Maximum velocity for wave propagation in a relativistic rarefied gas

Considering the hyperbolic symmetric system of moments associated with the relativistic Boltzmann-Chernikov equation and closed through procedures of Extended Thermodynamics, we determine numerically the maximum characteristic wave velocity for degenerate and non-degenerate gases. As predicted by recent results, this velocity increases monotonically with respect to the number of moments and tends asymptotically to the speed of light. We show that many moments are often required to approach with a good approximation the speed of light. The dependence of the maximum characteristic wave velocity on the properties of the materials is also investigated and it turns out that it depends significantly on the chemical potential only in the case of Fermions gases. Received April 24, 1999     

Statistical characteristics of the diffusion of a chemically active additive in a turbulent mixing zone

In the article a numerical solution of the connected system of the equations of turbulent transfer for the fields of the velocity and concentration of a chemically active additive is used to calculate a number of the second moments of the concentration field in a flat mixing zone. The system of transfer equations is derived from the equations for a common function of the distribution of the fields of the pulsations of the velocity and the concentration [1] and is simplified in the approximation of the boundary layer. A closed form of the transfer equations is obtained on the level of three moments, using the hypothesis of four moments [2] and its generalized form for mixed moments of the field of the velocity and the field of a passive scalar. The differential operator of the closed system of the equations of turbulent transfer for the fields of the velocity and the concentration is found by a method of closure not of the parabolic type but of a weakly hyperbolic type [3]. An implicit difference scheme proposed in [4] is used for the numerical solution. The results of the numerical solution are compared with the experimental data of [5].     

Moment equations in the kinetic theory of gases and wave velocities

We consider the evolution system for N-moments of the Boltzmann equation and we require the compatibility with an entropy law. This implies that the distribution function depends only on a single scalar variable which is a polynomial in . It is then possible to construct the generators such that the system assumes a symmetric hyperbolic form in the main field. For an arbitrary we prove that the systems obtained maximise the entropy density. If we require that the entropy coincides with the usual one of non-degenerate gases, we obtain an exponential function for , which was already found by Dreyer. From these results the behaviour of the characteristic wave velocities for an increasing number of moments is studied and we show that in the classical theory the maximum velocity increases and tends to infinity, while in the relativistic case the wave and shock velocities are bounded by the speed of light. Received June 5, 1997     

Solutions of the moment hierarchy in the kinetic theory of Maxwell models

In the Maxwell interaction model the collision rate is independent of the relative velocity of the colliding pair and, as a consequence, the collisional moments are bilinear combinations of velocity moments of the same or lower order. In general, however, the drift term of the Boltzmann equation couples moments of a given order to moments of a higher order, thus preventing the solvability of the moment hierarchy, unless approximate closures are introduced. On the other hand, there exist a number of states where the moment hierarchy can be recursively solved, the solution generally exposing non-Newtonian properties. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of results pertaining to some of those states, namely the planar Fourier flow (without and with a constant gravity field), the planar Couette flow, the force-driven Poiseuille flow, and the uniform shear flow.     

The BGK-model with velocity-dependent collision frequency

We consider the BGK-model with velocity dependent collision frequency. By use of the Chapman-Enskog method we calculate thermal conductivity and viscosity. We show that a simple power law for the collision frequency may lead to the proper Prandtl number. Moreover we use Grad's moment method to calculate thermal conductivity and viscosity. We show that the results of both methods coincide if Grad's method is based on a large number of moments. Received: December 12, 1996     

Upper bound analysis of thick wall tubes extrusion process through rotating curved dies

In this study, extrusion process of thick wall tubes through rotating curved dies is investigated by the method of upper bound. Total deformation region is divided into four deformation zones and a velocity field is developed for each deformation zone. The twist moments generated on container and mandrel surfaces are calculated and by equating them with the twist moment exerted by rotating die, the twisting length of tube inside the container is determined. Then, the internal powers, the powers dissipated on frictional and velocity discontinuity surfaces for a rigid-perfectly plastic material are evaluated and they are used in upper bound model. By optimizing the total power with respect to the slippage parameter between die and the tube material, the required relative extrusion pressure for a given process conditions and die angular velocity is determined. The results of finite element simulations are also presented and satisfactory agreement between the calculated and FEM results are demonstrated.     

Experimental investigation of a maximum entropy assumption for acceleration terms within a poly‐disperse moment framework

Moment transport methods are being developed to model poly‐dispersed multiphase flows by transporting statistical moments of the particle size–velocity joint probability density function (JPDF). A common feature of these methods is the requirement to reproduce or approximate the form of the JPDF from the transported moments for calculation of body force terms and other source terms. This paper examines the application of a maximum entropy technique against phase Doppler anemometry data sets from an electrostatically charged kerosene spray and also an automotive pressure swirl atomizer. An assessment of which moments are required to reproduce the JPDFs using a maximum entropy assumption to a sufficient level of accuracy is made. It is found that it is possible to reproduce the JPDFs to a high level of accuracy using a large number of moments; however, this incurs large computational overheads. If the moments to be transported are chosen on the basis of physical reasoning (such as the relationship between size and velocity due to drag) it is possible to reduce the number of moments to those which would be conserved via balance equations. This permits an approximation to the JPDF commensurate with the closure level of the moment transport method and thus the closure model method is naturally scalable with the degree of information from available conservation equations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hyperbolic Principal Subsystems: Entropy Convexity and Subcharacteristic Conditions

We consider a system of N balance laws compatible with an entropy principle and convex entropy density. Using the special symmetric form induced by the main field, we define the concept of principal subsystem associated with the system. We prove that the 2 ^N −2 principal subsystems are also symmetric hyperbolic and satisfy a subentropy law. Moreover we can verify that for each principal subsystem the maximum (minimum) characteristic velocity is not larger (smaller) than the maximum (minimum) characteristic velocity of the full system. These are the subcharacteristic conditions. We present some simple examples in the case of the Euler fluid. Then in the case of dissipative hyperbolic systems we consider an equilibrium principal subsystem and we discuss the consequences in the setting of extended thermodynamics. Finally in the moments approach to the Boltzmann equation we prove, as a consequence of the previous result, that the maximum characteristic velocity evaluated at the equilibrium state does not decrease when the number of moments increases. (Accepted October 6, 1995)     

On spatial resolution issues related to time-averaged quantities using hot-wire anemometry

The effect of spatial resolution on streamwise velocity measurements with single hot-wires is targeted in the present study, where efforts have been made to distinguish between spatial resolution and Reynolds number effects. The basis for measurements to accurately determine the mean velocity and higher order moments is that the probability density distribution is measured correctly. It is well known that the turbulence intensity is increasingly attenuated with increasing wire length. Here, it is also shown (probably for the first time) that besides the probability density distribution and hence the higher order moments, even the mean velocity is affected, albeit to subtle extent, but with important consequences in studies of concurrent wall-bounded turbulence.     

Wave and shock velocities in relativistic magnetohydrodynamics compared with the speed of light

We prove that the natural thermodynamic restrictions on the constitutive equations in relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (stability of equilibrium state) are necessary and sufficient to guarantee that the normal and the radial velocity of the wave front of disturbances and the shock velocity do not exceed the light speed.     

An experimental study into the effects of streamwise and spanwise acceleration in a turbulent boundary layer

We compare two turbulent boundary layers produced in a low-speed water channel experiment. Both are subjected to an identical streamwise pressure gradient generated via a lateral contraction of the channel, and an additional spanwise pressure gradient is imposed on one of the layers by curving the contraction walls. Despite a relatively high streamwise acceleration, hot-film probe measurements of the mean-velocity distributions show that the Reynolds number increases whilst the coefficient of friction decreases downstream. Visualization of the viscous layers using hydrogen bubbles reveal an increase in the non-dimensional streak spacing in response to the acceleration. Changes in statistical moments of the streamwise velocity near the wall suggest an increased dominance of high-velocity fluctuations. The near-wall streaks and velocity statistics have little sensitivity to the boundary layer three-dimensionality induced by the spanwise pressure gradient, with the boundary-layer crossflow velocity reaching 11 % that of the local freestream velocity.     

Calculation of the Slip Velocity of a Rarefied Gas on a Solid Spherical Surface with Allowance for Accommodation Coefficients

The slip velocity of a rarefied gas with inhomogeneous temperature and mass velocity on a solid spherical surface is calculated with the use of a twomoment boundary condition in the linear approximation in terms of the Knudsen number. The dependence of the slip velocity on accommodation coefficients of the two first moments of the distribution function is studied.     

Singularity of Inertial Particle Concentration in the Viscous Sublayer of Wall-bounded Turbulent Flows

The exact kinetic equation for probability density function (PDF) of the velocity and the position of inertial particle transported by turbulent non-Gaussian fluid velocity fields in the viscous sublayer of wall-bounded turbulent flow is analyzed by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. It is shown that the particle concentration near the wall exhibits a power-law singularity giving rise to the phenomenon of particle accumulation. It is shown how the corresponding exponent depends upon the particle Stokes number. The result is in good agreement with previously published results of numerical simulations. A corresponding singularity is found for the standardized higher-order moments of particle velocity.     

Experimental study of an impinging jet with different swirl rates

A stereo PIV technique using advanced pre- and post-processing algorithms is implemented for the experimental study of the local structure of turbulent swirling impinging jets. The main emphasis of the present work is the analysis of the influence of swirl rate on the flow structure. During measurements, the Reynolds number was 8900, the nozzle-to-plate distance was equal to three nozzle diameters and the swirl rate was varied from 0 to 1.0. For the studied flows, spatial distributions of the mean velocity and statistical moments (including triple moments) of turbulent pulsations were measured.

The influence of the PIV finite spatial resolution on the measured dissipation rate and velocity moments was analyzed and compared with theoretical predictions. For this purpose, a special series of 2D PIV measurements was carried out with vector spacing up to several Kolmogorov lengthscales.

All terms of the axial mean momentum and the turbulent kinetic energy budget equations were obtained for the cross-section located one nozzle diameter from the impinging plate. For the TKE budget, the dissipation term was directly calculated from the instantaneous velocity fields, thereby allowing the pressure diffusion term to be found as a residual one. It was found that the magnitude of pressure diffusion decreased with the growth of the swirl rate. In general, the studied swirling impinging jets had a greater spread rate and a more rapid decay in absolute velocity when compared to the non-swirling jet.     

Fluid models for relativistic electron beams

A system of equations is provided that may be used in the study of relativistic charged particle beams. The equations are based upon the equations of the kinetic theory for first, second and third order moments and the system is closed by letting the third order moment depend on the lower order ones. The form of that dependence is formally equal to the explicit constitutive function given by extended thermodynamics. However, here the contributions to the third order moment can be classed as being different in order of magnitude, because there is a smallness parameter characterizing the small dispersion of the particle beam. The resulting system of equations is quite specific, it is fully covariant and it is equivalent to a symmetric hyperbolic system thus ensuring existence and uniqueness of solutions.     

Euler-Lagrange Equations for Nonlinearly Elastic Rods with Self-Contact

 We derive the Euler-Lagrange equations for nonlinearly elastic rods with self-contact. The excluded-volume constraint is formulated in terms of an upper bound on the global curvature of the centre line. This condition is shown to guarantee the global injectivity of the deformation of the elastic rod. Topological constraints such as a prescribed knot and link class to model knotting and supercoiling phenomena as observed, e.g., in DNA-molecules, are included by using the notion of isotopy and Gaussian linking number. The bound on the global curvature as a nonsmooth side condition requires the use of Clarke's generalized gradients to obtain the explicit structure of the contact forces, which appear naturally as Lagrange multipliers in the Euler-Lagrange equations. Transversality conditions are discussed and higher regularity for the strains, moments, the centre line and the directors is shown. (Accepted December 20, 2002) Published online April 8, 2003 Communicated by S. S. Antman     

Dynamics of martensitic phase boundaries: discreteness, dissipation and inertia

We study a fully inertial model of a martensitic phase transition in a one-dimensional crystal lattice with long-range interactions. The model allows one to represent a broad range of dynamic regimes, from underdamped to overdamped. We systematically compare the discrete model with its various continuum counterparts including elastic, viscoelastic and viscosity-capillarity models. Each of these models generates a particular kinetic relation which links the driving force with the phase boundary velocity. We find that the viscoelastic model provides an upper bound for the critical driving force predicted by the discrete model, while the viscosity-capillarity model delivers a lower bound. We show that at near-sonic velocities, where inertia dominates dispersion, both discrete and continuum models behave qualitatively similarly. At small velocities, and in particular near the depinning threshold, the discreteness prevails and predictions of the continuum models cannot be trusted.      

Bulk Burning Rate in¶Passive–Reactive Diffusion

We consider a passive scalar that is advected by a prescribed mean zero divergence-free velocity field, diffuses, and reacts according to a KPP-type nonlinear reaction. We introduce a quantity, the bulk burning rate, that makes both mathematical and physical sense in general situations and extends the often ill-defined notion of front speed. We establish rigorous lower bounds for the bulk burning rate that are linear in the amplitude of the advecting velocity for a large class of flows. These “percolating” flows are characterized by the presence of tubes of streamlines connecting distant regions of burned and unburned material and generalize shear flows. The bound contains geometric information on the velocity streamlines and degenerates when these oscillate on scales that are finer than the width of the laminar burning region. We give also examples of very different kind of flows, cellular flows with closed streamlines, and rigorously prove that these can produce only sub-linea enhancement of the bulk burning rate. Accepted: December 16, 1999?Published online August 15, 2000     

Relations for particle deposition in turbulent gas-particle channel flows

Using the dimensional and similarity analysis in a combination with the method of matched asymptotic expansions, the problem of particle deposition on boundaries in high-Reynolds number turbulent channel flows is studied. Based on the conventional two-layer scheme of a turbulent near-wall flow, the relations for the distributions of the particle concentration and the velocity fluctuation moments in the wall region are obtained. Asymptotic laws are derived for the particle deposition rate for diffusion-impact and inertial deposition regimes.