Experimental study of a hypersonic shock layer stability on a circular surface of compressionL'étude expérimentale de la stabilité d'une couche de choc hypersonique sur une surface circulaire de compression

The method of electron-beam fluorescence is applied to study the evolution of natural and artificial periodic disturbances on a developed streaky structure in the shock layer on a circular compression surface model. The model is exposed to a hypersonic nitrogen flow with a Mach number M_∞=21 and unit Reynolds number Re_1∞=6×10⁵ m^?1. Data on the effect of surface curvature and temperature on disturbance characteristics are obtained. To cite this article: S.G. Mironov, V.M. Aniskin, C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Homogenization of a degenerate parabolic problem in a highly heteregeneous mediumHomogénéisation d'un problème parabolique dégénéré dans un milieu fortement hétérogène

We consider the homogenization of a time-dependent heat transfer problem in a highly heteregeneous periodic medium made of two connected components having finite heat capacities c_α(x) and heat conductivities a_α(x), α=1,2, of order one, separated by a third material with thickness of order ε the size of the basic periodicity cell, but with conductivity λa₃(x) where a₃=O(1) and λ tends to zero with ε. Assuming only that c_i(x)?0 a.e., such that the problem can degenerate (parabolic-elliptic), we identify the homogenized problem following the values of δ=lim_ε→0ε²/λ. To cite this article: M. Mabrouk, A. Boughammoura, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

High-order LES modeling of turbulent incompressible flow

This article presents the high-order algorithms that we have developed for large-eddy simulation of incompressible flows, and the results that have been obtained for the 3D turbulent wake of a cylinder at a Reynolds number of $\mathit{Re}=3900$. To cite this article: R. Pasquetti, C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

Turbulent Couette–Taylor flows with endwall effects: A numerical benchmark

The accurate prediction of fluid flow within rotating systems has a primary role for the reliability and performance of rotating machineries. The selection of a suitable model to account for the effects of turbulence on such complex flows remains an open issue in the literature. This paper reports a numerical benchmark of different approaches available within commercial CFD solvers together with results obtained by means of in-house developed or open-source available research codes exploiting a suitable Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) closure, Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and a direct numerical simulation (DNS). The predictions are compared to the experimental data of Burin et al. (2010) in an original enclosed Couette–Taylor apparatus with endcap rings. The results are discussed in details for both the mean and turbulent fields. A particular attention has been turned to the scaling of the turbulent angular momentum G with the Reynolds number Re. By DNS, G is found to be proportional to Re^α, the exponent α = 1.9 being constant in our case for the whole range of Reynolds numbers. Most of the approaches predict quite well the good trends apart from the k–ω SST model, which provides relatively poor agreement with the experiments even for the mean tangential velocity profile. Among the RANS models, even though no approach appears to be fully satisfactory, the RSM closure offers the best overall agreement.     

Three-dimensional simulations of flow past two circular cylinders in side-by-side arrangements at right and oblique attacks

The flow past two identical circular cylinders in side-by-side arrangements at right and oblique attack angles is numerically investigated by solving the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations using the Petrov–Galerkin finite element method. The study is focused on the effect of flow attack angle and gap ratio between the two cylinders on the vortex shedding flow and the hydrodynamic forces of the cylinders. For an oblique flow attack angle, the Reynolds number based on the velocity component perpendicular to the cylinder span is defined as the normal Reynolds number Re_N and that based on the total velocity is defined as the total Reynolds number Re_T. Simulations are conducted for two Reynolds numbers of Re_N=500 and Re_T=500, two flow attack angles of α=0° and 45° and four gap ratios of G/D=0.5, 1, 3 and 5. The biased gap flow for G/D=0.5 and 1 and the flip-flopping bistable gap flow for G/D=1 are observed for both α=0° and 45°. For a constant normal Reynolds number of Re_N=500, the mean drag and lift coefficients at α=0° are very close to those at α=45°. The difference between the root mean square (RMS) lift coefficient at α=0° and that at α=45° is about 20% for large gap ratios of 3 and 5. From small gap ratios of 0.5 and 1, the RMS lift coefficients at α=0° and 45° are similar to each other. The present simulations show that the agreement in the force coefficients between the 0° and 45° flow attack angles for a constant normal Reynolds number is better than that for a constant total Reynolds number. This indicates that the normal Reynolds number should be used in the implementation of the independence principle (i.e., the independence of the force coefficients on the flow attack angle). The effect of Reynolds number on the bistable gap flow is investigated by simulating the flow for Re_N=100–600, α=0° and 45° and G/D=1. Flow for G/D=1 is found to be two-dimensional at Re_N=100 and weak three-dimensional at Re_N=200. While well defined biased flow can be identified for Re_N=300–600, the gap flow for Re_N=100 and 200 changes its biased direction too frequently to allow stable biased flow to develop.     

L'équation de la stropholyseThe stropholytic equation

It is shown that the modelling of homogeneous turbulent flows with mean rotation requires the consideration of stropholytic effects, besides componentality and dimensionality effects. Stropholytic effects are directly related to the mean-flow rotationality. The equation for the purely symmetric stropholysis is established and prerequisites for the closure of terms involved in this equation are discussed. To cite this article: J. Piquet, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Application de l'approximation polytropique à la turbulence statistique en moyenne de FavreApplication of the polytropic approximation to turbulence statistics using Favre averaging

The application of the polytropic approximation connecting the quantities of corresponding state, to experimental analysis, is clarified. A method of polytropic determination of the exponent χ (variable but non-fluctuating) in each point of the flow is given. This approximation makes it possible the generation of representative signals of fluctuating quantities, like pressure or density. For heated gases, the problem of measurement of the equations terms written with Favre averaging is thus almost solved. Then, measurement of χ allows the determination by the experiment of crucial terms like turbulent fluxes of mass and momentum, and presso correlation. To cite this article: C. Rey, S. Benjeddou, C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Turbulent channel flow with 2D wedges of random height on one wall

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of a turbulent channel flow with 2D wedges of random height on the bottom wall have been performed. In addition, two other simulations have been carried out to assess the effect of the geometry on the overlying flow. In the first simulation, the four smallest elements were removed while in the other, a uniform distribution of wedges with the same area was used. Two Reynolds numbers were studied, Re_b=2500 and Re_b=5000 which correspond in case of smooth walls to Re_τ=180 and 300, respectively. Roughness on the wall induces separated regions, the reattachment occurring on the walls of the wedges or on the bottom wall. The pressure gradients on the walls increase the ejections and inrushes towards the wall. As a consequence the flow is more isotropic. The mechanism inducing an improved isotropy has been explained in term of the spectra and budgets of Reynolds stress. The comparison of the 3 surfaces has shown that near the wall, the uniformly distributed roughness represents only a poor approximation of the surface with wedges of random height. The Reynolds stresses, pressure distribution and spectra on the modified wall agree well with those on the random surface. Energy spectra show the pitch to height ratio of the largest elements to be the more appropriate geometrical parameter to describe the geometry.     

Vortices for computing: the engines of turbulence simulation

Vortices have been described as the “sinews of turbulence”. They are also, increasingly, the computational engines driving numerical simulations of turbulence. In this paper, I review some recent advances in vortex-based numerical methods for simulating high Reynolds number turbulent flows. I focus on coherent vortex simulation, where nonlinear wavelet filtering is used to identify and track the few high energy multiscale vortices that dominate the flow dynamics. This filtering drastically reduces the computational complexity for high Reynolds number simulations, e.g. by a factor of 1000 for fluid–structure interaction calculations (Kevlahan and Vasilyevvon in SIAM J Sci Comput 26(6):1894–1915, 2005). It also has the advantage of decomposing the flow into two physically important components: coherent vortices and background noise. In addition to its computational efficiency, this decomposition provides a way of directly estimating how space and space–time intermittency scales with Reynolds number, Re ^α . Comparing α to its non-intermittent values gives a realistic Reynolds number upper bound for adaptive direct numerical simulation of turbulent flows. This direct measure of intermittency also guides the development of new mathematical theories for the structure of high Reynolds number turbulence.     

Direct numerical simulation of stationary particles in homogeneous turbulence decay: Application of the k–ε model

This study focuses on understanding how the presence of particles, in homogeneous turbulence decay, affects the dissipation of dissipation coefficient within the volume averaged dissipation transport equation. In developing this equation, the coefficient for dissipation of dissipation was assumed to be the sum of the single phase coefficient and an additional coefficient that is related to the effects of the dispersed phase. Direct numerical simulation was used to isolate the effect of stationary particles in homogeneous turbulent decay at low Reynolds numbers (Re_L = 3.3 and 12.5). The particles were positioned at each grid point and modeled as point forces and a comparison was made between a 64³ and 128³ domain. The results show that the dissipation of dissipation coefficient correlates well with a dimensionless parameter called the momentum coupling factor.     

Sur la fermeture des termes rapides pour des écoulements moyens rotationnelsOn the closure of rapid terms for rotational mean flows

The modelling of homogeneous turbulent flows with mean rotatio, considered in a previous Note, is handled under the form $\text{M}{}^1\text{=}\text{M}\text{[}\text{b}\text{,}\text{y}\text{,}\text{Q}{}^1\text{]}$ in terms of componental and dimensional anisotropies, and of the symmetrized stropholysis. A systematic technique of expansion is proposed. The necessary realisability conditions are then applied. It is shown that there exists no realisable functional $\text{M}$ which would be isotropic with respect to its arguments. To cite this article: J. Piquet, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Simulation numérique directe de l'influence de la forme aval d'une plaque séparatrice sur une couche de mélangeDirect-numerical simulation of the splitting-plate downstream-shape influence upon a mixing layer

In this Note, we present direct numerical simulation results of a spatial mixing layer generated behind an upstream plate separating two boundary layers. The effect of the shape of the trailing edge of the plate is considered through comparisons between flows obtained from a bevelled or a blunt plate. In the former case, a spatial mixing layer consistent with previous experimental and numerical observations is obtained. In the latter case, the self-excited state that establishes in the near wake region dominates primary and secondary instability mechanisms while understating the importance of inflow perturbations. This behaviour is interpreted in terms of convective or absolute instability. The effects on turbulent statistics are also discussed. To cite this article: S. Laizet, E. Lamballais, C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Stability of roll waves in open channel flowsStabilité de trains d'ondes dans un canal découvert

The stability of finite amplitude roll waves that may develop at a liquid free surface in inclined open channels of arbitrary cross-section is studied. In the framework of shallow water theory with turbulent friction the modulation equations for wave series are derived and a nonlinear stability criterion is obtained. To cite this article: A. Boudlal, V.Yu. Liapidevskii, C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 291–295.     

Detached direct numerical simulations of turbulent two-phase bubbly channel flow

DNS simulations of two-phase turbulent bubbly channel flow at Re_τ = 180 (Reynolds number based on friction velocity and channel half-width) were performed using a stabilized finite element method (FEM) and a level set approach to track the air/water interfaces.     

Swirling-strength based large eddy simulation of turbulent flow around single square cylinder at low Reynolds numbers

In view of the fact that large scale vortices play the substantial role of momentum transport in turbulent flows, large eddy simulation(LES) is considered as a better simulation model. However, the sub-grid scale(SGS) models reported so far have not ascertained under what flow conditions the LES can lapse into the direct numerical simulation. To overcome this discrepancy, this paper develops a swirling strength based the SGS model to properly model the turbulence intermittency, with the primary characteristics that when the local swirling strength is zero, the local sub-grid viscosity will be vanished. In this paper, the model is used to investigate the flow characteristics of zero-incident incompressible turbulent flows around a single square cylinder(SC)at a low Reynolds number range Re ∈ [103, 104]. The flow characteristics investigated include the Reynolds number dependence of lift and drag coefficients, the distributions of time-spanwise averaged variables such as the sub-grid viscosity and the logarithm of Kolmogorov micro-scale to the base of 10 at Re = 2 500 and 104, the contours of spanwise and streamwise vorticity components at t = 170. It is revealed that the peak value of sub-grid viscosity ratio and its root mean square(RMS) values grow with the Reynolds number. The dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy is larger near the SC solid walls.The instantaneous factor of swirling strength intermittency(FSI) exhibits some laminated structure involved with vortex shedding.     

On the logarithmic-law constants and the turbulent boundary layer at low Reynolds numbers

It is shown that a family of formally derived similarity solutions describe to leading order the outer region of a turbulent boundary layer for all Reynolds numbers for which the layer satisfies the logarithmic law-of-the-wall. The family includes Coles' [1] hypothesis. For consistency with this hypothesis and the logarithmic law-of-the-wall, it is further shown that the constants in the latter form the product κC=2+O(ε), suggesting the logarithmic law of the wall be written $${U \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {U {U_\tau = \kappa ^{ - 1} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {U_\tau = \kappa ^{ - 1} }}\ln \left( {e^2 U_\tau {y \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {y \nu }} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} \nu }} \right) + O\left( \in \right).$$ A range of data are reprocessed to determine the skin friction coefficientC _f using κC = 2 and these collapse well when plotted against momentum thickness Reynolds number, Re _θ . It is also shown that the form parameter, Π, in Coles hypothesis is not unique but is determined by history effects peculiar to the boundary layer. Expressions are derived forC _f (Re _θ ) and the shape factorH (Re _θ ); both agree closely with the data and are valid over all Reynolds numbers for which the logarithmic law of the wall is satisfied.     

Direct numerical simulation of transition to turbulence in an oscillatory channel flowSimulation numérique de la transition vers la turbulence d'un ecoulement oscillant dans une conduite bi-dimensionnelle

In this Note, we present results of the numerical simulation of transition to turbulence for a purely oscillatory channel flow. These simulations were performed for various values of the Reynolds number, the so-called Stokes parameter being equal to 4. The methodology used for the flow simulation relies on a combination of finite element space approximations with time-discretization by operator splitting; it has shown to be very effective, even when it is applied to relatively complex domains with strong expansions at the inlet and outlet of the channel. The numerical results obtained agree qualitatively well with previous experiments by other investigators. To cite this article: L.H. Juárez, E. Ramos, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Coherent Structures and their Frequency Signature in the Separated Shear Layer on the Sides of a Square Cylinder

The purpose of the present work is to study the various specific time scales of the turbulent separating flow around a square cylinder, in order to determine the Reynolds number effect on the separating shear layer, where occurs a transition to turbulence. Unsteady analysis based on large eddy simulation (LES) at intermediate Reynolds numbers and laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements at high Reynolds numbers are carried out. The Reynolds number, based on the cylinder diameter D and the inflow velocity U _o , is ranging from Re?=?50 to Re?=?300,000. A special focus is performed on the coherent structures developing on the sides and in the wake of a square cylinder. For a large Reynolds number range above Re?≈?1,000, both signatures of Von Karman (VK) and Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) type vortical structures are found on velocity time samples. The combination of their frequency signature is studied based on Fourier and wavelet analysis. In the present study, We observe the occurrence of KH pairings in the separating shear layer on the side of the cylinder, and confirm the intermittency nature of such a shear flow. These issues concerning the structure of the near wake shear layer which were addressed for the round cylinder case in a recent experimental publication (Rajagopalan and Antonia, Exp Fluids 38:393–402, 2005) are of interest in the present flow configuration as well.     

Solutions multiples pour les écoulements tridimensionnels en rotationMultiple solutions for three-dimensional swirling flows

The symmetry-breaking in a swirling flow generated inside a cylindrical tank of aspect ratio h=1 by the rotation of one lid is studied numerically. Beyond a critical Reynolds number, the flow undergoes a bifurcation to three-dimensional solutions. The spatial and temporal behaviour on these branches are examined. To cite this article: E. Barbosa, O. Daube, C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 791–796.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer in transitional boundary layers: effects of surface curvature and free stream velocity

Velocity and wall temperature measurements, over flat plate, concave and convex walls, were experimentally investigated in a low-speed wind tunnel with inlet velocities of 4 and 12 m/s encompassing the transitional region with streamwise distance Reynolds numbers from 3.15×10⁵ to 1.04×10⁶. As the velocity profiles, recorded by a semi-circular pitot tube and a digital constant-temperature hot-wire anemometer, were compared to exact Blasius profile and (1/7)th power law, experimental local Stanton numbers to analytical flat plate solution and turbulent correlation formula. Intermittency factors, derived from velocities and local Stanton numbers, were presented both in streamwise and pitchwise directions. It was found that the convex curvature delayed transition up to Re _x =1.04×10⁶, with a mean intermittency value of 0.61 and a shape factor of 1.81, where the similar intermittency and shape factors were determined at Re _x of 8.33×10⁵ and 4.25×10⁵ for the flat plate and concave wall, indicating the enhancing role of concave curvature on the transition mechanism. The thinner boundary layers of the concave surface resulted in higher intermittency values, corresponding to higher skin friction and Stanton numbers; moreover the lowest gap between the measured and derived Stanton numbers were also obtained over the concave surface. Destabilising role of the concave wall caused Stanton numbers to increase up to 22%, whereas the convex wall, due to its stabilising character, produced lower Stanton numbers by 12% with respect to those of the flat plate.