A finite element solution to turbulent diffusion in a convective boundary layer

A second-order closure turbulence model is used to simulate the plume behaviour of a passive contaminant dispersed in a convective boundary layer. A time-splitting finite element scheme is used to solve the set of partial differential equations. It is shown that the second-order closure model compares favourably with recent findings from laboratories, wind-tunnel experiments and large-eddy simulations. We also compare the second-order closure model with the commonly used K-diffusion model for the same meteorological conditions. Case studies also show the effects of model parameters and turbulence variables on the plume behaviour.     

Parallel computation of atmospheric pollutant dispersion under unstably stratified atmosphere

Pollutant dispersion under unstably stratified atmosphere was investigated numerically using the finite element method. The effects of atmospheric stability on plume trajectory were studied using a three-dimensional second-order closure dispersion model. The numerical model was implemented using domain decomposition method and carried out using a parallel computer. The computation accelerates significantly and the size of computation can be largely increased as a result of the parallelism. A passive contaminant point source was placed at the middle of the convective boundary layer to simulate the atmospheric dispersion. The requirement of the input of dispersion coefficients in k-theory and Gaussian models was replaced with direct input of turbulence flow data. It was found that the present numerical model can predict several non-Gaussian plume behaviours and the computed results agreed well with findings from experimental observations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SIMULATION OF NOx FORMATION IN TURBULENT SWIRLINGCOMBUSTION USING A USM TURBULENCE—CHEMISTRY MODEL

A unified second-order moment (USM) turbulence-chemistry model for simulating Nox formation in turbulent combustion is proposed. All of correlations, including the correlation of the reaction-rate coefficient fluctuation with the concentration fluctuation, are closed by the transport equations in the same form. This model discards the approximation of series expansion of the exponential function or the approximation of using the product of several 1-D PDF‘s instead of a joint PDF. It is much simpler than other refined models, such as the PDF transport equation model and the condi-tional moment closure model. The proposed model is used to simulate methane-air swirling turbulent combustion and Nox formation. The prediction results are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Reynolds stress closure applied to axisymmetric,impinging turbulent jets

A second-order, single-point closure model for calculating the transport of momentum in turbulent flows is extended to cover flows that are close to solid surfaces. In such flows the proximity of a solid boundary directly influences the fluctuating pressure field within the main body of the flow and leads to a dampening of velocity fluctuations normal to the wall. These effects are accommodated through the incorporation of an additional contribution in the modelled form of the redistributive fluctuating pressure term used in the Reynolds stress transport equation. Predictions of the extended closure model are compared with available data in configurations where an air jet impinges orthogonally onto a plane surface. The inclusion of the wall reflection model is shown to result in superior predictions of mean velocities, and normal and shear stresses. In particular, normal-to-wall velocity fluctuations and shear stresses are successfully damped resulting in agreement with observations.     

Mathematical construction of a Reissner–Mindlin plate theory for composite laminates

A Reissner–Mindlin theory for composite laminates without invoking ad hoc kinematic assumptions is constructed using the variational-asymptotic method. Instead of assuming a priori the distribution of three-dimensional displacements in terms of two-dimensional plate displacements as what is usually done in typical plate theories, an exact intrinsic formulation has been achieved by introducing unknown three-dimensional warping functions. Then the variational-asymptotic method is applied to systematically decouple the original three-dimensional problem into a one-dimensional through-the-thickness analysis and a two-dimensional plate analysis. The resulting theory is an equivalent single-layer Reissner–Mindlin theory with an excellent accuracy comparable to that of higher-order, layer-wise theories. The present work is extended from the previous theory developed by the writer and his co-workers with several sizable contributions: (a) six more constants (33 in total) are introduced to allow maximum freedom to transform the asymptotically correct energy into a Reissner–Mindlin model; (b) the semi-definite programming technique is used to seek the optimum Reissner–Mindlin model. Furthermore, it is proved the first time that the recovered three-dimensional quantities exactly satisfy the continuity conditions on the interface between different layers and traction boundary conditions on the bottom and top surfaces. It is also shown that two of the equilibrium equations of three-dimensional elasticity can be satisfied asymptotically, and the third one can be satisfied approximately so that the difference between the Reissner–Mindlin model and the second-order asymptotical model can be minimized. Numerical examples are presented to compare with the exact solution as well as the classical lamination theory and the first-order shear-deformation theory, demonstrating that the present theory has an excellent agreement with the exact solution.     

Experimental study and mathematical simulation of the characteristics of a turbulent flow in a straight circular pipe rotating about its longitudinal axis

The vorticity formed in the cross section of a turbulent flow in a straight circular pipe rotating about its longitudinal axis decreases the values of the turbulent stresses, turbulence energy, and dissipation rate along the pipe. The results of laboratory experiments and calculations by the second-order closure model of turbulent transfer are presented. On the whole, the model using a system of transport equations yields better agreement with experimental data than the models with algebraic relations for second-order moments. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 103–116, March–April, 1998.     

耦合变形对大范围运动柔性梁动力学建模的影响

柔性梁在作大范围空间运动时,产生弯曲和扭转变形,这些变形的相互耦合形成了梁在纵向以及横向位移的二次耦合变量。本文考虑了变形产生的几何非线性效应对运动柔性梁的影响,在其三个方向的变形中均考虑了二次耦合变量,利用弹性旋转矩阵建立了准确的几何非线性变形方程,通过Lagrange方程导出系统的动力学方程。仿真结果表明,在大范围运动情况下,仅在纵向变形中计及了变形二次耦合量的一次动力学模型,与考虑了完全几何非线性变形的模型具有一定的差异。     

A large eddy simulation of the near wake of a circular cylinder

Viscous flow around a circular cylinder at a subcritical Reynolds number is investigated using a large eddy simulation (LES) coupled with the Smagorinsky subgrid-scale (SGS) model. A fractional-step method with a second-order in time and a combined finite-difference/spectral approximations are used to solve the filtered three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Calculations have been performed with and without the SGS model. Turbulence statistical behaviors and flow structures in the near wake of the cylinder are studied. Some calculated results, including the lift and drag coefficients, shedding frequency, peak Reynolds stresses, and time-average velocity profile, are in good agreement with the experimental and computational data, which shows that the Smagorinsky model can reasonably predict the global features of the flow and some turbulent statistical behaviors. The project supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Scholars (10125210), the Special Funds for Major State Basic Research Project (G1999032801) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19772062)     

A control volume finite element method for three-dimensional three-phase flows

A novel control volume finite element method with adaptive anisotropic unstructured meshes is presented for three-dimensional three-phase flows with interfacial tension. The numerical framework consists of a mixed control volume and finite element formulation with a new P₁DG-P₂ elements (linear discontinuous velocity between elements and quadratic continuous pressure between elements). A “volume of fluid” type method is used for the interface capturing, which is based on compressive control volume advection and second-order finite element methods. A force-balanced continuum surface force model is employed for the interfacial tension on unstructured meshes. The interfacial tension coefficient decomposition method is also used to deal with interfacial tension pairings between different phases. Numerical examples of benchmark tests and the dynamics of three-dimensional three-phase rising bubble, and droplet impact are presented. The results are compared with the analytical solutions and previously published experimental data, demonstrating the capability of the present method.     

Cell vertex finite volume discretizations in three dimensions

The cell vertex method is generalized to three dimensions. It is proved that there exists a one-parameter family of eight-point three-dimensional methods with second-order truncation error on parallelepipeds. Using different triangulations of control volume faces, various finite volume methods are derived. Some of these are identified as members of the aforementioned one-parameter family and may be regarded as second-order upwind schemes. A Fourier analysis is used to investigate the spectral properties of these discretizations. Numerical experiments illustrate that second-order global accuracy is achieved on parallelepiped grids, as suggested by the theory. Randomly perturbed, stretched, sheared meshes are used to test these methods to destruction. It is found that upwinding improves both the accuracy on distorted meshes and the spectrum of the discretization.     

Three-dimensional parallel simulation of cornstarch-oxygen two-phase detonation

Numerical simulations were performed with a parallel computer to solve for the behavior of a three-dimensional gas-solid two-phase detonation. The numerical method is a second-order modified Harten-Yee TVD upwind scheme and time integration uses a first order Euler integration. A two-step chemical reaction model represents the reaction of cornstarch-particles and oxygen. The numerical results show that a periodic two-headed detonation appears with a three-dimensional propagation mechanism before and after a triple point collisions. A comparison between the numerical and experimental results reveals that the detonation velocity of numerical results agrees well with that of experimental results. Received 8 September 1999 / Accepted 7 May 2000     

用二阶矩模型研究Richtmyer-Meshkov不稳定性诱导湍流混合

发展了考虑密度脉动和各向异性湍流的二阶矩模型,强调了涉及湍流能量产生项的关联。采用该模型对Poggi等的激波管实验进行了模拟。通过与实验结果的比较分析,验证了采用的模型封闭、模型常数、数值算法和程序实现是合适的。在此基础上,进一步探讨了冲击马赫数和Atwood数对混合的影响。     

Discharge of a supersonic jet from a nozzle with an inclined rim

The main results of a numerical study of the effect of the angle of the rim of a nozzle on the shape of the jet boundary and of the free shock and on the distribution of parameters in a three-dimensional underexpanded jet are presented. A noncentered second-order difference scheme is used to solve the gasdynamic equations for an inviscid perfect gas. Conditions are established for which the three-dimensional jet is observed to coincide partially in the radial planes and the corresponding planes of axisymmetric jets.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 105–110, July–August, 1977.In conclusion, the authors thank G. I. Petrov and his colleagues for detailed discussion of the results of the investigation reported here.     

Three-dimensional mesh embedding for the Navier–Stokes equations using upwind control volumes

A numerical model for the compressible Navier–Stokes equations using local mesh embedding is presented. The model solves for three-dimensional turbulent flow using an algebraic mixing length model of turbulence. The technique of control volume upwinding is used to produce a novel treatment, whereby the hanging nodes on the mesh interfaces are left with null control volumes. This yields an efficient discretization scheme which ensures second-order accuracy, flux conservation and stability at the mesh interfaces, whilst retaining a simple interpolative treatment for the hanging nodes. The discrete flow equations are solved using the semi-implicit pressure correction method. The accuracy of the embedded mesh solver is demonstrated by modelling the three-dimensional flow through a cascade of turbine vanes at design and off-design conditions. Mesh embedding gives a saving of 48% in the number of nodes. The embedded mesh solutions compare well with fine structured mesh solutions and experimental measurements. The capability of the embedded mesh solver to perform solution adaptive calculations is demonstrated using a two-dimensional mid-height section of the cascade at the off-design flow conditions.     

Shape variation of a three-dimensional planar crack

Investigated are the integral and local properties of the solutions for the three-dimensional elastostatic problem of a Mode I crack whose shape can vary. Results are obtained by specifying the first and second order variations of integral functionals on crack surface displacements. Constraints are invoked such that the opening crack is either unable to resist tensile stresses or its partial closure take place. Extermal properties are established for the crack with the unknown free boundary. A gradient type procedure is used for determining the crack opening domain. Discussed also is the energetic treatment of the crack problem.     

Measurements and simulations of particle dispersion in a turbulent flow

A particle imaging technique has been used to collect droplet displacement statistics in a round turbulent jet of air. Droplets are injected on the jet axis, and a laser sheet and position-sensitive photomultiplier tube are used to track their radial displacement and time-of-flight. Dispersion statistics can be computed which are Lagrangian or Eulerian in nature. The experiments have been simulated numerically using a second-order closure scheme for the jet and a stochastic simulation for the particle trajectories. Results are presented for non-vaporizing droplets of sizes from 35 to 160 μm. The simulations have underscored the importance of initial conditions and early droplet displacement history on the droplet trajectory for droplets with large inertia relative to the turbulence. Estimates of initial conditions have been made and their effect on dispersion is quantified.     

An implicit mixed finite-volume–finite-element method for solving 3D turbulent compressible flows

The development of new aeronautic projects require accurate and efficient simulations of compressible flows in complex geometries. It is well known that most flows of interest are at least locally turbulent and that the modelling of this turbulence is critical for the reliability of the computations. A turbulence closure model which is both cheap and reasonably accurate is an essential part of a compressible code. An implicit algorithm to solve the 2D and 3D compressible Navier–Stokes equations on unstructured triangular/tetrahedral grids has been extended to turbulent flows. This numerical scheme is based on second-order finite element–finite volume discretization: the diffusive and source terms of the Navier–Stokes equations are computed using a finite element method, while the other terms are computed with a finite volume method. Finite volume cells are built around each node by means of the medians. The convective fluxes are evaluated with the approximate Riemann solver of Roe coupled with the van Albada limiter. The standard k–ϵ model has been introduced to take into account turbulence. Implicit integration schemes with efficient numerical methods (CGS, GMRES and various preconditioning techniques) have also been implemented. Our interest is to present the whole method and to demonstrate its limitations on some well-known test cases in three-dimensional geometries. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Block elements in the theory of plates of irregular shape

The problem of studying the stress-strain state is considered for plates of irregular three-dimensional nonclassical shape made of a linear-elastic material, for example, for pyramidal or prismoidal plates. The block element method is used together with the vector eigenfunction method. This approach allows one to reduce the problem to solving a system of second-order integral equations with a second-order completely continuous operator and a separate equation in stresses and displacements.     

A Conditional Moment Closure Study of Chemical Reaction Source Terms in SCCI Combustion

The objective of this study is to evaluate conditional moment closure (CMC) approaches to model chemical reaction rates in compositionally stratified, autoigniting mixtures, in thermochemical conditions relevant to stratified charge compression ignition (SCCI) engines. First-order closure, second-order closure and double conditioning are evaluated and contrasted as options in comparison to a series of direct numerical simulations (DNSs). The two-dimensional (2D) DNS cases simulate ignitions in SCCI-like thermochemical conditions with compositionally stratified n-heptane/air mixtures in a constant volume. The cases feature two different levels of stratification with three mean temperatures in the negative-temperature coefficient (NTC) regime of ignition delay times. The first-order closure approach for reaction rates is first assessed using hybrid DNS-CMC a posteriori tests when implemented in an open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package known as OpenFOAM\(^{{\circledR }}\). The hybrid DNS-CMC a posteriori tests are not a full CMC but a DNS-CMC hybrid in that they compute the scalar and velocity fields at the DNS resolution, thus isolating the first-order reaction rate closure model as the main source of modelling error (as opposed to turbulence model, scalar probability density function model, and scalar dissipation rate model). The hybrid DNS-CMC a posteriori test reveals an excellent agreement between the model and DNS for the cases with low levels of stratification, whereas deviations from the DNS are observed in cases which exhibit high level of stratifications. The a priori analysis reveals that the reason for disagreement is failure of the first-order closure hypothesis in the model due to the high level of conditional fluctuations. Second-order and double conditioning approaches are then evaluated in a priori tests to determine the most promising path forwards in addressing higher levels of stratification. The a priori tests use the DNS data to compute the model terms, thus directly evaluating the model assumptions. It is shown that in the cases with a high level of stratification, even the second-order estimation of the reaction rate source term cannot provide a reasonably accurate closure. Double conditioning using mixture-fraction and sensible enthalpy, however, provides an accurate first-order closure to the reaction rate source term.     

Monte Carlo simulation in the stochastic analysis of non-linear systems under external stationary Poisson white noise input

A method for the evaluation of the probability density function (p.d.f.) of the response process of non-linear systems under external stationary Poisson white noise excitation is presented. The method takes advantage of the great accuracy of the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) in evaluating the first two moments of the response process by considering just few samples. The quasi-moment neglect closure is used to close the infinite hierarchy of the moment differential equations of the response process. Moreover, in order to determine the higher order statistical moments of the response, the second-order probabilistic information given by MCS in conjunction with the quasi-moment neglect closure leads to a set of linear differential equations. The quasi-moments up to a given order are used as partial probabilistic information on the response process in order to find the p.d.f. by means of the C-type Gram-Charlier series expansion.