyclone–anticyclone vortex asymmetry. An excess of the fluid rotation rate ω₀ over some threshold value determined by the fluid eigenfrequency ω (i.e., ω₀ > ω) is shown to be a condition for the realization of such an instability. A new generalization of the solution of the Karman problem to determine the steady-state velocity field in a viscous incompressible fluid above a rotating solid disk of large radius, in which the linear Ekman friction was additionally taken into account, has been obtained. A correspondence of this solution and the conditions for the realization of the dissipative–centrifugal instability of a chiral-symmetric vortex state and the corresponding cyclone–anticyclone vortex asymmetry has been shown. A generalization of the well-known spiral velocity distribution in an “Ekman layer” near a solid surface has been established for the case where the fluid rotation frequency far from the disk ω differs from the disk rotation frequency ω₀.