Mechanism of drag reduction by spanwise oscillating Lorentz force in turbulent channel flow

Numerical simulations and experimental research are both carried out to investigate the controlled effect of spanwise oscillating Lorentz force on a turbulent channel flow. The variations of the streaks and the skin friction drag are obtained through the PIV system and the drag measurement system, respectively. The flow field in the near-wall region is shown through direct numerical simulations utilizing spectral method. The experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation results qualitatively, and both the results indicate that the streaks are tilted into the spanwise direction and the drag reduction utilizing spanwise oscillating Lorentz forces can be realized. The numerical simulation results reveal more detail of the drag reduction mechanism which can be explained, since the spanwise vorticity generated from the interaction between the induced Stokes layer and intrinsic turbulent flow in the near-wall region can make the longitudinal vortices tilt and oscillate, and leads to turbulence suppression and drag reduction.     

Influence of velocity profile on calibration function of Lorentz force flowmeter

A Lorentz force flowmeter is a noncontact electromagnetic flow-measuring device based on exposing a flowing electrically conducting liquid to a magnetic field and measuring the force acting on the magnet system. The measured Lorentz force is proportional to the flow rate via a calibration coefficient which depends on the velocity distribution and magnetic field in liquid. In this paper, the influence of different velocity profiles on the calibration coefficient is investigated by using numerical simulations. The Lorentz forces are computed for laminar flows in closed and open rectangular channels, and the results are compared with the simplified case of a solid conductor moving at a constant velocity. The numerical computations demonstrate that calibration coefficients for solid bodies are always higher than for liquid metals. Moreover, it can be found that for some parameters the solid-body calibration coefficient is almost twice as high as for a liquid metal. These differences are explained by analyzing the patterns of the induced eddy currents and the spatial distributions of the Lorentz force density. The result provides a first step for evaluating the influence of the laminar velocity profiles on the calibration function of a Lorentz force flowmeter.     

Effect of anisotropic resistance characteristic on boundary-layer transitional flow

It is observed that the feather surface exhibits anisotropic resistances for the streamwise and spanwise flows. To obtain a qualitative understanding about the effect of this anisotropic resistance feature of surface on the boundary-layer transitional flow over a flat plate, a simple phenomenological model for the anisotropic resistance is established in this paper. By means of the large eddy simulation (LES) with high-order accurate finite difference method, the numerical investigations are conducted. The numerical results show that with the spanwise resistance hindering the formation of vortexes, the transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow can be delayed, and turbulence is weakened when the flow becomes fully turbulent, which leads to significant drag reduction for the plate. On the contrary, the streamwise resistance renders the flow less stable, which leads to the earlier transition and enhances turbulence in the turbulent region, causing a drag increase for the plate. Thus, it is indicated that a surface with large resistance for spanwise flow and small resistance for streamwise flow can achieve significant drag reduction. The present results highlight the anisotropic resistance characteristic near the feather surface for drag reduction, and shed a light on the study of bird’s efficient flight.     

Applications of parabolized stability equation for predicting transition position in boundary layers

The phenomenon of laminar-turbulent transition exists universally in nature and various engineering practice.The prediction of transition position is one of crucial theories and practical problems in fluid mechanics due to the different characteristics of laminar flow and turbulent flow.Two types of disturbances are imposed at the entrance,i.e.,identical amplitude and wavepacket disturbances,along the spanwise direction in the incompressible boundary layers.The disturbances of identical amplitude are consisted of one two-dimensional(2D) wave and two three-dimensional(3D) waves.The parabolized stability equation(PSE) is used to research the evolution of disturbances and to predict the transition position.The results are compared with those obtained by the numerical simulation.The results show that the PSE method can investigate the evolution of disturbances and predict the transition position.At the same time,the calculation speed is much faster than that of the numerical simulation.     

Features of the supercritical transition in the wake of a circular cylinder

The features of the wake behind a uniform circular cylinder atRe=200, which is just beyond the critical Reynolds number of 3-D transition, are investigated in detail by direct numerical simulations by solving 3-D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using mixed spectral-spectral-element method. The high-order splitting algorithm based on the mixed stiffly stable scheme is employed in the time discretization. Due to the nonlinear evolution of the secondary instability of the wake, the spanwise modes with different wavelengths emerge. The spanwise characteristic length determines the transition features and global properties of the wake. The existence of the spanwise phase difference of the primary vortices shedding is confirmed by Fourier analysis of the time series of the spanwise vorticity and attributed to the dominant spanwise mode. The spatial energy distributions of various modes and the velocity profiles in the near wake are obtained. The numerical results indicate that the near wake is in 3-D quasi-periodic laminar state with transitional behaviors at this supercritical Reynolds number. The project supported by the State Key Fundamental Research Project of “Large Scale Scientific Computation Research” (G199903281)     

Exploration of plasma-based control for low-Reynolds number airfoil/gust interaction

Large-eddy simulation (LES) is employed to investigate the use of plasma-based actuation for the control of a vortical gust interacting with a wing section at a low Reynolds number. Flow about the SD7003 airfoil section at 4° angle of attack and a chord-based Reynolds number of 60,000 is considered in the simulation, which typifies micro air vehicle (MAV) applications. Solutions are obtained to the Navier–Stokes equations that were augmented by source terms used to represent body forces imparted by the plasma actuator on the fluid. A simple phenomenological model provided these body forces resulting from the electric field generated by the plasma. The numerical method is based upon a high-fidelity time-implicit scheme and an implicit LES approach which are used to obtain solutions on a locally refined overset mesh system. A Taylor-like vortex model is employed to represent a gust impinging upon the wing surface, which causes a substantial disruption to the undisturbed flow. It is shown that the fundamental impact of the gust on unsteady aerodynamic forces is due to an inviscid process, corresponding to variation in the effective angle of attack, which is not easily overcome. Plasma control is utilised to mitigate adverse effects of the interaction and improve aerodynamic performance. Physical characteristics of the interaction are described, and several aspects of the control strategy are explored. Among these are uniform and non-uniform spanwise variations of the control configuration, co-flow and counter-flow orientations of the directed force, pulsed and continuous operations of the actuator and strength of the plasma field. Results of the control situations are compared with regard to their effect upon aerodynamic forces. It was found that disturbances to the moment coefficient produced by the gust can be greatly reduced, which may be significant for stability and handling of MAV operations.     

Transition control in a three-dimensional boundary layer by direct attenuation of nonlinear crossflow vortices using plasma actuators

Direct numerical simulations are used to probe the potential of plasma actuators to attenuate nonlinear steady crossflow vortices (CFVs). The investigated base flow mimics the three-dimensional boundary-layer flow of a swept wing. The plasma actuators are positioned at selected spanwise positions to weaken oncoming CFVs and thus the associated (secondary) instability. It is shown that both volume forcing against or in the direction of the crossflow (CF) can be effective, and a significant transition delay can be achieved. The spanwise position of the actuators should be such that the actuation-induced downdraft inhibits the CFV. The forcing in the direction of the CF does not reduce the mean CF, and an unfavourable spanwise position of the actuator may directly increase the strength of the CFV and eventually promote turbulence onset. The forcing against the CF never turned out to promote turbulence onset for all investigated positions, because of the favourable reduction of the mean CF. Adding then a second or third actuator downstream at appropriate spanwise positions can yield enhanced transition delay.     

槽道湍流展向振荡电磁力减阻的机理研究

对槽道湍流的展向振荡电磁力控制进行了实验和数值研究. 实验通过PIV系统和浮动床阻力测试系统记录近壁区的条带变化和壁面阻力变化. 计算时, 利用谱方法直接模拟电磁力控制下的近壁流场. 实验和计算结果定性一致, 皆表明展向振荡电磁力可以减少壁面阻力, 并使条带倾斜. 计算结果还进一步揭示了电磁力减阻的机理. 电磁力诱导产生的流向涡与壁湍流的相互作用, 在近壁处形成负的脉动展向涡, 该涡将导致流向涡的倾斜和振荡, 从而抑制湍流, 减少壁面阻力.      

A DIRECT NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF CHANNEL FLOW TRANSITION UNDER AN EXTERNAL BODY FORCE

This research seeks to increase our understanding on the laminar-turbulent transition under an external body force. Direct numerical simulation by the spectral method with a weak formulation is used to solve the transient 3-D Navier-Stokes equations. Initial disturbances consist of the finite-amplitude 2-D Tollmien-Schlichting wave and two 3-D oblique waves. Competitions among different modes were computed during transition for different Richardson numbers.

It is found that the body force can modify the transition mechanism of flows between two vertical plates. The body force was found to hasten the formation of three-dimensional flow. A non-laminar flow induced by the body force may present when the background flow is still laminar.     

Numerical investigation of turbulent channel flow controlled by spatially oscillating spanwise Lorentz force

A formulation of the skin-friction drag related to the Reynolds shear stress in a turbulent channel flow is derived. A direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the turbulent control is performed by imposing the spatially oscillating spanwise Lorentz force. Under the action of the Lorentz force with several proper control parameters, only the periodically well-organized streamwise vortices are finally observed in the near-wall region. The Reynolds shear stress decreases dramatically, especially in the near-wall area, resulting in a drag reduction.     

Assessment of force models on finite-sized particles at finite Reynolds numbers

Finite-sized inertial spherical particles are fully-resolved with the immersed boundary projection method(IBPM) in the turbulent open-channel flow by direct numerical simulation(DNS). The accuracy of the particle surface force models is investigated in comparison with the total force obtained via the fully-resolved method. The results show that the steady-state resistance only performs well in the streamwise direction, while the fluid acceleration force, the added-mass force, and the shear-induc...     

On the impacts of coarse-scale models of realistic roughness on a forward-facing step turbulent flow

The present work explores the impacts of the coarse-scale models of realistic roughness on the turbulent boundary layers over forward-facing steps. The surface topographies of different scale resolutions were obtained from a novel multi-resolution analysis using discrete wavelet transform. PIV measurements are performed in the streamwise–wall-normal (x–y) planes at two different spanwise positions in turbulent boundary layers at Re_h = 3450 and δ/h = 8, where h is the mean step height and δ is the incoming boundary layer thickness. It was observed that large-scale but low-amplitude roughness scales had small effects on the forward-facing step turbulent flow. For the higher-resolution model of the roughness, the turbulence characteristics within 2h downstream of the steps are observed to be distinct from those over the original realistic rough step at a measurement position where the roughness profile possesses a positive slope immediately after the step’s front. On the other hand, much smaller differences exist in the flow characteristics at the other measurement position whose roughness profile possesses a negative slope following the step’s front.     

Direct measurements of controlled aerodynamic forces on a wire-suspended axisymmetric body

A novel in-line miniature force transducer is developed for direct measurements of the net aerodynamic forces and moments on a bluff body. The force transducers are integrated into each of the eight mounting wires that are utilized for suspension of an axisymmetric model in a wind tunnel having minimal wake interference. The aerodynamic forces and moments on the model are altered by induced active local attachment of the separated base flow. Fluidic control is effected by an array of four integrated aft-facing synthetic jet actuators that emanate from narrow, azimuthally segmented slots, equally distributed around the perimeter of the circular tail end. The jet orifices are embedded within a small backward-facing step that extends into a Coanda surface. The altered flow dynamics associated with both quasi-steady and transitory asymmetric activation of the flow control effect is characterized by direct force and PIV measurements.     

Numerical Simulation of the Flow Around an Infinitely Long Circular Cylinder in the Transition Regime

The development of three-dimensional structures and the succeeding transition to turbulence occurs in the wake of a circular cylinder at Reynolds numbers 190≤Re≤330. This regime is investigated numerically by means of a spectral element method. Earlier numerical works aimed mainly at reproducing characteristic wake patterns observed in experiments. Small sizes of computational domains and short integration times were chosen to save computational resources. Consequently, the quantitative results show a considerable scatter. Within this work, a step by step approach to highly accurate direct numerical simulations is described. Thorough studies of the effect of resolution and blockage are performed in the laminar, two-dimensional regime, resulting in Reynolds number relationships that exactly reproduce experimental data. Based on these results, a stability analysis is performed to obtain wavelengths that are unstable against spanwise perturbations and the critical Reynolds number for the onset of three-dimensionality. The most unstable wavelengths of the “mode A” and “mode B” instabilities and its multiples are used as periodicity length for direct numerical simulations. Effects of integration time, resolution in streamwise as well as spanwise directions, and periodicity length on the flow quantities are studied. Numerically obtained Reynolds number relationships of Strouhal number and base-pressure coefficients that fit accurately within measured results are given for the first time. Curves for drag and lift coefficients are provided and compared with previous numerical studies. Furthermore, physical interpretations of the wake transition are discussed. Since the separation of physical features and effects of experimental arrangements are frequently an open question, our numerical results are able to supply a contribution to the understanding of the physics of cylinder flow. Received 12 September 2000 and accepted 26 June 2001     

Turbulent boundary layer flow with a step change from smooth to rough surface

A direct numerical simulation (DNS) dataset of a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) with a step change from a smooth to a rough surface is analyzed to examine the characteristics of a spatially developing flow. The roughness elements are periodically arranged two-dimensional (2-D) spanwise rods, with the first rod placed 80θ_in downstream from the inlet, where θ_in denotes the inlet momentum thickness. Based on an accurate estimation of relevant parameters, clear evidence for mean flow universality is provided when scaled properly, even for the present roughness configuration, which is believed to have one of the strongest impacts on the flow. Compared to previous studies, it is shown that overshooting behavior is present in the first- and second-order statistics and is locally created either within the cavity or at the leading edge of the roughness depending on the type of statistics and the wall-normal measurement location. Inspection of spatial two-point correlations of the streamwise velocity fluctuations shows a continuous increase of spanwise length scales of structures over the rough wall after the step change at a greater growth rate than that over smooth wall TBL flow. This is expected because spanwise energy spectrum shows presence of much energetic wider structures over the rough wall. Full images of the DNS data are presented to describe not only predominance of hairpin vortices but also a possible spanwise scale growth mechanism via merging over the rough wall.     

STUDY ON THE FUEL AIR MIXING INDUCED BY A SHOCK WAVE PROPAGATING INTO A H_2-AIR INTERFACE

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Three-dimensional centrifugal instabilities development inside a parallelepipedic open cavity of various shape

This experimental study reports flow developments inside a parallelepipedic cavity of variable shape and dimensions. That flow is generated by the interaction between a laminar boundary layer and the cavity, which creates shear-layer oscillations. The aim is to understand the three-dimensional flow morphology varying the Reynolds number and the cavity shape. Flow visualizations are obtained in a plane situated inside the cavity in order to get the dynamical structures. Dimensional analysis of the cavity flow teaches that three dimensionless numbers are necessary for the flow reduction. This is confirmed by experimental results pointing thresholds of appearance of instabilities identified for some combinations of Reynolds number and geometric parameters. The key mechanisms for their existence are centrifugal effects induced by a vortex of spanwise axis with sufficient intensity, and viscous effects due to the wall confinement of the cavity. Their destruction is linked to flow transition to turbulence above a limiting convective velocity generated by the vortex of spanwise axis. These instabilities are generally present in a spanwise row of counter-rotating pairs of vortices, but for some cases, isolated pairs are also identified. Secondary modulations of primary instabilities are also present for particular parameters. Results permit to discriminate the relevant scales associated with the shear layer and the inner cavity flow.     

Topology of the vorticity field in three-dimensional shear layers and wakes

An experimental and numerical study of the three-dimensional transition of plane wakes and shear layers behind a flat plate is presented. Flow visualization techniques are used to monitor the response of laminar flows at moderate Reynolds numbers (≈100) to perturbations periodically distributed along the span. In this way, the formation and evolution of streamwise vortex tubes and their interaction with the spanwise vortices are analyzed. The flow was studied numerically by means of three-dimensional inviscid vortex dynamics. Assuming periodicity in the spanwise and the streamwise direction, we discretize the vorticity field into two layers of vortex filaments with finite core diameter. Comparison between experiment and visualization indicates that important features of the three-dimensional evolution can be reproduced by inviscid vortex dynamics. Vortex stretching in the strain field of the spanwise rollers appears to be the primary mechanism for the three-dimensional transition in this type of flows.     

Direct numerical simulation of flow over a forward-facing step – Flow structure and aeroacoustic source regions

A direct numerical simulation of the flow over a forward-facing step at a Reynolds number of 8000 based on the step height is presented. Calculations were performed using second-order finite volume discretisation in space on co-located meshes. A hybrid calculation approach based on Lighthill’s acoustic analogy is explained. Results of the simulation are intended to be used as a database for the validation of different discretisation schemes for the flow computation and simulation approaches for the calculation of sound radiation using a hybrid approach. Turbulent statistics are presented along with aeroacoustic source regions. Strong and weak forms of the aeroacoustic source term are presented and compared. For visualization purposes, the strong form is more suitable, whereas for the calculation of sound radiation both forms can be used. From the visualization of the aeroacoustic sources, it can be seen that they mainly concentrate on the region of the leading edge of the step and the shear layer close to the step.     

Numerical predictions of flows over backward-facing steps

Predictions are reported for two-dimensional, steady, incompressible flows over rearward-facing steps for both laminar and turbulent conditions. The standard k-? turbulence model was used for the turbulent flow. Attention was focused on obtaining accurate solutions to the differential equations. It is concluded that some of the serious discrepancies that have occurred between prediction and observation, and attributed in earlier studies to the inadequacy of the turbulence model, may have been due to the inaccuracy of the solution.