Numerical prediction of locally forced turbulent separated and reattaching flow

An unsteady numerical simulation was performed for locally forced separated and reattaching flow over a backward-facing step. The local forcing was given to the separated and reattaching flow by means of a sinusoidally oscillating jet from a separation line. A version of the k––f_μ model was employed, in which the near-wall behavior without reference to distance and the nonequilibrium effect in the recirculation region were incorporated. The Reynolds number based on the step height (H) was fixed at Re_H=33 000, and the forcing frequency was varied in the range 0St_H2. The predicted results were compared and validated with the experimental data of Chun and Chun. It was shown that the unsteady locally forced separated and reattaching flows are predicted reasonably well with the k––f_μ model. To characterize the large-scale vortex evolution due to the local forcing, numerical flow visualizations were carried out.     

Hydrodynamic diffusivity of spherical particles in polymer solution

In this research experiments were performed to examine the hydrodynamic diffusion of spherical particles in a highly filled suspension. The suspension consisted of nearly monodisperse polymethylmethacrylate spheres in a density matched polymer solution. The polymer solution was prepared by dissolving 0–700 ppm of polyacrylamide in a mixture of ethyleneglycol and glycerine. The polymer solution did not show appreciable shear thinning. The particle loading was varied from 30 to 55%. The hydrodynamic diffusivity was estimated by measuring the time-dependent viscosity when the suspension was subjected to a circular Couette flow with an air bubble trapped under the rotor of the Couette apparatus. The results show that the dimensionless diffusivity (D/γ˙a ²) of particles in polymer solution is not proportional to shear rate (γ˙), as in the case of a Newtonian fluid, but that it decreases with increasing shear rate. The diffusivity also decreases with increasing polymer concentration. It is suggested that the elongational thickening behaviour and the increased lubrication force due to the first normal stress difference may be responsible for the reduction of diffusivity in the polymer solution. Received: 18 January 2000 Accepted: 6 April 2000     

Divergent channel flow of a liquid crystalline polymer solution

 The flow of a `model' lyotropic liquid crystal polymer, (hydroxypropyl)cellulose in water, through a rectangular channel with a divergence in the channel width, is studied by in situ light microscopy. Microscopic texture observations are related to measurements of the flow velocity field, in order to characterize the shear and elongational aspects of the flow and to examine the effects of the divergence from a narrow channel to a wide channel. A strong dependence of flow-induced texture on position in the channel is observed and is related to the interplay of shear and elongational strain. The divergence generates both a perpendicular elongational strain due to the widening of the channel, and subsequently an elongational strain along the flow direction due to the change in flow pattern from quasi-radial to unidirectional down the wide channel. Additionally side wall structure is observed to be more complex than a simple strong alignment, displaying a fine birefringent texture. Finally there is a marked dependence of the macroscopic structure on the strain history of the fluid prior to entry into the channel, indicating that very different structures of, for instance, moulded parts, can result from differences in geometry and fluid treatment prior to entry into the mould itself. Received: 12 October 1999/Accepted: 29 October 1999     

Pore Scale Modeling of Rate Effects in Imbibition

We use pore scale network modeling to study the effects of flow rate and contact angle on imbibition relative permeabilities. The model accounts for flow in wetting layers that occupy roughness or crevices in the pore space. Viscous forces are accounted for by solving for the wetting phase pressure and assuming a fixed conductance in wetting layers. Three-dimensional simulations model granular media, whereas two-dimensional runs represent fracture flow.We identify five generic types of displacement pattern as we vary capillary number, contact angle, and initial wetting phase saturation: flat frontal advance, dendritic frontal advance, bond percolation, compact cluster growth, and ramified cluster growth. Using phase diagrams we quantify the range of physical properties under which each regime is observed. The work explains apparently inconsistent experimental measurements of relative permeability in granular media and fractures.     

A New Low-Reynolds-Number One-Equation Model of Turbulence

In this study, we propose a new Low-Reynolds-Number (LRN)one-equation model, which is derived from an LRN two-equation(k-ε) model. The derivation of the transport equation, in principle, is based on the assumption that the turbulent structure parameter remains constant. However, the relation for the turbulent structure parameter a ₁(=|− |/k) is modified to account for near-wall turbulence. As a result, the present one-equation model contains a term which takes the near-wall limiting behavior explicitly into account. Thus, the present model provides the correct wall-limiting behavior of turbulence in the vicinity of the wall and can be applied to the analysis of heat transfer. The validity of the present model is tested in channel flows, boundary layer flows with and without pressure gradient, plane wall jet, and flow with separation and reattachment. The calculated results showed good agreement with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) and experimental data. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Excluded volume effects on the birefringence and stress of dilute polymer solutions in extensional flow

An algorithm is derived for calculating flow-induced birefringence using a bead-spring model with and without excluded volume effects. The simulation results for the bead-spring model compare well with experimental results for stress and birefringence in extensional flows of dilute solutions of polystyrene molecular weight 2 million in a filament-stretching device in both “theta” and “good” solvents (Orr and Sridhar 1999; Sridhar et al. 2000). In a “good” solvent, both stress and birefringence rise much more rapidly with strain than in a “theta” solvent, making extensional rheology a very sensitive indicator of solvent quality. Received: 7 December 1999 Accepted: 23 May 2000     

Hydraulics of Peat Filters Treating Septic Tank Effluent

Peat is an alternative filter medium for the treatment of various waste streams including septic tank effluent. The water holding capacity and adsorption capacity of peat make it a favorable filter medium over sand or gravel which are commonly used as the filter medium for the drainage field of septic systems. This paper presents the results of a field study to evaluate the hydraulics of a peat filter used to treat the septic tank effluent from a public school west of Ottawa, Canada. An experimental box was placed within the filter during its construction to provide access to the vertical profile of the peat layer. The filter is periodically pulsed with septic tank effluent, which is distributed over the top of the filter and flows vertically through the peat. The filter was instrumented with tensiometers and transducers to monitor the pore water pressures in response to a pulse of septic tank effluent. An in-depth study of the hydraulics of the system was completed. The soil moisture retention curve and the hydraulic conductivity as a function of density were determined in laboratory experiments. A one-dimensional unsaturated flow model was used to predict the pressure response due to a pulse. A comparison of the field and model results illustrates the impact of the density variations, and the corresponding hydraulic conductivity variations, on the model predictions. The compaction of the peat is an important design consideration for the filter since it directly impacts the flow characteristics and the hydraulic retention time within the filter.     

A closure approximation for nematic liquid crystals based on the canonical distribution subspace theory

 A closure approximation for nematic polymers is presented. It approximates the fourth rank order tensor in terms of lower rank tensors, and is derived in the framework of the canonical distribution subspace theory. This approach requires a choice of the class of distributions: Here the set of Bingham distributions is chosen, as already introduced by Chaubal and Leal (1998). The closure is written in a generic frame of reference, and in an explicit form, so that it can be easily implemented. Such formulation also permits studying the closure approximation with continuation tools, which rather completely describe the system dynamics. The predictions can then be compared with those obtained with the exact model. The shear flow is considered as a test, since this flow condition appears to be the most demanding for closure approximations for nematic polymers. Received: 30 November 1999/Accepted: 30 November 1999     

Kähler–Ricci Flow With Small Initial Energy

In this paper, we prove that the K?hler–Ricci flow converges to a K?hler–Einstein metric when E ₁ energy is small. We also prove that E ₁ is bounded from below if and only if the K-energy is bounded from below in the canonical class. The first named author is partially supported by a NSF grant, while the third author was partially supported by a NSF supplement grant.