One Equation Model for Turbulent Channel Flow with Second Order Viscoelastic Corrections

A modified second order viscoelastic constitutive equation is used to derive a k–l type turbulence closure to qualitatively assess the effects of elastic stresses on fully-developed channel flow. Specifically, the second order correction to the Newtonian constitutive equation gives rise to a new term in the momentum equation involving the time-averaged elastic shear stress and in the turbulent kinetic energy transport equation quantifying the interaction between the fluctuating elastic stress and rate of strain tensors, denoted by P _w , for which a closure is developed and tested. This closure is based on arguments of isotropic turbulence and equilibrium in boundary layer flows and a priori P _w could be either positive or negative. When P _w is positive, it acts to reduce the production of turbulent kinetic energy and the turbulence model predictions qualitatively agree with direct numerical simulation (DNS) results obtained for more realistic viscoelastic fluid models with memory which exhibit drag reduction. In contrast, P _w  < 0 leads to a drag increase and numerical breakdown of the model occurs at very low values of the Deborah number, which signifies the ratio of elastic to viscous stresses. Limitations of the turbulence model primarily stem from the inadequacy of the k–l formulation rather than from the closure for P _w . An alternative closure for P _w , mimicking the viscoelastic stress work predicted by DNS using the Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic-Peterlin fluid model, which is mostly characterized by P _w  > 0 but has also a small region of negative P _w in the buffer layer, was also successfully tested. This second model for P _w leads to predictions of drag reduction, in spite of the enhancement of turbulence production very close to the wall, but the equilibrium conditions in the inertial sub-layer were not strictly maintained.     

Nonlocal turbulent transport in a buoyant vortex ring during the ascent of a thermal in a stratified atmosphere

The flow initiated by a hot gas cloud (thermal) in a stratified atmosphere is calculated on the basis of theκ-ε turbulence model and the transport model for the Reynolds stresses and turbulent fluxes and the results obtained are compared The nonlocal nature of the turbulent transport in a vortex ring and its effect on certain flow characteristics are explained In particular, the calculations carried out using the Reynolds stress model show much slower cooling of the temperature-vortex torus than those based calculated on theκ-ε-model Modification of theκ-ε-model to take the effect of curvature of the streamlines approximately into account makes it only partially possible to reproduce the results obtained on the basis of the Reynolds stress model Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 12–20, January–February, 1999. The research was carried out with support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 95-01-00544a).     

Testing of Model Equations for the Mean Dissipation using Kolmogorov Flows

Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of Kolmogorov flows are performed at three different Reynolds numbers Re _λ between 110 and 190 by imposing a mean velocity profile in y-direction of the form U(y) = F sin(y) in a periodic box of volume (2π)³. After a few integral times the turbulent flow turns out to be statistically steady. Profiles of mean quantities are then obtained by averaging over planes at constant y. Based on these profiles two different model equations for the mean dissipation ε in the context of two-equation RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes) modelling of turbulence are compared to each other. The high Reynolds number version of the k-ε-model (Jones and Launder, Int J Heat Mass Transfer 15:301–314, 1972), to be called the standard model and a new model by Menter et al. (2006), to be called the Menter–Egorov model, are tested against the DNS results. Both models are solved numerically and it is found that the standard model does not provide a steady solution for the present case, while the Menter–Egorov model does. In addition a fairly good quantitative agreement of the model solution and the DNS data is found for the averaged profiles of the kinetic energy k and the dissipation ε. Furthermore, an analysis based on flow-inherent geometries, called dissipation elements (Wang and Peters, J Fluid Mech 608:113–138, 2008), is used to examine the Menter–Egorov ε model equation. An expression for the evolution of ε is derived by taking appropriate moments of the equation for the evolution of the probability density function (pdf) of the length of dissipation elements. A term-by-term comparison with the model equation allows a prediction of the constants, which with increasing Reynolds number approach the empirical values.     

A new approach for the ellipsoidal statistical model

In this paper we aim to introduce a systematic way to derive relaxation terms for the Boltzmann equation based on the minimization problem for the entropy under moments constraints (Levermore in J. Stat. Phys. 83:1021–1065, 1996; Schneider in M2AN 38:541–561, 2004). In particular the moment constraints and corresponding coefficients are linked with the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the linearized collision operator through the Chapman–Enskog expansion. Then we deduce from this expansion a single relaxation term of BGK type. Here we stop the moments constraints at order two in the velocity v and recover the ellipsoidal statistical model (Holway in Rarefied Gas Dynamics, vol I, pp 193–215, 1966).      

Comparison of turbulence models for attached boundary layers relevant to aeronautics

With a single numerical method the performance of three classes of turbulence models is compared for different types of attached boundary layers, for which direct numerical simulations or experiments are available in the literature. The boundary-layer equations are solved with the following turbulence models: an algebraic model, two-equation models (k-ε andk-ω), and a differential Reynolds-stress model. The test cases are the channel flow, and boundary layers with zero, favourable and adverse streamwise pressure gradient. The differential Reynolds-stress model gives the best overall performance, whereas the performance of the algebraic model and thek-ω model is reasonably good. The performance of thek-ε model is less good for boundary layers with a non-zero streamwise pressure gradient, but it can easily be improved by an additional source term in the ε equation, which is also applied in the considered differential Reynolds-stress model.     

Turbulence kinetic energy budget in bubbly flows in a vertical duct

Understanding turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) budget in gas–liquid two-phase bubbly flows is indispensable to develop and improve turbulence models for the bubbly flows. In this study, a molecular tagging velocimetry based on photobleaching reaction was applied to turbulent bubbly flows with sub-millimeter bubbles in a vertical square duct to examine the applicability of the k–ε models to the bubbly flows. Effects of bubbles on TKE budget are discussed and a priori tests of the standard and low Reynolds number k–ε models are carried out to examine the applicability of these models to the bubbly flows. The conclusions obtained are as follows: (1) The photobleaching molecular tagging velocimetry is of use for validating turbulence models. (2) The bubbles increase the liquid velocity gradient in the near wall region, and therefore, enhance the production and dissipation rates of TKE. (3) The k–ε models can reasonably evaluate the production rate of TKE in the bubbly flows. (4) The modulations of diffusion due to the bubbles have different characteristics from the diffusion enhancement due to shear-induced turbulence. Hence, the k–ε models fail in evaluating the diffusion rate in the near wall region in the bubbly flows. (5) The k–ε models represent the trends of the production, dissipation, and diffusion rates of ε in the bubbly flow, although more accurate experimental data are required for quantitative validation of the ε equation.     

Development and characterization of a variable turbulence generation system

Experimental turbulent combustion studies require systems that can simulate the turbulence intensities [u′/U ₀ ~ 20–30% (Koutmos and McGuirk in Exp Fluids 7(5):344–354, 1989)] and operating conditions of real systems. Furthermore, it is important to have systems where turbulence intensity can be varied independently of mean flow velocity, as quantities such as turbulent flame speed and turbulent flame brush thickness exhibit complex and not yet fully understood dependencies upon both U ₀ and u′. Finally, high pressure operation in a highly pre-heated environment requires systems that can be sealed, withstand high gas temperatures, and have remotely variable turbulence intensity that does not require system shut down and disassembly. This paper describes the development and characterization of a variable turbulence generation system for turbulent combustion studies. The system is capable of a wide range of turbulence intensities (10–30%) and turbulent Reynolds numbers (140–2,200) over a range of flow velocities. An important aspect of this system is the ability to vary the turbulence intensity remotely, without changing the mean flow velocity. This system is similar to the turbulence generators described by Videto and Santavicca (Combust Sci Technol 76(1):159–164, 1991) and Coppola and Gomez (Exp Therm Fluid Sci 33(7):1037–1048, 2009), where variable blockage ratio slots are located upstream of a contoured nozzle. Vortical structures from the slots impinge on the walls of the contoured nozzle to produce fine-scale turbulence. The flow field was characterized for two nozzle diameters using three-component Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and hotwire anemometry for mean flow velocities from 4 to 50 m/s. This paper describes the key design features of the system, as well as the variation of mean and RMS velocity, integral length scales, and spectra with nozzle diameter, flow velocity, and turbulence generator blockage ratio.     

'T-RANS' Simulation of Deterministic Eddy Structure in Flows Driven by Thermal Buoyancy and Lorentz Force

The paper reports on the application of the Time-dependent Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (T-RANS) approach to analysing the effects of magnetic force and bottom-wall configuration on the reorganisation of a large coherent structure and its role in the transport processes in Rayleigh–Bénard convection. The large-scale deterministic motion is fully resolved in time and space, whereas the unresolved stochastic motion is modelled by a `subscale' model for which the conventional algebraic stress/flux expressions were used, closed with the low-Re number (k)-(ε)-(θ²) three-equation model. The applied method reproduces long-term averaged mean flow properties, turbulence second moments, and all major features of the coherent roll/cell structure in classic Rayleigh–Bénard convection in excellent agreement with the available DNS and experimental results. Application of the T-RANS approach to Rayleigh–Bénard convection with wavy bottom walls and a superimposed magnetic field yielded the expected effects on there organisation of the eddy structure and consequent modifications of the mean and turbulence parameters and wall heat transfer. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Loading of obstacles by explosion of a low-density sheet explosive

The dependence of the detonation velocity of aNIL-1 low-density sheet explosive on density is found in the range of charge densities0.1–0.3 g/cm ³. The equation of state of theNIL-1 detonation products with a linear dependence of the effective isentropic exponent of unloading on the density of an explosive that is acceptable for applied calculations is proposed. Calculated estimates of the mechanical action of anNIL-1 explosion on obstacles from several powerful explosive compositions are given. Institute of Experimental Physics, Sarov 607190. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 43–47, May–June, 2000.     

Asymptotic approximation for the solution of a boundary-value problem with varying type of boundary conditions in a thick two-level junction

We consider a mixed boundary-value problem for a Poisson equation in a plane two-level junction Ω_ε that is the union of a domain Ω₀ and a large number 3N of thin rods with thickness of order . The thin rods are divided into two levels depending on their length. In addition, the thin rods from each level are ε-periodically alternated. The homogeneous Dirichlet conditions and inhomogeneous Neumann conditions are given on the sides of the thin rods from the first level and the second level, respectively. Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions and special junction-layer solutions, we construct an asymptotic approximation for the solution and prove the corresponding estimates in the Sobolev space H ¹(Ω_ε) as ε → 0 (N → +∞). Published in Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 336–355, July–September, 2006.     

Large-Eddy Simulation of Interactions Between a Reacting Jet and Evaporating Droplets

Large-eddy simulation of a turbulent reactive jet with and without evaporating droplets is performed to investigate the interactions among turbulence, combustion, heat transfer and evaporation. A hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian approach is used for the gas–liquid flow system. Arrhenius-type finite-rate chemistry is employed for the chemical reaction. To capture the highly local interactions, dynamic procedures are used for all the subgrid-scale models, except that the filtered reaction rate is modelled by a scale similarity model. Various representative cases with different initial droplet sizes (St ₀) and mass loading ratios (MLR) have been simulated, along with a case without droplets. It is found that compared with the bigger, slow responding droplets (St ₀ = 16), smaller droplets (St ₀ = 1) are more efficient in suppressing combustion due to their preferential concentration in the reaction zones. The peak temperature and intensity of temperature fluctuations are found to be reduced in all the droplet cases, to a varying extent depending on the droplet properties. Detailed analysis on the contributions of respective terms in a transport equation for grid-scale kinetic energy (GSKE) shows that the droplet evaporation effect on GSKE is small, while the droplet momentum effect depends on St ₀. When the MLR is sufficiently high, the bigger (St ₀ = 16) droplets can have profound influence on GSKE, and consequently on the formation and evolution of large-scale flow structures. On the other hand, the turbulence level is found to be lower in the droplet cases than in the pure flame case, due to the dissipative droplet dynamic effect.     

Towards better uncertainty estimates for turbulence statistics

 Methods for calculating the statistical uncertainty associated with the sampling of random processes such as those which occur in turbulence research are given. In particular, formulas based on normal distribution assumptions and on any general distribution shape are given for means, variances, Reynolds stresses, correlation coefficients, homogeneous and mixed turbulent triple products and fourth order turbulence moments. In addition, two resampling algorithms, the “bootstrap” and “jackknife”, are presented and compared using actual turbulence data. The availability of these methods will allow turbulence data to be presented with statistical uncertainty error bars on all turbulence quantities. Received: 11 December 1995 / Accepted: 12 April 1996     

Simulation of the thermal method for reducing turbulent friction

The results of calculating a supersonic turbulent boundary layer on a heated surface on the basis of the algebraic two-parameter (k-ε) and four-parameter (k-ε-θ ²-ε ₆) models of turbulence are compared with experimental data. Emphasis is placed on the ability of the models to predict the behavior of the friction and heat-transfer coefficients on a heated surface. The optimal model of turbulence is chosen. The possibility of improving the efficiency of viscous drag reduction by localizing the regions of heat addition to the boundary layer is demonstrated on the basis of numerical calculations. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 59–68, January–February, 1998. This research was carried out with financial support from the International Scientific and Technological Center (project No. 199).     

Study of Density Effects in Turbulent Buoyant Jets Using Large-Eddy Simulation

Large-Eddy simulations (LES) of spatially evolving turbulent buoyant round jets have been carried out with two different density ratios. The numerical method used is based on a low-Mach-number version of the Navier–Stokes equations for weakly compressible flow using a second-order centre-difference scheme for spatial discretization in Cartesian coordinates and an Adams–Bashforth scheme for temporal discretization. The simulations reproduce the typical temporal and spatial development of turbulent buoyant jets. The near-field dynamic phenomenon of puffing associated with the formation of large vortex structures near the plume base with a varicose mode of instability and the far-field random motions of small-scale eddies are well captured. The pulsation frequencies of the buoyant plumes compare reasonably well with the experimental results of Cetegen (1997) under different density ratios, and the underlying mechanism of the pulsation instability is analysed by examining the vorticity transport equation where it is found that the baroclinic torque, buoyancy force and volumetric expansion are the dominant terms. The roll-up of the vortices is broken down by a secondary instability mechanism which leads to strong turbulent mixing and a subsequent jet spreading. The transition from laminar to turbulence occurs at around four diameters when random disturbances with a 5% level of forcing are imposed to a top-hat velocity profile at the inflow plane and the transition from jet-like to plume-like behaviour occurs further downstream. The energy-spectrum for the temperature fluctuations show both −5/3 and −3 power laws, characteristic of buoyancy-dominated flows. Comparisons are conducted between LES results and experimental measurements, and good agreement has been achieved for the mean and turbulence quantities. The decay of the centreline mean velocity is proportional to x ^−1/3 in the plume-like region consistent with the experimental observation, but is different from the x ⁻¹ law for a non-buoyant jet, where x is the streamwise location. The distributions of the mean velocity, temperature and their fluctuations in the near-field strongly depend upon the ratio of the ambient density to plume density ρ_a/ρ₀. The increase of ρ_a/ρ₀ under buoyancy forcing causes an increase in the self-similar turbulent intensities and turbulent fluxes and an increase in the spatial growth rate. Budgets of the mean momentum, energy, temperature variance and turbulent kinetic energy are analysed and it is found that the production of turbulence kinetic energy by buoyancy relative to the production by shear is increased with the increase of ρ_a/ρ₀. Received 16 June 2000 and accepted 26 June 2001     

On a Generalized Nonlinear K–ε Model and the Use of Extended Thermodynamics in Turbulence

A resent extension of the nonlinear K–ε model is critically discussed from a basic theoretical standpoint. While it was said in the paper that this model was formulated to incorporate relaxation effects, it will be shown that the model is incapable of describing one of the most basic such turbulent flows as is obvious but is described for clarity. It will be shown in detail that this generalized nonlinear K–ε model yields erroneous results for the Reynolds stress tensor when the mean strains are set to zero in a turbulent flow – the return-to-isotropy problem which is one of the most elementary relaxational turbulent flows. It is clear that K–ε type models cannot describe relaxation effects. While their general formalism can describe relaxation effects, the nonlinear K–ε model – which the paper is centered on – cannot. The deviatoric part of the Reynolds stress tensor is predicted to be zero when it actually only gradually relaxes to zero. Since this model was formulated by using the extended thermodynamics, it too will be critically assessed. It will be argued that there is an unsubstantial physical basis for the use of extended thermodynamics in turbulence. The role of Material Frame-Indifference and the implications for future research in turbulence modeling are also discussed. Received 19 February 1998 and accepted 23 October 1998     

Modeling of heat transfer in a turbulent flow around a heat-conducting plate with local regions of heating

A solution of the coupled nonstationary boundary-value problem of turbulent flow around a flat heat-conducting plate of finite thickness having local regions with volume heat sources is given. For modeling the heat transfer in the boundary layer, thek-ε turbulence model is used. It is shown that the thermal conductivity of the plate material significantly affects the surface distributions of both temperature and local friction. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 79–86, November–December, 1998. The work received financial support from the International Scientific and Engineering Center (project No.199).     

Homogenization of a Boundary-Value Problem with Varying type of Boundary Conditions in a Thick Two-Level Junction

We consider a mixed boundary-value problem for the Poisson equation in a plane two-level junction Ω _ɛ that is the union of a domain Ω₀ and a large number 2N of thin rods with thickness of order ɛ = (N ⁻¹). Depending on their lengths, the thin rods are divided into two levels. In addition, the rods from each level are ɛ-periodically alternated. Inhomogeneous Neumann boundary conditions are given on the vertical sides of the thin rods of the first level, and homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions are given on the vertical sides of the rods of the second level. We investigate the asymptotic behavior of a solution of this problem as ɛ → 0 and prove a convergence theorem and the convergence of the energy integral. __________ Translated from Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 241–257, April–June, 2005.     

Study of stable and unstable jet flows on the basis of the boltzmann equation

Free supersonic underexpanded jets are studied using a direct method conservative splitting scheme for solving the Boltzmann equation. Numerical solutions for a jet flowing into a vacuum and into a fluid-filled space are presented for the following ranges of the parameters: Knudsen number 10⁻⁶<Kn<∞ and pressure ratio 10<n<∞. The solutions are compared with experimental data. Instabilities associated with free turbulence effects in the mixing layer are detected for low Kn numbers. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 153–157, March–April, 1998. The work was carried out with support from the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research (project No. 96-01-00829).     

Stability and boundedness results for certain nonlinear vector differential equations of the fourth order

We consider the equation X ⁽⁴⁾ + Φ(X″)X‴ + F(X,X′)X″ + G(X′) + H(X) = P(t,X,X′,X″,X‴) in two cases: P ≡ 0 and P ≠ 0. In the case P ≡ 0, the asymptotic stability of the zero solution X = 0 of the equation is investigated; in the case P ≠ 0, the boundedness of all solutions of the equation is proved. Published in Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 548–563, October–December, 2006.     

Numerical simulation of the flow field in a reactor for titanium dioxide production

A physicochemical and fluid dynamic model is formulated for the numerical simulation of the flow field in a reactor for titanium dioxide production, the turbulence motion is described by theKε equation, the governing equations are solved by the SIMPLER algorithm devised by Partankar and Spalding. The velocity, tmperature and concentration fields are obtained for three cases: A) with chemical reaction and thermal insulation on the walls; B) with chemical reaction and wall temperature is 450K; C) without chemical reaction and thermal insulation on the walls, and the physicochemical numerical simulation for the titanium dioxide production has been done. The results of the paper can be used as a theoretical guide for the engineers in the design of such reactors.