Large-eddy simulations of temporally accelerating turbulent channel flow

The unsteady turbulent channel flow subject to the temporal acceleration is considered in this study. Large-eddy simulations were performed to study the response of the turbulent flow to the temporal acceleration. The simulations were started with the fully developed turbulent channel flow at an initial Reynolds number of Re₀ = 3500 (based on the channel half-height and the bulk-mean velocity), and then a constant temporal acceleration was applied. During the acceleration, the Reynolds number of the channel flow increased linearly from the initial Reynolds number to the final Reynolds number of Re₁ = 22,600. The effect of grid resolution, domain size, time step size on the simulation results was assessed in a preliminary study using simulations of the accelerating turbulent flow as well as simulations of the steady turbulent channel flow at various Reynolds numbers. Simulation parameters were carefully chosen from the preliminary study to ascertain the accuracy of the simulation. From the accelerating turbulent flow simulations, the delays in the response of various flow properties to the temporal acceleration were measured. The distinctive features of the delays responsible for turbulence production, energy redistribution, and radial propagation were identified. Detailed turbulence statistics including the wall shear stress response during the acceleration were examined. The results reveal the changes in the near-wall structures during the acceleration. A self-sustaining mechanism of turbulence is proposed to explain the response of the turbulent flow to the temporal acceleration. Although the overall flow characteristics are similar between the channel and pipe flows, some differences were observed between the two flows.     

On mean flow universality of turbulent wall flows. II. Asymptotic flow analysis

Understanding of the structure of turbulent flows at extreme Reynolds numbers (Re) is relevant because of several reasons: almost all turbulence theories are only valid in the high Re limit, and most turbulent flows of practical relevance are characterized by very high Re. Specific questions about wall-bounded turbulent flows at extreme Re concern the asymptotic laws of the mean velocity and turbulence statistics, their universality, the convergence of statistics towards their asymptotic profiles, and the overall physical flow organization. In extension of recent studies focusing on the mean flow at moderate and relatively high Re, the latter questions are addressed with respect to three canonical wall-bounded flows (channel flow, pipe flow, and the zero-pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer). Main results reported here are the asymptotic logarithmic law for the mean velocity and corresponding scale-separation laws for bulk flow properties, the Reynolds shear stress, the turbulence production and turbulent viscosity. A scaling analysis indicates that the establishment of a self-similar turbulence state is the condition for the development of a strict logarithmic velocity profile. The resulting overall physical flow structure at extreme Re is discussed.     

Visualization of turbulent flow around a sphere at subcritical reynolds numbers

The shear layer evolution and turbulent structure of near-wake behind a sphere atRe= 11,000 and 5,300 were investigated using a smoke-wire visualization method. A laminar flow separation was found to occur near the equator. The smooth laminar shear layers appeared to be axisymmetrically stable to the downstream location of aboutx/d=1.0 atRe=11,000 andx/d= 1.7∼1.8 atRe=5,300, respectively. At Re=11,000, the vortex ring-shaped protrusions were observed with the onset of shear layer instability. Moreover, the transition from laminar to turbulence in the separated flow region occurred earlier at the hiher Reynolds number ofRe=11,000 than atRe=5,300. The PIV measurements in the streamwise and cross-sectional planes atRe=11,000 clearly revealed the turbulent structures of the sphere wake such as recirculating flow, shear layer instability, vortex roll-up, and small-scale turbulent eddies.     

Effects of inclined impermeable bed on the turbulent characteristics of the flow using particle image velocimetry

In this study, the turbulent characteristics of the flow in an open channel with horizontal and inclined impermeable beds were studied experimentally using two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV). The experiments were conducted in a channel of 6.5 m in length, 7.5 cm in width and 25 cm in height. The slope of the channel was S = 0 for the horizontal impermeable bed and for S = ?0.002, S = ?0.004 and S = ?0.006 for the inclined impermeable bed. Hydraulic characteristics such as distributions of velocities, turbulent intensities and Reynolds stress are investigated at a fine resolution using the PIV. Velocity is measured above the horizontal and inclined impermeable bed for the same different heights (h = 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 cm) and for the same different discharges (Q = 0.735, 0.845 and 0.970 lt/s). Results show that the channel slope influences significantly near the impermeable bed but not near the free surface the variation of turbulent characteristics of the flow and also the alteration of the channel slope from ?0.002 to ?0.006 doesn't influence the variation of turbulent characteristics of the flow, which are the longitudinal turbulent intensity u′U_*, the vertical turbulent intensity v′/U_* and the turbulent kinetic energy. The channel slope doesn't influence the Reynolds stress.     

Interaction of a Particle‐Laden Gaseous Jet with a Confined Annular Turbulent Flow

A numerical analysis of polydispersed glass particles interacting with a confined turbulent bluff‐body flow was performed by combining the finite‐volume method for the gaseous flow with a mesh‐free Lagrangian approach for the particulate flow. Three turbulence‐closure models, namely the Reynolds‐stress, the standard k‐ϵ, and the nonlinear k‐ϵ models, were first comparatively studied for the single‐phase flow. The second‐moment Reynolds‐stress model was then selected for the prediction of the turbulent gaseous flow in a gas‐particle system, where an improved eddy‐interaction model was used to predict turbulence‐induced particle dispersion. The interaction between the two phases was accounted for through coupling source terms. Numerical predictions of two‐phase mean and fluctuating velocities for particle sizes ranging from 15 to 115 μm were compared with corresponding experimental data. Reasonably good agreement was achieved for the mean properties of both the gaseous and particulate flows.     

Turbulent vortex rings in weakly turbulent and in turbulent ambient flow

Turbulent vortex rings were investigated in weakly turbulent flow and in three different grid generated turbulent flows to clarify the reciprocal action of the vortex ring with defined external turbulence. Assuming self-similarity and turbulent viscosity as proportional to V₀D₀ the equations for the ring diameter D(t) and the velocity of propagation V(t) were derived. The time difference Δt between the virtual origins of 1/V(t) respectively D²(t) led to an invariant term. The equation of momentum is fulfilled. – Position and diameter of the vortex rings were determined till their decay by means of an optical system, which did not disturb the vortex rings. The experimental results in weakly turbulent ambient flow obtained by the author and by others confirm the theory very well. The ambient turbulence was nearly constant in the measuring region; its effect could be described by simply adding its viscosity to the vortex ring’s internal turbulent viscosity. The results could be represented in unified non-dimensional diagrams. Moreover, an explanation was found as to why the mean internal turbulent viscosity is constant.     

Drag reduction by herringbone riblet texture in direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow

A bird-feather-inspired herringbone riblet texture was investigated for turbulent drag reduction. The texture consists of blade riblets in a converging/diverging or herringbone pattern with spanwise wavelength Λ_f. The aim is to quantify the drag change for this texture as compared to a smooth wall and to study the underlying mechanisms. To that purpose, direct numerical simulations of turbulent flow in a channel with height L_z were performed. The Fukagata-Iwamoto-Kasagi identity for drag decomposition was extended to textured walls and was used to study the drag change mechanisms. For Λ_f/L_z ? O(10), the herringbone texture behaves similarly to a conventional parallel-riblet texture in yaw: the suppression of turbulent advective transport results in a slight drag reduction of 2%. For Λ_f/L_z ? O(1), the drag increases strongly with a maximum of 73%. This is attributed to enhanced mean and turbulent advection, which results from the strong secondary flow that forms over regions of riblet convergence/divergence. Hence, the employment of convergent/divergent riblets in the texture seems to be detrimental to turbulent drag reduction.     

Ginzburg–Landau description of laminar-turbulent oblique band formation in transitional plane Couette flow

Plane Couette flow, the flow between two parallel planes moving in opposite directions, is an example of wall-bounded flow experiencing a transition to turbulence with an ordered coexistence of turbulent and laminar domains in some range of Reynolds numbers [R _g, R _t] . When the aspect-ratio is sufficiently large, this coexistence occurs in the form of alternately turbulent and laminar oblique bands. As R goes up trough the upper threshold R _t, the bands disappear progressively to leave room to a uniform regime of featureless turbulence. This continuous transition is studied here by means of under-resolved numerical simulations understood as a modelling approach adapted to the long time, large aspect-ratio limit. The state of the system is quantitatively characterised using standard observables (turbulent fraction and turbulence intensity inside the bands). A pair of complex order parameters is defined for the pattern which is further analysed within a standard Ginzburg–Landau formalism. Coefficients of the model turn out to be comparable to those experimentally determined for cylindrical Couette flow.     

On mean flow universality of turbulent wall flows. I. High Reynolds number flow analysis

ABSTRACT

The universality and mathematical physical structure of wall-bounded turbulent flows is a topic of discussions over many decades. There is no agreement about questions like what is the physical mean flow structure, how universal is it, and how universal are theoretical concepts for local and global flow variations. These questions are addressed by using latest direct numerical simulation (DNS) data at moderate Reynolds numbers Re and experimental data up to extreme Re. The mean flow structure is explained by analytical models for three canonical wall-bounded turbulent flows (channel flow, pipe flow, and the zero-pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer). Thorough comparisons with DNS and experimental data provide support for the validity of models. Criteria for veritable physics derived from observations are suggested. It is shown that the models presented satisfy these criteria. A probabilistic interpretation of the mean flow structure shows that the physical constraints of equal entropies and equally likely mean velocity values in a region unaffected by boundary effects impose a universal log-law structure. The structure of wall-bounded turbulent flows is much more universal than previously expected. There is no discrepancy between local logarithmic velocity variations and global friction law and bulk velocity variations. Flow effects are limited to the minimum: the difference of having a bounded or unbounded domain, and the variation range of mean velocity values allowed by the geometry.     

The turbulent/nonturbulent interface in penetrative convection

The effect of buoyancy on the turbulent/nonturbulent interface (TNTI) and viscous superlayer are studied by performing direct numerical simulation of penetrative convection. In this flow, rising turbulent thermals alternate with unmixed fluid entrained from above, forming a TNTI between the turbulent and irrotational flow regions. We detect the TNTI using a broad range of enstrophy iso-levels, from the very low levels of the outer fringes of the turbulent flow region to high levels located in the turbulent flow region. We study the local entrainment velocity v_n by which the TNTI propagates outwards relative to the fluid flow while entraining unmixed fluid into the turbulent region. The relative entrainment velocity is decomposed into a viscous, an inertial and a baroclinic torque term, respectively. For low enstrophy levels we find a viscous superlayer (VSL) where viscous diffusion dominates, while inertial and baroclinic torque terms are small. It is only for higher iso-levels in the buffer region of the TNTI, which extends from the edge of the VSL to the threshold for which v_n = 0, that the inertial enstrophy production term plays a significant role. Penetrative convection does not feature a turbulent core where v_n > 0 (i.e. inward moving enstrophy isosurfaces) that has been previously identified in other entraining flows such as jets or gravity currents. Surprisingly, the baroclinic torque remains inactive throughout the whole range of enstrophy iso-levels. The smallness of the baroclinic torque against viscous effects in the TNTI is supported by a dimensional argument which predicts that at high Reynolds number the baroclinic torque term will be negligible.     

Finite element-based large eddy simulation using a combination of the variational multiscale method and the dynamic Smagorinsky model

A finite element-based large eddy simulation (LES) is proposed using a combination of the residual-based variational multiscale (RBVMS) approach and the dynamic Smagorinsky eddy-viscosity model. In this combined model, the cross-stress terms are modelled using the RBVMS approach while the eddy-viscosity model is used to represent the Reynolds stresses. The eddy-viscosity is computed dynamically in a local fashion for which a localized version of the variational Germano identity is developed. To improve the robustness of the local dynamic procedure, two types of averaging schemes are considered. The first type employs spatial averaging over homogeneous direction(s) which is only applicable to turbulent flows with statistical homogeneity in at least one direction. The second type is based on Lagrangian averaging over fluid pathtubes, which is applicable to inhomogeneous turbulent flows. The predictions from the combined model are compared to the direct numerical simulation or experimental data and also to the predictions from the RBVMS model. This is done for two cases: turbulent flow in a channel (Re_τ = 590) and flow over a cylinder (Re_D = 3, 900). For the turbulent channel flow, predictions are similar between the RBVMS model and the combined model. For flow over a cylinder, the combined model provides better predictions, specifically for fluctuations in the streamwise velocity and lift.     

A multi-scale simulation method for high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows

We present an assessment and enhancement of the hybrid two-level large-eddy simulation method (A.G. Gungor and S. Menon, A new two-scale model for large eddy simulation of wall-bounded flows, Prog. Aerosp. Sci. 46 (2010), pp. 28–45), a multi-scale formulation for simulation of high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows. The assessment of the method is performed by examining role of static and dynamic blending functions used to perform hybridisation of two-level simulation (K. Kemenov and S. Menon, Explicit small-scale velocity simulation for high-Re turbulent flows, J. Comput. Phys. 220 (2006), pp. 290–311; K. Kemenov and S. Menon, Explicit small-scale velocity simulation for high-Re turbulent flows. Part 2: Non-homogeneous flows, J. Comput. Phys. 222 (2007), pp. 673–701) and large-eddy simulation methods. The sensitivity of first- and second-order turbulence statistics to the type of blending functions is investigated by simulating a fully developed turbulent flow in a channel at a friction Reynolds number Re_τ = 395 and comparing the results with those obtained using a direct numerical simulation. The first-order statistics do not show any significant differences for different blending functions, but the second-order statistics show some minor differences. The dynamic evaluation of the hybrid region and the blending function is necessary for non-equilibrium and complex flows where use of a static blending function can lead to inaccurate results. We propose two criteria for the dynamic evaluation; first evaluates extent of the hybrid region based on the subgrid turbulent kinetic energy and the second estimates the blending function based on a characteristic length scale. The computational efficiency of the method is enhanced by incorporating a hybrid programming paradigm where a standard domain decomposition by the message-passing-interface library is combined with the open multi-processing based parallelisation. A further enhancement of the method is achieved by incorporating a closure model for the unclosed hybrid terms in the governing equations, which appear due to hybridisation of two-level- and large-eddy-simulation methods. The model is based on an order of magnitude approximation and a preliminary assessment of the model shows improvement of turbulence statistics when used to simulate turbulent flow in a periodic channel. The assessment and improvements to the multi-scale method make it more suitable for simulation of practical wall-bounded turbulent flows at higher Reynolds number than a conventional large-eddy simulation. This is demonstrated by simulating two representative cases; turbulent flow at high Reynolds number in a periodic channel and flow over a bump placed on the lower surface of a channel, where a relatively coarser computational grid is found to be sufficient for reasonably accurate results.     

Effective magnetic permeability of a turbulent fluid with macroferroparticles

A fully developed turbulent flow is capable to mix and homogenize a suspension of heavy macroscopic particles even at a high concentration of particles. If the particles are ferromagnetic, a kind of “turbulent ferrofluid" can be obtained. In the present work, we present a direct measurements of the effective magnetic permeability in a turbulent fluid with suspended ferromagnetic particles of typical size 0.01-0.1 mm and volume fraction c up to 25%. We show that the effective permeability can be fitted by the linear law = 1 + 5.3c for c? 10%. For higher volume fractions the permeability exceeds this linear relation. Received 11 January 2002     

POD analysis on the sphere wake at a subcritical Reynolds number

Abstract  

Flow characteristics of turbulent wake behind a sphere at a subcritical flow regime were experimentally investigated. The particle image velocimetry measurements and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modal analysis were employed to get detailed flow information such as the wavy structure, swirling motion and coherent structures of the sphere wake. The variation of turbulent intensities of the radial and circumferential velocity components showed the swirling motion of sphere wake in the cross-sectional planes. The relative contribution of the POD mode 1, 2 and 3 in eigenvalues was 26, 11, and 8%, respectively. The general pattern of velocity fields for the POD mode 1 in the near-wake region of x/d = 0.7–1.4 is similar with that of time-averaged mean velocity fields. In addition, the sweeping flow in the region from x/d = 1.5 to x/d = 2.0 possesses wavy structure of the sphere wake. The experimental results of the present study would contribute to the fundamental understanding of the turbulent near-wake behind a sphere.     

Development and application of a diffusion-inertia model for calculating aerosol particle deposition from turbulent flows

Three-dimensional simulation of experiments on aerosol particle deposition in a turbulent flow is carried out. The k — ɛ turbulence model and the diffusion inertia model of particle transport and deposition were used in the simulation. The range of flow velocities and particle sizes is typical for the diffusion and turbophoresis deposition mechanisms. Deposition of particles in a turbulent flow is considered for cases of a direct vertical pipe and for a 90° bend in which the turbophoresis is coupled with centrifugal forces. The calculation results are in good agreement with experimental data. Deviations of results are comparable with those of discrete particle modeling.     

HL-2A装置中的带状流三维特性研究和探针设计

HL-2A装置边缘等离子体测地声模带状流的三维特征采用外中平面上三组三台阶探针阵列组成具有环向、极向和径向分辨的独特结构的探针系统进行了研究.其中两组具有极向距离为65mm的三台阶5探针阵列组成极向带状流10探针组,另一组电动式带状流6探针阵列与带状流10探针组之间的环向距离为800mm. 此外,采用快速往复气动6探针组研究了磁分界面附近的温度、密度、雷诺协强及其径向分布.在HL-2A装置上同时观测到测地声模带状流(频率f=7kHz)的极向和环向对称性(m≈0,n 关键词： 三台阶式ZF探针 带状流 三维空间结构     

Vorticity,backscatter and counter-gradient transport predictions using two-level simulation of turbulent flows

The two-level simulation (TLS) method evolves both the large-and the small-scale fields in a two-scale approach and has shown good predictive capabilities in both isotropic and wall-bounded high Reynolds number (Re) turbulent flows in the past. Sensitivity and ability of this modelling approach to predict fundamental features (such as backscatter, counter-gradient turbulent transport, small-scale vorticity, etc.) seen in high Re turbulent flows is assessed here by using two direct numerical simulation (DNS) datasets corresponding to a forced isotropic turbulence at Taylor’s microscale-based Reynolds number Re_λ ≈ 433 and a fully developed turbulent flow in a periodic channel at friction Reynolds number Re_τ ≈ 1000. It is shown that TLS captures the dynamics of local co-/counter-gradient transport and backscatter at the requisite scales of interest. These observations are further confirmed through a posteriori investigation of the flow in a periodic channel at Re_τ = 2000. The results reveal that the TLS method can capture both the large- and the small-scale flow physics in a consistent manner, and at a reduced overall cost when compared to the estimated DNS or wall-resolved LES cost.     

Visualisation and analysis of large-scale vortex structures in three-dimensional turbulent lid-driven cavity flow

In this paper, large eddy simulation (LES) of a three-dimensional turbulent lid-driven cavity (LDC) flow at Re = 10,000 has been performed using the multiple relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method. A Smagorinsky eddy viscosity model was used to represent the sub-grid scale stresses with appropriate wall damping. The prediction for the flow field was first validated by comparing the velocity profiles with previous experimental and LES studies, and then subsequently used to investigate the large-scale three-dimensional vortical structures in the LDC flow. The instantaneous three-dimensional coherent structures inside the cavity were visualised using the second invariant (Q), Δ criterion, λ₂ criterion, swirling strength (λ_ci) and streamwise vorticity. The vortex structures obtained using the different criteria in general agree well with each other. However, a cleaner visualisation of the large vortex structures was achieved with the λ_ci criterion and also when the visualisation is based on the vortex identification criteria expressed in terms of the swirling strength parameters. A major objective of the study was to perform a three-dimensional proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) on the fluctuating velocity fields. The higher energy POD modes efficiently extracted the large-scale vortical structures within the flow which were then visualised with the swirling strength criterion. Reconstruction of the instantaneous fluctuating velocity field using a finite number of POD modes indicated that the large-scale vortex structures did effectively approximate the large-scale motion. However, such a reduced order reconstruction of the flow based on the large-scale vortical structures was clearly not as effective in predicting the small-scale details of the fluctuating velocity field which relate to the turbulent transport.     

The self-similarity of wall-bounded temporally accelerating turbulent flows

From the study of viscous flow it is known that certain time-dependent laminar problems, such as the impulsively started flat plate and the diffusion of a vortex sheet, possess self-similar solutions. Previous studies of turbulent channel and pipe flows accelerating between two steady states have shown that the flow field evolves in three distinct stages. Furthermore, recent direct numerical simulations have shown that the perturbation velocity, i.e. the surplus velocity from the initial value, in an impulsively accelerating turbulent channel and pipe flow also possesses a self-similar distribution during the initial stage. In here, these results are developed analytically and it is shown that accelerating flows in which the centreline velocity develops as U^∧_c(t) = U₀(t/t₀)^m will possess a self-similar velocity distribution during the initial stage. The displacement thickness of the perturbation velocity is shown to be dependent only on the type of acceleration, and not on the initial Reynolds number, the acceleration rate or the change in Reynolds number. The derived formulas are verified with good agreement against measurements performed in a linearly accelerating turbulent pipe flow and with data from channel flow simulations.     

Investigation of turbulent flow past a flagged short finite circular cylinder

This study was conducted to investigate the flow structures of turbulent flow passing over a short finite cylinder in which a rigid flag is attached to the rear of the cylinder, in wake region. The length-to-diameter ratio of the cylinder was chosen to be L/D = 2, whereas the rigid flag had a width-to-diameter ratio of W/D = 1.5. Wall-adapted large-eddy simulation (LES-WALE) was used to resolve unsteady turbulent flow structures. The far field Reynolds number based on cylinder diameter was chosen to be 20,000. The results were compared with the regular case wherein no flag was attached to the cylinder. Results revealed that the flow pattern behind the cylinder with flag was totally different in comparison with the regular case one. However, top free end of the cylinder was not influenced by the flag in contrast with the wake region. At far downstream from the cylinder, most of the flow structures in both cases appeared the same. The horseshoe vortices in both cases appeared to be an unsteady phenomenon, with slightly different patterns. Moreover, in the case of flag attachment, the pressure coefficient was smaller than that of with no flag. Finally, it was shown that the main and secondary Strouhal numbers locations were different in both cases.