Calculation of secondary flow in cascades including effects of Bernoulli surface distortion

A method is proposed for calculating the secondary flow in a cascade, including effects due to the distortion of the Bernoulli surfaces. An approximation to the secondary flow is first used to determine the displacement of the streamlines and Bernoulli surfaces in the blade passage. From this, improved values for the secondary vorticity distribution can be obtained, and the secondary flow recalculated. An example is presented in which the Bernoulli surfaces are found to be considerably distorted, and a vortex core is shown to form near the corner between the blade suction surface and the end wall     

Construction of three-dimensional images of flow structure via particle tracking techniques

Construction of three-dimensional images of flow structure, based on the quantitative velocity field, is assessed for cases where experimental data are obtained using particle tracking technique. The experimental data are in the form of contiguous planes of particle images. These contiguous data planes are assumed to correspond to successive spatial realizations in steady flow, or to phase-referenced realizations in an unsteady flow.Given the particle images on contiguous planes, the in-plane velocity fields are determined. Then, the out-of-plane velocity field is obtained using a spectral interpolation method. Application of this method allows, in principle, construction of the three-dimensional vorticity field and the streamline patterns.A critical assessment is made of the uncertainties arising from the in-plane interpolation of the velocity field obtained from particle tracking and the evaluation of the out-of-plane velocity component. The consequences of such uncertainties on the reconstructed vorticity distributions and streamline patterns are addressed for two basic types of vortex flows: a columnar vortex, for which the streamlines are not closed and are spatially periodic in the streamwise direction; and for a spherical (Hill's) vortex exhibiting closed streamline patterns, and no spatial periodicity.     

On the three-dimensional nature of the orthogonal blade–vortex interaction

An orthogonal blade–vortex interaction has been visualised using stereo particle image velocimetry. Significant changes to the vortex axial flow w component velocity are observed during the interaction, with a deceleration on the lower surface of the blade where the vortex axial flow is towards the blade surface. Over this surface the interaction process close to the blade surface spreads the vorticity out to the areas of oppositely signed blade w component, and the results suggest a non-uniform spreading over the leading edge region of the blade, with a tendency for a spanwise transport of vorticity. Over the upper surface of the blade, the vortex axial flow velocity increases and the vortex core shrinks slightly. During the lower surface interaction the vorticity and velocity vectors become significantly realigned with respect to one another, while this is not observed for the upper surface interaction.     

The effect of multi-plate array spacing on grid-generated turbulence

This study compares measurements of the streamwise integral length scale, the root mean square (r.m.s.) of the streamwise component of velocity, and the r.m.s. of the normal component of velocity obtained at the exit of a plate array with measurements obtained at the same position for the “open pipe case”. The “open pipe case” is defined as the empty tube, without the plates in place, i.e., the apparatus becomes grid flow entering an unobstructed pipe. In general, this study finds that the length scale in the streamwise direction decreases with increasing plate spacing while the r.m.s. velocity in the streamwise direction increases as the plate spacing increases for fixed values of x/M (i.e., the streamwise direction to mesh-spacing ratio). These measured trends are consistent with a simple model based on vortex elements and conservation of angular momentum.     

Cross-Stream Vorticity Field Induced by Streamwise Vortices in Unbounded and Wall-Bounded Shear Flows

This computational study examines the unsteady cross-stream vorticity structures that form when one or more streamwise vortices are immersed in homogeneous and boundary-layer shear flows. A quasi-two-dimensional limit is considered in which the velocity and vorticity fields, while still possessing three nonzero components, have vanishing gradient in the streamwise direction. This idealization is suitable to applications such as streamwise vortices that occur along a ship hull or airplane fuselage and it can be used as an idealized representation of the quasi-streamwise vortices in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer. In this quasi-two-dimensional idealization, the streamwise velocity has no effect on the cross-stream velocity associated with the vortex. However, the vortex acts to modify the cross-stream vorticity component, resulting in regions of the flow with strong deviations in streamwise velocity. This paper examines the complex structures that form as the cross-stream vorticity field is wrapped up by the vortex and the effect of these structures on the streamwise velocity field, first for vortices immersed in homogeneous shear flow and then for vortices immersed in a boundary layer along a flat wall. Received 2 January 2002 and accepted 13 August 2002 Published online 3 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*" This project was supported by the Office of Naval Research under Grant Number N00014-01-1-0015. Dr. Thomas Swain is the program manager. Communicated by T.B. Gatski     

The Tilting Mechanism of a Longitudinal Vortical Structure in a Homogeneous Shear Flow with and Without Spanwise Rotation

A longitudinal vortical structure is typically observed in near-wall turbulence. This vortical structure is elongated in the streamwise direction, though it is also tilted in the spanwise direction. The sense of this spanwise tilting is determined by the sign of the streamwise vorticity associated with the vortex, and longitudinal vortical structures with a different streamwise vorticity become asymmetric (mirror symmetric). The tilting must be due to the combined effects of the non-linear terms and mean spanwise vorticity associated with the mean shear. However, the detailed mechanism of the tilting is not well known. To study the tilting in detail, we performed direct numerical simulations of a homogeneous shear flow where the longitudinal vortical structures similar to those in the near-wall region are observed. In particular, the effects of spanwise system rotation as well as the Reynolds number on the vortical structure are studied. As a result, we found that spanwise system rotation has more marked effects on the vortical structure than the Reynolds number. When the system rotation is imposed in the same direction as the mean spanwise vorticity, the tilting is enhanced, while the system rotation of the opposite direction attenuates it. We also found that when the longitudinal vortical structure is tilted in the spanwise direction, it is sandwiched between the streamwise vorticity of the opposite sign. The cyclonic rotation enhances the streamwise vorticity of the opposite sign, though the longitudinal vortical structure at the center is attenuated. In the anticyclonic case, the streamwise vorticity of the opposite sign almost disappears and the longitudinal vortical structure is isolated from the surrounding flow.     

Estimation of velocity eigenfunction and vorticity distributions from the timeline visualization technique

For the case of quasi-periodic flow, it is demonstrated that use of the hydrogen bubble timeline method leads to reasonable estimates of the eigenfunction of the streamwise velocity fluctuation. Both amplitude and phase distributions across an unstable wake flow are well-approximated. It is shown that the vorticity extrema, as well as the degree of concentration of vorticity, are in good agreement with those calculated from linear stability theory. A critical assessment is given of the possible uncertainties associated with this technique: the existence of a finite, but unknown cross-stream velocity component; bubble rise due to buoyancy effects; wake defect created downstream of the bubble wire; and resolution of the digitized image. Furthermore, the uncertainty in the streamwise velocity, arising from existence of a finite cross-stream velocity component, is actually less than that corresponding to a single-element hot film probe over certain regimes of operation.     

Multisensor Hot Wire Vorticity Probe Measurements of the Formation Field of Two Corotating Vortices

Experimental evidence is reported, regarding the formation of a pair of co-rotating tip vortices by a split wing configuration, consisting of two half wings at equal and opposite angles of attack. Simultaneous measurements of the three-dimensional vector fields of velocity and vorticity were conducted on a cross plane at a downstream distance corresponding to 0.3 cord lengths (near wake), using an in-house constructed 12-sensor hot wire anemometry vorticity probe. The probe consists of three closely separated orthogonal 4-wire velocity sensor arrays, measuring simultaneously the three-dimensional velocity vector at three closely spaced locations on a cross plane of the flow filed. This configuration makes possible the estimation of spatial velocity derivatives by means of a forward difference scheme of first order accuracy. Velocity measurements obtained with an X-wire are also presented for comparison. In this near wake location, the flow field is dictated by the pressure distribution established by the flow around the wings, mobilizing large masses of air and leading to the roll up of fluid sheets. Fluid streams penetrating between the wings collide, creating on the cross plane flow a stagnation point and an “impermeable” line joining the two vortex centres. Along this line fluid is directed towards the two vortices, expanding their cores and increasing their separation distance. This feeding process generates a dipole of opposite sign streamwise mean vorticity within each vortex. The rotational flow within the vortices obligates an adverse streamwise pressure gradient leading to a significant streamwise velocity deficit characterizing the vortices. The turbulent flow field is the result of temporal changes in the intensity of the vortex formation and changes in the position of the cores (wandering).     

An analog of the Bernoulli and Cauchy-Lagrange integrals for a time-dependent vortex flow of an ideal incompressible fluid

An expression with a constant value over all space (including multiply connected domains) relating the pressure function to the square of the velocity and the characteristics of the traveling vortices is derived for a time-dependent ideal incompressible fluid flow with nonzero vorticity. When there are bodies in the flow, they must also be represented in the form of traveling vortices. For steady-state flow the formula obtained goes over into the Bernoulli integral and for time-dependent irrotational flow into the Cauchy-Lagrange integral. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 31–41, January–February, 2000. The work was carried out with financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 98-01-00156 and project No. 96-15-9603 for the support of leading science schools).     

Transient response of enstrophy transport to opposition control in turbulent channel flow

The transient response of the turbulent enstrophy transport to opposition control in the turbulent channel flow is studied with the aid of direct numerical simulation. It is found that the streamwise enstrophy and the spanwise enstrophy are suppressed by the attenuation of the stretching terms at first, while the vertical enstrophy is reduced by inhibiting the tilt of the mean shear. In the initial period of the control, the streamwise enstrophy evolves much slower than the other two components. The vertical vorticity component exhibits a rapid monotonic decrease and also plays an important role in the attenuation of the other two components.     

A nonlinear model for aerodynamic configuration of wake behind horizontal-axis wind turbine

Determination of the aerodynamic configuration of wake is the key to analysis and evaluation of the rotor aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal-axis wind turbine.According to the aerodynamic configuration, the real magnitude and direction of the onflow velocity at the rotor blade can be determined, and subsequently, the aerodynamic force on the rotor can be determined. The commonly employed wake aerodynamic models are of the cylindrical form instead of the actual expanding one. This is because the influence of the radial component of the induced velocity on the wake configuration is neglected. Therefore, this model should be called a "linear model". Using this model means that the induced velocities at the rotor blades and aerodynamic loads on them would be inexact. An approximately accurate approach is proposed in this paper to determine the so-called "nonlinear" wake aerodynamic configuration by means of the potential theory,where the influence of all three coordinate components of the induced velocity on wake aerodynamic configuration is taken into account to obtain a kind of expanding wake that approximately looks like an actual one. First, the rotor aerodynamic model composed of axial(central), bound, and trailing vortexes is established with the help of the finite aspect wing theory. Then, the Biot-Savart formula for the potential flow theory is used to derive a set of integral equations to evaluate the three components of the induced velocity at any point within the wake. The numerical solution to the integral equations is found,and the loci of all elementary trailing vortex filaments behind the rotor are determined thereafter. Finally, to formulate an actual wind turbine rotor, using the nonlinear wake model, the induced velocity everywhere in the wake, especially that at the rotor blade,is obtained in the case of various tip speed ratios and compared with the wake boundary in a neutral atmospheric boundary layer. Hereby, some useful and referential conclusions are offered for the aerodynamic computation and design of the rotor of the horizontal-axis wind turbine.     

Some uses of Green's theorem in solving the Navier–Stokes equations

This paper gives a review of methods where Green's theorem may be employed in solving numerically the Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible fluid motion. They are based on the concept of using the theorem to transform local boundary conditions given on the boundary of a closed region in the solution domain into global, or integral, conditions taken over it. Two formulations of the Navier–Stokes equations are considered: that in terms of the streamfunction and vorticity for two-dimensional motion and that in terms of the primitive variables of the velocity components and the pressure. In the first formulation overspecification of conditions for the streamfunction is utilized to obtain conditions of integral type for the vorticity and in the second formulation integral conditions for the pressure are found. Some illustrations of the principle of the method are given in one space dimension, including some derived from two-dimensional flows using the series truncation method. In particular, an illustration is given of the calculation of surface vorticity for two-dimensional flow normal to a flat plate. An account is also given of the implementation of these methods for general two-dimensional flows in both of the mentioned formulations and a numerical illustration is given.     

Performance of a three-component vorticity probe in a turbulent far-wake

  A new four X-wire vorticity probe has been developed to measure all three components of the vorticity fluctuation vector simultaneously. The performance of this probe is tested in a turbulent far-wake. The measured Reynolds stresses agree with those obtained previously from simpler hot wire configurations. The variances of the lateral vorticity components agree within ±15% with those measured with a one-component vorticity probe. The variances of the streamwise vorticity component are also in reasonable agreement with those inferred from two X-wires. At high wavenumbers, the measured vorticity spectra agree with those obtained by direct numerical simulation (DNS) in the central region of a turbulent channel flow. The comparison of measured high-order moments of vorticity on the wake centerline with local isotropy also suggests the probe performs satisfactorily. Received: 31 December 1997/Accepted: 6 January 1999     

A numerical study of fluid injection and mixing under near-critical conditions

Nitrogen injection under conditions close vicinity of the liquid-gas critical point is studied numerically.The fluid thermodynamic and transport properties vary drastically and exhibit anomalies in the near-critical regime.These anomalies can cause distinctive effects on heat-transfer and fluid-flow characteristics.To focus on the influence of thermodynamics on the flow field,a relatively low injection Reynolds number of 1 750 is adopted.For comparisons,a reference case with the same configuration and Reynolds number is simulated in the ideal gas regime.The model accommodates full conservation laws,real-fluid thermodynamic and transport phenomena.Results reveal that the flow features of the near-critical fluid jet are significantly different from their counterpart.The near-critical fluid jet spreads faster and mixes more efficiently with the ambient fluid along with a more rapidly development of the vortex pairing process.Detailed analysis at different streamwise locations including both the flat shear-layer region and fully developed vortex region reveals the important effect of volume dilatation and baroclinic torque in the near-critical fluid case.The former disturbs the shear layer and makes it more unstable.The volume dilatation and baroclinic effects strengthen the vorticity and stimulate the vortex rolling up and pairing process.     

Diffusion velocity for a three-dimensional vorticity field

A discussion is presented on the existence of a diffusion velocity for the vorticity vector that satisfies extensions of the Helmholtz vortex laws in a three-dimensional, incompressible, viscous fluid flow. A general form for the diffusion velocity is derived for a complex-lamellar vorticity field that satisfies the property that circulation is invariant about a region that is advected with the sum of the fluid velocity and the diffusion velocity. A consequence of this property is that vortex lines will be material lines with respect to this combined velocity field. The question of existence of diffusion velocity for a general three-dimensional vorticity field is shown to be equivalent to the question of existence of solutions of a certain Fredholm equation of the first kind. An example is given for which it is shown that a diffusion velocity satisfying this property does not, in general, exist. Properties of the simple expression for diffusion velocity for a complex-lamellar vorticity field are examined when applied to the more general case of an arbitrary three-dimensional flow. It is found that this form of diffusion velocity, while not satisfying the condition of circulation invariance, nevertheless has certain desirable properties for computation of viscous flows using Lagrangian vortex methods. The significance and structure of the noncomplex-lamellar part of the viscous diffusion term is examined for the special case of decaying homogeneous turbulence.     

Control of vortex formation from a vertical cylinder in shallow water: Effect of localized roughness elements

Vortex formation from a vertical cylinder in shallow water is controlled by placement of a narrow transverse strip of roughness elements on the bed (bottom surface). A technique of high-image-density particle image velocimetry is employed to obtain global, instantaneous representations of the flow patterns, which lead to phase- and time-averaged patterns of streamline topology and Reynolds stress on planes at and above the bed. Near the bed, the overall form of the streamline topology is maintained, even at larger heights of the roughness elements. With increasing height of the elements, the downstream saddle point is further displaced in the streamwise direction. Correspondingly, the streamwise extent of the negative pocket of the streamwise velocity component, i.e., the region of reverse flow along the bed surface, increases substantially in the streamwise direction. The Reynolds stress in the very near-wake, at locations upstream of the roughness elements, is significantly attenuated, even for small height of roughness. This attenuation occurs not only near the bed surface, but also at the midplane of the shallow water wake, and thereby indicates that the consequence of localized roughness is to exert a global influence. In fact, corresponding patterns of instantaneous velocity and vorticity indicate that consistent formation of large-scale vortices in the very near-wake region is attenuated with relatively small surface roughness on the bed. Downstream of the roughness elements, the patterns of Reynolds stress near the bed surface, as well as at the midplane of the water layer, are significantly altered relative to the case of no roughness. Near the bed, highly concentrated patterns of positive and negative Reynolds stress in the absence of roughness give way to lower-level regions of Reynolds stress in the form of alternating concentrations; the particular pattern depends on the height of the roughness elements. At the midplane of the water layer, the Reynolds stress patterns maintain their same overall form, but the extrema of the Reynolds stress concentrations are attenuated in magnitude and are shifted in the downstream direction, with increasing height of the roughness elements. These observations are complemented by patterns of instantaneous velocity and vorticity.     

Large Eddy Simulation (2D) of a Reacting Plane Mixing Layer Using Filtered Density Function Closure

The filtered density function (FDF) is implemented for a two-dimensional, large eddy simulation (LES) of a gas phase, spatially developing, reacting and non-reacting, constant-density, plane mixing layer in a flow regime prior to the mixing transition where the flow is mainly two-dimensional. The unresolved scalar fluctuations are taken into account by considering the probability density function (PDF) of subgrid scale (SGS) scalar quantities following the FDF approach. In the derived FDF transport equation, the effect of chemical reactions appears in a closed form. The Lagrangian Monte Carlo scheme is used to solve the FDF transport equation. The applicability and performance of the FDF for LES of a reacting plane mixing layer are assessed by comparisons with experimental measurements. In non-reacting flow, the calculated mean streamwise velocity profiles and mean mixture fraction profiles relax to self-similarity, which is in satisfactory agreement with the measurements. In reacting flow, the FDF calculation provided a satisfactory accuracy in comparison with measurements of mean reactant and product concentration. The increase in the total amount of product formation in the flip case demonstrates the asymmetric characteristics of the entrainment and mixing characteristics in the mixing layer. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Solution of the Navier–Stokes equations in velocity–vorticity form using a Eulerian–Lagrangian boundary element method

This paper describes the Eulerian–Lagrangian boundary element model for the solution of incompressible viscous flow problems using velocity–vorticity variables. A Eulerian–Lagrangian boundary element method (ELBEM) is proposed by the combination of the Eulerian–Lagrangian method and the boundary element method (BEM). ELBEM overcomes the limitation of the traditional BEM, which is incapable of dealing with the arbitrary velocity field in advection‐dominated flow problems. The present ELBEM model involves the solution of the vorticity transport equation for vorticity whose solenoidal vorticity components are obtained iteratively by solving velocity Poisson equations involving the velocity and vorticity components. The velocity Poisson equations are solved using a boundary integral scheme and the vorticity transport equation is solved using the ELBEM. Here the results of two‐dimensional Navier–Stokes problems with low–medium Reynolds numbers in a typical cavity flow are presented and compared with a series solution and other numerical models. The ELBEM model has been found to be feasible and satisfactory. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of a transverse vorticity probe in a turbulent channel flow

 The performance of a four hot-wire transverse vorticity probe is tested by comparing measurements in a fully developed turbulent channel flow with corresponding data obtained from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of the same flow. In the inner region, the probe performs poorly, the rms vorticities being consistently smaller than the DNS values. In the outer region of the flow, there is reasonable agreement between measured and DNS vorticity statistics, especially after correcting the measurements for the effect of spatial resolution. In this region, the imbalance indicated by the vorticity form of the streamwise momentum equation is approximately constant. The magnitude of the imbalance can be reduced to an acceptable level of accuracy by considering sources of error which affect the velocity–vorticity correlations. Received: 17 March 1997/Accepted: 17 November 1997     

T-stress evaluation for slightly curved crack using perturbation method

A general formulation for evaluating the T-stress at crack tips in a curved crack is introduced. In the formulation, a singular integral equation with the distribution of dislocation along the curve is suggested. For a slightly curved crack, a small parameter is generally assumed for the crack configuration. By using the assumption for the small parameter, the perturbation method is suggested and it reduces the singular integral equation into many successive singular integral equations. If the cracked plate has a remote loading and the curve configuration is a quadratic function, the mentioned successive singular integral equations can be solved in a closed form. Therefore, the solution for the T-stress in a closed form is obtained. The obtained results for T-stress are shown by figures. It is found that if the involved parameter is not too small, the influence of the curve configuration is significant. Comparison for T-stresses obtained from a quadratic-shaped curved crack and an arc crack is presented.