Numerical simulation (DNS and LES) of manipulated turbulent boundary layer flow over a surface-mounted fence

Results from numerical simulations are presented for manipulated turbulent boundary layer flow over a surface-mounted fence, for a Reynolds number of Re_h=3000 (based on fence height, h , and maximum inflow velocity, U_∞ ). First, a reference data set was provided from a Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) using 51.6 million grid points to resolve all the relevant spatial scales of the flow. A Large-Eddy Simulation (LES), using 1.67 million grid points, was validated with this reference solution and compared with experimental data for the same Reynolds number. Then, manipulated flow cases were investigated applying time-periodic forcing through a narrow slot upstream of the flow obstacle. High-frequency forcing, with Str₁=f₁h/U_∞=0.60 , leads to about 10% reduction of the mean re-attachment length. A much stronger reduction of about 36% could be achieved by low-frequency forcing with Str₂=f₂h/U_∞=0.08 . In the latter case, large-scale coherent structures are created between the location of the disturbance and the fence, they roll over the flow obstacle (nearly unaffected) and in rolling downstream they still grow in size until they fill out the entire height of the separation zone behind the fence. In agreement with corresponding experiments of Siller and Fernholz in 1997 for a higher Reynolds number ( Re_h=10500 ) the optimum forcing Strouhal number seems to be related to the low-frequency movement of the entire separation bubble and not to the instability mode of the separating shear layer.©2000 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

Numerical study of gas-cyclone airflow: an investigation of turbulence modelling approaches

A numerical study of unsteady single-phase vortical flow inside a cyclone is presented. Two different geometric configurations have been considered, with the goal of assessing several different turbulence modelling approaches for this class of problem. The models investigated include three Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes models: a commonly used two-equation eddy-viscosity model, a differential Reynolds stress model (DRSM) and an eddy-viscosity model sensitised to rotational and curvature (RC) effects which was recently developed and implemented into a commercial CFD (computational fluid dynamics) code by the authors. Results were also obtained using large eddy simulation (LES). The computational results are analysed and compared with available experimental data. The RC-sensitised eddy-viscosity model shows significant improvement over the standard eddy-viscosity model. The RC-sensitised model, DRSM and LES model predictions of the mean flowfield are in good agreement with the experimental data. The results suggest that curvature- and rotation-sensitive eddy-viscosity models may provide a practical alternative to more computationally intensive approaches.     

High-speed visualisation of primary break-up of an annular liquid sheet

In this experimental study, a thin annular moving water sheet is placed between two annular co-flowing air streams. The shear at the interface gives rise to Kelvin–Helmholtz type instabilities and promotes development of a sinuous surface wave at the gas–liquid interface. The amplitude of the surface wave is amplified as it travels downstream of the nozzle exit until it ruptures forming spanwise and streamwise ligaments. The liquid sheet is illuminated with high-powered halogen lamps. High-speed imaging is used in this study to qualitatively visualise the structure of the spray—of particular interest is the evolution of the spray into a ligament structure during the primary break-up and the role the outer air stream plays in this process. Sequences of images with high temporal resolution (∼2,000 fps) are recorded for image processing and analysis of the surface waves and ligament formation. A preliminary analysis of the waveform of the outer gas–liquid interface of the annular liquid sheet over a range of conditions shows the sheet Strouhal number to increase with increasing gas to liquid momentum ratio. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Numerical simulation of gaseous fuel injection: A new methodology for multi‐dimensional modelling

The use of natural gas (instead of liquid or solid fuels) is nowadays drawing an increasing interest in many applications (gas turbines, boilers, internal combustion engines), because of the greater attention to environmental issues. To facilitate the development of these applications, computer models are being developed to simulate gaseous injection, air entrainment and the ensuing combustion. This paper introduces a new method for modelling the injection process of gaseous fuels that aims to hold down grid requirements in order to allow the simulation also of other phenomena, like combustion or valve and piston motion, in reciprocating internal combustion engines. After a short overview of existing models, the transient jet model and the evaluation of inflow conditions are described in detail. Then a basic study of the grid effects on the jet evolution is presented. The model is updated and validated by comparing numerical results with available experimental data for two different operating conditions: a subsonic and a supersonic under‐expanded case. The model demonstrates to be fast enough to be used in a multi‐dimensional code and accurate enough to follow the real gas jet evolution. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupling level set/VOF/ghost fluid methods: Validation and application to 3D simulation of the primary break-up of a liquid jet

Numerical simulations are carried out to describe the dense zone of a spray where very little information is available, either from experimental or theoretical approaches. Interface tracking is ensured by the level set method and the ghost fluid method (GFM) is used to capture accurately sharp discontinuities for pressure, density and viscosity. The level set method is coupled with the VOF method for mass conservation.     

A methodology for coupling DNS and discretised population balance for modelling turbulent precipitation

In this paper, we present a methodology for simulating nanoparticle formation in a turbulent flow by coupling Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and population balance modelling. The population balance equation (PBE) is solved via a discretisation method employing a composite grid that provides sufficient detail over the wide range of particle sizes reached during the precipitation process. The coupled DNS/PBE approach captures accurately the strong interaction between the dynamics of turbulent mixing and particle formation processes. It also allows the calculation of the particle size distribution (PSD) of the product and enables an investigation on how it is controlled by turbulent mixing. Finally, it provides the statistics of kinetic processes and their timescales so that further analysis can be performed. The methodology is applied to the simulation of experiments of hydrodynamics and nanoparticle precipitation in a T-mixer (Schwertfirm et al., Int. J. of Heat and Fluid Flow 28, pp. 1429–1442; Schwarzer et al., Chem. Eng. Sci. 61, pp. 167–181), and the agreement with the experimental results is very good.     

Numerical simulation and PIV study of compressible vortex ring evolution

Formation and evolution of a compressible vortex ring generated at the open end of a short driver section shock tube has been simulated numerically for pressure ratios (PR) of 3 and 7 in the present study. Numerical study of compressible vortex rings is essential to understand the complicated flow structure and acoustic characteristics of many high Mach number impulsive jets where simultaneously velocity, density and pressure fields are needed. The flow development, incident shock formation, shock diffraction, vortex ring formation and its evolution are simulated using the AUSM+ scheme. The main focus of the present study is to evaluate the time resolved vorticity field of the vortex ring and the shock/expansion waves in the starting jet for short driver section shock tubes—a scenario where little data are available in existing literature. An embedded shock and a vortex induced shock are observed for PR =  7. However the vortex ring remains shock free, compact and unaffected by the trailing jet for PR =  3. Numerical shadowgraph shows the evolution of embedded shock and shock/expansion waves along with their interactions. The velocity and vorticity fields obtained from simulation are validated with the particle image velocimetry results and these data match closely. The translational velocity of the vortex ring, velocity across the vortex and the centre line velocity of the jet obtained from simulation also agree well with the experimental results.     

Liquid sheet and film atomization: a comparative experimental study

Liquid atomization processes are too complex to allow a purely theoretical study. Therefore experiments are necessary to quantify droplets production. In our problem, the replacement of an original complicated flow by a simpler one, i.e. liquid metal and high gas velocity by water and low air velocity, has led to a relation for the droplet diameter, thanks to dynamical similarity and order of magnitude estimates. Observation of a liquid film disruption development by high speed photography gives some informations about the mechanism of break-up in action. Granulometric measurements by video image analysis have specified the previous dimensionless relation for the mass median diameter. Measurements concern both the film and the sheet atomization, it is shown that the control of the liquid layer thickness is of major importance to control the quality of sprays.List of symbols d droplet diameter (m) - d _mm mass median droplet diameter (m) - g acceleration due to the gravity (ms^–2) - H _g , H _l gas slit width, liquid film thickness (m) - dimensionless parameters - Q ₁ = H ₁ V ₁ liquid flow rate (m²s^–1) - Reynolds number - T time(s) - V _g , V _l gas and liquid velocity (m s^–1) - W _c channel width (m) - Weber number - _g , _l gas and liquid viscosity (kg m^–1 s^–1) - _g , _i gas and liquid density (kg m^–3) - surface tension (kg s^–2) An abridged version of this paper was presented at the 6th ICLASS (Int. Conf. on Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems), Rouen, France, 18–22 July 1994     

Surface instability and primary atomization characteristics of straight liquid jet sprays

Using the detailed numerical simulation data of primary atomization, the liquid surface instability development that leads to atomization is characterized. The numerical results are compared with a theoretical analysis of liquid–gas layer for a parameter range close to high-speed Diesel jet fuel injection. For intermittent and short-duration Diesel injection, the aerodynamic surface interaction and transient head formation play an important role. The present numerical setting excludes nozzle disturbances to primarily investigate this interfacial instability mechanism and the role of jet head. The first disturbed area is the jet head region, and the generated disturbances are fed into the upstream region through the gas phase. This leads to the viscous boundary layer instability development on the liquid jet core. By temporal tracking of surface pattern development including the phase velocity and stability regime and by the visualization of vortex structures near the boundary layer region, it is suggested that the instability mode is the Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) mode similar to the turbulent transition of solid-wall boundary layer. It is also demonstrated that the jet head and the liquid core play an interacting role, thus the jet head cannot be neglected in Diesel injection. In this study, this type of boundary layer instability has been demonstrated as a possible mechanism of primary atomization, especially for high-speed straight liquid jets. The effect of nozzle turbulence is a challenging but important issue, and it should be examined in the future.     

Numerical simulation and experimental study of Parallel Seismic test for piles

The theoretical capabilities of the Parallel Seismic (PS) test for determining the length of piles and characterizing possible defects are investigated in this paper. In deriving the theory, a correction factor is proposed in this paper to enhance the accuracy of the prediction. An axisymmetric finite element (FE) model was developed to carry out a series of parametric studies which included the effects of the pile length, the pile-to-borehole distance and the stiffness of surrounding soil. A miniature experiment using an aluminum bar embedded in epoxy prism was also designed and tested in the lab to verify the theory and to demonstrate the use of the correction factor. The results from the experiment and the numerical FE model were also compared to expose the potential of this nondestructive method to in situ application. The model was further modified to simulate the PS test on defective piles with axisymmetric necks and bulges. It can be concluded that the geometric configuration of a pile and the possible significant defect can be characterized with this nondestructive test.     

Subsonic jet aeroacoustics: associating experiment,modelling and simulation

An overview of jet noise research is presented wherein the principal movements in the field are traced since its beginnings. Particular attention is paid to the evolution of our understanding of what we call a “source mechanism” in free shear flows; to the theoretical, experimental and numerical studies which have nurtured this understanding; and to the currently unresolved conceptual difficulties which render analysis of experimental and numerical data so difficult. As it is clear that accelerated progress in this field of research can be made possible by a more effective synergy between the theoretical, experimental and numerical disciplines—one which draws in particular on the impressive recent progress in experimental and numerical techniques—we endeavour to elucidate the various “source” characteristics identified by these different means of study; the points on which the studies agree or disagree, and the significance of such accord or discord; and, the new analysis possibilities which can now be realised by effectively associating experiment, modelling and simulation.

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Numerical modelling of 3D stratified free surface flows: a case study of sediment dumping

A three‐dimensional numerical model has been developed to simulate stratified flows with free surfaces. The model is based on the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with variable fluid density. The equations are solved in a transformed σ‐coordinate system with the use of operator‐splitting method (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 2002; 38 :1045–1068). The numerical model is validated against the one‐dimensional diffusion problem and the two‐dimensional density‐gradient flow. Excellent agreements are obtained between numerical results and analytical solutions. The model is then used to study transport phenomena of dumped sediments into a water body, which has been modelled as a strongly stratified flow. For the two‐dimensional problem, the numerical results compare well with experimental data in terms of mean particle falling velocity and spreading rate of the sediment cloud for both coarse and medium‐size sediments. The model is also employed to study the dumping of sediments in a three‐dimensional environment with the presence of free surface. It is found that during the descending process an annulus‐like cloud is formed for fine sediments whereas a plate‐like cloud for medium‐size sediments. The model is proven to be a good tool to simulate strongly stratified free surface flows. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the experimental investigation on primary atomization of liquid streams

The production of a liquid spray can be summarized as the succession of the following three steps; the liquid flow ejection, the primary breakup mechanism and the secondary breakup mechanism. The intermediate step—the primary breakup mechanism—covers the early liquid flow deformation down to the production of the first isolated liquid fragments. This step is very important and requires to be fully understood since it constitutes the link between the flow issuing from the atomizer and the final spray. This paper reviews the experimental investigations dedicated to this early atomization step. Several situations are considered: cylindrical liquid jets, flat liquid sheets, air-assisted cylindrical liquid jets and air-assisted flat liquid sheets. Each fluid stream adopts several atomization regimes according to the operating conditions. These regimes as well as the significant parameters they depend on are listed. The main instability mechanisms, which control primary breakup processes, are rather well described. This review points out the internal geometrical nozzle characteristics and internal flow details that influence the atomization mechanisms. The contributions of these characteristics, which require further investigations to be fully identified and quantified, are believed to be the main reason of experimental discrepancies and explain a lack of universal primary breakup regime categorizations.     

温压炸药坑道内爆炸冲击波的数值模拟研究

基于二次反应理论,采用AUTODYN程序对温压炸药(RDX/AP/AL/粘合剂=20/43/25/12,质量比)坑道内爆炸冲击波进行了数值模拟研究。将温压炸药与传统炸药TNT的计算结果进行了比较,结果表明:①在爆炸近区,温压炸药比TNT的爆炸冲击波超压峰值低。但在爆炸远区,温压炸药的爆炸冲击波超压峰值则逐渐超过了TNT,最高达到了TNT的1.48倍;温压炸药爆炸冲击波的冲量峰值始终高于TNT,约为TNT的1.33～1.43倍。②最小二乘拟合得到了温压炸药坑道内爆炸冲击波超压峰值随距离衰减的计算公式,具有一定参考价值。     

Simulation of primary atomization with an octree adaptive mesh refinement and VOF method

We present different simulations of primary atomization using an adaptive Volume-of-Fluid method based on octree meshes. The use of accurate numerical schemes for mesh adaptation, Volume-of-Fluid advection and balanced force surface tension calculation implemented in Gerris, the code used to perform the simulations included in this work, has made possible to carry out accurate simulations with characteristic scales spreading over several orders of magnitude. The code is validated by comparisons with the temporal linear theory for moderate density and viscosity ratios, which basically corresponds to atomization processes in high pressure chambers. In order to show the potential of the code in different scenarios related to atomization, preliminary results are shown in relation with the study of the two-dimensional and 3D temporal and spatial problem, the influence of the injector and the vortex generated inside the chamber, and the effect of swirling at high Reynolds numbers.     

Numerical simulation of silencers

The problem of attenuating the noise from weapons firing is studied experimentally and numerically. As a possible method of attenuating the noise significantly, a silencer with no internal baffles is attached to the M242 cannon. The internal pressures inside the muffler are measured. The near-field overpressures outside the muffler at various polar angles are also measured. A numerical simulation of the flow through the muffler is performed, using Harten's shock-capturing method to solve the Euler equations of ideal compressible flow. The numerical simulation yields a detailed picture of the flow field as displayed by the pressure and Mach contours. Pressure–time curves at selected locations are obtained and compared with experimental data. There is good agreement, except that the numerical simulation generates more vigorous oscillations.     

The influence of gas phase velocity fluctuations on primary atomization and droplet deformation

The effects of grid-generated velocity fluctuations on the primary atomization and subsequent droplet deformation of a range of laminar liquid jets are examined using microscopic high-speed backlit imaging of the break-up zone and laser Doppler anemometry of the gas phase separately. This is done for fixed gas mean flow conditions in a miniature wind tunnel experiment utilizing a selection of fuels, turbulence-generating grids and two syringe sizes. The constant mean flow allows for an isolated study of velocity fluctuation effects on primary atomization in a close approximation to homogeneous decaying turbulence. The qualitative morphology of the primary break-up region is examined over a range of turbulence intensities, and spectral analysis is performed in order to ascertain the break-up frequency which, for a case of no grid, compares well with the existing literature. The addition of velocity fluctuations tends to randomize the break-up process. Slightly downstream of the break-up region, image processing is conducted in order to extract a number of metrics, which do not depend on droplet sphericity, and these include droplet aspect ratio and orientation, the latter quantity being somewhat unconventional in spray characterization. A turbulent Weber number $We^{\prime}$ which takes into account gas phase fluctuations is utilized to characterize the resulting droplet shapes, in addition to a mean Weber number <We _d>. Above a $We^{\prime}>0.05$ a clear positive relationship exists between the mean aspect ratio of droplets and the turbulent Weber number where $We^{\prime}$ is varied by altering all relevant variables including the velocity root mean square, the initial droplet diameter, the surface tension and the density.     

Numerical simulation and experimental study of heat and mass transfer in fuel droplet evaporation

Heat and mass transfer in fuel droplet evaporation are investigated through numerical simulation and experimental study. The effect of liquid-phase heat transfer is studied using the temperature difference between the gas- and liquid-phase droplets, different turbulent intensity and oscillatory flow frequency. For the two-droplet array, some differences in heat and mass transfer mechanisms are found. For different spacing of the two-droplet array, the downstream droplet evaporation is affected by the lead droplet.