The lagRST Model: A Turbulence Model for Non-Equilibrium Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lillard, Randolph P.; Oliver, A. Brandon; Olsen, Michael E.; Blaisdell, Gregory A.; Lyrintzis, Anastasios S.

2011-01-01

This study presents a new class of turbulence model designed for wall bounded, high Reynolds number flows with separation. The model addresses deficiencies seen in the modeling of nonequilibrium turbulent flows. These flows generally have variable adverse pressure gradients which cause the turbulent quantities to react at a finite rate to changes in the mean flow quantities. This "lag" in the response of the turbulent quantities can t be modeled by most standard turbulence models, which are designed to model equilibrium turbulent boundary layers. The model presented uses a standard 2-equation model as the baseline for turbulent equilibrium calculations, but adds transport equations to account directly for non-equilibrium effects in the Reynolds Stress Tensor (RST) that are seen in large pressure gradients involving shock waves and separation. Comparisons are made to several standard turbulence modeling validation cases, including an incompressible boundary layer (both neutral and adverse pressure gradients), an incompressible mixing layer and a transonic bump flow. In addition, a hypersonic Shock Wave Turbulent Boundary Layer Interaction with separation is assessed along with a transonic capsule flow. Results show a substantial improvement over the baseline models for transonic separated flows. The results are mixed for the SWTBLI flows assessed. Separation predictions are not as good as the baseline models, but the over prediction of the peak heat flux downstream of the reattachment shock that plagues many models is reduced.

Numerical prediction of transitional features of turbulent forced gas flows in circular tubes with strong heating

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ezato, K.; Shehata, A.M.; Kunugi, T.

1999-08-01

In order to treat strongly heated, forced gas flows at low Reynolds numbers in vertical circular tubes, the {kappa}-{epsilon} turbulence model of Abe, Kondoh, and Nagano (1994), developed for forced turbulent flow between parallel plates with the constant property idealization, has been successfully applied. For thermal energy transport, the turbulent Prandtl number model of Kays and Crawford (1993) was adopted. The capability to handle these flows was assessed via calculations at the conditions of experiments by Shehata (1984), ranging from essentially turbulent to laminarizing due to the heating. Predictions forecast the development of turbulent transport quantities, Reynolds stress, and turbulentmore » heat flux, as well as turbulent viscosity and turbulent kinetic energy. Overall agreement between the calculations and the measured velocity and temperature distributions is good, establishing confidence in the values of the forecast turbulence quantities--and the model which produced them. Most importantly, the model yields predictions which compare well with the measured wall heat transfer parameters and the pressure drop.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zentgraf, Florian; Baum, Elias; Dreizler, Andreas

Planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) and tomographic PIV (TPIV) measurements are utilized to analyze turbulent statistical theory quantities and the instantaneous turbulence within a single-cylinder optical engine. Measurements are performed during the intake and mid-compression stroke at 800 and 1500 RPM. TPIV facilitates the evaluation of spatially resolved Reynolds stress tensor (RST) distributions, anisotropic Reynolds stress invariants, and instantaneous turbulent vortical structures. The RST analysis describes distributions of individual velocity fluctuation components that arise from unsteady turbulent flow behavior as well as cycle-to-cycle variability (CCV). A conditional analysis, for which instantaneous PIV images are sampled by their tumble center location,more » reveals that CCV and turbulence have similar contributions to RST distributions at the mean tumble center, but turbulence is dominant in regions peripheral to the tumble center. Analysis of the anisotropic Reynolds stress invariants reveals the spatial distribution of axisymmetric expansion, axisymmetric contraction, and 3D isotropy within the cylinder. Findings indicate that the mid-compression flow exhibits a higher tendency toward 3D isotropy than the intake flow. A novel post-processing algorithm is utilized to classify the geometry of instantaneous turbulent vortical structures and evaluate their frequency of occurrence within the cylinder. Findings are coupled with statistical theory quantities to provide a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of turbulent velocity components, the distribution of anisotropic states of turbulence, and compare the turbulent vortical flow distribution that is theoretically expected to what is experimentally observed. The analyses reveal requisites of important turbulent flow quantities and discern their sensitivity to the local flow topography and engine operation.« less

Survey and analysis of multiresolution methods for turbulence data

DOE PAGES

Pulido, Jesus; Livescu, Daniel; Woodring, Jonathan; ...

2015-11-10

This paper compares the effectiveness of various multi-resolution geometric representation methods, such as B-spline, Daubechies, Coiflet and Dual-tree wavelets, curvelets and surfacelets, to capture the structure of fully developed turbulence using a truncated set of coefficients. The turbulence dataset is obtained from a Direct Numerical Simulation of buoyancy driven turbulence on a 512 3 mesh size, with an Atwood number, A = 0.05, and turbulent Reynolds number, Re t = 1800, and the methods are tested against quantities pertaining to both velocities and active scalar (density) fields and their derivatives, spectra, and the properties of constant density surfaces. The comparisonsmore » between the algorithms are given in terms of performance, accuracy, and compression properties. The results should provide useful information for multi-resolution analysis of turbulence, coherent feature extraction, compression for large datasets handling, as well as simulations algorithms based on multi-resolution methods. In conclusion, the final section provides recommendations for best decomposition algorithms based on several metrics related to computational efficiency and preservation of turbulence properties using a reduced set of coefficients.« less

Testing of transition-region models: Test cases and data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singer, Bart A.; Dinavahi, Surya; Iyer, Venkit

1991-01-01

Mean flow quantities in the laminar turbulent transition region and in the fully turbulent region are predicted with different models incorporated into a 3-D boundary layer code. The predicted quantities are compared with experimental data for a large number of different flows and the suitability of the models for each flow is evaluated.

Validation of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Code for Supersonic Axisymmetric Base Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tucker, P. Kevin

1993-01-01

The ability to accurately and efficiently calculate the flow structure in the base region of bodies of revolution in supersonic flight is a significant step in CFD code validation for applications ranging from base heating for rockets to drag for protectives. The FDNS code is used to compute such a flow and the results are compared to benchmark quality experimental data. Flowfield calculations are presented for a cylindrical afterbody at M = 2.46 and angle of attack a = O. Grid independent solutions are compared to mean velocity profiles in the separated wake area and downstream of the reattachment point. Additionally, quantities such as turbulent kinetic energy and shear layer growth rates are compared to the data. Finally, the computed base pressures are compared to the measured values. An effort is made to elucidate the role of turbulence models in the flowfield predictions. The level of turbulent eddy viscosity, and its origin, are used to contrast the various turbulence models and compare the results to the experimental data.

Large-Eddy Simulation Sensitivities to Variations of Configuration and Forcing Parameters in Canonical Boundary-Layer Flows for Wind Energy Applications

DOE PAGES

Mirocha, Jeffrey D.; Churchfield, Matthew J.; Munoz-Esparza, Domingo; ...

2017-08-28

Here, the sensitivities of idealized Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) to variations of model configuration and forcing parameters on quantities of interest to wind power applications are examined. Simulated wind speed, turbulent fluxes, spectra and cospectra are assessed in relation to variations of two physical factors, geostrophic wind speed and surface roughness length, and several model configuration choices, including mesh size and grid aspect ratio, turbulence model, and numerical discretization schemes, in three different code bases. Two case studies representing nearly steady neutral and convective atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flow conditions over nearly flat and homogeneous terrain were used to force andmore » assess idealized LES, using periodic lateral boundary conditions. Comparison with fast-response velocity measurements at five heights within the lowest 50 m indicates that most model configurations performed similarly overall, with differences between observed and predicted wind speed generally smaller than measurement variability. Simulations of convective conditions produced turbulence quantities and spectra that matched the observations well, while those of neutral simulations produced good predictions of stress, but smaller than observed magnitudes of turbulence kinetic energy, likely due to tower wakes influencing the measurements. While sensitivities to model configuration choices and variability in forcing can be considerable, idealized LES are shown to reliably reproduce quantities of interest to wind energy applications within the lower ABL during quasi-ideal, nearly steady neutral and convective conditions over nearly flat and homogeneous terrain.« less

Large-Eddy Simulation Sensitivities to Variations of Configuration and Forcing Parameters in Canonical Boundary-Layer Flows for Wind Energy Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mirocha, Jeffrey D.; Churchfield, Matthew J.; Munoz-Esparza, Domingo

Here, the sensitivities of idealized Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) to variations of model configuration and forcing parameters on quantities of interest to wind power applications are examined. Simulated wind speed, turbulent fluxes, spectra and cospectra are assessed in relation to variations of two physical factors, geostrophic wind speed and surface roughness length, and several model configuration choices, including mesh size and grid aspect ratio, turbulence model, and numerical discretization schemes, in three different code bases. Two case studies representing nearly steady neutral and convective atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flow conditions over nearly flat and homogeneous terrain were used to force andmore » assess idealized LES, using periodic lateral boundary conditions. Comparison with fast-response velocity measurements at five heights within the lowest 50 m indicates that most model configurations performed similarly overall, with differences between observed and predicted wind speed generally smaller than measurement variability. Simulations of convective conditions produced turbulence quantities and spectra that matched the observations well, while those of neutral simulations produced good predictions of stress, but smaller than observed magnitudes of turbulence kinetic energy, likely due to tower wakes influencing the measurements. While sensitivities to model configuration choices and variability in forcing can be considerable, idealized LES are shown to reliably reproduce quantities of interest to wind energy applications within the lower ABL during quasi-ideal, nearly steady neutral and convective conditions over nearly flat and homogeneous terrain.« less

Calculations of turbulent separated flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, J.; Shih, T. H.

1993-01-01

A numerical study of incompressible turbulent separated flows is carried out by using two-equation turbulence models of the K-epsilon type. On the basis of realizability analysis, a new formulation of the eddy-viscosity is proposed which ensures the positiveness of turbulent normal stresses - a realizability condition that most existing two-equation turbulence models are unable to satisfy. The present model is applied to calculate two backward-facing step flows. Calculations with the standard K-epsilon model and a recently developed RNG-based K-epsilon model are also made for comparison. The calculations are performed with a finite-volume method. A second-order accurate differencing scheme and sufficiently fine grids are used to ensure the numerical accuracy of solutions. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data for both mean and turbulent quantities. The comparison shows that the present model performs quite well for separated flows.

Magnetic field line random walk in two-dimensional dynamical turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. F.; Qin, G.; Ma, Q. M.; Song, T.; Yuan, S. B.

2017-08-01

The field line random walk (FLRW) of magnetic turbulence is one of the important topics in plasma physics and astrophysics. In this article, by using the field line tracing method, the mean square displacement (MSD) of FLRW is calculated on all possible length scales for pure two-dimensional turbulence with the damping dynamical model. We demonstrate that in order to describe FLRW with the damping dynamical model, a new dimensionless quantity R is needed to be introduced. On different length scales, dimensionless MSD shows different relationships with the dimensionless quantity R. Although the temporal effect affects the MSD of FLRW and even changes regimes of FLRW, it does not affect the relationship between the dimensionless MSD and dimensionless quantity R on all possible length scales.

Analysis of uncertainties and convergence of the statistical quantities in turbulent wall-bounded flows by means of a physically based criterion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrade, João Rodrigo; Martins, Ramon Silva; Thompson, Roney Leon; Mompean, Gilmar; da Silveira Neto, Aristeu

2018-04-01

The present paper provides an analysis of the statistical uncertainties associated with direct numerical simulation (DNS) results and experimental data for turbulent channel and pipe flows, showing a new physically based quantification of these errors, to improve the determination of the statistical deviations between DNSs and experiments. The analysis is carried out using a recently proposed criterion by Thompson et al. ["A methodology to evaluate statistical errors in DNS data of plane channel flows," Comput. Fluids 130, 1-7 (2016)] for fully turbulent plane channel flows, where the mean velocity error is estimated by considering the Reynolds stress tensor, and using the balance of the mean force equation. It also presents how the residual error evolves in time for a DNS of a plane channel flow, and the influence of the Reynolds number on its convergence rate. The root mean square of the residual error is shown in order to capture a single quantitative value of the error associated with the dimensionless averaging time. The evolution in time of the error norm is compared with the final error provided by DNS data of similar Reynolds numbers available in the literature. A direct consequence of this approach is that it was possible to compare different numerical results and experimental data, providing an improved understanding of the convergence of the statistical quantities in turbulent wall-bounded flows.

Theoretical study of reactive and nonreactive turbulent coaxial jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gupta, R. N.; Wakelyn, N. T.

1976-01-01

The hydrodynamic properties and the reaction kinetics of axisymmetric coaxial turbulent jets having steady mean quantities are investigated. From the analysis, limited to free turbulent boundary layer mixing of such jets, it is found that the two-equation model of turbulence is adequate for most nonreactive flows. For the reactive flows, where an allowance must be made for second order correlations of concentration fluctuations in the finite rate chemistry for initially inhomogeneous mixture, an equation similar to the concentration fluctuation equation of a related model is suggested. For diffusion limited reactions, the eddy breakup model based on concentration fluctuations is found satisfactory and simple to use. The theoretical results obtained from these various models are compared with some of the available experimental data.

On the application of a hairpin vortex model of wall turbulence to trailing edge noise prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, N. S.; Shamroth, S. J.

1985-01-01

The goal is to develop a technique via a hairpin vortex model of the turbulent boundary layer, which would lead to the estimation of the aerodynamic input for use in trailing edge noise prediction theories. The work described represents an initial step in reaching this goal. The hairpin vortex is considered as the underlying structure of the wall turbulence and the turbulent boundary layer is viewed as an ensemble of typical hairpin vortices of different sizes. A synthesis technique is examined which links the mean flow and various turbulence quantities via these typical vortices. The distribution of turbulence quantities among vortices of different scales follows directly from the probability distribution needed to give the measured mean flow vorticity. The main features of individual representative hairpin vortices are discussed in detail and a preliminary assessment of the synthesis approach is made.

How we compute N matters to estimates of mixing in stratified flows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arthur, Robert S.; Venayagamoorthy, Subhas K.; Koseff, Jeffrey R.

We know that most commonly used models for turbulent mixing in the ocean rely on a background stratification against which turbulence must work to stir the fluid. While this background stratification is typically well defined in idealized numerical models, it is more difficult to capture in observations. Here, a potential discrepancy in ocean mixing estimates due to the chosen calculation of the background stratification is explored using direct numerical simulation data of breaking internal waves on slopes. There are two different methods for computing the buoyancy frequencymore » $N$$, one based on a three-dimensionally sorted density field (often used in numerical models) and the other based on locally sorted vertical density profiles (often used in the field), are used to quantify the effect of$$N$$on turbulence quantities. It is shown that how$$N$$is calculated changes not only the flux Richardson number$$R_{f}$$, which is often used to parameterize turbulent mixing, but also the turbulence activity number or the Gibson number$$Gi$$, leading to potential errors in estimates of the mixing efficiency using$$Gi$-based parameterizations.« less

How we compute N matters to estimates of mixing in stratified flows

DOE PAGES

Arthur, Robert S.; Venayagamoorthy, Subhas K.; Koseff, Jeffrey R.; ...

2017-10-13

We know that most commonly used models for turbulent mixing in the ocean rely on a background stratification against which turbulence must work to stir the fluid. While this background stratification is typically well defined in idealized numerical models, it is more difficult to capture in observations. Here, a potential discrepancy in ocean mixing estimates due to the chosen calculation of the background stratification is explored using direct numerical simulation data of breaking internal waves on slopes. There are two different methods for computing the buoyancy frequencymore » $N$$, one based on a three-dimensionally sorted density field (often used in numerical models) and the other based on locally sorted vertical density profiles (often used in the field), are used to quantify the effect of$$N$$on turbulence quantities. It is shown that how$$N$$is calculated changes not only the flux Richardson number$$R_{f}$$, which is often used to parameterize turbulent mixing, but also the turbulence activity number or the Gibson number$$Gi$$, leading to potential errors in estimates of the mixing efficiency using$$Gi$-based parameterizations.« less

The evolution equation for the flame surface density in turbulent premixed combustion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trouve, A.; Poinsot, T.

1992-01-01

One central ingredient in flamelet models for turbulent premixed combustion is the flame surface density. This quantity conveys most of the effects of the turbulence on the rate of energy release and is obtained via a modeled transport equation, called the Sigma-equation. Past theoretical work has produced a rigorous approach that leads to an exact, but unclosed, formulation for the turbulent Sigma-equation. In this exact Sigma-equation, it appears that the dynamical properties of the flame surface density are determined by a single parameter, namely the turbulent flame stretch. Unfortunately, the flame surface density and the turbulent flame stretch are not available from experiments and, in the absence of experimental data, little is known on the validity of the closure assumptions used in current flamelet models. Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) is the obvious, complementary approach to get basic information on these fundamental quantities. Three-dimensional DNS of premixed flames in isotropic turbulent flow is used to estimate the different terms appearing in the Sigma-equation. A new methodology is proposed to provide the source and sink terms for the flame surface density, resolved both temporally and spatially throughout the turbulent flame brush. Using this methodology, the effects of the Lewis number on the rate of production of flame surface area are described in great detail and meaningful comparisons with flamelet models can be performed. The analysis reveals in particular the tendency of the models to overpredict flame surface dissipation as well as their inability to reproduce variations due to thermo-diffusive phenomena. Thanks to the detailed information produced by a DNS-based analysis, this type of comparison not only underscores the shortcomings of current models but also suggests ways to improve them.

Early turbulence in von Karman swirling flow of polymer solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burnishev, Yuri; Steinberg, Victor

2015-01-01

We present quantitative experimental results on the transition to early turbulence in von Karman swirling flow of water- and water-sugar-based polymer solutions compared to the transition to turbulence in their Newtonian solvents by measurements of solely global quantities as torque Γ(t) and pressure p(t) with large statistics as a function of Re. For the first time the transition values of Re_c\\textit{turb} to fully developed turbulence and turbulent drag reduction regime Re_c\\textit{TDR} are obtained as functions of elasticity El by using the solvents with different viscosities and polymer concentrations ϕ. Two scaling regions for fundamental turbulent characteristics are identified and they correspond to the turbulent and TDR regimes. Both Re_c\\textit{turb} and Re_c\\textit{TDR} are found via the dependence of the friction coefficient Cf and Cp, defined through scaled average torque \\barΓ and rms pressure fluctuations p\\textit{rms} , respectively, on Re for different El and ϕ and via the limits of the two scaling regions.

The Effect of Flow Curvature on the Axisymmetric Wake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmes, Marlin; Naughton, Jonathan

2016-11-01

The swirling turbulent wake is a perturbation to the canonical axisymmetric turbulent wake. Past studies of the axisymmetric turbulent wake have increased understanding of wake Reynolds number influence on wake characteristics such as centerline wake velocity deficit and wake width. In comparison, the axisymmetric turbulent swirling wake has received little attention. Earlier work by our group has shown that the addition of swirl can change the characteristics of the wake. The goal of this current work is to examine how wake mean flow quantities are related to the wake Reynolds number and the swirl number, where the latter quantity is the ratio of the angular momentum flux to the axial momentum deficit flux. A custom designed swirling wake generator is used in a low turbulence intensity wind tunnel flow to study the turbulent swirling wake in isolation. Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry is used to obtain three component velocity fields in the axial-radial plane. From this data, the wake Reynolds number, the swirl number, centerline velocity decay, wake width, and other relevant wake mean flow quantities are determined. Using these results, the impact of swirl on wake development is discussed. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, under Award # DE-SC0012671.

Stochastic modeling of unsteady extinction in turbulent non-premixed combustion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lackmann, T.; Hewson, J. C.; Knaus, R. C.

Turbulent fluctuations of the scalar dissipation rate have a major impact on extinction in non-premixed combustion. Recently, an unsteady extinction criterion has been developed (Hewson, 2013) that predicts extinction dependent on the duration and the magnitude of dissipation rate fluctuations exceeding a critical quenching value; this quantity is referred to as the dissipation impulse. Furthermore, the magnitude of the dissipation impulse corresponding to unsteady extinction is related to the difficulty with which a flamelet is exintguished, based on the steady-state S-curve.

Stochastic modeling of unsteady extinction in turbulent non-premixed combustion

DOE PAGES

Lackmann, T.; Hewson, J. C.; Knaus, R. C.; ...

2016-07-19

Turbulent fluctuations of the scalar dissipation rate have a major impact on extinction in non-premixed combustion. Recently, an unsteady extinction criterion has been developed (Hewson, 2013) that predicts extinction dependent on the duration and the magnitude of dissipation rate fluctuations exceeding a critical quenching value; this quantity is referred to as the dissipation impulse. Furthermore, the magnitude of the dissipation impulse corresponding to unsteady extinction is related to the difficulty with which a flamelet is exintguished, based on the steady-state S-curve.

Decay of homogeneous turbulence from a specified state

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deissler, R. G.

1972-01-01

The homogeneous turbulence problem is formulated by first specifying the multipoint velocity correlations or their spectral equivalents at an initial time. Those quantities, together with the correlation or spectral equations, are then used to calculate initial time derivatives of correlations or spectra. The derivatives in turn are used in time series to calculate the evolution of turbulence quantities with time. When the problem is treated in this way, the correlation equations are closed by the initial specification of the turbulence and no closure assumption is necessary. An exponential series which is an iterative solution of the Navier stokes equations gave much better results than a Taylor power series when used with the limited available initial data. In general, the agreement between theory and experiment was good.

Kolmogorov Behavior of Near-Wall Turbulence and Its Application in Turbulence Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Tsan-Hsing; Lumley, John L.

1992-01-01

The near-wall behavior of turbulence is re-examined in a way different from that proposed by Hanjalic and Launder and followers. It is shown that at a certain distance from the wall, all energetic large eddies will reduce to Kolmogorov eddies (the smallest eddies in turbulence). All the important wall parameters, such as friction velocity, viscous length scale, and mean strain rate at the wall, are characterized by Kolmogorov microscales. According to this Kolmogorov behavior of near-wall turbulence, the turbulence quantities, such as turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation rate, etc. at the location where the large eddies become Kolmogorov eddies, can be estimated by using both direct numerical simulation (DNS) data and asymptotic analysis of near-wall turbulence. This information will provide useful boundary conditions for the turbulent transport equations. As an example, the concept is incorporated in the standard k-epsilon model which is then applied to channel and boundary flows. Using appropriate boundary conditions (based on Kolmogorov behavior of near-wall turbulence), there is no need for any wall-modification to the k-epsilon equations (including model constants). Results compare very well with the DNS and experimental data.

Lagrangian single-particle turbulent statistics through the Hilbert-Huang transform.

PubMed

Huang, Yongxiang; Biferale, Luca; Calzavarini, Enrico; Sun, Chao; Toschi, Federico

2013-04-01

The Hilbert-Huang transform is applied to analyze single-particle Lagrangian velocity data from numerical simulations of hydrodynamic turbulence. The velocity trajectory is described in terms of a set of intrinsic mode functions C(i)(t) and of their instantaneous frequency ω(i)(t). On the basis of this decomposition we define the ω-conditioned statistical moments of the C(i) modes, named q-order Hilbert spectra (HS). We show that such quantities have enhanced scaling properties as compared to traditional Fourier transform- or correlation-based (structure functions) statistical indicators, thus providing better insights into the turbulent energy transfer process. We present clear empirical evidence that the energylike quantity, i.e., the second-order HS, displays a linear scaling in time in the inertial range, as expected from a dimensional analysis. We also measure high-order moment scaling exponents in a direct way, without resorting to the extended self-similarity procedure. This leads to an estimate of the Lagrangian structure function exponents which are consistent with the multifractal prediction in the Lagrangian frame as proposed by Biferale et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 064502 (2004)].

Experimental Investigation of Turbulence-Chemistry Interaction in High-Reynolds-Number Turbulent Partially Premixed Flames

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-23

4 . TITLE AND SUBTITLE [U] Experimental investigation of turbulence-chemistry interaction in high-Reynolds-number 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER turbulent...nonpremixed/partially premixed flames and turbulence-chemistry interaction. Turbulent mixing of mixture fraction has been studied extensively [ 4 , 14]. In a...two-feed non-premixed flame, the mixture fraction is defined as: ξ = Y − Yo YF − Yo (1) where Y is a conserved quantity such as the mass fraction of any

Analysis of turbulent heat and momentum transfer in a transitionally rough turbulent boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doosttalab, Ali; Dharmarathne, Suranga; Tutkun, Murat; Adrian, Ronald; Castillo, Luciano

2016-11-01

A zero-pressure-gradient (ZPG) turbulent boundary layer over a transitionally rough surface is studied using direct numerical simulation (DNS). The rough surface is modeled as 24-grit sandpaper which corresponds to k+ 11 , where k+ is roughness height. Reynolds number based on momentum thickness is approximately 2400. The walls are isothermal and turbulent flow Prandtl number is 0.71. We simulate temperature as passive scalar. We compute the inner product of net turbulent force (d (u1ui) / dxi) and net turbulent heat flux (d (ui θ / dxi)) in order to investigate (i) the correlation between these vectorial quantities, (II) size of the projection of these fields on each other and (IIi) alignment of momentum and hear flux. The inner product in rough case results in larger projection and better alignment. In addition, our study on the vortices shows that surface roughness promotes production of vortical structures which affects the thermal transport near the wall.

Moth-inspired navigation algorithm in a turbulent odor plume from a pulsating source.

PubMed

Liberzon, Alexander; Harrington, Kyra; Daniel, Nimrod; Gurka, Roi; Harari, Ally; Zilman, Gregory

2018-01-01

Some female moths attract male moths by emitting series of pulses of pheromone filaments propagating downwind. The turbulent nature of the wind creates a complex flow environment, and causes the filaments to propagate in the form of patches with varying concentration distributions. Inspired by moth navigation capabilities, we propose a navigation strategy that enables a flier to locate an upwind pulsating odor source in a windy environment using a single threshold-based detection sensor. This optomotor anemotaxis strategy is constructed based on the physical properties of the turbulent flow carrying discrete puffs of odor and does not involve learning, memory, complex decision making or statistical methods. We suggest that in turbulent plumes from a pulsating point source, an instantaneously measurable quantity referred as a "puff crossing time", improves the success rate as compared to the navigation strategies based on temporally regular zigzags due to intermittent contact, or an "internal counter", that do not use this information. Using computer simulations of fliers navigating in turbulent plumes of the pulsating point source for varying flow parameters such as turbulent intensities, plume meandering and wind gusts, we obtained statistics of navigation paths towards the pheromone sources. We quantified the probability of a successful navigation as well as the flight parameters such as the time spent searching and the total flight time, with respect to different turbulent intensities, meandering or gusts. The concepts learned using this model may help to design odor-based navigation of miniature airborne autonomous vehicles.

Compressible Turbulent Channel Flows: DNS Results and Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, P. G.; Coleman, G. N.; Bradshaw, P.; Rai, Man Mohan (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

The present paper addresses some topical issues in modeling compressible turbulent shear flows. The work is based on direct numerical simulation of two supersonic fully developed channel flows between very cold isothermal walls. Detailed decomposition and analysis of terms appearing in the momentum and energy equations are presented. The simulation results are used to provide insights into differences between conventional time-and Favre-averaging of the mean-flow and turbulent quantities. Study of the turbulence energy budget for the two cases shows that the compressibility effects due to turbulent density and pressure fluctuations are insignificant. In particular, the dilatational dissipation and the mean product of the pressure and dilatation fluctuations are very small, contrary to the results of simulations for sheared homogeneous compressible turbulence and to recent proposals for models for general compressible turbulent flows. This provides a possible explanation of why the Van Driest density-weighted transformation is so successful in correlating compressible boundary layer data. Finally, it is found that the DNS data do not support the strong Reynolds analogy. A more general representation of the analogy is analysed and shown to match the DNS data very well.

GPU Accelerated DG-FDF Large Eddy Simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inkarbekov, Medet; Aitzhan, Aidyn; Sammak, Shervin; Givi, Peyman; Kaltayev, Aidarkhan

2017-11-01

A GPU accelerated simulator is developed and implemented for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flows. The filtered density function (FDF) is utilized for modeling of the subgrid scale quantities. The filtered transport equations are solved via a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) and the FDF is simulated via particle based Lagrangian Monte-Carlo (MC) method. It is demonstrated that the GPUs simulations are of the order of 100 times faster than the CPU-based calculations. This brings LES of turbulent flows to a new level, facilitating efficient simulation of more complex problems. The work at Al-Faraby Kazakh National University is sponsored by MoES of RK under Grant 3298/GF-4.

Measurements of Reynolds stress profiles in unstratified tidal flow

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stacey, M.T.; Monismith, Stephen G.; Burau, J.R.

1999-01-01

In this paper we present a method for measuring profiles of turbulence quantities using a broadband acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP). The method follows previous work on the continental shelf and extends the analysis to develop estimates of the errors associated with the estimation methods. ADCP data was collected in an unstratified channel and the results of the analysis are compared to theory. This comparison shows that the method provides an estimate of the Reynolds stresses, which is unbiased by Doppler noise, and an estimate of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) which is biased by an amount proportional to the Doppler noise. The noise in each of these quantities as well as the bias in the TKE match well with the theoretical values produced by the error analysis. The quantification of profiles of Reynolds stresses simultaneous with the measurement of mean velocity profiles allows for extensive analysis of the turbulence of the flow. In this paper, we examine the relation between the turbulence and the mean flow through the calculation of u*, the friction velocity, and Cd, the coefficient of drag. Finally, we calculate quantities of particular interest in turbulence modeling and analysis, the characteristic lengthscales, including a lengthscale which represents the stream-wise scale of the eddies which dominate the Reynolds stresses. Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union.

Turbulent Heat Transfer in Curved Pipe Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Changwoo; Yang, Kyung-Soo

2013-11-01

In the present investigation, turbulent heat transfer in fully-developed curved pipe flow with axially uniform wall heat flux has been numerically studied. The Reynolds numbers under consideration are Reτ = 210 (DNS) and 1,000 (LES) based on the mean friction velocity and the pipe radius, and the Prandtl number (Pr) is 0.71. For Reτ = 210 , the pipe curvature (κ) was fixed as 1/18.2, whereas three cases of κ (0.01, 0.05, 0.1) were computed in the case of Reτ = 1,000. The mean velocity, turbulent intensities and heat transfer rates obtained from the present calculations are in good agreement with the previous numerical and experimental results. To elucidate the secondary flow structures due to the pipe curvature, the mean quantities and rms fluctuations of the flow and temperature fields are presented on the pipe cross-sections, and compared with those of the straight pipe flow. To study turbulence structures and their influence on turbulent heat transfer, turbulence statistics including but not limited to skewness and flatness of velocity fluctuations, cross-correlation coefficients, an Octant analysis, and turbulence budgets are presented and discussed. Based on our results, we attempt to clarify the effects of Reynolds number and the pipe curvature on turbulent heat transfer. This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2010-0008457).

Multifractal Characteristics of Axisymmetric Jet Turbulence Intensity from Rans Numerical Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Yongwon; Ko, Haeng Sik; Son, Sangyoung

A turbulent jet bears diverse physical characteristics that have been unveiled yet. Of particular interest is to analyze the turbulent intensity, which has been a key factor to assess and determine turbulent jet performance since diffusive and mixing conditions are largely dependent on it. Multifractal measures are useful in terms of identifying characteristics of a physical quantity distributed over a spatial domain. This study examines the multifractal exponents of jet turbulence intensities obtained through numerical simulation. We acquired the turbulence intensities from numerical jet discharge experiments, where two types of nozzle geometry were tested based on a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The k-𝜀 model and k-ω model were used for turbulence closure models. The results showed that the RANS model successfully regenerates transversal velocity profile, which is almost identical to an analytical solution. The RANS model also shows the decay of turbulence intensity in the longitudinal direction but it depends on the outfall nozzle lengths. The result indicates the existence of a common multifractal spectrum for turbulence intensity obtained from numerical simulation. Although the transverse velocity profiles are similar for two different turbulence models, the minimum Lipschitz-Hölder exponent (αmin) and entropy dimension (α1) are different. These results suggest that the multifractal exponents capture the difference in turbulence structures of hierarchical turbulence intensities produced by different turbulence models.

Experimental and mathematical modeling of flow in headboxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shariati, Mohammad Reza

The fluid flow patterns in a paper-machine headbox have a strong influence on the quality of the paper produced by the machine. Due to increasing demand for high quality paper there is a need to investigate the details of the fluid flow in the paper machine headbox. The objective of this thesis is to use experimental and computational methods of modeling the flow inside a typical headbox in order to evaluate and understand the mean flow patterns and turbulence created there. In particular, spatial variations of the mean flow and of the turbulence quantities and the turbulence generated secondary flows are studied. In addition to the flow inside the headbox, the flow leaving the slice is also modeled both experimentally and computationally. Comparison of the experimental and numerical results indicated that streamwise mean components of the velocities in the headbox are predicted well by all the turbulence models considered in this study. However, the standard k-epsilon model and the algebraic turbulence models fail to predict the turbulence quantities accurately. Standard k-epsilon-model also fails to predict the direction and magnitude of the secondary flows. Significant improvements in the k-epsilon model predictions were achieved when the turbulence production term was artificially set to zero. This is justified by observations of the turbulent velocities from the experiments and by a consideration of the form of the kinetic energy equation. A better estimation of the Reynolds normal stress distribution and the degree of anisotropy of turbulence was achieved using the Reynolds stress turbulence model. Careful examination of the measured turbulence velocity results shows that after the initial decay of the turbulence in the headbox, there is a short region close to the exit, but inside the headbox, where the turbulent kinetic energy actually increases as a result of the distortion imposed by the contraction. The turbulence energy quickly resumes its decay in the free jet after the headbox. The overall conclusion from this thesis, obtained by comparison of experimental and computational simulations of the flow in a headbox, is that numerical simulations show great promise for predictions of headbox flows. Mean velocities and turbulence characteristics can now be predicted with fair accuracy by careful use of specialized turbulence models. Standard engineering turbulence models, such as the k-epsilon model and its immediate relatives, should not be used to estimate the turbulence quantities essential for predicting pulp fiber dispersion within the contracting region and free jet of a headbox, particularly when the overall contraction ratio is greater than about five. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Simplified Bioreactor For Growing Mammalian Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spaulding, Glenn F.

1995-01-01

Improved bioreactor for growing mammalian cell cultures developed. Designed to support growth of dense volumes of mammalian cells by providing ample, well-distributed flows of nutrient solution with minimal turbulence. Cells relatively delicate and, unlike bacteria, cannot withstand shear forces present in turbulent flows. Bioreactor vessel readily made in larger sizes to accommodate greater cell production quantities. Molding equipment presently used makes cylinders up to 30 centimeters long. Alternative sintered plastic techniques used to vary pore size and quantity, as necessary.

Turbulent energy transfer in electromagnetic turbulence: hints from a Reversed Field Pinch plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vianello, N.; Bergsaker, H.

2005-10-01

The relationship between electromagnetic turbulence and sheared plasma flow in a Reversed Field Pinch is addressed. ExB sheared flows and turbulence at the edge tends to organize themeselves near marginal stability, suggesting an underlying energy exchange process between turbulence and mean flow. In MHD this process is well described through the quantity P which represents the energy transfer (per mass and time unit) from turbulence to mean fields. In the edge region of RFP configuration, where magnetic field is mainly poloidal and the mean ExB is consequently toroidal, the quantity P results: P =[ -ρμ0 + ]Vφr where Vφ is the mean ExB toroidal flow, ρ the mean mass density and b and v the fluctuations of velocity and magnetic field respectively. Both the radial profiles and the temporal evolution of P have been measured in the edge region of Extrap-T2R Reversed Field Pinch experiment. The results support the existence of oscillating energy exchange process between fluctuations and mean flow.

Silent inflow condition for turbulent boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gloerfelt, X.; Robinet, J.-C.

2017-12-01

The generation of a turbulent inflow is a tricky problem. In the framework of aeroacoustics, another important constraint is that the numerical strategy used to reach a turbulent state induces a spurious noise which is lower than the acoustic field of interest. For the study of noise radiated directly by a turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate, this constraint is severe since wall turbulence is a very inefficient source. That is why a method based on a transition by modal interaction using a base flow with an inflection point is proposed to cope with that. The base flow must be a solution of the equations so we use a profile behind a backward-facing step representative of experimental trip bands. A triad of resonant waves is selected by a local stability analysis of the linearized compressible equations and is added with a weak amplitude in the inlet plane. The compressible stability calculation allows the specification of the thermodynamic quantities at the inlet, which turns out to be fundamental to ensure a quiet inflow. A smooth transition is achieved with the rapid formation of Λ -shape vortices in a staggered organization as in subharmonic transition. The dominance of oblique waves promotes a rapid breakdown by the liftup mechanism of low-speed streaks. The quality of the fully turbulent state is assessed and the direct noise radiation from a turbulent boundary layer at Mach 0.5 is obtained with a very low level of spurious noise.

Scaling Laws in Turbulence: Their Manifestation and Utility.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juneja, Anurag

1995-01-01

It has long been hypothesized that small-scale features in turbulence possess some form of scale-invariance leading to several interesting predictions about related flow quantities. In the present work, we examine the scaling features and scaling exponents of various quantities in turbulence and the relationship they bear to Kolmogorov and multifractal scaling theories. A related goal (which is the inverse problem) is to synthesize stochastic fields which faithfully reproduce the observed scaling features of velocity fluctuations in high-Reynolds-number turbulence. First, we obtain, for structure functions of arbitrary order, an expression which is uniformly valid for the inertial and dissipation range. This enables a more definitive determination of scaling exponents than has been possible in the past. Next, we examine the scaling properties of circulation around contours of various sizes, as it is suggested that a better way to study the small-scale features might be to focus on the vortical component of the velocity field. We then utilize a quantity called the cancellation exponent to characterize the singular nature of vorticity fluctuations, whose trace exhibits an oscillation in sign on arbitrary fine scales. We note that the inter-relationships which can be established among the aforementioned scaling exponents for velocity structure functions, circulation and vorticity provide support for the multifractal formalism of turbulence. Next, we examine the fractal structure of self -affine time series data in turbulent flows. It is shown that the fractal dimension of velocity and temperature signals in atmospheric turbulence is 1.65 +/- 0.05 implying that the dimension of iso-velocity or iso-temperature surfaces in fully developed turbulence is about 2.65 +/- 0.05 in agreement with previous theoretical predictions. The Reynolds number dependence of the measured dimensions is also explored by examining laboratory data at moderate Reynolds numbers. Using simple ideas from turbulence physics underlying the observed scaling features, we outline a family of schemes for generating artificial velocity fields, dubbed synthetic turbulence, which mimic velocity fluctuations in high-Reynolds -number turbulence to various degrees of detail. In the case of one-dimensional implementation of these schemes, we provide comparisons with experimental turbulence data and note that analytical predictions from the model allow us to relate the parameters of synthetic turbulence to those of real turbulence. Finally, we show that, compared to random initial conditions, an artificial velocity field in three-dimensions generated using a simplified synthetic turbulence scheme may be better suited for use as the initial condition for direct numerical simulation of homogeneous isotropic turbulence.

Budget of Turbulent Kinetic Energy in a Shock Wave Boundary-Layer Interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vyas, Manan; Waindim, Mbu; Gaitonde, Datta

2016-01-01

Implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) of a shock wave boundary-layer interaction (SBLI) was performed. Quantities present in the exact equation of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) transport were accumulated. These quantities will be used to calculate the components of TKE-like production, dissipation, transport, and dilatation. Correlations of these terms will be presented to study the growth and interaction between various terms. A comparison with its RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes) counterpart will also be presented.

Algorithmic complexity of real financial markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansilla, R.

2001-12-01

A new approach to the understanding of complex behavior of financial markets index using tools from thermodynamics and statistical physics is developed. Physical complexity, a quantity rooted in the Kolmogorov-Chaitin theory is applied to binary sequences built up from real time series of financial markets indexes. The study is based on NASDAQ and Mexican IPC data. Different behaviors of this quantity are shown when applied to the intervals of series placed before crashes and to intervals when no financial turbulence is observed. The connection between our results and the efficient market hypothesis is discussed.

Experimental Validation Data for Computational Fluid Dynamics of Forced Convection on a Vertical Flat Plate

DOE PAGES

Harris, Jeff R.; Lance, Blake W.; Smith, Barton L.

2015-08-10

We present computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation dataset for turbulent forced convection on a vertical plate. The design of the apparatus is based on recent validation literature and provides a means to simultaneously measure boundary conditions (BCs) and system response quantities (SRQs). Important inflow quantities for Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS). CFD are also measured. Data are acquired at two heating conditions and cover the range 40,000 < Re x < 300,000, 357 < Re δ2 < 813, and 0.02 < Gr/Re 2 < 0.232.

The role of presumed probability density functions in the simulation of nonpremixed turbulent combustion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coclite, A.; Pascazio, G.; De Palma, P.; Cutrone, L.

2016-07-01

Flamelet-Progress-Variable (FPV) combustion models allow the evaluation of all thermochemical quantities in a reacting flow by computing only the mixture fraction Z and a progress variable C. When using such a method to predict turbulent combustion in conjunction with a turbulence model, a probability density function (PDF) is required to evaluate statistical averages (e. g., Favre averages) of chemical quantities. The choice of the PDF is a compromise between computational costs and accuracy level. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the PDF choice and its modeling aspects to predict turbulent combustion. Three different models are considered: the standard one, based on the choice of a β-distribution for Z and a Dirac-distribution for C; a model employing a β-distribution for both Z and C; and the third model obtained using a β-distribution for Z and the statistically most likely distribution (SMLD) for C. The standard model, although widely used, does not take into account the interaction between turbulence and chemical kinetics as well as the dependence of the progress variable not only on its mean but also on its variance. The SMLD approach establishes a systematic framework to incorporate informations from an arbitrary number of moments, thus providing an improvement over conventionally employed presumed PDF closure models. The rational behind the choice of the three PDFs is described in some details and the prediction capability of the corresponding models is tested vs. well-known test cases, namely, the Sandia flames, and H2-air supersonic combustion.

Decay and growth laws in homogeneous shear turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briard, Antoine; Gomez, Thomas; Mons, Vincent; Sagaut, Pierre

2016-07-01

Homogeneous anisotropic turbulence has been widely studied in the past decades, both numerically and experimentally. Shear flows have received a particular attention because of the numerous physical phenomena they exhibit. In the present paper, both the decay and growth of anisotropy in homogeneous shear flows at high Reynolds numbers are revisited thanks to a recent eddy-damped quasi-normal Markovian closure adapted to homogeneous anisotropic turbulence. The emphasis is put on several aspects: an asymptotic model for the slow part of the pressure-strain tensor is derived for the return to isotropy process when mean velocity gradients are released. Then, a general decay law for purely anisotropic quantities in Batchelor turbulence is proposed. At last, a discussion is proposed to explain the scattering of global quantities obtained in DNS and experiments in sustained shear flows: the emphasis is put on the exponential growth rate of the kinetic energy and on the shear parameter.

Large-Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Wall-Pressure Fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singer, Bart A.

1996-01-01

Large-eddy simulations of a turbulent boundary layer with Reynolds number based on displacement thickness equal to 3500 were performed with two grid resolutions. The computations were continued for sufficient time to obtain frequency spectra with resolved frequencies that correspond to the most important structural frequencies on an aircraft fuselage. The turbulent stresses were adequately resolved with both resolutions. Detailed quantitative analysis of a variety of statistical quantities associated with the wall-pressure fluctuations revealed similar behavior for both simulations. The primary differences were associated with the lack of resolution of the high-frequency data in the coarse-grid calculation and the increased jitter (due to the lack of multiple realizations for averaging purposes) in the fine-grid calculation. A new curve fit was introduced to represent the spanwise coherence of the cross-spectral density.

Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the solar wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matthaeus, W. H.; Goldstein, M. L.

1983-01-01

Recent work in describing the solar wind as an MHD turbulent fluid has shown that the magnetic fluctuations are adequately described as time stationary and to some extent as spatially homogeneous. Spectra of the three rugged invariants of incompressible MHD are the principal quantities used to characterize the velocity and magnetic field fluctuations. Unresolved issues concerning the existence of actively developing turbulence are discussed.

A simple reaction-rate model for turbulent diffusion flames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bangert, L. H.

1975-01-01

A simple reaction rate model is proposed for turbulent diffusion flames in which the reaction rate is proportional to the turbulence mixing rate. The reaction rate is also dependent on the mean mass fraction and the mean square fluctuation of mass fraction of each reactant. Calculations are compared with experimental data and are generally successful in predicting the measured quantities.

The Kolmogorov-Obukhov Statistical Theory of Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Birnir, Björn

2013-08-01

In 1941 Kolmogorov and Obukhov postulated the existence of a statistical theory of turbulence, which allows the computation of statistical quantities that can be simulated and measured in a turbulent system. These are quantities such as the moments, the structure functions and the probability density functions (PDFs) of the turbulent velocity field. In this paper we will outline how to construct this statistical theory from the stochastic Navier-Stokes equation. The additive noise in the stochastic Navier-Stokes equation is generic noise given by the central limit theorem and the large deviation principle. The multiplicative noise consists of jumps multiplying the velocity, modeling jumps in the velocity gradient. We first estimate the structure functions of turbulence and establish the Kolmogorov-Obukhov 1962 scaling hypothesis with the She-Leveque intermittency corrections. Then we compute the invariant measure of turbulence, writing the stochastic Navier-Stokes equation as an infinite-dimensional Ito process, and solving the linear Kolmogorov-Hopf functional differential equation for the invariant measure. Finally we project the invariant measure onto the PDF. The PDFs turn out to be the normalized inverse Gaussian (NIG) distributions of Barndorff-Nilsen, and compare well with PDFs from simulations and experiments.

Evaluation of the Atmospheric Boundary-Layer Electrical Variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anisimov, Sergey V.; Galichenko, Sergey V.; Aphinogenov, Konstantin V.; Prokhorchuk, Aleksandr A.

2017-12-01

Due to the chaotic motion of charged particles carried by turbulent eddies, electrical quantities in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) have short-term variability superimposed on long-term variability caused by sources from regional to global scales. In this study the influence of radon exhalation rate, aerosol distribution and turbulent transport efficiency on the variability of fair-weather atmospheric electricity is investigated via Lagrangian stochastic modelling. For the mid-latitude lower atmosphere undisturbed by precipitation, electrified clouds, or thunderstorms, the model is capable of reproducing the diurnal variation in atmospheric electrical parameters detected by ground-based measurements. Based on the analysis of field observations and numerical simulation it is found that the development of the convective boundary layer, accompanied by an increase in turbulent kinetic energy, forms the vertical distribution of radon and its decaying short-lived daughters to be approximately coincident with the barometric law for several eddy turnover times. In the daytime ABL the vertical distribution of atmospheric electrical conductivity tends to be uniform except within the surface layer, due to convective mixing of radon and its radioactive decay products. At the same time, a decrease in the conductivity near the ground is usually observed. This effect leads to an enhanced ground-level atmospheric electric field compared to that normally observed in the nocturnal stably-stratified boundary layer. The simulation showed that the variability of atmospheric electric field in the ABL associated with internal origins is significant in comparison to the variability related to changes in global parameters. It is suggested that vertical profiles of electrical quantities can serve as informative parameters on ABL turbulent dynamics and can even more broadly characterize the state of the environment.

A Novel Multi-scale Simulation Strategy for Turbulent Reacting Flows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

James, Sutherland C.

In this project, a new methodology was proposed to bridge the gap between Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES). This novel methodology, titled Lattice-Based Multiscale Simulation (LBMS), creates a lattice structure of One-Dimensional Turbulence (ODT) models. This model has been shown to capture turbulent combustion with high fidelity by fully resolving interactions between turbulence and diffusion. By creating a lattice of ODT models, which are then coupled, LBMS overcomes the shortcomings of ODT, which are its inability to capture large scale three dimensional flow structures. However, by spacing these lattices significantly apart, LBMS can avoid the cursemore » of dimensionality that creates untenable computational costs associated with DNS. This project has shown that LBMS is capable of reproducing statistics of isotropic turbulent flows while coarsening the spacing between lines significantly. It also investigates and resolves issues that arise when coupling ODT lines, such as flux reconstruction perpendicular to a given ODT line, preservation of conserved quantities when eddies cross a course cell volume and boundary condition application. Robust parallelization is also investigated.« less

Sonic Booms in Atmospheric Turbulence (SonicBAT) Ground Measurements in a Hot Desert Climate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haering, Edward A., Jr.

2017-01-01

The Sonic Booms in Atmospheric Turbulence (SonicBAT) Project flew a series of 20 F-18 flights with 69 supersonic passes at Edwards Air Force Base in July 2016 to quantify the effect of atmospheric turbulence on sonic booms. Most of the passes were at a pressure altitude of 32,000 feet and a Mach number of 1.4, yielding a nominal sonic boom overpressure of 1.6 pounds per square foot. Atmospheric sensors such as GPS sondeballoons, Sonic Detection and Ranging (SODAR) acoustic sounders, and ultrasonic anemometers were used to characterize the turbulence state of the atmosphere for each flight. Spiked signatures in excess of 7 pounds per square foot were measured at some locations, as well as rounded sonic-boom signatures with levels much lower than the nominal. This presentation will quantify the range of overpressure and Perceived Level of the sonic boom as a function of turbulence parameters, and also present the spatial variation of these quantities over the array. Comparison with historical data will also be shown.

A case study of the Weather Research and Forecasting model applied to the Joint Urban 2003 tracer field experiment. Part 2: Gas tracer dispersion

DOE PAGES

Nelson, Matthew A.; Brown, Michael J.; Halverson, Scot A.; ...

2016-07-28

Here, the Quick Urban & Industrial Complex (QUIC) atmospheric transport, and dispersion modelling, system was evaluated against the Joint Urban 2003 tracer-gas measurements. This was done using the wind and turbulence fields computed by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. We compare the simulated and observed plume transport when using WRF-model-simulated wind fields, and local on-site wind measurements. Degradation of the WRF-model-based plume simulations was cased by errors in the simulated wind direction, and limitations in reproducing the small-scale wind-field variability. We explore two methods for importing turbulence from the WRF model simulations into the QUIC system. The firstmore » method uses parametrized turbulence profiles computed from WRF-model-computed boundary-layer similarity parameters; and the second method directly imports turbulent kinetic energy from the WRF model. Using the WRF model’s Mellor-Yamada-Janjic boundary-layer scheme, the parametrized turbulence profiles and the direct import of turbulent kinetic energy were found to overpredict and underpredict the observed turbulence quantities, respectively. Near-source building effects were found to propagate several km downwind. These building effects and the temporal/spatial variations in the observed wind field were often found to have a stronger influence over the lateral and vertical plume spread than the intensity of turbulence. Correcting the WRF model wind directions using a single observational location improved the performance of the WRF-model-based simulations, but using the spatially-varying flow fields generated from multiple observation profiles generally provided the best performance.« less

A case study of the Weather Research and Forecasting model applied to the Joint Urban 2003 tracer field experiment. Part 2: Gas tracer dispersion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nelson, Matthew A.; Brown, Michael J.; Halverson, Scot A.

Here, the Quick Urban & Industrial Complex (QUIC) atmospheric transport, and dispersion modelling, system was evaluated against the Joint Urban 2003 tracer-gas measurements. This was done using the wind and turbulence fields computed by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. We compare the simulated and observed plume transport when using WRF-model-simulated wind fields, and local on-site wind measurements. Degradation of the WRF-model-based plume simulations was cased by errors in the simulated wind direction, and limitations in reproducing the small-scale wind-field variability. We explore two methods for importing turbulence from the WRF model simulations into the QUIC system. The firstmore » method uses parametrized turbulence profiles computed from WRF-model-computed boundary-layer similarity parameters; and the second method directly imports turbulent kinetic energy from the WRF model. Using the WRF model’s Mellor-Yamada-Janjic boundary-layer scheme, the parametrized turbulence profiles and the direct import of turbulent kinetic energy were found to overpredict and underpredict the observed turbulence quantities, respectively. Near-source building effects were found to propagate several km downwind. These building effects and the temporal/spatial variations in the observed wind field were often found to have a stronger influence over the lateral and vertical plume spread than the intensity of turbulence. Correcting the WRF model wind directions using a single observational location improved the performance of the WRF-model-based simulations, but using the spatially-varying flow fields generated from multiple observation profiles generally provided the best performance.« less

Three-dimensional direct numerical simulation study of conditioned moments associated with front propagation in turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, R.; Lipatnikov, A. N.; Bai, X. S.

2014-08-01

In order to gain further insight into (i) the use of conditioned quantities for characterizing turbulence within a premixed flame brush and (ii) the influence of front propagation on turbulent scalar transport, a 3D Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) study of an infinitely thin front that self-propagates in statistically stationary, homogeneous, isotropic, forced turbulence was performed by numerically integrating Navier-Stokes and level set equations. While this study was motivated by issues relevant to premixed combustion, the density was assumed to be constant in order (i) to avoid the influence of the front on the flow and, therefore, to know the true turbulence characteristics as reference quantities for assessment of conditioned moments and (ii) to separate the influence of front propagation on turbulent transport from the influence of pressure gradient induced by heat release. Numerical simulations were performed for two turbulence Reynolds numbers (50 and 100) and four ratios (1, 2, 5, and 10) of the rms turbulent velocity to the front speed. Obtained results show that, first, the mean front thickness is decreased when a ratio of the rms turbulent velocity to the front speed is decreased. Second, although the gradient diffusion closure yields the right direction of turbulent scalar flux obtained in the DNS, the diffusion coefficient Dt determined using the DNS data depends on the mean progress variable. Moreover, Dt is decreased when the front speed is increased, thus, indicating that the front propagation affects turbulent scalar transport even in a constant-density case. Third, conditioned moments of the velocity field differ from counterpart mean moments, thus, disputing the use of conditioned velocity moments for characterizing turbulence when modeling premixed turbulent combustion. Fourth, computed conditioned enstrophies are close to the mean enstrophy in all studied cases, thus, suggesting the use of conditioned enstrophy for characterizing turbulence within a premixed flame brush.

Power in the bucket and angle of arrival modelling in the presence of an airborne platform-induced turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velluet, Marie-Thérèse

2017-10-01

In the framework of a European collaborative research project called ALWS (Airborne platform effects on lasers and Warning Sensors), the effects of platform-related turbulence on MAWS (missile approach warning systems) and DIRCM (directed infrared countermeasures) performance are investigated. Field trials have been conducted to study the turbulence effects around a hovering helicopter and behind a turboprop aircraft on the ground, with engines running. The time dependence of the power in the bucket and the amplitude of the angle of arrival have been characterized during the trial. Temporal spectra of these two parameters present an asymptotic behavior typical of optical beams propagating through developed turbulence (Kolmogorov). Based on the formalism developed in the case of propagation through atmospheric turbulence, we have first estimated turbulence strength and wind velocity inside plume for different flight conditions. We have then proposed an approach to simulate times series of these two quantities in the same conditions. These simulated time series have been compared with the recorded data to assess their validity domain. This model will be integrated in a simulator to estimate the impact of the turbulence induced by the platform and calculate the system performance. In this model dedicated to plume and downwash effects, aero-optical effects are not taken into account.

Helium-filled soap bubbles tracing fidelity in wall-bounded turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faleiros, David Engler; Tuinstra, Marthijn; Sciacchitano, Andrea; Scarano, Fulvio

2018-03-01

The use of helium-filled soap bubbles (HFSB) as flow tracers for particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) to measure the properties of turbulent boundary layers is investigated in the velocity range from 30 to 50 m/s. The experiments correspond to momentum thickness-based Reynolds numbers of 3300 and 5100. A single bubble generator delivers nearly neutrally buoyant HFSB to seed the air flow developing over the flat plate. The HFSB motion analysis is performed by PTV using single-frame multi-exposure recordings. The measurements yield the local velocity and turbulence statistics. Planar two-component-PIV measurements with micron-sized droplets (DEHS) conducted under the same conditions provide reference data for the quantities of interest. In addition, the behavior of air-filled soap bubbles is studied where the effect of non-neutral buoyancy is more pronounced. The mean velocity profiles as well as the turbulent stresses obtained with HFSB are in good agreement with the flow statistics obtained with DEHS particles. The study illustrates that HFSB tracers can be used to determine the mean velocity and the turbulent fluctuations of turbulent boundary layers above a distance of approximately two bubble diameters from the wall. This work broadens the current range of application of HFSB from external aerodynamics of large-scale-PIV experiments towards wall-bounded turbulence.

A New View of the Dynamics of Reynolds Stress Generation in Turbulent Boundary Layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cantwell, Brian J.; Chacin, Juan M.

1998-01-01

The structure of a numerically simulated turbulent boundary layer over a flat plate at Re(theta) = 670 was studied using the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor (Q and R) and a related scalar quantity, the cubic discriminant (D = 27R(exp 2)/4 + Q(exp 3)). These invariants have previously been used to study the properties of the small-scale motions responsible for the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy. In addition, these scalar quantities allow the local flow patterns to be unambiguously classified according to the terminology proposed by Chong et al. The use of the discriminant as a marker of coherent motions reveals complex, large-scale flow structures that are shown to be associated with the generation of Reynolds shear stress -u'v'(bar). These motions are characterized by high spatial gradients of the discriminant and are believed to be an important part of the mechanism that sustains turbulence in the near-wall region.

Development of Large-Eddy Interaction Model for inhomogeneous turbulent flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hong, S. K.; Payne, F. R.

1987-01-01

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of a currently proposed model, with minimum empiricism, for calculation of the Reynolds stresses and other turbulence structural quantities in a channel. The current Large-Eddy Interaction Model not only yields Reynolds stresses but also presents an opportunity to illuminate typical characteristic motions of large-scale turbulence and the phenomenological aspects of engineering models for two Reynolds numbers.

Influence of the Solar Cycle on Turbulence Properties and Cosmic-Ray Diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, L.-L.; Adhikari, L.; Zank, G. P.; Hu, Q.; Feng, X. S.

2018-04-01

The solar cycle dependence of various turbulence quantities and cosmic-ray (CR) diffusion coefficients is investigated by using OMNI 1 minute resolution data over 22 years. We employ Elsässer variables z ± to calculate the magnetic field turbulence energy and correlation lengths for both the inwardly and outwardly directed interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We present the temporal evolution of both large-scale solar wind (SW) plasma variables and small-scale magnetic fluctuations. Based on these observed quantities, we study the influence of solar activity on CR parallel and perpendicular diffusion using quasi-linear theory and nonlinear guiding center theory, respectively. We also evaluate the radial evolution of the CR diffusion coefficients by using the boundary conditions for different solar activity levels. We find that in the ecliptic plane at 1 au (1), the large-scale SW temperature T, velocity V sw, Alfvén speed V A , and IMF magnitude B 0 are positively related to solar activity; (2) the fluctuating magnetic energy density < {{z}+/- }2> , residual energy E D , and corresponding correlation functions all have an obvious solar cycle dependence. The residual energy E D is always negative, which indicates that the energy in magnetic fluctuations is larger than the energy in kinetic fluctuations, especially at solar maximum; (3) the correlation length λ for magnetic fluctuations does not show significant solar cycle variation; (4) the temporally varying shear source of turbulence, which is most important in the inner heliosphere, depends on the solar cycle; (5) small-scale fluctuations may not depend on the direction of the background magnetic field; and (6) high levels of SW fluctuations will increase CR perpendicular diffusion and decrease CR parallel diffusion, but this trend can be masked if the background IMF changes in concert with turbulence in response to solar activity. These results provide quantitative inputs for both turbulence transport models and CR diffusion models, and also provide valuable insight into the long-term modulation of CRs in the heliosphere.

Turbulence modeling in three-dimensional stenosed arterial bifurcations.

PubMed

Banks, J; Bressloff, N W

2007-02-01

Under normal healthy conditions, blood flow in the carotid artery bifurcation is laminar. However, in the presence of a stenosis, the flow can become turbulent at the higher Reynolds numbers during systole. There is growing consensus that the transitional k-omega model is the best suited Reynolds averaged turbulence model for such flows. Further confirmation of this opinion is presented here by a comparison with the RNG k-epsilon model for the flow through a straight, nonbifurcating tube. Unlike similar validation studies elsewhere, no assumptions are made about the inlet profile since the full length of the experimental tube is simulated. Additionally, variations in the inflow turbulence quantities are shown to have no noticeable affect on downstream turbulence intensity, turbulent viscosity, or velocity in the k-epsilon model, whereas the velocity profiles in the transitional k-omega model show some differences due to large variations in the downstream turbulence quantities. Following this validation study, the transitional k-omega model is applied in a three-dimensional parametrically defined computer model of the carotid artery bifurcation in which the sinus bulb is manipulated to produce mild, moderate, and severe stenosis. The parametric geometry definition facilitates a powerful means for investigating the effect of local shape variation while keeping the global shape fixed. While turbulence levels are generally low in all cases considered, the mild stenosis model produces higher levels of turbulent viscosity and this is linked to relatively high values of turbulent kinetic energy and low values of the specific dissipation rate. The severe stenosis model displays stronger recirculation in the flow field with higher values of vorticity, helicity, and negative wall shear stress. The mild and moderate stenosis configurations produce similar lower levels of vorticity and helicity.

On hairpin vortices as model of wall turbulence structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, N.-S.; Shamroth, S. J.; Mcdonald, H.

1985-01-01

A model of the hairpin vortex has been constructed and used in two distinct but related approaches. The first approach is kinematic in nature in which a synthesis procedure using hairpin vortices to provide a quantitative link between mean flow quantities and the statistical quantities of near wall turbulence has become developed. The second approach is dynamic in nature, and the evolution of an incipient 'representative' hairpin vortex as well as the distortion of a background laminar boundary layer flow, in which the hairpin vortex is immersed, has been simulated by numerical solution of the unsteady, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations.

Transport Coefficients in weakly compressible turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubinstein, Robert; Erlebacher, Gordon

1996-01-01

A theory of transport coefficients in weakly compressible turbulence is derived by applying Yoshizawa's two-scale direct interaction approximation to the compressible equations of motion linearized about a state of incompressible turbulence. The result is a generalization of the eddy viscosity representation of incompressible turbulence. In addition to the usual incompressible eddy viscosity, the calculation generates eddy diffusivities for entropy and pressure, and an effective bulk viscosity acting on the mean flow. The compressible fluctuations also generate an effective turbulent mean pressure and corrections to the speed of sound. Finally, a prediction unique to Yoshizawa's two-scale approximation is that terms containing gradients of incompressible turbulence quantities also appear in the mean flow equations. The form these terms take is described.

Numerical investigation of supersonic turbulent boundary layers with high wall temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guo, Y.; Adams, N. A.

1994-01-01

A direct numerical approach has been developed to simulate supersonic turbulent boundary layers. The mean flow quantities are obtained by solving the parabolized Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (globally). Fluctuating quantities are computed locally with a temporal direct numerical simulation approach, in which nonparallel effects of boundary layers are partially modeled. Preliminary numerical results obtained at the free-stream Mach numbers 3, 4.5, and 6 with hot-wall conditions are presented. Approximately 5 million grid points are used in all three cases. The numerical results indicate that compressibility effects on turbulent kinetic energy, in terms of dilatational dissipation and pressure-dilatation correlation, are small. Due to the hot-wall conditions the results show significant low Reynolds number effects and large streamwise streaks. Further simulations with a bigger computational box or a cold-wall condition are desirable.

A Kinematically Consistent Two-Point Correlation Function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ristorcelli, J. R.

1998-01-01

A simple kinematically consistent expression for the longitudinal two-point correlation function related to both the integral length scale and the Taylor microscale is obtained. On the inner scale, in a region of width inversely proportional to the turbulent Reynolds number, the function has the appropriate curvature at the origin. The expression for two-point correlation is related to the nonlinear cascade rate, or dissipation epsilon, a quantity that is carried as part of a typical single-point turbulence closure simulation. Constructing an expression for the two-point correlation whose curvature at the origin is the Taylor microscale incorporates one of the fundamental quantities characterizing turbulence, epsilon, into a model for the two-point correlation function. The integral of the function also gives, as is required, an outer integral length scale of the turbulence independent of viscosity. The proposed expression is obtained by kinematic arguments; the intention is to produce a practically applicable expression in terms of simple elementary functions that allow an analytical evaluation, by asymptotic methods, of diverse functionals relevant to single-point turbulence closures. Using the expression devised an example of the asymptotic method by which functionals of the two-point correlation can be evaluated is given.

Composite asymptotic expansions and scaling wall turbulence.

PubMed

Panton, Ronald L

2007-03-15

In this article, the assumptions and reasoning that yield composite asymptotic expansions for wall turbulence are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the scaling quantities that are used to render the variables non-dimensional and of order one. An asymptotic expansion is proposed for the streamwise Reynolds stress that accounts for the active and inactive turbulence by using different scalings. The idea is tested with the data from the channel flows and appears to have merit.

Consistent Initial Conditions for the DNS of Compressible Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ristorcelli, J. R.; Blaisdell, G. A.

1996-01-01

Relationships between diverse thermodynamic quantities appropriate to weakly compressible turbulence are derived. It is shown that for turbulence of a finite turbulent Mach number there is a finite element of compressibility. A methodology for generating initial conditions for the fluctuating pressure, density and dilatational velocity is given which is consistent with finite Mach number effects. Use of these initial conditions gives rise to a smooth development of the flow, in contrast to cases in which these fields are specified arbitrarily or set to zero. Comparisons of the effect of different types of initial conditions are made using direct numerical simulation of decaying isotropic turbulence.

The structure of turbulence in fully developed pipe flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laufer, John

1954-01-01

Measurements, principally with a hot-wire anemometer, were made in fully developed turbulent flow in a 10-inch pipe at speeds of approximately 10 and 100 feet per second. Emphasis was placed on turbulence and conditions near the wall. The results include relevant mean and statistical quantities, such as Reynolds stresses, triple correlations, turbulent dissipation, and energy spectra. It is shown that rates of turbulent-energy production, dissipation, and diffusion have sharp maximums near the edge of the laminar sublayer and that there exist a strong movement of kinetic energy away from this point and an equally strong movement of pressure energy toward it.

A Novel Strategy for Numerical Simulation of High-speed Turbulent Reacting Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheikhi, M. R. H.; Drozda, T. G.; Givi, P.

2003-01-01

The objective of this research is to improve and implement the filtered mass density function (FDF) methodology for large eddy simulation (LES) of high-speed reacting turbulent flows. We have just completed Year 1 of this research. This is the Final Report on our activities during the period: January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003. 2002. In the efforts during the past year, LES is conducted of the Sandia Flame D, which is a turbulent piloted nonpremixed methane jet flame. The subgrid scale (SGS) closure is based on the scalar filtered mass density function (SFMDF) methodology. The SFMDF is basically the mass weighted probability density function (PDF) of the SGS scalar quantities. For this flame (which exhibits little local extinction), a simple flamelet model is used to relate the instantaneous composition to the mixture fraction. The modelled SFMDF transport equation is solved by a hybrid finite-difference/Monte Carlo scheme.

Turbulence measurements in a swirling confined jet flowfield using a triple hot-wire probe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Janjua, S. I.; Mclaughlin, D. K.

1982-01-01

An axisymmetric swirling confined jet flowfield, similar to that encountered in gas turbine combustors was investigated using a triple hot-wire probe. The raw data from the three sensors were digitized using ADC's and stored on a Tektronix 4051 computer. The data were further reduced on the computer to obtain time-series for the three instantaneous velocity components in the flowfield. The time-mean velocities and the turbulence quantities were deduced. Qualification experiments were performed and where possible results compared with independent measurements. The major qualification experiments involved measurements performed in a non-swirling flow compared with conventional X-wire measurements. In the swirling flowfield, advantages of the triple wire technique over the previously used multi-position single hot-wire method are noted. The measurements obtained provide a data base with which the predictions of turbulence models in a recirculating swirling flowfield can be evaluated.

Microstructure of Turbulence in the Stably Stratified Boundary Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorbjan, Zbigniew; Balsley, Ben B.

2008-11-01

The microstructure of a stably stratified boundary layer, with a significant low-level nocturnal jet, is investigated based on observations from the CASES-99 campaign in Kansas, U.S.A. The reported, high-resolution vertical profiles of the temperature, wind speed, wind direction, pressure, and the turbulent dissipation rate, were collected under nocturnal conditions on October 14, 1999, using the CIRES Tethered Lifting System. Two methods for evaluating instantaneous (1-sec) background profiles are applied to the raw data. The background potential temperature is calculated using the “bubble sort” algorithm to produce a monotonically increasing potential temperature with increasing height. Other scalar quantities are smoothed using a running vertical average. The behaviour of background flow, buoyant overturns, turbulent fluctuations, and their respective histograms are presented. Ratios of the considered length scales and the Ozmidov scale are nearly constant with height, a fact that can be applied in practice for estimating instantaneous profiles of the dissipation rate.

Kullback-Leibler divergence measure of intermittency: Application to turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granero-Belinchón, Carlos; Roux, Stéphane G.; Garnier, Nicolas B.

2018-01-01

For generic systems exhibiting power law behaviors, and hence multiscale dependencies, we propose a simple tool to analyze multifractality and intermittency, after noticing that these concepts are directly related to the deformation of a probability density function from Gaussian at large scales to non-Gaussian at smaller scales. Our framework is based on information theory and uses Shannon entropy and Kullback-Leibler divergence. We provide an extensive application to three-dimensional fully developed turbulence, seen here as a paradigmatic complex system where intermittency was historically defined and the concepts of scale invariance and multifractality were extensively studied and benchmarked. We compute our quantity on experimental Eulerian velocity measurements, as well as on synthetic processes and phenomenological models of fluid turbulence. Our approach is very general and does not require any underlying model of the system, although it can probe the relevance of such a model.

Broadband Fan Noise Generated by Small Scale Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glegg, Stewart A. L.

1998-01-01

This report describes the development of prediction methods for broadband fan noise from aircraft engines. First, experimental evidence of the most important source mechanisms is reviewed. It is found that there are a number of competing source mechanism involved and that there is no single dominant source to which noise control procedures can be applied. Theoretical models are then developed for: (1) ducted rotors and stator vanes interacting with duct wall boundary layers, (2) ducted rotor self noise, and (3) stator vanes operating in the wakes of rotors. All the turbulence parameters required for these models are based on measured quantities. Finally the theoretical models are used to predict measured fan noise levels with some success.

Pressure algorithm for elliptic flow calculations with the PDF method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anand, M. S.; Pope, S. B.; Mongia, H. C.

1991-01-01

An algorithm to determine the mean pressure field for elliptic flow calculations with the probability density function (PDF) method is developed and applied. The PDF method is a most promising approach for the computation of turbulent reacting flows. Previous computations of elliptic flows with the method were in conjunction with conventional finite volume based calculations that provided the mean pressure field. The algorithm developed and described here permits the mean pressure field to be determined within the PDF calculations. The PDF method incorporating the pressure algorithm is applied to the flow past a backward-facing step. The results are in good agreement with data for the reattachment length, mean velocities, and turbulence quantities including triple correlations.

Line transport in turbulent atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikoghossian, Artur

We consider the spectral line transfer in turbulent atmospheres with a spatially correlated velocity field. Both the finite and semi-infinite media are treated. In finding the observed intensities we first deal with the problem for determining the mean intensity of radiation emerging from the medium for a fixed value of turbulent velocity at its boundary. New approach proposed in solving this problem is based on invariant imbedding technique which yields the solution of the proper problems for a family of media of different optical thicknesses and allows tackling different kinds of inhomogeneous problems. The dependence of the line profile, integral intensity and the line width on the mean correlation length and average value of the hydrodynamic velocity is studied. It is shown that the transition from a micro-turbulent regime to a macro-turbulent one occurs within a comparatively narrow range of variation in the correlation length. The diffuse reflection of the line radiation from a one-dimensional semi-infinite turbulent atmosphere is examined. In addition to the observed spectral line profile, statistical averages describing the diffusion process in the atmosphere (mean number of scattering events, average time spent by a diffusing photon in the medium) are determined. The dependence of these quantities on the average hydrodynamic velocity and correlation coefficient is studied.

Line Transport in Turbulent Atmospheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikoghossian, A. G.

2017-07-01

The spectral line transfer in turbulent atmospheres with a spatially correlated velocity field is examined. Both the finite and semi-infinite media are treated. In finding the observed intensities we first deal with the problem for determining the mean intensity of radiation emerging from the medium for a fixed value of turbulent velocity at its boundary. A new approach proposed for solving this problem is based on the invariant imbedding technique which yields the solution of the proper problems for a family of media of different optical thicknesses and allows tackling different kinds of inhomogeneous problems. The dependence of the line profile, integral intensity, and the line width on the mean correlation length and the average value of the hydrodynamic velocity is studied. It is shown that the transition from a micro-turbulent regime to a macro-turbulence occurs within a comparatively narrow range of variation in the correlation length . Ambartsumian's principle of invariance is used to solve the problem of diffuse reflection of the line radiation from a one-dimensional semi-infinite turbulent atmosphere. In addition to the observed spectral line profile, statistical averages describing the diffusion process in the atmosphere (mean number of scattering events, average time spent by a diffusing photon in the medium) are determined. The dependence of these quantities on the average hydrodynamic velocity and correlation coefficient is studied.

Soot and Spectral Radiation Modeling for a High-Pressure Turbulent Spray Flame

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ferreryo-Fernandez, Sebastian; Paul, Chandan; Sircar, Arpan

Simulations are performed of a transient high-pressure turbulent n-dodecane spray flame under engine-relevant conditions. An unsteady RANS formulation is used, with detailed chemistry, a semi-empirical two-equation soot model, and a particle-based transported composition probability density function (PDF) method to account for unresolved turbulent fluctuations in composition and temperature. Results from the PDF model are compared with those from a locally well-stirred reactor (WSR) model to quantify the effects of turbulence-chemistry-soot interactions. Computed liquid and vapor penetration versus time, ignition delay, and flame lift-off height are in good agreement with experiment, and relatively small differences are seen between the WSR andmore » PDF models for these global quantities. Computed soot levels and spatial soot distributions from the WSR and PDF models show large differences, with PDF results being in better agreement with experimental measurements. An uncoupled photon Monte Carlo method with line-by-line spectral resolution is used to compute the spectral intensity distribution of the radiation leaving the flame. This provides new insight into the relative importance of molecular gas radiation versus soot radiation, and the importance of turbulent fluctuations on radiative heat transfer.« less

On the phase lag of turbulent dissipation in rotating tidal flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qianjiang; Wu, Jiaxue

2018-03-01

Field observations of rotating tidal flows in a shallow tidally swept sea reveal that a notable phase lag of both shear production and turbulent dissipation increases with height above the seafloor. These vertical delays of turbulent quantities are approximately equivalent in magnitude to that of squared mean shear. The shear production approximately equals turbulent dissipation over the phase-lag column, and thus a main mechanism of phase lag of dissipation is mean shear, rather than vertical diffusion of turbulent kinetic energy. By relating the phase lag of dissipation to that of the mean shear, a simple formulation with constant eddy viscosity is developed to describe the phase lag in rotating tidal flows. An analytical solution indicates that the phase lag increases linearly with height subjected to a combined effect of tidal frequency, Coriolis parameter and eddy viscosity. The vertical diffusion of momentum associated with eddy viscosity produces the phase lag of squared mean shear, and resultant delay of turbulent quantities. Its magnitude is inhibited by Earth's rotation. Furthermore, a theoretical formulation of the phase lag with a parabolic eddy viscosity profile can be constructed. A first-order approximation of this formulation is still a linear function of height, and its magnitude is approximately 0.8 times that with constant viscosity. Finally, the theoretical solutions of phase lag with realistic viscosity can be satisfactorily justified by realistic phase lags of dissipation.

Experimental determination of turbulence in a GH2-GOX rocket combustion chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tou, P.; Russell, R.; Ohara, J.

1974-01-01

The intensity of turbulence and the Lagrangian correlation coefficient for a gaseous rocket combustion chamber have been determined from the experimental measurements of the tracer gas diffusion. A combination of Taylor's turbulent diffusion theory and Spalding's numerical method for solving the conservation equations of fluid mechanics was used to calculate these quantities. Taylor's theory was extended to consider the inhomogeneity of the turbulence field in the axial direction of the combustion chamber. An exponential function was used to represent the Lagrangian correlation coefficient. The results indicate that the maximum value of the intensity of turbulence is about 15% and the Lagrangian correlation coefficient drops to about 0.12 in one inch of the chamber length.

Modeling the pressure-dilatation correlation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarkar, S.

1991-01-01

It is generally accepted that pressure dilatation, which is an additional compressibility term in turbulence transport equations, may be important for high speed flows. Recent direct simulations of homogeneous shear turbulence have given concrete evidence that the pressure dilatation is important insofar that it contributes to the reduced growth of turbulent kinetic energy due to compressibility effects. The problem of modeling pressure dilatation is addressed. A component of the pressure dilatation is isolated which exhibits temporal oscillations and, using direct numerical simulations of homogeneous shear turbulence and isotropic turbulence, show that it has a negligible contribution to the evolution of turbulent kinetic energy. Then, an analysis for the case of homogeneous turbulence is performed to obtain a model for the nonoscillatory pressure dilatation. This model algebraically relates the pressure dilatation to quantities traditionally obtained in incompressible turbulence closures. The model is validated by direct comparison with the pressure dilatation data obtained from the simulations.

Probe systems for measuring static pressure and turbulence intensity in fluid streams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rossow, Vernon J. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A method and an apparatus for measuring time-averaged static or ambient pressure and turbulence intensity in a turbulent stream are discussed. The procedure involves placing a plurality of probes in the stream. Each probe responds in a different manner to characteristics of the fluid stream, preferably as a result of having varying cross sections. The responses from the probes are used to eliminate unwanted components in the measured quantities for accurate determination of selected characteristics.

Effect of Sub-Boundary Layer Vortex Generations on Incident Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Casper, J.; Lin, J. C.; Yao, C. S.

2003-01-01

Sub-boundary layer vortex generators were tested in a wind tunnel to assess their effect on the velocity field within the wake region of a turbulent boundary layer. Both mean flow quantities and turbulence statistics were measured. Although very small relative to the boundary layer thickness, these so-called micro vortex generators were found to have a measurable effect on the power spectra and integral length scales of the turbulence at a distance many times the height of the devices themselves. In addition, the potential acoustic impact of these devices is also discussed. Measured turbulence spectra are used as input to an acoustic formulation in a manner that compares predicted sound pressure levels that result from the incident boundary-layer turbulence, with and without the vortex generators in the flow.

Direct numerical simulations and modeling of a spatially-evolving turbulent wake

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cimbala, John M.

1994-01-01

Understanding of turbulent free shear flows (wakes, jets, and mixing layers) is important, not only for scientific interest, but also because of their appearance in numerous practical applications. Turbulent wakes, in particular, have recently received increased attention by researchers at NASA Langley. The turbulent wake generated by a two-dimensional airfoil has been selected as the test-case for detailed high-resolution particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments. This same wake has also been chosen to enhance NASA's turbulence modeling efforts. Over the past year, the author has completed several wake computations, while visiting NASA through the 1993 and 1994 ASEE summer programs, and also while on sabbatical leave during the 1993-94 academic year. These calculations have included two-equation (K-omega and K-epsilon) models, algebraic stress models (ASM), full Reynolds stress closure models, and direct numerical simulations (DNS). Recently, there has been mutually beneficial collaboration of the experimental and computational efforts. In fact, these projects have been chosen for joint presentation at the NASA Turbulence Peer Review, scheduled for September 1994. DNS calculations are presently underway for a turbulent wake at Re(sub theta) = 1000 and at a Mach number of 0.20. (Theta is the momentum thickness, which remains constant in the wake of a two dimensional body.) These calculations utilize a compressible DNS code written by M. M. Rai of NASA Ames, and modified for the wake by J. Cimbala. The code employs fifth-order accurate upwind-biased finite differencing for the convective terms, fourth-order accurate central differencing for the viscous terms, and an iterative-implicit time-integration scheme. The computational domain for these calculations starts at x/theta = 10, and extends to x/theta = 610. Fully developed turbulent wake profiles, obtained from experimental data from several wake generators, are supplied at the computational inlet, along with appropriate noise. After some adjustment period, the flow downstream of the inlet develops into a fully three-dimensional turbulent wake. Of particular interest in the present study is the far wake spreading rate and the self-similar mean and turbulence profiles. At the time of this writing, grid resolution studies are underway, and a code is being written to calculate turbulence statistics from these wake calculations; the statistics will be compared to those from the ongoing PIV wake measurements, those of previous experiments, and those predicted by the various turbulence models. These calculations will lead to significant long-term benefits for the turbulence modeling effort. In particular, quantities such as the pressure-strain correlation and the dissipation rate tensor can be easily calculated from the DNS results, whereas these quantities are nearly impossible to measure experimentally. Improvements to existing turbulence models (and development of new models) require knowledge about flow quantities such as these. Present turbulence models do a very good job at prediction of the shape of the mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles in a turbulent wake, but significantly underpredict the magnitude of the stresses and the spreading rate of the wake. Thus, the turbulent wake is an ideal flow for turbulence modeling research. By careful comparison and analysis of each term in the modeled Reynolds stress equations, the DNS data can show where deficiencies in the models exist; improvements to the models can then be attempted.

Altimeter Observations of Baroclinic Oceanic Inertia-Gravity Wave Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glazman, R. E.; Cheng, B.

1996-01-01

For a wide range of nonlinear wave processes - from capillary to planetary waves - theory predicts the existence of Kolmogorov-type spectral cascades of energy and other conserved quantities occuring via nonlinear resonant wave-wave interactions. So far, observations of wave turbulence (WT) have been limited to small-scale processes such as surface gravity and capillary-gravity waves.

Temperature decline thermography for laminar-turbulent transition detection in aerodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Hoesslin, Stefan; Stadlbauer, Martin; Gruendmayer, Juergen; Kähler, Christian J.

2017-09-01

Detailed knowledge about laminar-turbulent transition and heat transfer distribution of flows around complex aerodynamic components are crucial to achieve highest efficiencies in modern aerodynamical systems. Several measurement techniques have been developed to determine those parameters either quantitatively or qualitatively. Most of them require extensive instrumentation or give unreliable results as the boundary conditions are often not known with the required precision. This work introduces the simple and robust temperature decline method to qualitatively detect the laminar-turbulent transition and the respective heat transfer coefficients on a surface exposed to an air flow, according to patent application Stadlbauer et al. (Patentnr. WO2014198251 A1, 2014). This method provides results which are less sensitive to control parameters such as the heat conduction into the blade material and temperature inhomogeneities in the flow or blade. This method was applied to measurements with NACA0018 airfoils exposed to the flow of a calibration-free jet at various Reynolds numbers and angles of attack. For data analysis, a post-processing method was developed and qualified to determine a quantity proportional to the heat transfer coefficient into the flow. By plotting this quantity for each pixel of the surface, a qualitative, two-dimensional heat transfer map was obtained. The results clearly depicted the areas of onset and end of transition over the full span of the model and agreed with the expected behavior based on the respective flow condition. To validate the approach, surface hotfilm measurements were conducted simultaneously on the same NACA profile. Both techniques showed excellent agreement. The temperature decline method allows to visualize laminar-turbulent transitions on static or moving parts and can be applied on a very broad range of scales—from tiny airfoils up to large airplane wings.

Multidimensional Visualization of MHD and Turbulence in Fusion Plasmas [Multi-dimensional Visualization of Turbulence in Fusion Plasmas

DOE PAGES

Muscatello, Christopher M.; Domier, Calvin W.; Hu, Xing; ...

2014-08-13

Here, quasi-optical imaging at sub-THz frequencies has had a major impact on fusion plasma diagnostics. Mm-wave imaging reflectometry utilizes microwaves to actively probe fusion plasmas, inferring the local properties of electron density fluctuations. Electron cyclotron emission imaging is a multichannel radiometer that passively measures the spontaneous emission of microwaves from the plasma to infer local properties of electron temperature fluctuations. These imaging diagnostics work together to diagnose the characteristics of turbulence. Important quantities such as amplitude and wavenumber of coherent fluctuations, correlation lengths and decor relation times of turbulence, and poloidal flow velocity of the plasma are readily inferred.

A Realizable Reynolds Stress Algebraic Equation Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Tsan-Hsing; Zhu, Jiang; Lumley, John L.

1993-01-01

The invariance theory in continuum mechanics is applied to analyze Reynolds stresses in high Reynolds number turbulent flows. The analysis leads to a turbulent constitutive relation that relates the Reynolds stresses to the mean velocity gradients in a more general form in which the classical isotropic eddy viscosity model is just the linear approximation of the general form. On the basis of realizability analysis, a set of model coefficients are obtained which are functions of the time scale ratios of the turbulence to the mean strain rate and the mean rotation rate. The coefficients will ensure the positivity of each component of the mean rotation rate. These coefficients will ensure the positivity of each component of the turbulent kinetic energy - realizability that most existing turbulence models fail to satisfy. Separated flows over backward-facing step configurations are taken as applications. The calculations are performed with a conservative finite-volume method. Grid-independent and numerical diffusion-free solutions are obtained by using differencing schemes of second-order accuracy on sufficiently fine grids. The calculated results are compared in detail with the experimental data for both mean and turbulent quantities. The comparison shows that the present proposal significantly improves the predictive capability of K-epsilon based two equation models. In addition, the proposed model is able to simulate rotational homogeneous shear flows with large rotation rates which all conventional eddy viscosity models fail to simulate.

Transport Of Passive Scalars In A Turbulent Channel Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, John; Moin, Parviz

1990-01-01

Computer simulation of transport of passive scalars in turbulent channel flow described in report. Shows flow structures and statistical properties. As used here, "passive scalars" means scalar quantities like fluctuations in temperature or concentrations of contaminants that do not disturb flow appreciably. Examples include transport of heat in heat exchangers, gas turbines, and nuclear reactors and dispersal of pollution in atmosphere.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schaffner, D. A.; Carter, T. A.; Rossi, G. D.

Continuous control over azimuthal flow and shear in the edge of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) [W. Gekelman et al., Rev. Sci. Instr. 62, 2875 (1991)] has been achieved using a biasable limiter. This flow control has allowed a careful study of the effect of flow shear on pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and particle transport in LAPD. The combination of externally controllable shear in a turbulent plasma along with the detailed spatial diagnostic capabilities on LAPD makes the experiment a useful testbed for validation of shear suppression models. Motivated by these models, power-law fits are made to the density and radial velocitymore » fluctuation amplitudes, particle flux, density-potential crossphase, and radial correlation length. The data show a break in the trend of these quantities when the shearing rate (γ{sub s}=∂V{sub θ}/∂r) is comparable to the turbulent decorrelation rate (1/τ{sub ac}). No one model captures the trends in the all turbulent quantities for all values of the shearing rate, but some models successfully match the trend in either the weak (γ{sub s}τ{sub ac}<1) or strong (γ{sub s}τ{sub ac}>1) shear limits.« less

Mixing of a passive scalar in isotropic and sheared homogeneous turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shirani, E.; Ferziger, J. H.; Reynolds, W. C.

1981-01-01

In order to calculate the velocity and scalar fields, the three dimensional, time-dependent equations of motion and the diffusion equation were solved numerically. The following cases were treated: isotropic, homogeneous turbulence with decay of a passive scalar; and homogeneous turbulent shear flow with a passive scalar whose mean varies linearly in the spanwise direction. The solutions were obtained at relatively low Reynolds numbers so that all of the turbulent scales could be resolved without modeling. Turbulent statistics such as integral length scales, Taylor microscales, Kolmogorov length scale, one- and two-point correlations of velocity-velocity and velocity-scalar, turbulent Prandtl/Schmidt number, r.m.s. values of velocities, the scalar quantity and pressure, skewness, decay rates, and decay exponents were calculated. The results are compared with the available expermental results, and good agreement is obtained.

Research activities at the Center for Modeling of Turbulence and Transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Tsan-Hsing

1993-01-01

The main research activities at the Center for Modeling of Turbulence and Transition (CMOTT) are described. The research objective of CMOTT is to improve and/or develop turbulence and transition models for propulsion systems. The flows of interest in propulsion systems can be both compressible and incompressible, three dimensional, bounded by complex wall geometries, chemically reacting, and involve 'bypass' transition. The most relevant turbulence and transition models for the above flows are one- and two-equation eddy viscosity models, Reynolds stress algebraic- and transport-equation models, pdf models, and multiple-scale models. All these models are classified as one-point closure schemes since only one-point (in time and space) turbulent correlations, such as second moments (Reynolds stresses and turbulent heat fluxes) and third moments, are involved. In computational fluid dynamics, all turbulent quantities are one-point correlations. Therefore, the study of one-point turbulent closure schemes is the focus of our turbulence research. However, other research, such as the renormalization group theory, the direct interaction approximation method, and numerical simulations are also pursued to support the development of turbulence modeling.

Streamwise Evolution of Statistical Events in a Model Wind-Turbine Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viestenz, Kyle; Cal, Raúl Bayoán

2016-02-01

Hot-wire anemometry data, obtained from a wind-tunnel experiment containing a 3 × 3 model wind-turbine array, are used to conditionally average the Reynolds stresses. Nine profiles at the centreline behind the array are analyzed to characterize the turbulent velocity statistics of the wake flow. Quadrant analysis yields statistical events occurring in the wake of the wind farm where quadrants 2 and 4 produce ejections and sweeps, respectively. The scaled difference between these two events is expressed via the Δ R0 parameter and is based on the Δ S0 quantity as introduced by M. R. Raupach (J Fluid Mech 108:363-382, 1981). Δ R0 attains a maximum value at hub height and changes sign near the top of the rotor. The ratio of quadrant events of upward momentum flux to those of the downward flux, known as the exuberance, is examined and reveals the effect of root vortices persisting to eight rotor diameters downstream. These events are then associated with the triple correlation term present in the turbulent kinetic energy equation of the fluctuations where it is found that ejections play the dual role of entraining mean kinetic energy while convecting turbulent kinetic energy out of the turbine canopy. The development of these various quantities possesses significance in closure models, and is assessed in light of wake remediation, energy transport and power fluctuations, where it is found that the maximum fluctuation is about 30% of the mean power produced.

Study and modeling of finite rate chemistry effects in turbulent non-premixed flames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vervisch, Luc

1993-01-01

The development of numerical models that reflect some of the most important features of turbulent reacting flows requires information about the behavior of key quantities in well defined combustion regimes. In turbulent flames, the coupling between turbulent and chemical processes is so strong that it is extremely difficult to isolate the role played by one individual physical phenomenon. Direct numerical simulation (hereafter DNS) allows us to study in detail the turbulence-chemistry interaction in some restricted but completely defined situations. Globally, non-premixed flames are controlled by two limiting regimes: the fast chemistry case, where the turbulent flame can be pictured as a random distribution of local chemical equilibrium problems; and the slow chemistry case, where the chemistry integrates in time the turbulent fluctuations. The Damkoehler number, ratio of a mechanical time scale to chemical time scale, is used to distinguish between these regimes. Today most of the industrial computer codes are able to perform predictions in the hypothesis of local equilibrium chemistry using a presumed shape for the probability density function (pdt) of the conserved scalar. However, the finite rate chemistry situation is of great interest because industrial burners usually generate regimes in which, at some points, the flame is undergoing local extinction or at least non-equilibrium situations. Moreover, this variety of situations strongly influences the production of pollutants. To quantify finite rate chemistry effect, the interaction between a non-premixed flame and a free decaying turbulence is studied using DNS. The attention is focused on the dynamic of extinction, and an attempt is made to quantify the effect of the reaction on the small scale mixing process. The unequal diffusivity effect is also addressed. Finally, a simple turbulent combustion model based on the DNS observations and tractable in real flow configurations is proposed.

Lagrangian statistics in compressible isotropic homogeneous turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yantao; Wang, Jianchun; Shi, Yipeng; Chen, Shiyi

2011-11-01

In this work we conducted the Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of a forced compressible isotropic homogeneous turbulence and investigated the flow statistics from the Lagrangian point of view, namely the statistics is computed following the passive tracers trajectories. The numerical method combined the Eulerian field solver which was developed by Wang et al. (2010, J. Comp. Phys., 229, 5257-5279), and a Lagrangian module for tracking the tracers and recording the data. The Lagrangian probability density functions (p.d.f.'s) have then been calculated for both kinetic and thermodynamic quantities. In order to isolate the shearing part from the compressing part of the flow, we employed the Helmholtz decomposition to decompose the flow field (mainly the velocity field) into the solenoidal and compressive parts. The solenoidal part was compared with the incompressible case, while the compressibility effect showed up in the compressive part. The Lagrangian structure functions and cross-correlation between various quantities will also be discussed. This work was supported in part by the China's Turbulence Program under Grant No.2009CB724101.

A root-mean-square pressure fluctuations model for internal flow applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Y. S.

1985-01-01

A transport equation for the root-mean-square pressure fluctuations of turbulent flow is derived from the time-dependent momentum equation for incompressible flow. Approximate modeling of this transport equation is included to relate terms with higher order correlations to the mean quantities of turbulent flow. Three empirical constants are introduced in the model. Two of the empirical constants are estimated from homogeneous turbulence data and wall pressure fluctuations measurements. The third constant is determined by comparing the results of large eddy simulations for a plane channel flow and an annulus flow.

Regulation of pressure anisotropy in the solar wind: processes within inertial range of turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strumik, M.; Schekochihin, A. A.; Squire, J.; Bale, S. D.

2016-12-01

Dynamics of weakly collisional plasmas may lead to thermal pressure anisotropies that are driven by velocity shear, plasma expansion/compression or temperature gradients. The pressure anisotropies can provide free energy for the growth of micro-scale instabilities, like the mirror of firehose instabilities, that are commonly believed to constrain the pressure anisotropy in the solar wind if appropriate thresholds are exceeded. We discuss possible alternative mechanisms of regulation of the pressure anisotropy in the inertial range of solar wind turbulence that provide β-dependent constraints on the amplitude of fluctuations of pressure components and other quantities. In particular it is shown that double-adiabatic (CGL) closure for magnetohydrodynamic regime leads to 1/β scaling of the amplitude of the pressure component fluctuations and the pressure anisotropy. Both freely decaying and forced turbulence are discussed based on results of 3D numerical simulations and analytical theoretical predictions. The theoretical results are contrasted with WIND spacecraft measurements.

Large eddy simulations and direct numerical simulations of high speed turbulent reacting flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Givi, P.; Madnia, C. K.; Steinberger, C. J.; Frankel, S. H.

1992-01-01

The basic objective of this research is to extend the capabilities of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) for the computational analyses of high speed reacting flows. In the efforts related to LES, we were primarily involved with assessing the performance of the various modern methods based on the Probability Density Function (PDF) methods for providing closures for treating the subgrid fluctuation correlations of scalar quantities in reacting turbulent flows. In the work on DNS, we concentrated on understanding some of the relevant physics of compressible reacting flows by means of statistical analysis of the data generated by DNS of such flows. In the research conducted in the second year of this program, our efforts focused on the modeling of homogeneous compressible turbulent flows by PDF methods, and on DNS of non-equilibrium reacting high speed mixing layers. Some preliminary work is also in progress on PDF modeling of shear flows, and also on LES of such flows.

Free space optical communication using beam parameters with translational and transverse rotational invariance.

PubMed

Ivan, J Solomon; Goswami, Kaumudibikash

2015-06-01

Two natural requirements on a measurable quantity possessed by a paraxially propagating light-field to be suitable for free space optical communication are invariance under free space propagation and invariance under transverse plane rotation. While the former invariance ensures that the measurable quantity is robust while signalling through free space, the latter invariance ensures that a detector measuring the quantity can be oriented at any angle in the transverse plane, and a measurement by the detector yields the same value for the quantity irrespective of the transverse angle, thus avoiding alignment issues. The variance matrix of a paraxially propagating light-field is analyzed from the perspective of the aforementioned invariances. That the "charge" of a paraxial light-field, which is contained in the variance matrix, and which has been previously well studied for its suitability toward free space optical communication, possesses these two invariance properties, emerges naturally in the analysis. Seven functionally independent quantities other than charge, which are derived from the variance matrix, and which share these invariances, are presented and studied for their suitability toward signalling through turbulent atmosphere using the low-order Hermite-Gaussian modes. It is found that the spot size of a Gaussian light-field can be effectively used as a switch, to communicate through short distances in a turbulent atmosphere.

Turbulence in a gaseous hydrogen-liquid oxygen rocket combustion chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebas, J.; Tou, P.; Ohara, J.

1975-01-01

The intensity of turbulence and the Lagrangian correlation coefficient for a LOX-GH2 rocket combustion chamber was determined from experimental measurements of tracer gas diffusion. A combination of Taylor's turbulent diffusion theory and a numerical method for solving the conservation equations of fluid mechanics was used to calculate these quantities. Taylor's theory was extended to consider the inhomogeneity of the turbulence field in the axial direction of the combustion chamber, and an exponential function was used to represent the Lagrangian correlation coefficient. The results indicate that the value of the intensity of turbulence reaches a maximum of 14% at a location about 7" downstream from the injector. The Lagrangian correlation coefficient associated with this value is given by the above exponential expression where alpha = 10,000/sec.

Calculations of High-Temperature Jet Flow Using Hybrid Reynolds-Average Navier-Stokes Formulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.; Elmiligui, Alaa; Giriamaji, Sharath S.

2008-01-01

Two multiscale-type turbulence models are implemented in the PAB3D solver. The models are based on modifying the Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes equations. The first scheme is a hybrid Reynolds-averaged- Navier Stokes/large-eddy-simulation model using the two-equation k(epsilon) model with a Reynolds-averaged-Navier Stokes/large-eddy-simulation transition function dependent on grid spacing and the computed turbulence length scale. The second scheme is a modified version of the partially averaged Navier Stokes model in which the unresolved kinetic energy parameter f(sub k) is allowed to vary as a function of grid spacing and the turbulence length scale. This parameter is estimated based on a novel two-stage procedure to efficiently estimate the level of scale resolution possible for a given flow on a given grid for partially averaged Navier Stokes. It has been found that the prescribed scale resolution can play a major role in obtaining accurate flow solutions. The parameter f(sub k) varies between zero and one and is equal to one in the viscous sublayer and when the Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes turbulent viscosity becomes smaller than the large-eddy-simulation viscosity. The formulation, usage methodology, and validation examples are presented to demonstrate the enhancement of PAB3D's time-accurate turbulence modeling capabilities. The accurate simulations of flow and turbulent quantities will provide a valuable tool for accurate jet noise predictions. Solutions from these models are compared with Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes results and experimental data for high-temperature jet flows. The current results show promise for the capability of hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes and large eddy simulation and partially averaged Navier Stokes in simulating such flow phenomena.

A Study of Wake Development and Structure in Constant Pressure Gradients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Flint O.; Nelson, R. C.; Liu, Xiaofeng

2000-01-01

Motivated by the application to high-lift aerodynamics for commercial transport aircraft, a systematic investigation into the response of symmetric/asymmetric planar turbulent wake development to constant adverse, zero, and favorable pressure gradients has been conducted. The experiments are performed at a Reynolds number of 2.4 million based on the chord of the wake generator. A unique feature of this wake study is that the pressure gradients imposed on the wake flow field are held constant. The experimental measurements involve both conventional LDV and hot wire flow field surveys of mean and turbulent quantities including the turbulent kinetic energy budget. In addition, similarity analysis and numerical simulation have also been conducted for this wake study. A focus of the research has been to isolate the effects of both pressure gradient and initial wake asymmetry on the wake development. Experimental results reveal that the pressure gradient has a tremendous influence on the wake development, despite the relatively modest pressure gradients imposed. For a given pressure gradient, the development of an initially asymmetric wake is different from the initially symmetric wake. An explicit similarity solution for the shape parameters of the symmetric wake is obtained and agrees with the experimental results. The turbulent kinetic energy budget measurements of the symmetric wake demonstrate that except for the convection term, the imposed pressure gradient does not change the fundamental flow physics of turbulent kinetic energy transport. Based on the turbulent kinetic energy budget measurements, an approach to correct the bias error associated with the notoriously difficult dissipation estimate is proposed and validated through the comparison of the experimental estimate with a direct numerical simulation result.

A performance analysis of ensemble averaging for high fidelity turbulence simulations at the strong scaling limit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Makarashvili, Vakhtang; Merzari, Elia; Obabko, Aleksandr

We analyze the potential performance benefits of estimating expected quantities in large eddy simulations of turbulent flows using true ensembles rather than ergodic time averaging. Multiple realizations of the same flow are simulated in parallel, using slightly perturbed initial conditions to create unique instantaneous evolutions of the flow field. Each realization is then used to calculate statistical quantities. Provided each instance is sufficiently de-correlated, this approach potentially allows considerable reduction in the time to solution beyond the strong scaling limit for a given accuracy. This study focuses on the theory and implementation of the methodology in Nek5000, a massively parallelmore » open-source spectral element code.« less

A performance analysis of ensemble averaging for high fidelity turbulence simulations at the strong scaling limit

DOE PAGES

Makarashvili, Vakhtang; Merzari, Elia; Obabko, Aleksandr; ...

2017-06-07

We analyze the potential performance benefits of estimating expected quantities in large eddy simulations of turbulent flows using true ensembles rather than ergodic time averaging. Multiple realizations of the same flow are simulated in parallel, using slightly perturbed initial conditions to create unique instantaneous evolutions of the flow field. Each realization is then used to calculate statistical quantities. Provided each instance is sufficiently de-correlated, this approach potentially allows considerable reduction in the time to solution beyond the strong scaling limit for a given accuracy. This study focuses on the theory and implementation of the methodology in Nek5000, a massively parallelmore » open-source spectral element code.« less

Quantifying polymer deformation in viscoelastic turbulence: the geometric decomposition and a Riemannian approach to scalar measures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hameduddin, Ismail; Meneveau, Charles; Zaki, Tamer; Gayme, Dennice

2017-11-01

We develop a new framework to quantify the fluctuating behaviour of the conformation tensor in viscoelastic turbulent flows. This framework addresses two shortcomings of the classical approach based on Reynolds decomposition: the fluctuating part of the conformation tensor is not guaranteed to be positive definite and it does not consistently represent polymer expansions and contractions about the mean. Our approach employs a geometric decomposition that yields a positive-definite fluctuating conformation tensor with a clear physical interpretation as a deformation to the mean conformation. We propose three scalar measures of this fluctuating conformation tensor, which respect the non-Euclidean Riemannian geometry of the manifold of positive-definite tensors: fluctuating polymer volume, geodesic distance from the mean, and an anisotropy measure. We use these scalar quantities to investigate drag-reduced viscoelastic turbulent channel flow. Our approach establishes a systematic method to study viscoelastic turbulence. It also uncovers interesting phenomena that are not apparent using traditional analysis tools, including a logarithmic decrease in anisotropy of the mean conformation tensor away from the wall and polymer fluctuations peaking beyond the buffer layer. This work has been partially funded by the following NSF Grants: CBET-1652244, OCE-1633124, CBET-1511937.

New developments in isotropic turbulent models for FENE-P fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Resende, P. R.; Cavadas, A. S.

2018-04-01

The evolution of viscoelastic turbulent models, in the last years, has been significant due to the direct numeric simulation (DNS) advances, which allowed us to capture in detail the evolution of the viscoelastic effects and the development of viscoelastic closures. New viscoelastic closures are proposed for viscoelastic fluids described by the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic-Peterlin constitutive model. One of the viscoelastic closure developed in the context of isotropic turbulent models, consists in a modification of the turbulent viscosity to include an elastic effect, capable of predicting, with good accuracy, the behaviour for different drag reductions. Another viscoelastic closure essential to predict drag reduction relates the viscoelastic term involving velocity and the tensor conformation fluctuations. The DNS data show the high impact of this term to predict correctly the drag reduction, and for this reason is proposed a simpler closure capable of predicting the viscoelastic behaviour with good performance. In addition, a new relation is developed to predict the drag reduction, quantity based on the trace of the tensor conformation at the wall, eliminating the need of the typically parameters of Weissenberg and Reynolds numbers, which depend on the friction velocity. This allows future developments for complex geometries.

Comprehensive Validation of an Intermittency Transport Model for Transitional Low-Pressure Turbine Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suzen, Y. B.; Huang, P. G.

2005-01-01

A transport equation for the intermittency factor is employed to predict transitional flows under the effects of pressure gradients, freestream turbulence intensities, Reynolds number variations, flow separation and reattachment. and unsteady wake-blade interactions representing diverse operating conditions encountered in low-pressure turbines. The intermittent behaviour of the transitional flows is taken into account and incorporated into computations by modifying the eddy viscosity, Mu(sub t), with the intermittency factor, gamma. Turbulent quantities are predicted by using Menter's two-equation turbulence model (SST). The onset location of transition is obtained from correlations based on boundary-layer momentum thickness, acceleration parameter, and turbulence intensity. The intermittency factor is obtained from a transport model which can produce both the experimentally observed streamwise variation of intermittency and a realistic profile in the cross stream direction. The intermittency transport model is tested and validated against several well documented low pressure turbine experiments ranging from flat plate cases to unsteady wake-blade interaction experiments. Overall, good agreement between the experimental data and computational results is obtained illustrating the predicting capabilities of the model and the current intermittency transport modelling approach for transitional flow simulations.

Transition to turbulence in Taylor-Couette ferrofluidic flow

PubMed Central

Altmeyer, Sebastian; Do, Younghae; Lai, Ying-Cheng

2015-01-01

It is known that in classical fluids turbulence typically occurs at high Reynolds numbers. But can turbulence occur at low Reynolds numbers? Here we investigate the transition to turbulence in the classic Taylor-Couette system in which the rotating fluids are manufactured ferrofluids with magnetized nanoparticles embedded in liquid carriers. We find that, in the presence of a magnetic field transverse to the symmetry axis of the system, turbulence can occur at Reynolds numbers that are at least one order of magnitude smaller than those in conventional fluids. This is established by extensive computational ferrohydrodynamics through a detailed investigation of transitions in the flow structure, and characterization of behaviors of physical quantities such as the energy, the wave number, and the angular momentum through the bifurcations. A finding is that, as the magnetic field is increased, onset of turbulence can be determined accurately and reliably. Our results imply that experimental investigation of turbulence may be feasible by using ferrofluids. Our study of transition to and evolution of turbulence in the Taylor-Couette ferrofluidic flow system provides insights into the challenging problem of turbulence control. PMID:26065572

Forecasting seeing and parameters of long-exposure images by means of ARIMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kornilov, Matwey V.

2016-02-01

Atmospheric turbulence is the one of the major limiting factors for ground-based astronomical observations. In this paper, the problem of short-term forecasting seeing is discussed. The real data that were obtained by atmospheric optical turbulence (OT) measurements above Mount Shatdzhatmaz in 2007-2013 have been analysed. Linear auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models are used for the forecasting. A new procedure for forecasting the image characteristics of direct astronomical observations (central image intensity, full width at half maximum, radius encircling 80 % of the energy) has been proposed. Probability density functions of the forecast of these quantities are 1.5-2 times thinner than the respective unconditional probability density functions. Overall, this study found that the described technique could adequately describe temporal stochastic variations of the OT power.

Prediction of mean flow data for adiabatic 2-D compressible turbulent boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motallebi, Fariborz

1995-02-01

This report presents a method for the prediction of mean flow data (i.e. , skin friction, velocity profile, and shape parameter) for adiabatic two-dimensional compressible turbulent boundary layers at zero pressure gradient. The transformed law of the wall, law of the wake, the van Driest model for the complete inner region, and a correlation between the Reynolds number based on the boundary layer integral length scale (Re(sub Delta*)) and the Reynolds number based on the boundary layer momentum thickness (Re(sub theta)) were used to predict the mean flow quantities. The results for skin friction coefficient show good agreement with a number of existing theories including those of van Driest and Huang et al. Comparison with a large number of experimental data suggests that at least for transonic and supersonic flows, the velocity profile as described by van Driest and Coles is Reynolds number dependent and should not be presumed universal. Extra information or perhaps a better physical approach to the formulation of the mean structure of compressible turbulent boundary layers, even in zero pressure gradient and adiabatic condition, is required in order to achieve complete (physical and mathematical) convergence when it is applied in any prediction methods.

Equilibrium Wall Model Implementation in a Nodal Finite Element Flow Solver JENRE for Large Eddy Simulations

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-11-13

condition is applied to the inviscid and viscous fluxes on the wall to satisfy the surface physical condition, but a non -zero surface tangential...velocity profiles and turbulence quantities predicted by the current wall-model implementation agree well with available experimental data and...implementations. The volume and surface integrals based on the non -zero surface velocity in a cell adjacent to the wall show a good agreement with those

Coherent structures and turbulence evolution in magnetized non-neutral plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romé, M.; Chen, S.; Maero, G.

2018-01-01

The evolution of turbulence of a magnetized pure electron plasma confined in a Penning-Malmberg trap is investigated by means of a two-dimensional particle-in-cell numerical code. The transverse plasma dynamics is studied both in the case of free evolution and under the influence of non-axisymmetric, multipolar radio-frequency drives applied on the circular conducting boundary. In the latter case the radio-frequency fields are chosen in the frequency range of the low-order azimuthal (diocotron) modes of the plasma in order to investigate their effect on the insurgence of azimuthal instabilities and the formation and evolution of coherent structures, possibly preventing the relaxation to a fully-developed turbulent state. Different initial density distributions (rings and spirals) are considered, so that evolutions characterized by different levels of turbulence and intermittency are obtained. The time evolution of integral and spectral quantities of interest are computed using a multiresolution analysis based on a wavelet decomposition of density maps. Qualitative features of turbulent relaxation are found to be similar in conditions of both free and forced evolution, but the analysis allows one to highlight fine details of the flow beyond the self-similarity turbulence properties, so that the influence of the initial conditions and the effect of the external forcing can be distinguished. In particular, the presence of small inhomogeneities in the initial density configuration turns out to lead to quite different final states, especially in the presence of competing unstable diocotron modes characterized by similar growth rates.

Reynold-Number Effects on Near-Wall Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mansour, N. N.; Kim, J.; Moser, R. D.; Rai, Man Mohan (Technical Monitor)

1995-01-01

The Reynolds stress budget in a full developed turbulent channel flow for three Reynolds numbers (Re = 180,395,590) are used to investigate the near wall scaling of various turbulence quantities. We find that as the Reynolds number increases, the extent of the region where the production of the kinetic energy is equal to the dissipation increases. At the highest Reynolds number the region of equilibrium extends from y+ - 120 to y+ = 240. As the Reynolds number increases, we find that wall scaling collapses the budgets for the streamwise fluctuating component, but the budgets for the other two components show Reynolds number dependency.

Producing Turbulent Wind Tunnel Inflows Relevant to Wind Turbines using an Active Grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rumple, Christopher; Welch, Matthew; Naughton, Jonathan

2017-11-01

The rise of industries like wind energy have provided motivation for generating realistic turbulent inflows in wind tunnels. Facilities with the ability to produce such inflows can study the interaction between the inflow turbulence and the flow of interest such as a wind turbine wake. An active grid - a system of actively driven elements - has gained increasing acceptance in turbulence research over the last 20 years. The ability to tailor the inflow turbulence quantities (e.g. turbulence intensities, integral length scale, and turbulence spectrum) is a driving reason for the growing use of active grids. An active grid with 40 independent axes located within the forward contraction of a low speed wind tunnel is used to explore the range of turbulent inflows possible using hot-wire anemometry to characterize the turbulence. Motor control algorithms (i.e. user waveform inputs) used to produce various turbulent inflows will be presented. Wind data available from meteorological towers are used to develop relevant inflows for wind turbines to demonstrate the usefulness of the active grid. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, under Award # DE-SC0012671.

Sound radiated by the interaction of non-homogeneous turbulence on a transversely sheared flow with leading and trailing edges of semi-infinite flat plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afsar, Mohammed; Sassanis, Vasilis

2017-11-01

The small amplitude unsteady motion on a transversely sheared mean flow is determined by two arbitrary convected quantities with a particular choice of gauge in which the Fourier transform of the pressure is linearly-related to a scalar potential whose integral solution can be written in terms of one of these convected quantities. This formulation becomes very useful for studying Rapid-distortion theory problems involving solid surface interaction. Recent work by Goldstein et al. (JFM, 2017) has shown that the convected quantities are related to the turbulence by exact conservation laws, which allow the upstream boundary conditions for interaction of a turbulent shear flow with a solid-surface (for example) to be derived self-consistently with appropriate asymptotic separation of scales. This result requires the imposition of causality on an intermediate variable within the conservation laws that represents the local particle displacement. In this talk, we use the model derived in Goldstein et al. for trailing edge noise and compare it to leading edge noise on a semi-infinite flat plate positioned parallel to the level curves of the mean flow. Since the latter represents the leading order solution for the aerofoil interaction problem, these results are expected to be generic. M.Z.A. would also like to thank Strathclyde University for financial support from the Chancellor's Fellowship.

Effect of LES models on the entrainment characteristics in a turbulent planar jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chambel Lopes, Diogo; da Silva, Carlos; Raman, Venkat

2012-11-01

The effect of subgrid-scale (SGS) models in the jet spreading rate and centreline passive scalar decay rates are assessed and compared. The modelling of the subgrid-scale fluxes is particularly challenging in the turbulent/nonturbulent (T/NT) region that divides the two regions in the jet flow: the outer region where the flow is irrotational and the inner region where the flow is turbulent: it has been shown that important Reynolds stresses exist near the T/NT interface and that these stresses determine in part the mixing and combustion rates in jets. In this work direct and large-eddy simulations (DNS/LES) of turbulent planar jets are used to study the role of subgrid-scale models in the integral characteristics of the passive scalar mixing in a jet. LES show that different SGS modes lead to different spreading rates for the velocity and scalar fields, and the scalar quantities are more affected than the velocity e.g. SGS models affect strongly the centreline mean scalar decay than the centreline mean velocity decay. The results suggest the need for a minimum resolution close to the Taylor micro-scale in order to recover the correct results for the integral quantities and this can be explained by recent results on the dynamics of the T/NT interface.

Investigations of flowfields found in typical combustor geometries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lilley, D. G.

1984-01-01

Studies are concerned with experimental and theoretical research on 2-D axisymmetric geometries under low speed, nonreacting, turbulent, swirling flow conditions. The flow enters the test section and proceeds into a larger chamber (the linear expansion ratio D/d = 2, 1.5 and 1) via a sudden or gradual expansion (side wall angle alpha = 90 and 45 degrees). A weak or strong nozzle (of area ratio A/a = 2 and 4) may be positioned downstream at x/D = 2 to form a contraction exit to the test section. Inlet swirl vanes are adjustable to a variety of vane angles with values of theta = 0, 38, 45, 60 and 70 degrees being emphasized. The objective is to determine the effect of these parameters on isothermal flow field patterns, time mean velocities and turbulence quantities, and to establish an improved simulation in the form of a computer prediction code equipped with a suitable turbulence model. The goal of the on going research is to perform experiments and complementary computations with the idea of doing the necessary type of research that will yield improved calculation capability. This involves performing experiments where time mean turbulence quantities are measured and taking input conditions and running an existing prediction code for a variety of test cases so as to compare predictions against experiment.

Multigrid solution of compressible turbulent flow on unstructured meshes using a two-equation model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mavriplis, D. J.; Matinelli, L.

1994-01-01

The steady state solution of the system of equations consisting of the full Navier-Stokes equations and two turbulence equations has been obtained using a multigrid strategy of unstructured meshes. The flow equations and turbulence equations are solved in a loosely coupled manner. The flow equations are advanced in time using a multistage Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme with a stability-bound local time step, while turbulence equations are advanced in a point-implicit scheme with a time step which guarantees stability and positivity. Low-Reynolds-number modifications to the original two-equation model are incorporated in a manner which results in well-behaved equations for arbitrarily small wall distances. A variety of aerodynamic flows are solved, initializing all quantities with uniform freestream values. Rapid and uniform convergence rates for the flow and turbulence equations are observed.

Gravity Waves characteristics and their impact on turbulent transport above an Antarctic Ice Sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cava, Daniela; Giostra, Umberto; Katul, Gabriel

2016-04-01

Turbulence within the stable boundary layer (SBL) remains a ubiquitous feature of many geophysical flows, especially over glaciers and ice-sheets. Although numerous studies have investigated various aspects of the boundary layer motion during stable atmospheric conditions, a unified picture of turbulent transport within the SBL remains elusive. In a strongly stratified SBL, turbulence generation is frequently associated with interactions with sub-meso scale motions that are often a combination of gravity waves (GWs) and horizontal modes. While some progress has been made in the inclusion of GW parameterisation within global models, description and parameterisation of the turbulence-wave interaction remain an open question. The discrimination between waves and turbulence is a focal point needed to make progress as these two motions have different properties with regards to heat, moisture and pollutant transport. In fact, the occurrence of GWs can cause significant differences and ambiguities in the interpretation of turbulence statistics and fluxes if not a priori filtered from the analysis. In this work, the characteristics of GW and their impact on turbulent statistics were investigated using wind velocity components and scalars collected above an Antarctic Ice sheet during an Austral Summer. Antarctica is an ideal location for exploring the characteristics of GW because of persistent conditions of strongly stable atmospheric stability in the lower troposphere. Periods dominated by wavy motions have been identified by analysing time series measured by fast response instrumentation. The GWs nature and features have been investigated using Fourier cross-spectral indicators. The detected waves were frequently characterised by variable amplitude and period; moreover, they often produced non-stationarity and large intermittency in turbulent fluctuations that can significantly alter the estimation of turbulence statistics in general and fluxes in particular. A multi-resolution decomposition based on the Haar wavelet has been applied to separate gravity waves from turbulent fluctuations in case of a sufficiently defined spectral gap. Statistics computed after removing wavy disturbances highlight the large impact of gravity waves on second order turbulent quantities. One of the most impacted parameters is turbulent kinetic energy, in particular in the longitudinal and lateral components. The effect of wave activity on momentum and scalar fluxes is more complex because waves can produce large errors in sign and magnitude of computed turbulent fluxes or they themselves can contribute to intermittent turbulent mixing. The proposed filtering procedure based on the multi-resolution decomposition restored the correct sign in the turbulent sensible heat flux values. These findings highlight the significance of a correct evaluation of the impact of wave components when the goal is determining the turbulent transport component of mass and energy in the SBL.

Results of the GABLS3 diurnal-cycle benchmark for wind energy applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rodrigo, J. Sanz; Allaerts, D.; Avila, M.

We present results of the GABLS3 model intercomparison benchmark revisited for wind energy applications. The case consists of a diurnal cycle, measured at the 200-m tall Cabauw tower in the Netherlands, including a nocturnal low-level jet. The benchmark includes a sensitivity analysis of WRF simulations using two input meteorological databases and five planetary boundary-layer schemes. A reference set of mesoscale tendencies is used to drive microscale simulations using RANS k-ϵ and LES turbulence models. The validation is based on rotor-based quantities of interest. Cycle-integrated mean absolute errors are used to quantify model performance. The results of the benchmark are usedmore » to discuss input uncertainties from mesoscale modelling, different meso-micro coupling strategies (online vs offline) and consistency between RANS and LES codes when dealing with boundary-layer mean flow quantities. Altogether, all the microscale simulations produce a consistent coupling with mesoscale forcings.« less

Results of the GABLS3 diurnal-cycle benchmark for wind energy applications

DOE PAGES

Rodrigo, J. Sanz; Allaerts, D.; Avila, M.; ...

2017-06-13

We present results of the GABLS3 model intercomparison benchmark revisited for wind energy applications. The case consists of a diurnal cycle, measured at the 200-m tall Cabauw tower in the Netherlands, including a nocturnal low-level jet. The benchmark includes a sensitivity analysis of WRF simulations using two input meteorological databases and five planetary boundary-layer schemes. A reference set of mesoscale tendencies is used to drive microscale simulations using RANS k-ϵ and LES turbulence models. The validation is based on rotor-based quantities of interest. Cycle-integrated mean absolute errors are used to quantify model performance. The results of the benchmark are usedmore » to discuss input uncertainties from mesoscale modelling, different meso-micro coupling strategies (online vs offline) and consistency between RANS and LES codes when dealing with boundary-layer mean flow quantities. Altogether, all the microscale simulations produce a consistent coupling with mesoscale forcings.« less

Measurements of optical underwater turbulence under controlled conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanaev, A. V.; Gladysz, S.; Almeida de Sá Barros, R.; Matt, S.; Nootz, G. A.; Josset, D. B.; Hou, W.

2016-05-01

Laser beam propagation underwater is becoming an important research topic because of high demand for its potential applications. Namely, ability to image underwater at long distances is highly desired for scientific and military purposes, including submarine awareness, diver visibility, and mine detection. Optical communication in the ocean can provide covert data transmission with much higher rates than that available with acoustic techniques, and it is now desired for certain military and scientific applications that involve sending large quantities of data. Unfortunately underwater environment presents serious challenges for propagation of laser beams. Even in clean ocean water, the extinction due to absorption and scattering theoretically limit the useful range to few attenuation lengths. However, extending the laser light propagation range to the theoretical limit leads to significant beam distortions due to optical underwater turbulence. Experiments show that the magnitude of the distortions that are caused by water temperature and salinity fluctuations can significantly exceed the magnitude of the beam distortions due to atmospheric turbulence even for relatively short propagation distances. We are presenting direct measurements of optical underwater turbulence in controlled conditions of laboratory water tank using two separate techniques involving wavefront sensor and LED array. These independent approaches will enable development of underwater turbulence power spectrum model based directly on the spatial domain measurements and will lead to accurate predictions of underwater beam propagation.

Validation of High-Speed Turbulent Boundary Layer and Shock-Boundary Layer Interaction Computations with the OVERFLOW Code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliver, A. B.; Lillard, R. P.; Blaisdell, G. A.; Lyrintizis, A. S.

2006-01-01

The capability of the OVERFLOW code to accurately compute high-speed turbulent boundary layers and turbulent shock-boundary layer interactions is being evaluated. Configurations being investigated include a Mach 2.87 flat plate to compare experimental velocity profiles and boundary layer growth, a Mach 6 flat plate to compare experimental surface heat transfer,a direct numerical simulation (DNS) at Mach 2.25 for turbulent quantities, and several Mach 3 compression ramps to compare computations of shock-boundary layer interactions to experimental laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) data and hot-wire data. The present paper describes outlines the study and presents preliminary results for two of the flat plate cases and two small-angle compression corner test cases.

Shear layer structure of a low speed jet. Ph.D. Thesis. Final Report, 28 Jun. 1974 - 31 Dec. 1975; [measurements of field pressure and turbulent velocity functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petersen, R. A.

1976-01-01

A series of measurements of near field pressures and turbulent velocity fluctuations were made in a low speed jet with a Reynolds number near 50,000 in order to investigate more quantitatively the character and behavior of the large scale structures and their interactions with each other. The near field measurements were modelled according to the vortex pairing hypothesis to deduce the distribution of pairings along the jet axis and the variances about the mean locations. The hodograph plane description of turbulence was explored in some detail, and a complex correlation quantity was synthesized which has useful properties for turbulence in the presence of mean shear.

Characterization of turbulent coherent structures in square duct flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atzori, Marco; Vinuesa, Ricardo; Lozano-Durán, Adrián; Schlatter, Philipp

2018-04-01

This work is aimed at a first characterization of coherent structures in turbulent square duct flows. Coherent structures are defined as connected components in the domain identified as places where a quantity of interest (such as Reynolds stress or vorticity) is larger than a prescribed non-uniform threshold. Firstly, we qualitatively discuss how a percolation analysis can be used to assess the effectiveness of the threshold function, and how it can be affected by statistical uncertainty. Secondly, various physical quantities that are expected to play an important role in the dynamics of the secondary flow of Prandtl’s second kind are studied. Furthermore, a characterization of intense Reynolds-stress events in square duct flow, together with a comparison of their shape for analogous events in channel flow at the same Reynolds number, is presented.

Characterization of Sound Radiation by Unresolved Scales of Motion in Computational Aeroacoustics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubinstein, Robert; Zhou, Ye

1999-01-01

Evaluation of the sound sources in a high Reynolds number turbulent flow requires time-accurate resolution of an extremely large number of scales of motion. Direct numerical simulations will therefore remain infeasible for the forseeable future: although current large eddy simulation methods can resolve the largest scales of motion accurately the, they must leave some scales of motion unresolved. A priori studies show that acoustic power can be underestimated significantly if the contribution of these unresolved scales is simply neglected. In this paper, the problem of evaluating the sound radiation properties of the unresolved, subgrid-scale motions is approached in the spirit of the simplest subgrid stress models: the unresolved velocity field is treated as isotropic turbulence with statistical descriptors, evaluated from the resolved field. The theory of isotropic turbulence is applied to derive formulas for the total power and the power spectral density of the sound radiated by a filtered velocity field. These quantities are compared with the corresponding quantities for the unfiltered field for a range of filter widths and Reynolds numbers.

Kurtosis parameter K of arbitrary electromagnetic beams propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yonggen; Dan, Youquan; Yu, Jiayi; Cai, Yangjian

2017-10-01

General analytical formulae for the kurtosis parameters K (K parameters) of the arbitrary electromagnetic (AE) beams propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence are derived, and according to the unified theory of polarization and coherence, the effect of degree of polarization (DOP) of an electromagnetic beam on the K parameter is studied. The analytical formulae can be given by the second-order moments and fourth-order moments of the Wigner distribution function for AE beams at source plane, the two turbulence quantities relating to the spatial power spectrum, and the propagation distance. Our results can also be extended to the arbitrary beams and the arbitrary spatial power spectra of Kolmogorov turbulence or non-Kolmogorov turbulence. Taking the stochastic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (SEGSM) beam as an example, the numerical examples indicate that the K parameters of a SEGSM beam in non-Kolmogorov turbulence depend on propagation distance, the beam parameters and turbulence parameters. The K parameter of a SEGM beam is more sensitive to effect of turbulence with smaller inner scale and generalized exponent parameter. A non-polarized light has the strongest ability of resisting turbulence (ART), however, a fully polarized SEGSM beam has the poorest ART.

Study of Three-Dimensional Pressure-Driven Turbulent Boundary Layer

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-08-31

614)-)) the flow development rate should be comparable with that of the flows used in practice. In the rest of the Chapter, first the governing...to develop these models will be briefly discussed. The available turbulence models used INTRODUCTION 2 for the mathematically closure of the of...equations, assumptions made for each model and the quantities to be measured for the further development of these models are also going to be pointed out

Evaluation of Turbulence-Model Performance in Jet Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodruff, S. L.; Seiner, J. M.; Hussaini, M. Y.; Erlebacher, G.

2001-01-01

The importance of reducing jet noise in both commercial and military aircraft applications has made jet acoustics a significant area of research. A technique for jet noise prediction commonly employed in practice is the MGB approach, based on the Lighthill acoustic analogy. This technique requires as aerodynamic input mean flow quantities and turbulence quantities like the kinetic energy and the dissipation. The purpose of the present paper is to assess existing capabilities for predicting these aerodynamic inputs. Two modern Navier-Stokes flow solvers, coupled with several modern turbulence models, are evaluated by comparison with experiment for their ability to predict mean flow properties in a supersonic jet plume. Potential weaknesses are identified for further investigation. Another comparison with similar intent is discussed by Barber et al. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a reliable flow solver applicable to the low-noise, propulsion-efficient, nozzle exhaust systems being developed in NASA focused programs. These programs address a broad range of complex nozzle geometries operating in high temperature, compressible, flows. Seiner et al. previously discussed the jet configuration examined here. This convergent-divergent nozzle with an exit diameter of 3.6 inches was designed for an exhaust Mach number of 2.0 and a total temperature of 1680 F. The acoustic and aerodynamic data reported by Seiner et al. covered a range of jet total temperatures from 104 F to 2200 F at the fully-expanded nozzle pressure ratio. The aerodynamic data included centerline mean velocity and total temperature profiles. Computations were performed independently with two computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes, ISAAC and PAB3D. Turbulence models employed include the k-epsilon model, the Gatski-Speziale algebraic-stress model and the Girimaji model, with and without the Sarkar compressibility correction. Centerline values of mean velocity and mean temperature are compared with experimental data.

Laser Doppler Velocimeter measurements in a 3-D impinging twin-jet fountain flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saripalli, K. R.

1987-01-01

Mean velocity and turbulence measurements were conducted on the three dimensional fountain flow field generated by the impingement of two axisymmetric jets on a ground plane with application to vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The basic instantaneous velocity data were obtained using a two component laser Doppler velocimeter in a plane connecting the nozzle centerlines at different heights above the ground emphasizing the jet impingement region and the fountain upwash region formed by the collision of the wall jets. The distribution of mean velocity components and turbulence quantities, including the turbulence intensity and the Reynolds shear stress, were derived from the basic velocity data. Detailed studies of the characteristics of the fountain revealed self-similarity in the mean velocity and turbulence profiles across the fountain. The spread and mean velocity decay characteristics of the fountain were established. Turbulence intensities of the order of 50% were observed in the fountain.

Multigrid solution of compressible turbulent flow on unstructured meshes using a two-equation model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mavriplis, D. J.; Martinelli, L.

1991-01-01

The system of equations consisting of the full Navier-Stokes equations and two turbulence equations was solved for in the steady state using a multigrid strategy on unstructured meshes. The flow equations and turbulence equations are solved in a loosely coupled manner. The flow equations are advanced in time using a multistage Runge-Kutta time stepping scheme with a stability bound local time step, while the turbulence equations are advanced in a point-implicit scheme with a time step which guarantees stability and positively. Low Reynolds number modifications to the original two equation model are incorporated in a manner which results in well behaved equations for arbitrarily small wall distances. A variety of aerodynamic flows are solved for, initializing all quantities with uniform freestream values, and resulting in rapid and uniform convergence rates for the flow and turbulence equations.

Budget of Turbulent Kinetic Energy in a Shock Wave Boundary-Layer Interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vyas, Manan A.; Waindim, Mbu; Gaitonde, Datta V.

2016-01-01

Implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) of a shock wave/boundary-layer interaction (SBLI) was performed. Quantities present in the exact equation of the turbulent kinetic energy transport were accumulated and used to calculate terms like production, dissipation, molecular diffusion, and turbulent transport. The present results for a turbulent boundary layer were validated by comparison with direct numerical simulation data. It was found that a longer development domain was necessary for the boundary layer to reach an equilibrium state and a finer mesh resolution would improve the predictions. In spite of these findings, trends of the present budget match closely with that of the direct numerical simulation. Budgets for the SBLI region are presented at key axial stations. These budgets showed interesting dynamics as the incoming boundary layer transforms and the terms of the turbulent kinetic energy budget change behavior within the interaction region.

The pressure-dilatation correlation in compressible flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarkar, S.

1992-01-01

Simulations of simple compressible flows have been performed to enable the direct estimation of the pressure-dilatation correlation. The generally accepted belief that this correlation may be important in high-speed flows has been verified by the simulations. The pressure-dilatation correlation is theoretically investigated by considering the equation for fluctuating pressure in an arbitrary compressible flow. This leads to the isolation of a component of the pressure-dilatation that exhibits temporal oscillations on a fast time scale. Direct numerical simulations of homogeneous shear turbulence and isotropic turbulence show that this fast component has a negligible contribution to the evolution of turbulent kinetic energy. Then, an analysis for the case of homogeneous turbulence is performed to obtain a formal solution for the nonoscillatory pressure-dilatation. Simplifications lead to a model that algebraically relates the pressure-dilatation to quantities traditionally obtained in incompressible turbulence closures. The model is validated by direct comparison with the simulations.

A study of the second and third order closure models of turbulence for prediction of separated shear flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Amano, R. S.

1985-01-01

The hybrid model of the Reynolds-stress turbulence closure is tested for the computation of the flows over a step and disk. Here it is attempted to improve the redistributive action of the turbulence energy among the Reynolds stresses. By evaluating the existing models for the pressure-strain correlation, better coefficients are obtained for the prediction of separating shear flows. Furthermore, the diffusion rate of the Reynolds stresses is reevaluated adopting several algebraic correlations for the triple-velocity products. The models of Cormack et al., Daly-Harlow, Hanjalic-Launder, and Shir were tested for the reattaching shear flows. It was generally observed that all these algebraic models give considerably low values of the triple-velocity products. This is attributed to the fact that none of the algebraic models can take the convective effect of the triple-velocity products into account in the separating shear flows, thus resulting in much lower diffusion rate than Reynolds stresses. In order to improve the evaluation of these quantities correction factors are introduced based on the comparison with some experimental data.

Computations of Flow over a Hump Model Using Higher Order Method with Turbulence Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balakumar, P.

2005-01-01

Turbulent separated flow over a two-dimensional hump is computed by solving the RANS equations with k - omega (SST) turbulence model for the baseline, steady suction and oscillatory blowing/suction flow control cases. The flow equations and the turbulent model equations are solved using a fifth-order accurate weighted essentially. nonoscillatory (WENO) scheme for space discretization and a third order, total variation diminishing (TVD) Runge-Kutta scheme for time integration. Qualitatively the computed pressure distributions exhibit the same behavior as those observed in the experiments. The computed separation regions are much longer than those observed experimentally. However, the percentage reduction in the separation region in the steady suction case is closer to what was measured in the experiment. The computations did not predict the expected reduction in the separation length in the oscillatory case. The predicted turbulent quantities are two to three times smaller than the measured values pointing towards the deficiencies in the existing turbulent models when they are applied to strong steady/unsteady separated flows.

The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: Understanding the influence of outflows on Gould Belt clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drabek-Maunder, E.; Hatchell, J.; Buckle, J. V.; Di Francesco, J.; Richer, J.

2016-03-01

Using James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) Gould Belt Survey data from CO J = 3 → 2 isotopologues, we present a meta-analysis of the outflows and energetics of star-forming regions in several Gould Belt clouds. The majority of the regions are strongly gravitationally bound. There is evidence that molecular outflows transport large quantities of momentum and energy. Outflow energies are at least 20 per cent of the total turbulent kinetic energies in all of the regions studied and greater than the turbulent energy in half of the regions. However, we find no evidence that outflows increase levels of turbulence, and there is no correlation between the outflow and turbulent energies. Even though outflows in some regions contribute significantly to maintaining turbulence levels against dissipation, this relies on outflows efficiently coupling to bulk motions. Other mechanisms (e.g. supernovae) must be the main drivers of turbulence in most if not all of these regions.

Applying an economical scale-aware PDF-based turbulence closure model in NOAA NCEP GCMs.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belochitski, A.; Krueger, S. K.; Moorthi, S.; Bogenschutz, P.; Cheng, A.

2017-12-01

A novel unified representation of sub-grid scale (SGS) turbulence, cloudiness, and shallow convection is being implemented into the NOAA NCEP Global Forecasting System (GFS) general circulation model. The approach, known as Simplified High Order Closure (SHOC), is based on predicting a joint PDF of SGS thermodynamic variables and vertical velocity, and using it to diagnose turbulent diffusion coefficients, SGS fluxes, condensation, and cloudiness. Unlike other similar methods, comparatively few new prognostic variables needs to be introduced, making the technique computationally efficient. In the base version of SHOC it is SGS turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and in the developmental version — SGS TKE, and variances of total water and moist static energy (MSE). SHOC is now incorporated into a version of GFS that will become a part of the NOAA Next Generation Global Prediction System based around NOAA GFDL's FV3 dynamical core, NOAA Environmental Modeling System (NEMS) coupled modeling infrastructure software, and a set novel physical parameterizations. Turbulent diffusion coefficients computed by SHOC are now used in place of those produced by the boundary layer turbulence and shallow convection parameterizations. Large scale microphysics scheme is no longer used to calculate cloud fraction or the large-scale condensation/deposition. Instead, SHOC provides these quantities. Radiative transfer parameterization uses cloudiness computed by SHOC. An outstanding problem with implementation of SHOC in the NCEP global models is excessively large high level tropical cloudiness. Comparison of the moments of the SGS PDF diagnosed by SHOC to the moments calculated in a GigaLES simulation of tropical deep convection case (GATE), shows that SHOC diagnoses too narrow PDF distributions of total cloud water and MSE in the areas of deep convective detrainment. A subsequent sensitivity study of SHOC's diagnosed cloud fraction (CF) to higher order input moments of the SGS PDF demonstrated that CF is improved if SHOC is provided with correct variances of total water and MSE. Consequently, SHOC was modified to include two new prognostic equations for variances of total water and MSE, and coupled with the Chikira-Sugiyama parameterization of deep convection to include effects of detrainment on the prognostic variances.

An Experimental Study of a Separated/Reattached Flow Behind a Backward-Facing Step. Re(sub h) = 37,000

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jovic, Srba

1996-01-01

An experimental study was carried out to investigate turbulent structure of a two-dimensional incompressible separating/reattaching boundary layer behind a backward-facing step. Hot-wire measurement technique was used to measure three Reynolds stresses and higher-order mean products of velocity fluctuations. The Reynolds number, Re(sub h), based on the step height, h, and the reference velocity, U(sub 0), was 37,000. The upstream oncoming flow was fully developed turbulent boundary layer with the Re(sub theta) = 3600. All turbulent properties, such as Reynolds stresses, increase dramatically downstream of the step within an internally developing mixing layer. Distributions of dimensionless mean velocity, turbulent quantities and antisymmetric distribution of triple velocity products in the separated free shear layer suggest that the shear layer above the recirculating region strongly resembles free-shear mixing layer structure. In the reattachment region close to the wall, turbulent diffusion term balances the rate of dissipation since advection and production terms appear to be negligibly small. Further downstream, production and dissipation begin to dominate other transport processes near the wall indicating the growth of an internal turbulent boundary layer. In the outer region, however, the flow still has a memory of the upstream disturbance even at the last measuring station of 51 step-heights. The data show that the structure of the inner layer recovers at a much faster rate than the outer layer structure. The inner layer structure resembles the near-wall structure of a plane zero pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer (plane TBL) by 25h to 30h, while the outer layer structure takes presumably over 100h.

A new class of finite element variational multiscale turbulence models for incompressible magnetohydrodynamics

DOE PAGES

Sondak, D.; Shadid, J. N.; Oberai, A. A.; ...

2015-04-29

New large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence models for incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) derived from the variational multiscale (VMS) formulation for finite element simulations are introduced. The new models include the variational multiscale formulation, a residual-based eddy viscosity model, and a mixed model that combines both of these component models. Each model contains terms that are proportional to the residual of the incompressible MHD equations and is therefore numerically consistent. Moreover, each model is also dynamic, in that its effect vanishes when this residual is small. The new models are tested on the decaying MHD Taylor Green vortex at low and highmore » Reynolds numbers. The evaluation of the models is based on comparisons with available data from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of the time evolution of energies as well as energy spectra at various discrete times. Thus a numerical study, on a sequence of meshes, is presented that demonstrates that the large eddy simulation approaches the DNS solution for these quantities with spatial mesh refinement.« less

Assessment of stretched vortex subgrid-scale models for LES of incompressible inhomogeneous turbulent flow

PubMed Central

Shetty, Dinesh A.; Frankel, Steven H.

2013-01-01

Summary The physical space version of the stretched vortex subgrid scale model [Phys. Fluids 12, 1810 (2000)] is tested in large eddy simulations (LES) of the turbulent lid driven cubic cavity flow. LES is carried out using a higher order finite-difference method [J. Comput. Phys. 229, 8802 (2010)]. The effects of different vortex orientation models and subgrid turbulence spectrums are assessed through comparisons of the LES predictions against direct numerical simulations (DNS) [Phys. Fluids 12, 1363 (2000)]. Three Reynolds numbers 12000, 18000, and 22000 are studied. Good agreement with the DNS data for the mean and fluctuating quantities is observed. PMID:24187423

A Study of Strain Rate Effects for Turbulent Premixed Flames with Application to LES of a Gas Turbine Combustor Model

DOE PAGES

Kemenov, Konstantin A.; Calhoon, William H.

2015-03-24

Large-scale strain rate field, a resolved quantity which is easily computable in large-eddy simulations (LES), could have profound effects on the premixed flame properties by altering the turbulent flame speed and inducing local extinction. The role of the resolved strain rate has been investigated in a posterior LES study of GE lean premixed dry low NOx emissions LM6000 gas turbine combustor model. A novel approach which is based on the coupling of the lineareddy model with a one-dimensional counter-flow solver has been applied to obtain the parameterizations of the resolved premixed flame properties in terms of the reactive progress variable,more » the local strain rate measure, and local Reynolds and Karlovitz numbers. The strain rate effects have been analyzed by comparing LES statistics for several models of the turbulent flame speed, i.e, with and without accounting for the local strain rate effects, with available experimental data. The sensitivity of the simulation results to the inflow velocity conditions as well as the grid resolution have been also studied. Overall, the results suggest the necessity to represent the strain rate effects accurately in order to improve LES modeling of the turbulent flame speed.« less

Simulation analysis of air flow and turbulence statistics in a rib grit roughened duct.

PubMed

Vogiatzis, I I; Denizopoulou, A C; Ntinas, G K; Fragos, V P

2014-01-01

The implementation of variable artificial roughness patterns on a surface is an effective technique to enhance the rate of heat transfer to fluid flow in the ducts of solar air heaters. Different geometries of roughness elements investigated have demonstrated the pivotal role that vortices and associated turbulence have on the heat transfer characteristics of solar air heater ducts by increasing the convective heat transfer coefficient. In this paper we investigate the two-dimensional, turbulent, unsteady flow around rectangular ribs of variable aspect ratios by directly solving the transient Navier-Stokes and continuity equations using the finite elements method. Flow characteristics and several aspects of turbulent flow are presented and discussed including velocity components and statistics of turbulence. The results reveal the impact that different rib lengths have on the computed mean quantities and turbulence statistics of the flow. The computed turbulence parameters show a clear tendency to diminish downstream with increasing rib length. Furthermore, the applied numerical method is capable of capturing small-scale flow structures resulting from the direct solution of Navier-Stokes and continuity equations.

Strange attractors in weakly turbulent Couette-Taylor flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brandstater, A.; Swinney, Harry L.

1987-01-01

An experiment is conducted on the transition from quasi-periodic to weakly turbulent flow of a fluid contained between concentric cylinders with the inner cylinder rotating and the outer cylinder at rest. Power spectra, phase-space portraits, and circle maps obtained from velocity time-series data indicate that the nonperiodic behavior observed is deterministic, that is, it is described by strange attractors. Various problems that arise in computing the dimension of strange attractors constructed from experimental data are discussed and it is shown that these problems impose severe requirements on the quantity and accuracy of data necessary for determining dimensions greater than about 5. In the present experiment the attractor dimension increases from 2 at the onset of turbulence to about 4 at a Reynolds number 50-percent above the onset of turbulence.

Acoustic Sensing of Ocean Turbulence

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

quantities and of fast varying quantities, requiring high spatial resolution, fast response sensors and stable observation platforms. A classical approach to...with this type of sensor . Moum et.al. [Ref.l0] performed upper ocean observations with this instrument where they were able to 60 characterize the fine...platform orientation using the 3 axis accelerometer as tiltmeters . E. NON-ACOUSTIC DATA The non-acoustic channels on the CDV package are: 3 component

3D turbulence measurements in inhomogeneous boundary layers with three wind LiDARs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbajo Fuertes, Fernando; Valerio Iungo, Giacomo; Porté-Agel, Fernando

2014-05-01

One of the most challenging tasks in atmospheric anemometry is obtaining reliable turbulence measurements of inhomogeneous boundary layers at heights or in locations where is not possible or convenient to install tower-based measurement systems, e.g. mountainous terrain, cities, wind farms, etc. Wind LiDARs are being extensively used for the measurement of averaged vertical wind profiles, but they can only successfully accomplish this task under the limiting conditions of flat terrain and horizontally homogeneous flow. Moreover, it has been shown that common scanning strategies introduce large systematic errors in turbulence measurements, regardless of the characteristics of the flow addressed. From the point of view of research, there exist a variety of techniques and scanning strategies to estimate different turbulence quantities but most of them rely in the combination of raw measurements with atmospheric models. Most of those models are only valid under the assumption of horizontal homogeneity. The limitations stated above can be overcome by a new triple LiDAR technique which uses simultaneous measurements from three intersecting Doppler wind LiDARs. It allows for the reconstruction of the three-dimensional velocity vector in time as well as local velocity gradients without the need of any turbulence model and with minimal assumptions [EGU2013-9670]. The triple LiDAR technique has been applied to the study of the flow over the campus of EPFL in Lausanne (Switzerland). The results show the potential of the technique for the measurement of turbulence in highly complex boundary layer flows. The technique is particularly useful for micrometeorology and wind engineering studies.

Interpretation of 2-probe turbulence measurements in an axisymmetric contraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marion-Moulin, C.; Tan-Atichat, J.; Nagib, H. M.

1983-01-01

Simultaneous measurements of the streamwise and radial velocity components at two points, one on and one off the centerline with variable radial separation, were digitally recorded and processed at several stations along a four to one contraction with controlled upstream turbulence conditions. Various statistical quantities are presented including spectra and coherence functions. The integral L sub ux, L sub um, L sub vx, L sub vm were also estimated and their variation along the contraction is examined.

Synthetic velocity gradient tensors and the identification of statistically significant aspects of the structure of turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keylock, Christopher J.

2017-08-01

A method is presented for deriving random velocity gradient tensors given a source tensor. These synthetic tensors are constrained to lie within mathematical bounds of the non-normality of the source tensor, but we do not impose direct constraints upon scalar quantities typically derived from the velocity gradient tensor and studied in fluid mechanics. Hence, it becomes possible to ask hypotheses of data at a point regarding the statistical significance of these scalar quantities. Having presented our method and the associated mathematical concepts, we apply it to homogeneous, isotropic turbulence to test the utility of the approach for a case where the behavior of the tensor is understood well. We show that, as well as the concentration of data along the Vieillefosse tail, actual turbulence is also preferentially located in the quadrant where there is both excess enstrophy (Q>0 ) and excess enstrophy production (R<0 ). We also examine the topology implied by the strain eigenvalues and find that for the statistically significant results there is a particularly strong relative preference for the formation of disklike structures in the (Q<0 ,R<0 ) quadrant. With the method shown to be useful for a turbulence that is already understood well, it should be of even greater utility for studying complex flows seen in industry and the environment.

Broadening of cloud droplet spectra through turbulent entrainment and eddy hopping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abade, Gustavo; Grabowski, Wojciech; Pawlowska, Hanna

2017-11-01

This work discusses the effect of cloud turbulence and turbulent entrainment on the evolution of the cloud droplet-size spectrum. We simulate an ensemble of idealized turbulent cloud parcels that are subject to entrainment events, modeled as a random Poisson process. Entrainment events, subsequent turbulent mixing inside the parcel, supersaturation fluctuations, and the resulting stochastic droplet growth by condensation are simulated using a Monte Carlo scheme. Quantities characterizing the turbulence intensity, entrainment rate and the mean fraction of environmental air entrained in an event are specified as external parameters. Cloud microphysics is described by applying Lagrangian particles, the so-called superdroplets. They are either unactivated cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or cloud droplets that form from activated CCN. The model accounts for the transport of environmental CCN into the cloud by the entraining eddies at the cloud edge. Turbulent mixing of the entrained dry air with cloudy air is described using a linear model. We show that turbulence plays an important role in aiding entrained CCN to activate, providing a source of small cloud droplets and thus broadening the droplet size distribution. Further simulation results will be reported at the meeting.

Comparison of four large-eddy simulation research codes and effects of model coefficient and inflow turbulence in actuator-line-based wind turbine modeling

DOE PAGES

Martinez-Tossas, Luis A.; Churchfield, Matthew J.; Yilmaz, Ali Emre; ...

2018-05-16

Here, large-eddy simulation (LES) of a wind turbine under uniform inflow is performed using an actuator line model (ALM). Predictions from four LES research codes from the wind energy community are compared. The implementation of the ALM in all codes is similar and quantities along the blades are shown to match closely for all codes. The value of the Smagorinsky coefficient in the subgrid-scale turbulence model is shown to have a negligible effect on the time-averaged loads along the blades. Conversely, the breakdown location of the wake is strongly dependent on the Smagorinsky coefficient in uniform laminar inflow. Simulations aremore » also performed using uniform mean velocity inflow with added homogeneous isotropic turbulence from a public database. The time-averaged loads along the blade do not depend on the inflow turbulence. Moreover, and in contrast to the uniform inflow cases, the Smagorinsky coefficient has a negligible effect on the wake profiles. It is concluded that for LES of wind turbines and wind farms using ALM, careful implementation and extensive cross-verification among codes can result in highly reproducible predictions. Moreover, the characteristics of the inflow turbulence appear to be more important than the details of the subgrid-scale modeling employed in the wake, at least for LES of wind energy applications at the resolutions tested in this work.« less

Comparison of four large-eddy simulation research codes and effects of model coefficient and inflow turbulence in actuator-line-based wind turbine modeling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinez-Tossas, Luis A.; Churchfield, Matthew J.; Yilmaz, Ali Emre

Here, large-eddy simulation (LES) of a wind turbine under uniform inflow is performed using an actuator line model (ALM). Predictions from four LES research codes from the wind energy community are compared. The implementation of the ALM in all codes is similar and quantities along the blades are shown to match closely for all codes. The value of the Smagorinsky coefficient in the subgrid-scale turbulence model is shown to have a negligible effect on the time-averaged loads along the blades. Conversely, the breakdown location of the wake is strongly dependent on the Smagorinsky coefficient in uniform laminar inflow. Simulations aremore » also performed using uniform mean velocity inflow with added homogeneous isotropic turbulence from a public database. The time-averaged loads along the blade do not depend on the inflow turbulence. Moreover, and in contrast to the uniform inflow cases, the Smagorinsky coefficient has a negligible effect on the wake profiles. It is concluded that for LES of wind turbines and wind farms using ALM, careful implementation and extensive cross-verification among codes can result in highly reproducible predictions. Moreover, the characteristics of the inflow turbulence appear to be more important than the details of the subgrid-scale modeling employed in the wake, at least for LES of wind energy applications at the resolutions tested in this work.« less

Boundary layers in turbulent convection for air, liquid gallium and liquid sodium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheel, Janet; Schumacher, Joerg

2017-11-01

The scaling of physical quantities that characterize the shape and dynamics of the viscous and thermal boundary layers with respect to the Rayleigh number will be presented for three series of three-dimensional high-resolution direct numerical simulations of Rayleigh-Benard convection (RBC) in a closed cylindrical cell of aspect ratio one. The simulations have been conducted for convection in air at a Prandtl number Pr = 0.7, in liquid gallium at Pr = 0.021 and in liquid sodium at Pr = 0.005. Then we discuss three statistical analysis methods which have been developed to predict the transition of turbulent RBC into the ultimate regime. The methods are based on the large-scale properties of the velocity profile. All three methods indicate that the range of critical Rayleigh numbers is shifted to smaller magnitudes as the Prandtl number becomes smaller. This work is supported by the Priority Programme SPP 1881 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Highly-resolved numerical simulations of bed-load transport in a turbulent open-channel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vowinckel, Bernhard; Kempe, Tobias; Nikora, Vladimir; Jain, Ramandeep; Fröhlich, Jochen

2015-11-01

The study presents the analysis of phase-resolving Direct Numerical Simulations of a horizontal turbulent open-channel flow laden with a large number of spherical particles. These particles have a mobility close to their threshold of incipient motion andare transported in bed-load mode. The coupling of the fluid phase with the particlesis realized by an Immersed Boundary Method. The Double-Averaging Methodology is applied for the first time convolutingthe data into a handy set of quantities averaged in time and space to describe the most prominent flow features.In addition, a systematic study elucidatesthe impact of mobility and sediment supply on the pattern formation of particle clusters ina very large computational domain. A detailed description of fluid quantities links the developed particle patterns to the enhancement of turbulence and to a modified hydraulic resistance. Conditional averaging isapplied toerosion events providingthe processes involved inincipient particle motion. Furthermore, the detection of moving particle clusters as well as their surrounding flow field is addressedby a a moving frameanalysis. Funded by German Research Foundation (DFG), project FR 1593/5-2, computational time provided by ZIH Dresden, Germany, and JSC Juelich, Germany.

Flight assessment of an atmospheric turbulence measurement system with emphasis on long wavelengths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhyne, R. H.

1976-01-01

A flight assessment has been made of a system for measuring the three components of atmospheric turbulence in the frequency range associated with airplane motions (0 to approximately 0.5 Hz). Results of the assessment indicate acceptable accuracy of the resulting time histories and power spectra. Small residual errors at the airplane short period and Dutch roll frequencies (0.5 and 0.25 Hz, respectively), as determined from in-flight maneuvers in smooth air, would not be detectable on the power spectra. However, errors at approximately 0.25 Hz can be present in the time history of the lateral turbulence component, particularly at the higher altitudes where airplane yawing motions are large. An assessment of the quantities comprising the vertical turbulence component leads to the conclusion that the vertical component is essentially accurate to zero frequency.

Turbulence measurements in a complex plowfield using a crossed hot-wire. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckillop, B. E.

1983-01-01

Turbulence was quantified in complex axisymmetric, nonreacting, nonswirling flowfields using a crossed hot-wire anemometer. Mean velocity, turbulence intensities, turbulent viscosity, and Reynolds tree were measured in round free jet and confined jet flowfields. The confined jet, a model of an axisymmetric can combustor, had an expansion ratio D/d=2, an expansion angle of 90 deg, and an axial location increments of 0.5 diameters. The confined jet was studied with and without a contraction nozzle. Free jet measurements validated the experimental technique and data reduction. Results show good agreement with those of previous research. Measurements in the confined jet indicate that the cross hot-wire used cannot handle axial flow reversal and the experimental technique is inadequate for measuring time-mean radial velocity. Other quantities show a high level of comparability.

High Reynolds number turbulence model of rotating shear flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masuda, S.; Ariga, I.; Koyama, H. S.

1983-09-01

A Reynolds stress closure model for rotating turbulent shear flows is developed. Special attention is paid to keeping the model constants independent of rotation. First, general forms of the model of a Reynolds stress equation and a dissipation rate equation are derived, the only restrictions of which are high Reynolds number and incompressibility. The model equations are then applied to two-dimensional equilibrium boundary layers and the effects of Coriolis acceleration on turbulence structures are discussed. Comparisons with the experimental data and with previous results in other external force fields show that there exists a very close analogy between centrifugal, buoyancy and Coriolis force fields. Finally, the model is applied to predict the two-dimensional boundary layers on rotating plane walls. Comparisons with existing data confirmed its capability of predicting mean and turbulent quantities without employing any empirical relations in rotating fields.

Characteristics of Mach 10 transitional and turbulent boundary layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, R. D.

1978-01-01

Measurements of the mean flow properties of transitional and turbulent boundary layers in helium on 4 deg and 5 deg wedges were made for flows with edge Mach numbers from 9.5 to 11.3, ratios of wall temperature to total temperature of 0.4 to 0.95, and maximum length Reynolds numbers of one hundred million. The data include pitot and total temperature surveys and measurements of heat transfer and surface shear. In addition, with the assumption of local similarity, turbulence quantities such as the mixing length were derived from the mean flow profiles. Low Reynolds number and precursor transition effects were significant factors at these test conditions and were included in finite difference boundary layer predictions.

A law of the wall for turbulent boundary layers with suction: Stevenson's formula revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigdorovich, Igor

2016-08-01

The turbulent velocity field in the viscous sublayer of the boundary layer with suction to a first approximation is homogeneous in any direction parallel to the wall and is determined by only three constant quantities — the wall shear stress, the suction velocity, and the fluid viscosity. This means that there exists a finite algebraic relation between the turbulent shear stress and the longitudinal mean-velocity gradient, using which as a closure condition for the equations of motion, we establish an exact asymptotic behavior of the velocity profile at the outer edge of the viscous sublayer. The obtained relationship provides a generalization of the logarithmic law to the case of wall suction.

An experimental investigation of a three dimensional wall jet. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Catalano, G. D.

1977-01-01

One and two point statistical properties are measured in the flow fields of a coflowing turbulent jet. Two different confining surfaces (one flat, one with large curvature) are placed adjacent to the lip of the circular nozzle; and the resultant effects on the flow field are determined. The one point quantities measured include mean velocities, turbulent intensities, velocity and concentration autocorrelations and power spectral densities, and intermittencies. From the autocorrelation curves, the Taylor microscale and the integral length scale are calculated. Two point quantities measured include velocity and concentration space-time correlations and pressure velocity correlations. From the velocity space-time correlations, iso-correlation contours are constructed along with the lines of maximum maximorum. These lines allow a picture of the flow pattern to be determined. The pressures monitored in the pressure velocity correlations are measured both in the flow field and at the surface of the confining wall(s).

Temporal and spatial intermittencies within Newtonian turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kushwaha, Anubhav; Graham, Michael

2015-11-01

Direct numerical simulations of a pressure driven turbulent flow are performed in a large rectangular channel. Intermittent high- and low-drag regimes within turbulence that have earlier been found to exist temporally in minimal channels have been observed both spatially and temporally in full-size turbulent flows. These intermittent regimes, namely, ''active'' and ''hibernating'' turbulence, display very different structural and statistical features. We adopt a very simple sampling technique to identify these intermittent intervals, both temporally and spatially, and present differences between them in terms of simple quantities like mean-velocity, wall-shear stress and flow structures. By conditionally sampling of the low wall-shear stress events in particular, we show that the Maximum Drag Reduction (MDR) velocity profile, that occurs in viscoelastic flows, can also be approached in a Newtonian-fluid flow in the absence of any additives. This suggests that the properties of polymer drag reduction are inherent to all flows and their occurrence is just enhanced by the addition of polymers. We also show how the intermittencies within turbulence vary with Reynolds number. The work was supported by AFOSR grant FA9550-15-1-0062.

A numerical study of bidisperse particles in cluster-induced turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Ravi; Kong, Bo; Capecelatro, Jesse; Fox, Rodney; Desjardins, Olivier

2016-11-01

Particle-laden turbulent flow is an important feature of many diverse environmental and industrial systems. To elucidate the mechanics of these types of flows, we study cluster-induced turbulence (CIT), wherein momentum coupling between a carrier fluid and setting particles leads to turbulent-like fluctuations in various quantities of interest. In this work, simulations of CIT with bidisperse particles are presented. The flow of kinetic energy is tracked from its generation due to drag until its dissipation due to fluid viscosity and particle collisions. As suggested by Fox (2014), the particle kinetic energy is separated into a correlated turbulent kinetic energy and an uncorrelated granular energy. An overall energy balance is computed for various exchange terms to determine their relative importance and to understand the underlying physical mechanisms in bidisperse CIT. Additionally, volume fraction and velocity statistics for both particle types and the fluid are presented. From these results, the consequences on closures for Reynolds-averaged stress models of particle-laden flows are discussed. National Science Foundation.

Computation of flows in a turn-around duct and a turbine cascade using advanced turbulence models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakshminarayana, B.; Luo, J.

1993-01-01

Numerical investigation has been carried out to evaluate the capability of the Algebraic Reynolds Stress Model (ARSM) and the Nonlinear Stress Model (NLSM) to predict strongly curved turbulent flow in a turn-around duct (TAD). The ARSM includes the near-wall damping term of pressure-strain correlation phi(sub ij,w), which enables accurate prediction of individual Reynolds stress components in wall flows. The TAD mean flow quantities are reasonably well predicted by various turbulence models. The ARSM yields better predictions for both the mean flow and the turbulence quantities than the NLSM and the k-epsilon (k = turbulent kinetic energy, epsilon = dissipation rate of k) model. The NLSM also shows slight improvement over the k-epsilon model. However, all the models fail to capture the recovery of the flow from strong curvature effects. The formulation for phi(sub ij,w) appears to be incorrect near the concave surface. The hybrid k-epsilon/ARSM, Chien's k-epsilon model, and Coakley's q-omega (q = the square root of k, omega = epsilon/k) model have also been employed to compute the aerodynamics and heat transfer of a transonic turbine cascade. The surface pressure distributions and the wake profiles are predicted well by all the models. The k-epsilon model and the k-epsilon/ARSM model provide better predictions of heat transfer than the q-omega model. The k-epsilon/ARSM solutions show significant differences in the predicted skin friction coefficients, heat transfer rates and the cascade performance parameters, as compared to the k-epsilon model. The k-epsilon/ARSM model appears to capture, qualitatively, the anisotropy associated with by-pass transition.

Sensitivity of the two-dimensional shearless mixing layer to the initial turbulent kinetic energy and integral length scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fathali, M.; Deshiri, M. Khoshnami

2016-04-01

The shearless mixing layer is generated from the interaction of two homogeneous isotropic turbulence (HIT) fields with different integral scales ℓ1 and ℓ2 and different turbulent kinetic energies E1 and E2. In this study, the sensitivity of temporal evolutions of two-dimensional, incompressible shearless mixing layers to the parametric variations of ℓ1/ℓ2 and E1/E2 is investigated. The sensitivity methodology is based on the nonintrusive approach; using direct numerical simulation and generalized polynomial chaos expansion. The analysis is carried out at Reℓ 1=90 for the high-energy HIT region and different integral length scale ratios 1 /4 ≤ℓ1/ℓ2≤4 and turbulent kinetic energy ratios 1 ≤E1/E2≤30 . It is found that the most influential parameter on the variability of the mixing layer evolution is the turbulent kinetic energy while variations of the integral length scale show a negligible influence on the flow field variability. A significant level of anisotropy and intermittency is observed in both large and small scales. In particular, it is found that large scales have higher levels of intermittency and sensitivity to the variations of ℓ1/ℓ2 and E1/E2 compared to the small scales. Reconstructed response surfaces of the flow field intermittency and the turbulent penetration depth show monotonic dependence on ℓ1/ℓ2 and E1/E2 . The mixing layer growth rate and the mixing efficiency both show sensitive dependence on the initial condition parameters. However, the probability density function of these quantities shows relatively small solution variations in response to the variations of the initial condition parameters.

Turbulent/non-turbulent interfaces detected in DNS of incompressible turbulent boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, T.; Zhang, X.; Nagata, K.

2018-03-01

The turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI) detected in direct numerical simulations is studied for incompressible, temporally developing turbulent boundary layers at momentum thickness Reynolds number Reθ ≈ 2000. The outer edge of the TNTI layer is detected as an isosurface of the vorticity magnitude with the threshold determined with the dependence of the turbulent volume on a threshold level. The spanwise vorticity magnitude and passive scalar are shown to be good markers of turbulent fluids, where the conditional statistics on a distance from the outer edge of the TNTI layer are almost identical to the ones obtained with the vorticity magnitude. Significant differences are observed for the conditional statistics between the TNTI detected by the kinetic energy and vorticity magnitude. A widely used grid setting determined solely from the wall unit results in an insufficient resolution in a streamwise direction in the outer region, whose influence is found for the geometry of the TNTI and vorticity jump across the TNTI layer. The present results suggest that the grid spacing should be similar for the streamwise and spanwise directions. Comparison of the TNTI layer among different flows requires appropriate normalization of the conditional statistics. Reference quantities of the turbulence near the TNTI layer are obtained with the average of turbulent fluids in the intermittent region. The conditional statistics normalized by the reference turbulence characteristics show good quantitative agreement for the turbulent boundary layer and planar jet when they are plotted against the distance from the outer edge of the TNTI layer divided by the Kolmogorov scale defined for turbulent fluids in the intermittent region.

Planar laser imaging of differential molecular diffusion in gas-phase turbulent jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brownell, C. J.; Su, L. K.

2008-03-01

Planar laser Rayleigh scattering yields quantitative, two-dimensional measurements of differential diffusion in a turbulent propane-helium jet issuing into air. The jet exit Reynolds number ranges from 1000 to 3000, corresponding to estimated outer-scale Reynolds numbers from 4300 to 13 000. Using a technique originally proposed by Bilger and Dibble [Combust. Sci. Technol. 28, 161 (1982)], the imaging measurements allow direct determination of a normalized scalar difference quantity ξ. For the lower Re, significant differential diffusion develops in the pretransitional portion of the flow. Downstream of the turbulent transition, radial profiles of mean ξ take on a characteristic form, with an excess of the less-diffusive propane on the jet boundary. This characteristic form is independent of Reynolds number, and is thus apparently independent of the degree of differential diffusion in the pretransition range. Evolution of the ξ fields in the turbulent part of the flow is surprisingly consistent with the mixing of conventional scalar quantities. Fluctuation profiles of ξ have a self-similar, bimodal shape for each Re, and power spectra of ξ are monotonically decreasing, with a distinct k-5/3 inertial range. This spectral form is at odds with prior analytical and computational results in isotropic turbulence, which predicted that the spectrum would show a peak intermediate between the diffusive cutoffs of the individual scalars. The discrepancy appears to be due to the forcing applied in the simulations; the differential diffusion in the experiments preferentially develops in the jet near field, so the resulting evolution is more akin to a decay process. This is further emphasized by the observation that the thickness of ξ structures in the jet decreases with downstream distance. The present results indicate that consideration of differential diffusion must account for the details of the flow configuration, particularly the uniformity of turbulence levels. This has important implications for reacting flows, where local laminarization by heat release can be significant.

Comparison of Measured and WRF-LES Turbulence Statistics in a Real Convective Boundary Layer over Complex Terrain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rai, R. K.; Berg, L. K.; Kosovic, B.; Mirocha, J. D.; Pekour, M. S.; Shaw, W. J.

2015-12-01

Resolving the finest turbulent scales present in the lower atmosphere using numerical simulations helps to study the processes that occur in the atmospheric boundary layer, such as the turbulent inflow condition to the wind plant and the generation of the wake behind wind turbines. This work employs several nested domains in the WRF-LES framework to simulate conditions in a convectively driven cloud free boundary layer at an instrumented field site in complex terrain. The innermost LES domain (30 m spatial resolution) receives the boundary forcing from two other coarser resolution LES outer domains, which in turn receive boundary conditions from two WRF-mesoscale domains. Wind and temperature records from sonic anemometers mounted at two vertical levels (30 m and 60 m) are compared with the LES results in term of first and second statistical moments as well as power spectra and distributions of wind velocity. For the two mostly used boundary layer parameterizations (MYNN and YSU) tested in the WRF mesoscale domains, the MYNN scheme shows slightly better agreement with the observations for some quantities, such as time averaged velocity and Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE). However, LES driven by WRF-mesoscale simulations using either parameterization have similar velocity spectra and distributions of velocity. For each component of the wind velocity, WRF-LES power spectra are found to be comparable to the spectra derived from the measured data (for the frequencies that are accurately represented by WRF-LES). Furthermore, the analysis of LES results shows a noticeable variability of the mean and variance even over small horizontal distances that would be considered sub-grid scale in mesoscale simulations. This observed statistical variability in space and time can be utilized to further analyze the turbulence quantities over a heterogeneous surface and to improve the turbulence parameterization in the mesoscale model.

A scale-entropy diffusion equation to describe the multi-scale features of turbulent flames near a wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Queiros-Conde, D.; Foucher, F.; Mounaïm-Rousselle, C.; Kassem, H.; Feidt, M.

2008-12-01

Multi-scale features of turbulent flames near a wall display two kinds of scale-dependent fractal features. In scale-space, an unique fractal dimension cannot be defined and the fractal dimension of the front is scale-dependent. Moreover, when the front approaches the wall, this dependency changes: fractal dimension also depends on the wall-distance. Our aim here is to propose a general geometrical framework that provides the possibility to integrate these two cases, in order to describe the multi-scale structure of turbulent flames interacting with a wall. Based on the scale-entropy quantity, which is simply linked to the roughness of the front, we thus introduce a general scale-entropy diffusion equation. We define the notion of “scale-evolutivity” which characterises the deviation of a multi-scale system from the pure fractal behaviour. The specific case of a constant “scale-evolutivity” over the scale-range is studied. In this case, called “parabolic scaling”, the fractal dimension is a linear function of the logarithm of scale. The case of a constant scale-evolutivity in the wall-distance space implies that the fractal dimension depends linearly on the logarithm of the wall-distance. We then verified experimentally, that parabolic scaling represents a good approximation of the real multi-scale features of turbulent flames near a wall.

A Comparison of Three Navier-Stokes Solvers for Exhaust Nozzle Flowfields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Georgiadis, Nicholas J.; Yoder, Dennis A.; Debonis, James R.

1999-01-01

A comparison of the NPARC, PAB, and WIND (previously known as NASTD) Navier-Stokes solvers is made for two flow cases with turbulent mixing as the dominant flow characteristic, a two-dimensional ejector nozzle and a Mach 1.5 elliptic jet. The objective of the work is to determine if comparable predictions of nozzle flows can be obtained from different Navier-Stokes codes employed in a multiple site research program. A single computational grid was constructed for each of the two flows and used for all of the Navier-Stokes solvers. In addition, similar k-e based turbulence models were employed in each code, and boundary conditions were specified as similarly as possible across the codes. Comparisons of mass flow rates, velocity profiles, and turbulence model quantities are made between the computations and experimental data. The computational cost of obtaining converged solutions with each of the codes is also documented. Results indicate that all of the codes provided similar predictions for the two nozzle flows. Agreement of the Navier-Stokes calculations with experimental data was good for the ejector nozzle. However, for the Mach 1.5 elliptic jet, the calculations were unable to accurately capture the development of the three dimensional elliptic mixing layer.

Direct numerical simulation of turbulence and heat transfer in a hexagonal shaped duct

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marin, Oana; Obabko, Aleks; Schlatter, Philipp

2014-11-01

Flows in hexagonal shapes frequently occur in nuclear reactor applications, and are also present in honeycomb-shaped settling chambers for e.g. wind tunnels. Whereas wall-bounded turbulence has been studied comprehensively in two-dimensional channels, and to a lesser degree also in square and rectangular ducts and triangles, only very limited data for hexagonal ducts is available, including resistance correlations and mean profiles. Here, we use resolved spectral-element simulations to compute velocity and temperature in fully-developed (periodic) hexagonal duct flow. The Reynolds number, based on the fixed flow rate and the hydraulic diameter, ranges between 2000 and 20000. The temperature assumes constant wall flux or constant wall temperature. First DNS results are focused on the mean characteristics such a head loss, Nusselt number, and critical Reynolds number for sustained turbulence. Profiles, both for mean and fluctuating quantities, are extracted and discussed in the context of square ducts and pipes. Comparisons to existing experiments, RANS and empirical correlations are supplied as well. The results show a complicated and fine-scale pattern of the in-plane secondary flow, which clearly affects the momentum and temperature distribution throughout the cross section.

Simultaneous velocity and concentration measurements in the near field of a turbulent low-pressure jet by digital particle image velocimetry-planar laser-induced fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borg, A.; Bolinder, J.; Fuchs, L.

The main purpose of this work is to develop a method for simultaneous measurement of velocity and passive scalar concentration by means of digital particle image velocimetry and planar laser-induced fluorescence. Details of the implementation of the method are given, and the technique is applied to measurements of concentration and velocity in the centre-plane of a liquid jet with a Reynolds number of 6,000. The measurements are compared with large eddy simulations. Mean velocities and concentrations, fluctuating velocities and concentrations, and correlation between fluctuating velocities and concentrations are analysed for the first six diameters downstream of the jet exit. The general agreement between measured and simulated results was found to be good, in particular for mean quantities. Mean profiles are also found to be in good agreement with other experimental work on jets reported in the literature. The ``whole-plane'' measurement method was found to be very useful for detailed comparisons of turbulent statistics with simulated data. The inadequacy of models for turbulent mass transport based on the standard gradient diffusion concept is demonstrated through the experimental data.

Hydrodynamical model of anisotropic, polarized turbulent superfluids. I: constraints for the fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mongiovì, Maria Stella; Restuccia, Liliana

2018-02-01

This work is the first of a series of papers devoted to the study of the influence of the anisotropy and polarization of the tangle of quantized vortex lines in superfluid turbulence. A thermodynamical model of inhomogeneous superfluid turbulence previously formulated is here extended, to take into consideration also these effects. The model chooses as thermodynamic state vector the density, the velocity, the energy density, the heat flux, and a complete vorticity tensor field, including its symmetric traceless part and its antisymmetric part. The relations which constrain the constitutive quantities are deduced from the second principle of thermodynamics using the Liu procedure. The results show that the presence of anisotropy and polarization in the vortex tangle affects in a substantial way the dynamics of the heat flux, and allow us to give a physical interpretation of the vorticity tensor here introduced, and to better describe the internal structure of a turbulent superfluid.

Time irreversibility and multifractality of power along single particle trajectories in turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cencini, Massimo; Biferale, Luca; Boffetta, Guido; De Pietro, Massimo

2017-10-01

The irreversible turbulent energy cascade epitomizes strongly nonequilibrium systems. At the level of single fluid particles, time irreversibility is revealed by the asymmetry of the rate of kinetic energy change, the Lagrangian power, whose moments display a power-law dependence on the Reynolds number, as recently shown by Xu et al. [H. Xu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 111, 7558 (2014), 10.1073/pnas.1321682111]. Here Lagrangian power statistics are rationalized within the multifractal model of turbulence, whose predictions are shown to agree with numerical and empirical data. Multifractal predictions are also tested, for very large Reynolds numbers, in dynamical models of the turbulent cascade, obtaining remarkably good agreement for statistical quantities insensitive to the asymmetry and, remarkably, deviations for those probing the asymmetry. These findings raise fundamental questions concerning time irreversibility in the infinite-Reynolds-number limit of the Navier-Stokes equations.

A unified wall function for compressible turbulence modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ong, K. C.; Chan, A.

2018-05-01

Turbulence modelling near the wall often requires a high mesh density clustered around the wall and the first cells adjacent to the wall to be placed in the viscous sublayer. As a result, the numerical stability is constrained by the smallest cell size and hence requires high computational overhead. In the present study, a unified wall function is developed which is valid for viscous sublayer, buffer sublayer and inertial sublayer, as well as including effects of compressibility, heat transfer and pressure gradient. The resulting wall function applies to compressible turbulence modelling for both isothermal and adiabatic wall boundary conditions with the non-zero pressure gradient. Two simple wall function algorithms are implemented for practical computation of isothermal and adiabatic wall boundary conditions. The numerical results show that the wall function evaluates the wall shear stress and turbulent quantities of wall adjacent cells at wide range of non-dimensional wall distance and alleviate the number and size of cells required.

Turbulent heat transfer as a control of platelet ice growth in supercooled under-ice ocean boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McPhee, Miles G.; Stevens, Craig L.; Smith, Inga J.; Robinson, Natalie J.

2016-04-01

Late winter measurements of turbulent quantities in tidally modulated flow under land-fast sea ice near the Erebus Glacier Tongue, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, identified processes that influence growth at the interface of an ice surface in contact with supercooled seawater. The data show that turbulent heat exchange at the ocean-ice boundary is characterized by the product of friction velocity and (negative) water temperature departure from freezing, analogous to similar results for moderate melting rates in seawater above freezing. Platelet ice growth appears to increase the hydraulic roughness (drag) of fast ice compared with undeformed fast ice without platelets. Platelet growth in supercooled water under thick ice appears to be rate-limited by turbulent heat transfer and that this is a significant factor to be considered in mass transfer at the underside of ice shelves and sea ice in the vicinity of ice shelves.

Dynamic balance in turbulent reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokoi, N.; Higashimori, K.; Hoshino, M.

2012-12-01

Dynamic balance between the enhancement and suppression of transports due to turbulence in magnetic reconnection is discussed analytically and numerically by considering the interaction of the large-scale field structures with the small-scale turbulence in a consistent manner. Turbulence is expected to play an important role in bridging small and large scales related to magnetic reconnection. The configurations of the mean-field structure are determined by turbulence through the effective transport. At the same time, statistical properties of turbulence are determined by the mean-field structure through the production mechanisms of turbulence. This suggests that turbulence and mean fields should be considered simultaneously in a self-consistent manner. Following the theoretical prediction on the interaction between the mean-fields and turbulence in magnetic reconnection presented by Yokoi and Hoshino (2011), a self-consistent model for the turbulent reconnection is constructed. In the model, the mean-field equations for compressible magnetohydrodynamics are treated with the turbulence effects incorporated through the turbulence correlation such as the Reynolds stress and turbulent electromotive force. Transport coefficients appearing in the expression for these correlations are not adjustable parameters but are determined through the transport equations of the turbulent statistical quantities such as the turbulent MHD energy, the turbulent cross helicity. One of the prominent features of this reconnection model lies in the point that turbulence is not implemented as a prescribed one, but the generation and sustainment of turbulence through the mean-field inhomogeneities are treated. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by the numerical simulation of the model equations. These predictions include the quadrupole cross helicity distribution around the reconnection region, enhancement of reconnection rate due to turbulence, localization of the reconnection region through the cross-helicity effect, etc. Some implications to the satellite observation of the magnetic reconnection will be also given. Reference: Yokoi, N. and Hoshino, M. (2011) Physics of Plasmas, 18, 111208.

A Model for Jet-Surface Interaction Noise Using Physically Realizable Upstream Turbulence Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Afsar, Mohammed Z.; Leib, Stewart J.; Bozak, Richard F.

2016-01-01

This paper is a continuation of previous work in which a generalized Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT) formulation was used to model low-frequency trailing-edge noise. The research was motivated by proposed next-generation aircraft configurations where the exhaust system is tightly integrated with the airframe. Data from recent experiments at NASA on the interaction between high-Reynolds-number subsonic jet flows and an external flat plate showed that the power spectral density (PSD) of the far-field pressure underwent considerable amplification at low frequencies. For example, at the 90deg observation angle, the low-frequency noise could be as much as 10 dB greater than the jet noise itself. In this paper, we present predictions of the noise generated by the interaction of a rectangular jet with the trailing edge of a semi-infinite flat plate. The calculations are based on a formula for the acoustic spectrum of this noise source derived from an exact formal solution of the linearized Euler equations involving (in this case) one arbitrary convected scalar quantity and a Rayleigh equation Green's function. A low-frequency asymptotic approximation for the Green's function based on a two-dimensional mean flow is used in the calculations along with a physically realizable upstream turbulence spectrum, which includes a finite decorrelation region. Numerical predictions of the sound field, based on three-dimensional RANS solutions to determine the mean flow, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulence length and time scales, for a range of subsonic acoustic Mach number jets and nozzle aspect ratios are compared with experimental data. Comparisons of the RANS results with flow data are also presented for selected cases. We find that a finite decorrelation region in the turbulence spectrum increases the low-frequency algebraic decay (the low frequency "roll-off") of the acoustic spectrum with angular frequency thereby producing much closer agreement with noise data for Strouhal numbers less than 0.1. Secondly, the large-aspect-ratio theory is able to predict the low-frequency amplification due to the jet-edge interaction reasonably well, even for moderate aspect ratio nozzles. We show also that the noise predictions for smaller aspect ratio jets can be fine-tuned using the appropriate RANS-based mean flow and turbulence properties.

The Effect of Wind-Turbine Wakes on Summertime US Midwest Atmospheric Wind Profiles as Observed with Ground-Based Doppler Lidar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhodes, Michael E.; Lundquist, Julie K.

2013-07-01

We examine the influence of a modern multi-megawatt wind turbine on wind and turbulence profiles three rotor diameters (D) downwind of the turbine. Light detection and ranging (lidar) wind-profile observations were collected during summer 2011 in an operating wind farm in central Iowa at 20-m vertical intervals from 40 to 220 m above the surface. After a calibration period during which two lidars were operated next to each other, one lidar was located approximately 2D directly south of a wind turbine; the other lidar was moved approximately 3D north of the same wind turbine. Data from the two lidars during southerly flow conditions enabled the simultaneous capture of inflow and wake conditions. The inflow wind and turbulence profiles exhibit strong variability with atmospheric stability: daytime profiles are well-mixed with little shear and strong turbulence, while nighttime profiles exhibit minimal turbulence and considerable shear across the rotor disk region and above. Consistent with the observations available from other studies and with wind-tunnel and large-eddy simulation studies, measurable reductions in wake wind-speeds occur at heights spanning the wind turbine rotor (43-117 m), and turbulent quantities increase in the wake. In generalizing these results as a function of inflow wind speed, we find the wind-speed deficit in the wake is largest at hub height or just above, and the maximum deficit occurs when wind speeds are below the rated speed for the turbine. Similarly, the maximum enhancement of turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence intensity occurs at hub height, although observations at the top of the rotor disk do not allow assessment of turbulence in that region. The wind shear below turbine hub height (quantified here with the power-law coefficient) is found to be a useful parameter to identify whether a downwind lidar observes turbine wake or free-flow conditions. These field observations provide data for validating turbine-wake models and wind-tunnel observations, and for guiding assessments of the impacts of wakes on surface turbulent fluxes or surface temperatures downwind of turbines.

Covariance of fluid-turbulence theory.

PubMed

Ariki, Taketo

2015-05-01

Covariance of physical quantities in fluid-turbulence theory and their governing equations under generalized coordinate transformation is discussed. It is shown that the velocity fluctuation and its governing law have a covariance under far wider group of coordinate transformation than that of conventional Euclidean invariance, and, as a natural consequence, various correlations and their governing laws are shown to be formulated in covariant manners under this wider transformation group. In addition, it is also shown that the covariance of the Reynolds stress is tightly connected to the objectivity of the mean flow.

Turbulent Flow Effects on the Biological Performance of Hydro-Turbines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Richmond, Marshall C.; Romero Gomez, Pedro DJ

2014-08-25

The hydro-turbine industry uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools to predict the flow conditions as part of the design process for new and rehabilitated turbine units. Typically the hydraulic design process uses steady-state simulations based on Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) formulations for turbulence modeling because these methods are computationally efficient and work well to predict averaged hydraulic performance, e.g. power output, efficiency, etc. However, in view of the increasing emphasis on environmental concerns, such as fish passage, the consideration of the biological performance of hydro-turbines is also required in addition to hydraulic performance. This leads to the need to assess whethermore » more realistic simulations of the turbine hydraulic environment -those that resolve unsteady turbulent eddies not captured in steady-state RANS computations- are needed to better predict the occurrence and extent of extreme flow conditions that could be important in the evaluation of fish injury and mortality risks. In the present work, we conduct unsteady, eddy-resolving CFD simulations on a Kaplan hydro-turbine at a normal operational discharge. The goal is to quantify the impact of turbulence conditions on both the hydraulic and biological performance of the unit. In order to achieve a high resolution of the incoming turbulent flow, Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) turbulence model is used. These transient simulations are compared to RANS simulations to evaluate whether extreme hydraulic conditions are better captured with advanced eddy-resolving turbulence modeling techniques. The transient simulations of key quantities such as pressure and hydraulic shear flow that arise near the various components (e.g. wicket gates, stay vanes, runner blades) are then further analyzed to evaluate their impact on the statistics for the lowest absolute pressure (nadir pressures) and for the frequency of collisions that are known to cause mortal injury in fish passing through hydro-turbines.« less

Multiscale analysis of the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor in isotropic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danish, Mohammad; Meneveau, Charles

2018-04-01

Knowledge of local flow-topology, the patterns of streamlines around a moving fluid element as described by the velocity-gradient tensor, is useful for developing insights into turbulence processes, such as energy cascade, material element deformation, or scalar mixing. Much has been learned in the recent past about flow topology at the smallest (viscous) scales of turbulence. However, less is known at larger scales, for instance, at the inertial scales of turbulence. In this work, we present a detailed study on the scale dependence of various quantities of interest, such as the population fraction of different types of flow-topologies, the joint probability distribution of the second and third invariants of the velocity gradient tensor, and the geometrical alignment of vorticity with strain-rate eigenvectors. We perform the analysis on a simulation dataset of isotropic turbulence at Reλ=433 . While quantities appear close to scale invariant in the inertial range, we observe a "bump" in several quantities at length scales between the inertial and viscous ranges. For instance, the population fraction of unstable node-saddle-saddle flow topology shows an increase when reducing the scale from the inertial entering the viscous range. A similar bump is observed for the vorticity-strain-rate alignment. In order to document possible dynamical causes for the different trends in the viscous and inertial ranges, we examine the probability fluxes appearing in the Fokker-Plank equation governing the velocity gradient invariants. Specifically, we aim to understand whether the differences observed between the viscous and inertial range statistics are due to effects caused by pressure, subgrid-scale, or viscous stresses or various combinations of these terms. To decompose the flow into small and large scales, we mainly use a spectrally compact non-negative filter with good spatial localization properties (Eyink-Aluie filter). The analysis shows that when going from the inertial range into the viscous range, the subgrid-stress effect decreases more rapidly as a function of scale than the viscous effects increase. To make up for the difference, the pressure Hessian also behaves somewhat differently in the viscous than in the inertial range. The results have implications for models for the velocity gradient tensor showing that the effects of subgrid scales may not be simply modeled via a constant eddy viscosity in the inertial range if one wishes to reproduce the observed trends.

Dynamics and structure of turbulent premixed flames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bilger, R. W.; Swaminathan, N.; Ruetsch, G. R.; Smith, N. S. A.

1995-01-01

In earlier work (Mantel & Bilger, 1994) the structure of the turbulent premixed flame was investigated using statistics based on conditional averaging with the reaction progress variable as the conditioning variable. The DNS data base of Trouve and Poinsot (1994) was used in this investigation. Attention was focused on the conditional dissipation and conditional axial velocity in the flame with a view to modeling these quantities for use in the conditional moment closure (CMC) approach to analysis of kinetics in premixed flames (Bilger, 1993). Two remarkable findings were made: there was almost no acceleration of the axial velocity in the flame front itself; and the conditional scalar dissipation remained as high, or higher, than that found in laminar premixed flames. The first finding was surprising since in laminar flames all the fluid acceleration occurs through the flame front, and this could be expected also for turbulent premixed flames at the flamelet limit. The finding gave hope of inventing a new approach to the dynamics of turbulent premixed flames through use of rapid distortion theory or an unsteady Bernoulli equation. This could lead to a new second order closure for turbulent premixed flames. The second finding was contrary to our measurements with laser diagnostics in lean hydrocarbon flames where it is found that conditional scalar dissipation drops dramatically below that for laminar flamelets when the turbulence intensity becomes high. Such behavior was not explainable with a one-step kinetic model, even at non-unity Lewis number. It could be due to depletion of H2 from the reaction zone by preferential diffusion. The capacity of the flame to generate radicals is critically dependent on the levels of H2 present (Bilger, et al., 1991). It seemed that a DNS computation with a multistep reduced mechanism would be worthwhile if a way could be found to make this feasible. Truly innovative approaches to complex problems often come only when there is the opportunity to work close at hand with the (in this case numerical) experimental data. Not only can one spot patterns and relationships in the data which could be important, but one can also get to know the limitations of the technique being used, so that when the next experiment is being designed it will address resolvable questions. A three-year grant from the Australian Research Council has enabled us to develop a small capability at the University of Sydney to work on DNS of turbulent reacting flow, and to analyze data bases generated at CTR. Collaboration between the University of Sydney and CTR is essential to this project and finding a workable modus operandum for this collaboration, given the constraints involved, has been a major objective of the past year's effort. The overall objectives of the project are: (1) to obtain a quantitative understanding of the dynamics of turbulent premixed flames at high turbulence levels with a view to developing improved second order closure models; and (2) to carry out new DNS experiments on turbulent premixed flames using a carefully chosen multistep reduced mechanism for the chemical kinetics, with a view to elucidating the laser diagnostic findings that are contrary to the findings for DNS using one-step kinetics. In this first year the objectives have been to make the existing CTR data base more accessible to coworkers at the University of Sydney, to make progress on understanding the dynamics of the flame in this existing CTR data base, and to carefully construct a suitable multistep reduced mechanism for use in a new set of DNS experiments on turbulent premixed flames.

Temperature, Velocity, and Mean Turbulence Structure in Stongly-Heated Internal Gas Flows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McEligot, Donald Marinus; Mikielewicz, D. P.; Shehata, A. M.

2002-10-01

The main objective of the present study is to examine whether "simple" turbulence models (i.e., models requiring two partial differential equations or less for turbulent transport) are suitable for use under conditions of forced flow of gas at low Reynolds numbers in tubes with intense heating, leading to large variations of fluid properties and considerable modification of turbulence. Eleven representative models are considered. The ability of such models to handle such flows was assessed by means of computational simulations of the carefully designed experiments of Shehata and McEligot (IJHMT 41 (1998) 4297) at heating rates of q+in˜0.0018, 0.0035 and 0.0045,more » yielding flows ranging from essentially turbulent to laminarized. The resulting comparisons of computational results with experiments showed that the model by Launder and Sharma (Lett. Heat Transfer 1 (1974) 131) performed best in predicting axial wall temperature profiles. Overall, agreement between the measured velocity and temperature distributions and those calculated using the Launder–Sharma model is good, which gives confidence in the values forecast for the turbulence quantities produced. These have been used to assist in arriving at a better understanding of the influences of intense heating, and hence strong variation of fluid properties, on turbulent flow in tubes.« less

Minimizing stellarator turbulent transport by geometric optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mynick, H. E.

2010-11-01

Up to now, a transport optimized stellarator has meant one optimized to minimize neoclassical transport,ootnotetextH.E. Mynick, Phys. Plasmas 13, 058102 (2006). while the task of also mitigating turbulent transport, usually the dominant transport channel in such designs, has not been addressed, due to the complexity of plasma turbulence in stellarators. However, with the advent of gyrokinetic codes valid for 3D geometries such as GENE,ootnotetextF. Jenko, W. Dorland, M. Kotschenreuther, B.N. Rogers, Phys. Plasmas 7, 1904 (2000). and stellarator optimization codes such as STELLOPT,ootnotetextA. Reiman, G. Fu, S. Hirshman, L. Ku, et al, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 41 B273 (1999). designing stellarators to also reduce turbulent transport has become a realistic possibility. We have been using GENE to characterize the dependence of turbulent transport on stellarator geometry,ootnotetextH.E Mynick, P.A. Xanthopoulos, A.H. Boozer, Phys.Plasmas 16 110702 (2009). and to identify key geometric quantities which control the transport level. From the information obtained from these GENE studies, we are developing proxy functions which approximate the level of turbulent transport one may expect in a machine of a given geometry, and have extended STELLOPT to use these in its cost function, obtaining stellarator configurations with turbulent transport levels substantially lower than those in the original designs.

Cloud Simulations in Response to Turbulence Parameterizations in the GISS Model E GCM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yao, Mao-Sung; Cheng, Ye

2013-01-01

The response of cloud simulations to turbulence parameterizations is studied systematically using the GISS general circulation model (GCM) E2 employed in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5).Without the turbulence parameterization, the relative humidity (RH) and the low cloud cover peak unrealistically close to the surface; with the dry convection or with only the local turbulence parameterization, these two quantities improve their vertical structures, but the vertical transport of water vapor is still weak in the planetary boundary layers (PBLs); with both local and nonlocal turbulence parameterizations, the RH and low cloud cover have better vertical structures in all latitudes due to more significant vertical transport of water vapor in the PBL. The study also compares the cloud and radiation climatologies obtained from an experiment using a newer version of turbulence parameterization being developed at GISS with those obtained from the AR5 version. This newer scheme differs from the AR5 version in computing nonlocal transports, turbulent length scale, and PBL height and shows significant improvements in cloud and radiation simulations, especially over the subtropical eastern oceans and the southern oceans. The diagnosed PBL heights appear to correlate well with the low cloud distribution over oceans. This suggests that a cloud-producing scheme needs to be constructed in a framework that also takes the turbulence into consideration.

Free-stream turbulence and concave curvature effects on heated, transitional boundary layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, J.; Simon, T. W.

1991-01-01

An experimental investigation of the transition process on flat-plate and concave curved-wall boundary layers for various free-stream turbulence levels was performed. Results show that for transition of a flat-plate, the two forms of boundary layer behavior, identified as laminar-like and turbulent-like, cannot be thought of as separate Blasius and fully-turbulent profiles, respectively. Thus, simple transition models in which the desired quantity is assumed to be an average, weighted on intermittency, of the theoretical laminar and fully turbulent values is not expected to be successful. Deviation of the flow identified as laminar-like from theoretical laminar behavior is shown to be due to recovery after the passage of a turbulent spot, while deviation of the flow identified as turbulent-like from the full-turbulent values is thought to be due to incomplete establishment of the fully-turbulent power spectral distribution. Turbulent Prandtl numbers for the transitional flow, computed from measured shear stress, turbulent heat flux and mean velocity and temperature profiles, were less than unity. For the curved-wall case with low free-stream turbulence intensity, the existence of Gortler vortices on the concave wall within both laminar and turbulent flows was established using liquid crystal visualization and spanwise velocity and temperature traverses. Transition was found to occur via a vortex breakdown mode. The vortex wavelength was quite irregular in both the laminar and turbulent flows, but the vortices were stable in time and space. The upwash was found to be more unstable, with higher levels of u' and u'v', and lower skin friction coefficients and shape factors. Turbulent Prandtl numbers, measured using a triple-wire probe, were found to be near unity for all post-transitional profiles, indicating no gross violation of Reynolds analogy. No evidence of streamwise vortices was seen in the high turbulence intensity case.

The third-order structure function in two dimensions: The Rashomon effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerbus, Rory T.; Chakraborty, Pinaki

2017-11-01

We study the third-order longitudinal structure function, S3(r), in two-dimensional turbulence. In three dimensions, there is considerable theoretical, experimental, and numerical consensus regarding the validity of Kolmogorov's arch-famous " /4 5 th law" for S3(r). By contrast, in two dimensions, two disparate cascades, changed dissipation anomalies, a large-scale drag, and other factors conspire to create several versions of the S3(r) "law." This single quantity can vary considerably when viewed from different perspectives, reminiscent of the "Rashomon effect" in anthropology. After reviewing the history and usage of S3(r) in two-dimensional turbulence, we show that S3(r) generically embodies a mixture of energy and enstrophy fluxes. Building on this result, we derive S3(r) laws for freely decaying and forced two-dimensional turbulent flows, where we also account for the effects of a large-scale drag, an inextricable feature of quasi two-dimensional turbulence in experimental and atmospheric flows. We draw attention to the caution needed in interpreting S3(r) in two-dimensional turbulence.

Large scale Direct Numerical Simulation of premixed turbulent jet flames at high Reynolds number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Attili, Antonio; Luca, Stefano; Lo Schiavo, Ermanno; Bisetti, Fabrizio; Creta, Francesco

2016-11-01

A set of direct numerical simulations of turbulent premixed jet flames at different Reynolds and Karlovitz numbers is presented. The simulations feature finite rate chemistry with 16 species and 73 reactions and up to 22 Billion grid points. The jet consists of a methane/air mixture with equivalence ratio ϕ = 0 . 7 and temperature varying between 500 and 800 K. The temperature and species concentrations in the coflow correspond to the equilibrium state of the burnt mixture. All the simulations are performed at 4 atm. The flame length, normalized by the jet width, decreases significantly as the Reynolds number increases. This is consistent with an increase of the turbulent flame speed due to the increased integral scale of turbulence. This behavior is typical of flames in the thin-reaction zone regime, which are affected by turbulent transport in the preheat layer. Fractal dimension and topology of the flame surface, statistics of temperature gradients, and flame structure are investigated and the dependence of these quantities on the Reynolds number is assessed.

Advances in modeling the pressure correlation terms in the second moment equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Tsan-Hsing; Shabbir, Aamir; Lumley, John L.

1991-01-01

In developing turbulence models, various model constraints were proposed in an attempt to make the model equations more general (or universal). The most recent of these are the realizability principle, the linearity principle, the rapid distortion theory, and the material indifference principle. Several issues are discussed concerning these principles and special attention is payed to the realizability principle. Realizability (defined as the requirement of non-negative energy and Schwarz' inequality between any fluctuating quantities) is the basic physical and mathematical principle that any modeled equation should obey. Hence, it is the most universal, important and also the minimal requirement for a model equation to prevent it from producing unphysical results. The principle of realizability is described in detail, the realizability conditions are derived for various turbulence models, and the model forms are proposed for the pressure correlation terms in the second moment equations. Detailed comparisons of various turbulence models with experiments and direct numerical simulations are presented. As a special case of turbulence, the two dimensional two-component turbulence modeling is also discussed.

Direct numerical simulations of flow-chemistry interactions in statistically turbulent premixed flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arias, Paul; Uranakar, Harshavardhana; Chaudhuri, Swetaprovo; Im, Hong

2015-11-01

The effects of Damköhler number and Karlovitz number on the flame dynamics of three-dimensional statistically planar turbulent premixed flames are investigated by direct numerical simulation incorporating detailed chemistry and transport for a hydrogen-air mixture. The mean inlet velocity was dynamically adjusted to ensure a stable flame within the computational domain, allowing the investigation of time-averaged quantities of interest. A particular interest was on understanding the effects of turbulence on the displacement speed of the flame relative to the local fluid flow. Results show a linear dependence on the displacement speed as a function of total strain, consistent with earlier work on premixed-laminar flames. Additional analysis on the local flame thickness reveals that the effect of turbulence is twofold: (1) the increase in mixing results in flame thinning due to the enhancement of combustion at early onset of the flame, and (2) for large Reynolds number flows, the penetration of the turbulence far into the preheat zone and into the reaction zone results in localized flame broadening.

Two opposed lateral jets injected into swirling crossflow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lilley, D. G.; Mcmurry, C. B.; Ong, L. H.

1987-01-01

Experiments have been conducted to obtain the time-mean and turbulent quantities of opposed lateral jets in a low speed, nonreacting flowfield. A jet-to-crossflow velocity ratio of R = 4 was used throughout the experiments, with swirl vane angles of 0 (swirler removed), 45 and 70 degrees used with the crossflow. Flow visualization techniques used were neutrally-buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles and multispark photography in order to obtain the gross flowfield characteristics. Measurements of time-mean and turbulent quantities were obtained utilizing a six-orientation single hot-wire technique. For the nonswirling case, the jets were found not to penetrate past the test-section centerline, in contrast to the single lateral jet with the same jet-to-crossflow velocity ratio. In the swirling cases, the crossflow remains in a narrow region near the wall of the test section. The opposed jets are swept from their vertical courses into spiral trajectories close to the confining walls. Extensive results are presented in r-x plane plots.

Effect of turbulent eddy viscosity on the unstable surface mode above an acoustic liner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marx, David; Aurégan, Yves

2013-07-01

Lined ducts are used to reduce noise radiation from ducts in turbofan engines. In certain conditions they may sustain hydrodynamic instabilities. A local linear stability analysis of the flow in a 2D lined channel is performed using a numerical integration of the governing equations. Several model equations are used, one of them taking into account turbulent eddy viscosity, and a realistic turbulent mean flow profile is used that vanishes at the wall. The stability analysis results are compared to published experimental results. Both the model and the experiments show the existence of an unstable mode, and the importance of taking into account eddy viscosity in the model is shown. When this is done, quantities such as the growth rate and the velocity eigenfunctions are shown to agree correctly.

Turbulence-assisted shear exfoliation of graphene using household detergent and a kitchen blender

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varrla, Eswaraiah; Paton, Keith R.; Backes, Claudia; Harvey, Andrew; Smith, Ronan J.; McCauley, Joe; Coleman, Jonathan N.

2014-09-01

To facilitate progression from the lab to commercial applications, it will be necessary to develop simple, scalable methods to produce high quality graphene. Here we demonstrate the production of large quantities of defect-free graphene using a kitchen blender and household detergent. We have characterised the scaling of both graphene concentration and production rate with the mixing parameters: mixing time, initial graphite concentration, rotor speed and liquid volume. We find the production rate to be invariant with mixing time and to increase strongly with mixing volume, results which are important for scale-up. Even in this simple system, concentrations of up to 1 mg ml-1 and graphene masses of >500 mg can be achieved after a few hours mixing. The maximum production rate was ~0.15 g h-1, much higher than for standard sonication-based exfoliation methods. We demonstrate that graphene production occurs because the mean turbulent shear rate in the blender exceeds the critical shear rate for exfoliation.To facilitate progression from the lab to commercial applications, it will be necessary to develop simple, scalable methods to produce high quality graphene. Here we demonstrate the production of large quantities of defect-free graphene using a kitchen blender and household detergent. We have characterised the scaling of both graphene concentration and production rate with the mixing parameters: mixing time, initial graphite concentration, rotor speed and liquid volume. We find the production rate to be invariant with mixing time and to increase strongly with mixing volume, results which are important for scale-up. Even in this simple system, concentrations of up to 1 mg ml-1 and graphene masses of >500 mg can be achieved after a few hours mixing. The maximum production rate was ~0.15 g h-1, much higher than for standard sonication-based exfoliation methods. We demonstrate that graphene production occurs because the mean turbulent shear rate in the blender exceeds the critical shear rate for exfoliation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03560g

Application of a New Hybrid RANS/LES Modeling Paradigm to Compressible Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliver, Todd; Pederson, Clark; Haering, Sigfried; Moser, Robert

2017-11-01

It is well-known that traditional hybrid RANS/LES modeling approaches suffer from a number of deficiencies. These deficiencies often stem from overly simplistic blending strategies based on scalar measures of turbulence length scale and grid resolution and from use of isotropic subgrid models in LES regions. A recently developed hybrid modeling approach has shown promise in overcoming these deficiencies in incompressible flows [Haering, 2015]. In the approach, RANS/LES blending is accomplished using a hybridization parameter that is governed by an additional model transport equation and is driven to achieve equilibrium between the resolved and unresolved turbulence for the given grid. Further, the model uses an tensor eddy viscosity that is formulated to represent the effects of anisotropic grid resolution on subgrid quantities. In this work, this modeling approach is extended to compressible flows and implemented in the compressible flow solver SU2 (http://su2.stanford.edu/). We discuss both modeling and implementation challenges and show preliminary results for compressible flow test cases with smooth wall separation.

Understanding Turbulence in Compressing Plasmas and Its Exploitation or Prevention

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidovits, Seth

Unprecedented densities and temperatures are now achieved in compressions of plasma, by lasers and by pulsed power, in major experimental facilities. These compressions, carried out at the largest scale at the National Ignition Facility and at the Z Pulsed Power Facility, have important applications, including fusion, X-ray production, and materials research. Several experimental and simulation results suggest that the plasma in some of these compressions is turbulent. In fact, measurements suggest that in certain laboratory plasma compressions the turbulent energy is a dominant energy component. Similarly, turbulence is dominant in some compressing astrophysical plasmas, such as in molecular clouds. Turbulence need not be dominant to be important; even small quantities could greatly influence experiments that are sensitive to mixing of non-fuel into fuel, such as compressions seeking fusion ignition. Despite its important role in major settings, bulk plasma turbulence under compression is insufficiently understood to answer or even to pose some of the most fundamental questions about it. This thesis both identifies and answers key questions in compressing turbulent motion, while providing a description of the behavior of three-dimensional, isotropic, compressions of homogeneous turbulence with a plasma viscosity. This description includes a simple, but successful, new model for the turbulent energy of plasma undergoing compression. The unique features of compressing turbulence with a plasma viscosity are shown, including the sensitivity of the turbulence to plasma ionization, and a "sudden viscous dissipation'' effect which rapidly converts plasma turbulent energy into thermal energy. This thesis then examines turbulence in both laboratory compression experiments and molecular clouds. It importantly shows: the possibility of exploiting turbulence to make fusion or X-ray production more efficient; conditions under which hot-spot turbulence can be prevented; and a lower bound on the growth of turbulence in molecular clouds. This bound raises questions about the level of dissipation in existing molecular cloud models. Finally, the observations originally motivating the thesis, Z-pinch measurements suggesting dominant turbulent energy, are reexamined by self-consistently accounting for the impact of the turbulence on the spectroscopic analysis. This is found to strengthen the evidence that the multiple observations describe a highly turbulent plasma state.

On the Kolmogorov constant in stochastic turbulence models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinz, Stefan

2002-11-01

The Kolmogorov constant is fundamental in stochastic models of turbulence. To explain the reasons for observed variations of this quantity, it is calculated for two flows by various methods and data. Velocity fluctuations are considered as the sum of contributions due to anisotropy, acceleration fluctuations and stochastic forcing that is controlled by the Kolmogorov constant. It is shown that the effects of anisotropy and acceleration fluctuations are responsible for significant variations of the Kolmogorov constant. It is found near 2 for flows where anisotropy and acceleration fluctuations contribute to the energy budget, and near 6 if such contributions disappear.

Spectral signatures of jumps and turbulence in interplanetary speed and magnetic field data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, D. A.; Goldstein, M. L.

1987-01-01

It is shown here that, consistent with a suggestion of Burlaga and Mish (1987), the f exp -2 spectra in the magnitudes of the magnetic and velocity fields in the solar wind result from jumps due to various rapid changes in the time series for these quantities. If these jumps are removed from the data, the spectra of the resulting 'difference' time series have the f exp -5/3 form. It is concluded that f exp -2 spectra in these magnitudes arise from phase coherent structures that can be distinguished clearly from incoherent turbulent fluctuations.

Lagrangian and Eulerian statistics obtained from direct numerical simulations of homogeneous turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Squires, Kyle D.; Eaton, John K.

1991-01-01

Direct numerical simulation is used to study dispersion in decaying isotropic turbulence and homogeneous shear flow. Both Lagrangian and Eulerian data are presented allowing direct comparison, but at fairly low Reynolds number. The quantities presented include properties of the dispersion tensor, isoprobability contours of particle displacement, Lagrangian and Eulerian velocity autocorrelations and time scale ratios, and the eddy diffusivity tensor. The Lagrangian time microscale is found to be consistently larger than the Eulerian microscale, presumably due to the advection of the small scales by the large scales in the Eulerian reference frame.

PIV study of flow through porous structure using refractive index matching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Häfeli, Richard; Altheimer, Marco; Butscher, Denis; Rudolf von Rohr, Philipp

2014-05-01

An aqueous solution of sodium iodide and zinc iodide is proposed as a fluid that matches the refractive index of a solid manufactured by rapid prototyping. This enabled optical measurements in single-phase flow through porous structures. Experiments were also done with an organic index-matching fluid (anisole) in porous structures of different dimensions. To compare experiments with different viscosities and dimensions, we employed Reynolds similarity to deduce the scaling laws. One of the target quantities of our investigation was the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy. Different models for the dissipation rate estimation were evaluated by comparing isotropy ratios. As in many other studies also, our experiments were not capable of resolving the velocity field down to the Kolmogorov length scale, and therefore, the dissipation rate has to be considered as underestimated. This is visible in experiments of different relative resolutions. However, being near the Kolmogorov scale allows estimating a reproducible, yet underestimated spatial distribution of dissipation rate inside the porous structure. Based on these results, the model was used to estimate the turbulent diffusivity. Comparing it to the dispersion coefficient obtained in the same porous structure, we conclude that even at the turbulent diffusivity makes up only a small part of mass transfer in axial direction. The main part is therefore attributed to Taylor dispersion.

A Herschel and CARMA synergistic study of turbulent gas in Hickson Compact Groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Appleton, Philip N.; Alatalo, Katherine A.; Lisenfeld, Ute; Bitsakis, Thodoris; Guillard, Pierre; Charmandaris, Vassilis; Cluver, Michelle; Dopita, Michael A.; Freeland, Emily; Hickson Compact Group Team

2015-01-01

We have performed deep PACS and SPIRE imaging, [CII] and [OI] spectroscopy and CARMA CO J= 1-0 imaging of a dozen Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs). The observations attempt to explore the physical conditions of the gas in a subset of galaxies containing large quantities of warm molecular hydrogen based on previous Spitzer IRS observations. The H2 is too powerful to be heated in PDR regions, and is most likely powered by turbulence and shocks. Such galaxies are found to fall in a region of the IR color-color space believed to show galaxies rapidly transitioning from the blue cloud to the red sequence, and so shocks may play a role in quenching star formation. We explore far-IR line luminosities and surface densities for extended diffuse [CII] emission and compare this to similar quanties in the CO emitting gas, and the far-IR continuum. Preliminary results suggest that high [CII]/FIR and [CII]/CO ratios are common in these systems, and in some cases correlate with peculiar velocities in the CO emitting gas. Star formation suppression may be seen in some of the systems with the highest warm H2/PAH ratios found by Spitzer, implying that turbulence may suppress star formation.

Multiscale gyrokinetics for rotating tokamak plasmas: fluctuations, transport and energy flows.

PubMed

Abel, I G; Plunk, G G; Wang, E; Barnes, M; Cowley, S C; Dorland, W; Schekochihin, A A

2013-11-01

This paper presents a complete theoretical framework for studying turbulence and transport in rapidly rotating tokamak plasmas. The fundamental scale separations present in plasma turbulence are codified as an asymptotic expansion in the ratio ε = ρi/α of the gyroradius to the equilibrium scale length. Proceeding order by order in this expansion, a set of coupled multiscale equations is developed. They describe an instantaneous equilibrium, the fluctuations driven by gradients in the equilibrium quantities, and the transport-timescale evolution of mean profiles of these quantities driven by the interplay between the equilibrium and the fluctuations. The equilibrium distribution functions are local Maxwellians with each flux surface rotating toroidally as a rigid body. The magnetic equilibrium is obtained from the generalized Grad-Shafranov equation for a rotating plasma, determining the magnetic flux function from the mean pressure and velocity profiles of the plasma. The slow (resistive-timescale) evolution of the magnetic field is given by an evolution equation for the safety factor q. Large-scale deviations of the distribution function from a Maxwellian are given by neoclassical theory. The fluctuations are determined by the 'high-flow' gyrokinetic equation, from which we derive the governing principle for gyrokinetic turbulence in tokamaks: the conservation and local (in space) cascade of the free energy of the fluctuations (i.e. there is no turbulence spreading). Transport equations for the evolution of the mean density, temperature and flow velocity profiles are derived. These transport equations show how the neoclassical and fluctuating corrections to the equilibrium Maxwellian act back upon the mean profiles through fluxes and heating. The energy and entropy conservation laws for the mean profiles are derived from the transport equations. Total energy, thermal, kinetic and magnetic, is conserved and there is no net turbulent heating. Entropy is produced by the action of fluxes flattening gradients, Ohmic heating and the equilibration of interspecies temperature differences. This equilibration is found to include both turbulent and collisional contributions. Finally, this framework is condensed, in the low-Mach-number limit, to a more concise set of equations suitable for numerical implementation.

Understanding turbulence in compressing plasmas and its exploitation or prevention.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davidovits, Seth

Unprecedented densities and temperatures are now achieved in compressions of plasma, by lasers and by pulsed power, in major experimental facilities. These compressions, carried out at the largest scale at the National Ignition Facility and at the Z Pulsed Power Facility, have important applications, including fusion, X-ray production, and materials research. Several experimental and simulation results suggest that the plasma in some of these compressions is turbulent. In fact, measurements suggest that in certain laboratory plasma compressions the turbulent energy is a dominant energy component. Similarly, turbulence is dominant in some compressing astrophysical plasmas, such as in molecular clouds. Turbulencemore » need not be dominant to be important; even small quantities could greatly influence experiments that are sensitive to mixing of non-fuel into fuel, such as compressions seeking fusion ignition. Despite its important role in major settings, bulk plasma turbulence under compression is insufficiently understood to answer or even to pose some of the most fundamental questions about it. This thesis both identifies and answers key questions in compressing turbulent motion, while providing a description of the behavior of three-dimensional, isotropic, compressions of homogeneous turbulence with a plasma viscosity. This description includes a simple, but successful, new model for the turbulent energy of plasma undergoing compression. The unique features of compressing turbulence with a plasma viscosity are shown, including the sensitivity of the turbulence to plasma ionization, and a sudden viscous dissipation'' effect which rapidly converts plasma turbulent energy into thermal energy. This thesis then examines turbulence in both laboratory compression experiments and molecular clouds. It importantly shows: the possibility of exploiting turbulence to make fusion or X-ray production more efficient; conditions under which hot-spot turbulence can be prevented; and a lower bound on the growth of turbulence in molecular clouds. This bound raises questions about the level of dissipation in existing molecular cloud models. Finally, the observations originally motivating the thesis, Z-pinch measurements suggesting dominant turbulent energy, are reexamined by self-consistently accounting for the impact of the turbulence on the spectroscopic analysis. This is found to strengthen the evidence that the multiple observations describe a highly turbulent plasma state.« less

Establishing Consensus Turbulence Statistics for Hot Subsonic Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bridges, James; Werner, Mark P.

2010-01-01

Many tasks in fluids engineering require knowledge of the turbulence in jets. There is a strong, although fragmented, literature base for low order statistics, such as jet spread and other meanvelocity field characteristics. Some sources, particularly for low speed cold jets, also provide turbulence intensities that are required for validating Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes. There are far fewer sources for jet spectra and for space-time correlations of turbulent velocity required for aeroacoustics applications, although there have been many singular publications with various unique statistics, such as Proper Orthogonal Decomposition, designed to uncover an underlying low-order dynamical description of turbulent jet flow. As the complexity of the statistic increases, the number of flows for which the data has been categorized and assembled decreases, making it difficult to systematically validate prediction codes that require high-level statistics over a broad range of jet flow conditions. For several years, researchers at NASA have worked on developing and validating jet noise prediction codes. One such class of codes, loosely called CFD-based or statistical methods, uses RANS CFD to predict jet mean and turbulent intensities in velocity and temperature. These flow quantities serve as the input to the acoustic source models and flow-sound interaction calculations that yield predictions of far-field jet noise. To develop this capability, a catalog of turbulent jet flows has been created with statistics ranging from mean velocity to space-time correlations of Reynolds stresses. The present document aims to document this catalog and to assess the accuracies of the data, e.g. establish uncertainties for the data. This paper covers the following five tasks: Document acquisition and processing procedures used to create the particle image velocimetry (PIV) datasets. Compare PIV data with hotwire and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) data published in the open literature. Compare different datasets acquired at roughly the same flow conditions to establish uncertainties. Create a consensus dataset for a range of hot jet flows, including uncertainty bands. Analyze this consensus dataset for self-consistency and compare jet characteristics to those of the open literature. One final objective fulfilled by this work was the demonstration of a universal scaling for the jet flow fields, at least within the region of interest to aeroacoustics. The potential core length and the spread rate of the half-velocity radius were used to collapse of the mean and turbulent velocity fields over the first 20 jet diameters in a highly satisfying manner.

A positivity-preserving, implicit defect-correction multigrid method for turbulent combustion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wasserman, M.; Mor-Yossef, Y.; Greenberg, J. B.

2016-07-01

A novel, robust multigrid method for the simulation of turbulent and chemically reacting flows is developed. A survey of previous attempts at implementing multigrid for the problems at hand indicated extensive use of artificial stabilization to overcome numerical instability arising from non-linearity of turbulence and chemistry model source-terms, small-scale physics of combustion, and loss of positivity. These issues are addressed in the current work. The highly stiff Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, coupled with turbulence and finite-rate chemical kinetics models, are integrated in time using the unconditionally positive-convergent (UPC) implicit method. The scheme is successfully extended in this work for use with chemical kinetics models, in a fully-coupled multigrid (FC-MG) framework. To tackle the degraded performance of multigrid methods for chemically reacting flows, two major modifications are introduced with respect to the basic, Full Approximation Storage (FAS) approach. First, a novel prolongation operator that is based on logarithmic variables is proposed to prevent loss of positivity due to coarse-grid corrections. Together with the extended UPC implicit scheme, the positivity-preserving prolongation operator guarantees unconditional positivity of turbulence quantities and species mass fractions throughout the multigrid cycle. Second, to improve the coarse-grid-correction obtained in localized regions of high chemical activity, a modified defect correction procedure is devised, and successfully applied for the first time to simulate turbulent, combusting flows. The proposed modifications to the standard multigrid algorithm create a well-rounded and robust numerical method that provides accelerated convergence, while unconditionally preserving the positivity of model equation variables. Numerical simulations of various flows involving premixed combustion demonstrate that the proposed MG method increases the efficiency by a factor of up to eight times with respect to an equivalent single-grid method, and by two times with respect to an artificially-stabilized MG method.

Fractality and the law of the wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Haosen H. A.; Yang, X. I. A.

2018-05-01

Fluid motions in the inertial range of isotropic turbulence are fractal, with their space-filling capacity slightly below regular three-dimensional objects, which is a consequence of the energy cascade. Besides the energy cascade, the other often encountered cascading process is the momentum cascade in wall-bounded flows. Despite the long-existing analogy between the two processes, many of the thoroughly investigated aspects of the energy cascade have so far received little attention in studies of the momentum counterpart, e.g., the possibility of the momentum-transferring scales in the logarithmic region being fractal has not been considered. In this work, this possibility is pursued, and we discuss one of its implications. Following the same dimensional arguments that lead to the D =2.33 fractal dimension of wrinkled surfaces in isotropic turbulence, we show that the large-scale momentum-carrying eddies may also be fractal and non-space-filling, which then leads to the power-law scaling of the mean velocity profile. The logarithmic law of the wall, on the other hand, corresponds to space-filling eddies, as suggested by Townsend [The Structure of Turbulent Shear Flow (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1980)]. Because the space-filling capacity is an integral geometric quantity, the analysis presented in this work provides us with a low-order quantity, with which, one would be able to distinguish between the logarithmic law and the power law.

Flux-driven turbulence GDB simulations of the IWL Alcator C-Mod L-mode edge compared with experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Francisquez, Manaure; Zhu, Ben; Rogers, Barrett

2017-10-01

Prior to predicting confinement regime transitions in tokamaks one may need an accurate description of L-mode profiles and turbulence properties. These features determine the heat-flux width upon which wall integrity depends, a topic of major interest for research aid to ITER. To this end our work uses the GDB model to simulate the Alcator C-Mod edge and contributes support for its use in studying critical edge phenomena in current and future tokamaks. We carried out 3D electromagnetic flux-driven two-fluid turbulence simulations of inner wall limited (IWL) C-Mod shots spanning closed and open flux surfaces. These simulations are compared with gas puff imaging (GPI) and mirror Langmuir probe (MLP) data, examining global features and statistical properties of turbulent dynamics. GDB reproduces important qualitative aspects of the C-Mod edge regarding global density and temperature profiles, within reasonable margins, and though the turbulence statistics of the simulated turbulence follow similar quantitative trends questions remain about the code's difficulty in exactly predicting quantities like the autocorrelation time A proposed breakpoint in the near SOL pressure and the posited separation between drift and ballooning dynamics it represents are examined This work was supported by DOE-SC-0010508. This research used resources of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC).

Dynamics of a wind turbine airfoil in turbulent inflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heisselmann, Hendrik; Peinke, Joachim; Hoelling, Michael

2015-11-01

An experimental investigation of the aerodynamics of a wind turbine airfoil model was performed for laminar inflow and three different turbulent inflow conditions at Re ~ 500,000. Particular turbulent inflow conditions were generated with an active grid, which allows for a repetition of the same turbulence pattern for each investigated airfoil configuration. The inflow wind fields comprise a laminar baseline case, a quasi-2D sinusoidal angle of attack (AoA) variation and an intermittent AoA variation. Additionally, AoA variations as obtained from a 5-hole Pitot probe during a field experiment were emulated. High-resolution time series of the pressure distributions and acting forces on a DU00-W-212 airfoil model were measured under the various inflow conditions for an AoA range of +/-35°. The obtained data was analyzed using time averages of first order quantities (mean, std. deviation) as well as more complex stochastic methods. The analysis of the laminar and turbulent cases indicates higher AoAs for maximum lift under turbulent conditions, while the drop-off in the post-stall regime is flattened. The presented work was funded from the European Union's Seventh Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grand agreement No FP7-ENERGY-2013-1/n° 608396.

Turbulent fluid motion IV-averages, Reynolds decomposition, and the closure problem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deissler, Robert G.

1992-01-01

Ensemble, time, and space averages as applied to turbulent quantities are discussed, and pertinent properties of the averages are obtained. Those properties, together with Reynolds decomposition, are used to derive the averaged equations of motion and the one- and two-point moment or correlation equations. The terms in the various equations are interpreted. The closure problem of the averaged equations is discussed, and possible closure schemes are considered. Those schemes usually require an input of supplemental information unless the averaged equations are closed by calculating their terms by a numerical solution of the original unaveraged equations. The law of the wall for velocities and temperatures, the velocity- and temperature-defect laws, and the logarithmic laws for velocities and temperatures are derived. Various notions of randomness and their relation to turbulence are considered in light of ergodic theory.

Premixing quality and flame stability: A theoretical and experimental study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Radhakrishnan, K.; Heywood, J. B.; Tabaczynski, R. J.

1979-01-01

Models for predicting flame ignition and blowout in a combustor primary zone are presented. A correlation for the blowoff velocity of premixed turbulent flames is developed using the basic quantities of turbulent flow, and the laminar flame speed. A statistical model employing a Monte Carlo calculation procedure is developed to account for nonuniformities in a combustor primary zone. An overall kinetic rate equation is used to describe the fuel oxidation process. The model is used to predict the lean ignition and blow out limits of premixed turbulent flames; the effects of mixture nonuniformity on the lean ignition limit are explored using an assumed distribution of fuel-air ratios. Data on the effects of variations in inlet temperature, reference velocity and mixture uniformity on the lean ignition and blowout limits of gaseous propane-air flames are presented.

On the effect of the neutral Hydrogen density on the 26 day variations of galactic cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engelbrecht, Nicholas; Burger, Renier; Ferreira, Stefan; Hitge, Mariette

Preliminary results of a 3D, steady-state ab-initio cosmic ray modulation code are presented. This modulation code utilizes analytical expressions for the parallel and perpendicular mean free paths based on the work of Teufel and Schlickeiser (2003) and Shalchi et al. (2004), incorporating Breech et al. (2008)'s model for the 2D variance, correlation scale, and normalized cross helicity. The effects of such a model for basic turbulence quantities, coupled with a 3D model for the neutral Hydrogen density on the 26-day variations of cosmic rays, is investigated, utilizing a Schwadron-Parker hybrid heliospheric magnetic field.

Dynamics and structures of transitional viscoelastic turbulence in channel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shekar, Ashwin; Wang, Sung-Ning; Graham, Michael

2017-11-01

Introducing a trace amount of polymer into turbulent flows can result in a substantial reduction of drag. However, the mechanism is not fully understood at high levels of drag reduction. In this work we perform direct numerical simulations (DNS) of viscoelastic channel flow turbulence using a scheme that guarantees the positive-definiteness of polymer conformation tensor without artificial diffusion. Here we present the results of two parametric studies with the bulk Reynolds number fixed at 2000. First, the Weissenberg number (Wi) is kept at 100 and we vary the viscosity ratio (ratio ratio of the solvent viscosity and the total viscosity). Maximum drag reduction (MDR) is observed with viscosity ratio <0.95. As we decrease the viscosity ratio, i.e. increase polymer concentration, the mean velocity profile is almost invariant. However, this is accompanied by a decrease in velocity fluctuations but the flow stays turbulent. Turbulent kinetic energy budget analysis shows that, in this parameter regime, polymer becomes the major source of velocity fluctuations, replacing the energy transfer from the mean flow. In the second study, we fix the viscosity ratio at 0.95 and trace the Wi up to this regime and present the accompanying changes in flow quantities and structures.

Progress in the development of PDF turbulence models for combustion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsu, Andrew T.

1991-01-01

A combined Monte Carlo-computational fluid dynamic (CFD) algorithm was developed recently at Lewis Research Center (LeRC) for turbulent reacting flows. In this algorithm, conventional CFD schemes are employed to obtain the velocity field and other velocity related turbulent quantities, and a Monte Carlo scheme is used to solve the evolution equation for the probability density function (pdf) of species mass fraction and temperature. In combustion computations, the predictions of chemical reaction rates (the source terms in the species conservation equation) are poor if conventional turbulence modles are used. The main difficulty lies in the fact that the reaction rate is highly nonlinear, and the use of averaged temperature produces excessively large errors. Moment closure models for the source terms have attained only limited success. The probability density function (pdf) method seems to be the only alternative at the present time that uses local instantaneous values of the temperature, density, etc., in predicting chemical reaction rates, and thus may be the only viable approach for more accurate turbulent combustion calculations. Assumed pdf's are useful in simple problems; however, for more general combustion problems, the solution of an evolution equation for the pdf is necessary.

Quasi 1-D Analysis of a Circular, Compressible, Turbulent Jet Laden with Water Droplets. Appendix C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

Recent experimental studies indicate that presence of small amount of liquid droplets reduces the Overall Sound Pressure Level (OASPL) of a jet. Present study is aimed at numerically investigating the effect of liquid particles on the overall flow quantities of a heated, compressible round jet. The jet is assumed perfectly expanded. A quasi-1D model was developed for this purpose which uses area-averaged quantities that satisfy integral conservation equations. Special attention is given to represent the early development region since it is acoustically important. Approximate velocity and temperature profiles were assumed in this region to evaluate entrainment rate. Experimental correlations were used to obtain spreading rate of shear layer. The base flow thus obtained is then laden with water droplets at the exit of the nozzle. Mass, momentum and energy coupling between the two phases is represented using empirical relations. Droplet size and mass loading are varied to observe their effect on flow variables.

Assessing the Effects of Data Compression in Simulations Using Physically Motivated Metrics

DOE PAGES

Laney, Daniel; Langer, Steven; Weber, Christopher; ...

2014-01-01

This paper examines whether lossy compression can be used effectively in physics simulations as a possible strategy to combat the expected data-movement bottleneck in future high performance computing architectures. We show that, for the codes and simulations we tested, compression levels of 3–5X can be applied without causing significant changes to important physical quantities. Rather than applying signal processing error metrics, we utilize physics-based metrics appropriate for each code to assess the impact of compression. We evaluate three different simulation codes: a Lagrangian shock-hydrodynamics code, an Eulerian higher-order hydrodynamics turbulence modeling code, and an Eulerian coupled laser-plasma interaction code. Wemore » compress relevant quantities after each time-step to approximate the effects of tightly coupled compression and study the compression rates to estimate memory and disk-bandwidth reduction. We find that the error characteristics of compression algorithms must be carefully considered in the context of the underlying physics being modeled.« less

Experimental Studies of Low-Pressure Turbine Flows and Flow Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volino, Ralph J.

2012-01-01

This report summarizes research performed in support of the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) Flow Physics Program. The work was performed experimentally at the U.S. Naval Academy faculties. The geometry corresponded to "Pak B" LPT airfoil. The test section simulated LPT flow in a passage. Three experimental studies were performed: (a) Boundary layer measurements for ten baseline cases under high and low freestream turbulence conditions at five Reynolds numbers of 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000, based on passage exit velocity and suction surface wetted length; (b) Passive flow control studies with three thicknesses of two-dimensional bars, and two heights of three-dimensional circular cylinders with different spanwise separations, at same flow conditions as the 10 baseline cases; (c) Active flow control with oscillating synthetic (zero net mass flow) vortex generator jets, for one case with low freestream turbulence and a low Reynolds number of 25,000. The Passive flow control was successful at controlling the separation problem at low Reynolds numbers, with varying degrees of success from case to case and varying levels of impact at higher Reynolds numbers. The active flow control successfully eliminated the large separation problem for the low Reynolds number case. Very detailed data was acquired using hot-wire anemometry, including single and two velocity components, integral boundary layer quantities, turbulence statistics and spectra, turbulent shear stresses and their spectra, and intermittency, documenting transition, separation and reattachment. Models were constructed to correlate the results. The report includes a summary of the work performed and reprints of the publications describing the various studies.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rubin, H.; Bemporad, G.A.

The advanced solar pond (ASP) is characterized by having two thermal layers. The homogeneous thermal layer is adjacent to the pond bottom. On top of this layer a stratified thermal layer is located. One of the major advantages of the solar pond (SP) stems from its capability to store large quantities of thermal energy. In cases of excessive needs for thermal energy, the flow of the thermal layers may be subject to turbulent flow conditions. In this paper the effect of such conditions on transport phenomena in the ASP is analyzed. The analysis indicates that whereas the homogeneous thermal layermore » flows turbulently, the stratified thermal layer may be subject to laminar flow.« less

One-equation near-wall turbulence modeling with the aid of direct simulation data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodi, W.; Mansour, N. N.; Michelassi, V.

1993-01-01

The length scales appearing in the relations for the eddy viscosity and dissipation rate in one-equation models were evaluated from direct numerical (DNS) simulation data for developed channel and boundary-layer flow at two Reynolds numbers each. To prepare the ground for the evaluation, the distribution of the most relevant mean-flow and turbulence quantities is presented and discussed, also with respect to Reynolds-number influence and to differences between channel and boundary-layer flow. An alternative model is tested as near wall component of a two-layer model by application to developed-channel, boundary-layer and backward-facing-step flows.

The relation of turbulence to diffusion in open-channel flows

USGS Publications Warehouse

Keefer, Thomas N.

1971-01-01

The exponent in the power-law equation describing the decay of scalar quantities downstream of a jet is a linear function of the shear velocity of the channel. The length of the core region of a jet is a power-law function of the jet strength with the exponent depending on boundary roughness.

Experiments on opposed lateral jets injected into swirling crossflow. M.S. Thesis Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcmurry, C. B.; Lilley, D. G.

1986-01-01

Experiments have been conducted to obtain the time-mean and turbulent quantities of opposed lateral jets in a low speed, nonreacting flowfield. A jet-to-crossflow velocity ratio of R = v sub J/u sub 0 = 4 was used throughout the experiments, with swirl vane angles of d = 0 (swirler removed), 45 and 70 deg used with the crossflow. Flow visualization techniques used were neutrally-buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles and multispark photography in order to obtain the gross flowfield characteristics. Measurements of time-mean and turbulent quantities were obtained utilizing a six-orientation single hot-wire technique. For the nonswirling case, the jets were found not to penetrate past the test-section centerline, in contrast to the single lateral jet with the same jet-to-crossflow velocity ratio. In the swirling cases, the crossflow remains in a narrow region near the wall of the test section. The opposed jets are swept from their vertical courses into spiral trajectories close to the confining walls. Extensive results are presented in r-x plane plots.

K-ε Turbulence Model Parameter Estimates Using an Approximate Self-similar Jet-in-Crossflow Solution

DOE PAGES

DeChant, Lawrence; Ray, Jaideep; Lefantzi, Sophia; ...

2017-06-09

The k-ε turbulence model has been described as perhaps “the most widely used complete turbulence model.” This family of heuristic Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence closures is supported by a suite of model parameters that have been estimated by demanding the satisfaction of well-established canonical flows such as homogeneous shear flow, log-law behavior, etc. While this procedure does yield a set of so-called nominal parameters, it is abundantly clear that they do not provide a universally satisfactory turbulence model that is capable of simulating complex flows. Recent work on the Bayesian calibration of the k-ε model using jet-in-crossflow wind tunnelmore » data has yielded parameter estimates that are far more predictive than nominal parameter values. In this paper, we develop a self-similar asymptotic solution for axisymmetric jet-in-crossflow interactions and derive analytical estimates of the parameters that were inferred using Bayesian calibration. The self-similar method utilizes a near field approach to estimate the turbulence model parameters while retaining the classical far-field scaling to model flow field quantities. Our parameter values are seen to be far more predictive than the nominal values, as checked using RANS simulations and experimental measurements. They are also closer to the Bayesian estimates than the nominal parameters. A traditional simplified jet trajectory model is explicitly related to the turbulence model parameters and is shown to yield good agreement with measurement when utilizing the analytical derived turbulence model coefficients. Finally, the close agreement between the turbulence model coefficients obtained via Bayesian calibration and the analytically estimated coefficients derived in this paper is consistent with the contention that the Bayesian calibration approach is firmly rooted in the underlying physical description.« less

A simple phenomenological model for grain clustering in turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopkins, Philip F.

2016-01-01

We propose a simple model for density fluctuations of aerodynamic grains, embedded in a turbulent, gravitating gas disc. The model combines a calculation for the behaviour of a group of grains encountering a single turbulent eddy, with a hierarchical approximation of the eddy statistics. This makes analytic predictions for a range of quantities including: distributions of grain densities, power spectra and correlation functions of fluctuations, and maximum grain densities reached. We predict how these scale as a function of grain drag time ts, spatial scale, grain-to-gas mass ratio tilde{ρ }, strength of turbulence α, and detailed disc properties. We test these against numerical simulations with various turbulence-driving mechanisms. The simulations agree well with the predictions, spanning ts Ω ˜ 10-4-10, tilde{ρ }˜ 0{-}3, α ˜ 10-10-10-2. Results from `turbulent concentration' simulations and laboratory experiments are also predicted as a special case. Vortices on a wide range of scales disperse and concentrate grains hierarchically. For small grains this is most efficient in eddies with turnover time comparable to the stopping time, but fluctuations are also damped by local gas-grain drift. For large grains, shear and gravity lead to a much broader range of eddy scales driving fluctuations, with most power on the largest scales. The grain density distribution has a log-Poisson shape, with fluctuations for large grains up to factors ≳1000. We provide simple analytic expressions for the predictions, and discuss implications for planetesimal formation, grain growth, and the structure of turbulence.

Impact of subgrid fluid turbulence on inertial particles subject to gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosa, Bogdan; Pozorski, Jacek

2017-07-01

Two-phase turbulent flows with the dispersed phase in the form of small, spherical particles are increasingly often computed with the large-eddy simulation (LES) of the carrier fluid phase, coupled to the Lagrangian tracking of particles. To enable further model development for LES with inertial particles subject to gravity, we consider direct numerical simulations of homogeneous isotropic turbulence with a large-scale forcing. Simulation results, both without filtering and in the a priori LES setting, are reported and discussed. A full (i.e. a posteriori) LES is also performed with the spectral eddy viscosity. Effects of gravity on the dispersed phase include changes in the average settling velocity due to preferential sweeping, impact on the radial distribution function and radial relative velocity, as well as direction-dependent modification of the particle velocity variance. The filtering of the fluid velocity, performed in spectral space, is shown to have a non-trivial impact on these quantities.

A k-omega-multivariate beta PDF for supersonic combustion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexopoulos, G. A.; Baurle, R. A.; Hassan, H. A.

1992-01-01

In an attempt to study the interaction between combustion and turbulence in supersonic flows, an assumed PDF has been employed. This makes it possible to calculate the time average of the chemical source terms that appear in the species conservation equations. In order to determine the averages indicated in an equation, two transport equations, one for the temperature (enthalpy) variance and one for Q, are required. Model equations are formulated for such quantities. The turbulent time scale controls the evolution. An algebraic model similar to that used by Eklund et al was used in an attempt to predict the recent measurements of Cheng et al. Predictions were satisfactory before ignition but were less satisfactory after ignition. One of the reasons for this behavior is the inadequacy of the algebraic turbulence model employed. Because of this, the objective of this work is to develop a k-omega model to remedy the situation.

Modeling of the reactant conversion rate in a turbulent shear flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frankel, S. H.; Madnia, C. K.; Givi, P.

1992-01-01

Results are presented of direct numerical simulations (DNS) of spatially developing shear flows under the influence of infinitely fast chemical reactions of the type A + B yields Products. The simulation results are used to construct the compositional structure of the scalar field in a statistical manner. The results of this statistical analysis indicate that the use of a Beta density for the probability density function (PDF) of an appropriate Shvab-Zeldovich mixture fraction provides a very good estimate of the limiting bounds of the reactant conversion rate within the shear layer. This provides a strong justification for the implementation of this density in practical modeling of non-homogeneous turbulent reacting flows. However, the validity of the model cannot be generalized for predictions of higher order statistical quantities. A closed form analytical expression is presented for predicting the maximum rate of reactant conversion in non-homogeneous reacting turbulence.

Experimental Studies of Low-Pressure Turbine Flows and Flow Control. Streamwise Pressure Profiles and Velocity Profiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volino, Ralph

2012-01-01

This report summarizes research performed in support of the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) Flow Physics Program. The work was performed experimentally at the U.S. Naval Academy faculties. The geometry corresponded to "Pak B" LPT airfoil. The test section simulated LPT flow in a passage. Three experimental studies were performed: (a) Boundary layer measurements for ten baseline cases under high and low freestream turbulence conditions at five Reynolds numbers of 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000, based on passage exit velocity and suction surface wetted length; (b) Passive flow control studies with three thicknesses of two-dimensional bars, and two heights of three-dimensional circular cylinders with different spanwise separations, at same flow conditions as the 10 baseline cases; (c) Active flow control with oscillating synthetic (zero net mass flow) vortex generator jets, for one case with low freestream turbulence and a low Reynolds number of 25,000. The Passive flow control was successful at controlling the separation problem at low Reynolds numbers, with varying degrees of success from case to case and varying levels of impact at higher Reynolds numbers. The active flow control successfully eliminated the large separation problem for the low Reynolds number case. Very detailed data was acquired using hot-wire anemometry, including single and two velocity components, integral boundary layer quantities, turbulence statistics and spectra, turbulent shear stresses and their spectra, and intermittency, documenting transition, separation and reattachment. Models were constructed to correlate the results. The report includes a summary of the work performed and reprints of the publications describing the various studies.This report summarizes research performed in support of the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) Flow Physics Program. The work was performed experimentally at the U.S. Naval Academy faculties. The geometry corresponded to "Pak B" LPT airfoil. The test section simulated LPT flow in a passage. Three experimental studies were performed: (a) Boundary layer measurements for ten baseline cases under high and low freestream turbulence conditions at five Reynolds numbers of 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000, based on passage exit velocity and suction surface wetted length; (b) Passive flow control studies with three thicknesses of two-dimensional bars, and two heights of three-dimensional circular cylinders with different spanwise separations, at same flow conditions as the 10 baseline cases; (c) Active flow control with oscillating synthetic (zero net mass flow) vortex generator jets, for one case with low freestream turbulence and a low Reynolds number of 25,000. The Passive flow control was successful at controlling the separation problem at low Reynolds numbers, with varying degrees of success from case to case and varying levels of impact at higher Reynolds numbers. The active flow control successfully eliminated the large separation problem for the low Reynolds number case. Very detailed data was acquired using hot-wire anemometry, including single and two velocity components, integral boundary layer quantities, turbulence statistics and spectra, turbulent shear stresses and their spectra, and intermittency, documenting transition, separation and reattachment. Models were constructed to correlate the results. The report includes a summary of the work performed and reprints of the publications describing the various studies. The folders in this supplement contain processed data in ASCII format. Streamwise pressure profiles and velocity profiles are included. The velocity profiles were acquired using single sensor and cross sensor hot-wire probes which were traversed from the wall to the freestream at various streamwise locations. In some of the flow control cases (3D Trips and Jets) profiles were acquired at multiple spanwise locations.

Favre-Averaged Turbulence Statistics in Variable Density Mixing of Buoyant Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charonko, John; Prestridge, Kathy

2014-11-01

Variable density mixing of a heavy fluid jet with lower density ambient fluid in a subsonic wind tunnel was experimentally studied using Particle Image Velocimetry and Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence to simultaneously measure velocity and density. Flows involving the mixing of fluids with large density ratios are important in a range of physical problems including atmospheric and oceanic flows, industrial processes, and inertial confinement fusion. Here we focus on buoyant jets with coflow. Results from two different Atwood numbers, 0.1 (Boussinesq limit) and 0.6 (non-Boussinesq case), reveal that buoyancy is important for most of the turbulent quantities measured. Statistical characteristics of the mixing important for modeling these flows such as the PDFs of density and density gradients, turbulent kinetic energy, Favre averaged Reynolds stress, turbulent mass flux velocity, density-specific volume correlation, and density power spectra were also examined and compared with previous direct numerical simulations. Additionally, a method for directly estimating Reynolds-averaged velocity statistics on a per-pixel basis is extended to Favre-averages, yielding improved accuracy and spatial resolution as compared to traditional post-processing of velocity and density fields.

Supersonic impinging jet noise reduction using a hybrid control technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiley, Alex; Kumar, Rajan

2015-07-01

Control of the highly resonant flowfield associated with supersonic impinging jet has been experimentally investigated. Measurements were made in the supersonic impinging jet facility at the Florida State University for a Mach 1.5 ideally expanded jet. Measurements included unsteady pressures on a surface plate near the nozzle exit, acoustics in the nearfield and beneath the impingement plane, and velocity field using particle image velocimetry. Both passive control using porous surface and active control with high momentum microjet injection are effective in reducing nearfield noise and flow unsteadiness over a range of geometrical parameters; however, the type of noise reduction achieved by the two techniques is different. The passive control reduces broadband noise whereas microjet injection attenuates high amplitude impinging tones. The hybrid control, a combination of two control methods, reduces both broadband and high amplitude impinging tones and surprisingly its effectiveness is more that the additive effect of the two control techniques. The flow field measurements show that with hybrid control the impinging jet is stabilized and the turbulence quantities such as streamwise turbulence intensity, transverse turbulence intensity and turbulent shear stress are significantly reduced.

Relationships between development/decay of a vortex and its topology in different flow scales in an isotropic homogeneous turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Keisuke; Nakayama, Katsuyuki

2017-11-01

Development or decay of a vortex in terms of the local flow topology has been shown to be highly correlated with its topological feature, i.e., vortical flow symmetry (skewness), in an isotropic homogeneous turbulence. Since a turbulent flow might include vortices in multi-scales, the present study investigates the characteristics of this relationships between the development or decay of a vortex and the vortical flow symmetry in several scales in an isotropic homogeneous turbulence in low Reynols number. Swirlity is a physical quantity of an intensity of swirling in terms of the geometrical average of the azimuthal flow, and represents the behavior of the development or decay of a vortex in this study. Flow scales are decomposed into three scales specified by the Fourier coefficients of the velocity applying the band-pass filter. The analysis shows that vortices in the different scales have a universal feature that the time derivative of swirlity and that of the symmetry have high correlation. Especially they have more stronger correlation at their birth and extinction.

Boundary layers at a dynamic interface: air-sea exchange of heat and mass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szeri, Andrew

2017-11-01

Exchange of mass or heat across a turbulent liquid-gas interface is a problem of critical interest, especially in air-sea transfer of natural and man-made gases involved in climate change. The goal in this research area is to determine the gas flux from air to sea or vice versa. For sparingly soluble non-reactive gases, this is controlled by liquid phase turbulent velocity fluctuations that act on the thin species concentration boundary layer on the liquid side of the interface. If the fluctuations in surface-normal velocity and gas concentration differences are known, then it is possible to determine the turbulent contribution to the gas flux. However, there is no suitable fundamental direct approach in the general case where neither of these quantities can be easily measured. A new approach is presented to deduce key aspects about the near-surface turbulent motions from remote measurements, which allows one to determine the gas transfer velocity, or gas flux per unit area if overall concentration differences are known. The approach is illustrated with conceptual examples.

Predictions of Separated and Transitional Boundary Layers Under Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions Using an Intermittency Transport Equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suzen, Y. Bora; Huang, P. G.; Hultgren, Lennart S.; Ashpis, David E.

2001-01-01

A new transport equation for the intermittency factor was proposed to predict separated and transitional boundary layers under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. The intermittent behavior of the transitional flows is taken into account and incorporated into computations by modifying the eddy viscosity, mu(sub t), with the intermittency factor, gamma. Turbulent quantities are predicted by using Menter's two-equation turbulence model (SST). The intermittency factor is obtained from a transport equation model, which not only can reproduce the experimentally observed streamwise variation of the intermittency in the transition zone, but also can provide a realistic cross-stream variation of the intermittency profile. In this paper, the intermittency model is used to predict a recent separated and transitional boundary layer experiment under low pressure turbine airfoil conditions. The experiment provides detailed measurements of velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and intermittency profiles for a number of Reynolds numbers and freestream turbulent intensity conditions and is suitable for validation purposes. Detailed comparisons of computational results with experimental data are presented and good agreements between the experiments and predictions are obtained.

Predictions of Separated and Transitional Boundary Layers Under Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions Using an Intermittency Transport Equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suzen, Y. B.; Huang, P. G.; Hultgren, Lennart S.; Ashpis, David E.

2003-01-01

A new transport equation for the intermittency factor was proposed to predict separated and transitional boundary layers under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. The intermittent behavior of the transitional flows is taken into account and incorporated into computations by modifying the eddy viscosity, t , with the intermittency factor, y. Turbulent quantities are predicted by using Menter s two-equation turbulence model (SST). The intermittency factor is obtained from a transport equation model, which not only can reproduce the experimentally observed streamwise variation of the intermittency in the transition zone, but also can provide a realistic cross-stream variation of the intermittency profile. In this paper, the intermittency model is used to predict a recent separated and transitional boundary layer experiment under low pressure turbine airfoil conditions. The experiment provides detailed measurements of velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and intermittency profiles for a number of Reynolds numbers and freestream turbulent intensity conditions and is suitable for validation purposes. Detailed comparisons of computational results with experimental data are presented and good agreements between the experiments and predictions are obtained.

Methods to Approach Velocity Data Reduction and Their Effects on Conformation Statistics in Viscoelastic Turbulent Channel Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samanta, Gaurab; Beris, Antony; Handler, Robert; Housiadas, Kostas

2009-03-01

Karhunen-Loeve (KL) analysis of DNS data of viscoelastic turbulent channel flows helps us to reveal more information on the time-dependent dynamics of viscoelastic modification of turbulence [Samanta et. al., J. Turbulence (in press), 2008]. A selected set of KL modes can be used for a data reduction modeling of these flows. However, it is pertinent that verification be done against established DNS results. For this purpose, we did comparisons of velocity and conformations statistics and probability density functions (PDFs) of relevant quantities obtained from DNS and reconstructed fields using selected KL modes and time-dependent coefficients. While the velocity statistics show good agreement between results from DNS and KL reconstructions even with just hundreds of KL modes, tens of thousands of KL modes are required to adequately capture the trace of polymer conformation resulting from DNS. New modifications to KL method have therefore been attempted to account for the differences in conformation statistics. The applicability and impact of these new modified KL methods will be discussed in the perspective of data reduction modeling.

Turbulence effects on a full-scale 2.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chamorro, Leonardo; Lee, Seung-Jae; Olsen, David; Milliren, Chris; Marr, Jeff; Arndt, Roger; Sotiropoulos, Fotis

2012-11-01

Power fluctuations and fatigue loads are among the most significant problems that wind turbines face throughout their lifetime. Turbulence is the common driving mechanism that triggers instabilities on these quantities. We investigate the complex response of a full-scale 2.5 MW wind turbine under nearly neutral thermal stratification. The study is performed in the EOLOS Wind Energy Research Field Station of the University of Minnesota. An instrumented 130 meter meteorological tower located upstream of a Clipper Liberty C96 wind turbine is used to characterize the turbulent flow and atmospheric conditions right upstream of the wind turbine. High resolution and synchronous measurements of the wind velocity, turbine power and strain at the tower foundation are used to determine the scale-to-scale interaction between flow and the wind turbine. The structure of the fluctuating turbine power and instantaneous stresses are studied in detail. Important insights about the role of turbulent and coherent motions as well as strong intermittent gusts will be discussed. Funding was provided by Department of Energy DOE (DE-EE0002980) and Xcel Energy through the Renewable Development Fund (grant RD3-42).

Formation and evolution of magnetised filaments in wind-swept turbulent clumps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banda-Barragan, Wladimir Eduardo; Federrath, Christoph; Crocker, Roland M.; Bicknell, Geoffrey Vincent; Parkin, Elliot Ross

2015-08-01

Using high-resolution three-dimensional simulations, we examine the formation and evolution of filamentary structures arising from magnetohydrodynamic interactions between supersonic winds and turbulent clumps in the interstellar medium. Previous numerical studies assumed homogenous density profiles, null velocity fields, and uniformly distributed magnetic fields as the initial conditions for interstellar clumps. Here, we have, for the first time, incorporated fractal clumps with log-normal density distributions, random velocity fields and turbulent magnetic fields (superimposed on top of a uniform background field). Disruptive processes, instigated by dynamical instabilities and akin to those observed in simulations with uniform media, lead to stripping of clump material and the subsequent formation of filamentary tails. The evolution of filaments in uniform and turbulent models is, however, radically different as evidenced by comparisons of global quantities in both scenarios. We show, for example, that turbulent clumps produce tails with higher velocity dispersions, increased gas mixing, greater kinetic energy, and lower plasma beta than their uniform counterparts. We attribute the observed differences to: 1) the turbulence-driven enhanced growth of dynamical instabilities (e.g. Kelvin-Helmholtz and Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities) at fluid interfaces, and 2) the localised amplification of magnetic fields caused by the stretching of field lines trapped in the numerous surface deformations of fractal clumps. We briefly discuss the implications of this work to the physics of the optical filaments observed in the starburst galaxy M82.

Evolution of scalar and velocity dynamics in planar shock-turbulence interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boukharfane, R.; Bouali, Z.; Mura, A.

2018-01-01

Due to the short residence time of air in supersonic combustors, achieving efficient mixing in compressible turbulent reactive flows is crucial for the design of supersonic ramjet (Scramjet) engines. In this respect, improving the understanding of shock-scalar mixing interactions is of fundamental importance for such supersonic combustion applications. In these compressible flows, the interaction between the turbulence and the shock wave is reciprocal, and the coupling between them is very strong. A basic understanding of the physics of such complex interactions has already been obtained through the analysis of relevant simplified flow configurations, including propagation of the shock wave in density-stratified media, shock-wave-mixing-layer interaction, and shock-wave-vortex interaction. Amplification of velocity fluctuations and substantial changes in turbulence characteristic length scales are the most well-known outcomes of shock-turbulence interaction, which may also deeply influence scalar mixing between fuel and oxidizer. The effects of the shock wave on the turbulence have been widely characterized through the use of so-called amplification factors, and similar quantities are introduced herein to characterize the influence of the shock wave on scalar mixing. One of the primary goals of the present study is indeed to extend previous analyses to the case of shock-scalar mixing interaction, which is directly relevant to supersonic combustion applications. It is expected that the shock wave will affect the scalar dissipation rate (SDR) dynamics. Special emphasis is placed on the modification of the so-called turbulence-scalar interaction as a leading-order contribution to the production of mean SDR, i.e., a quantity that defines the mixing rate and efficiency. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this issue has never been addressed in detail in the literature, and the objective of the present study is to scrutinize this influence. The turbulent mixing of a passive (i.e., chemically inert) scalar in the presence of a shock wave is thus investigated using high-resolution numerical simulations. The starting point of the analysis relies on the transport equations of the variance of the mixture fraction, i.e., a fuel inlet tracer that quantifies the mixing between fuel and oxidizer. The influence of the shock wave is investigated for three distinct values of the shock Mach number M, and the obtained results are compared to reference solutions featuring no shock wave. The computed solutions show that the shock wave significantly modifies the scalar field topology. The larger the value of M, the stronger is the amplification of the alignment of the scalar gradient with the most compressive principal direction of the strain-rate tensor, which signifies the enhancement of scalar mixing with the shock Mach number.

Large-eddy simulations of the restricted nonlinear system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bretheim, Joel; Gayme, Dennice; Meneveau, Charles

2014-11-01

Wall-bounded shear flows often exhibit elongated flow structures with streamwise coherence (e.g. rolls/streaks), prompting the exploration of a streamwise-constant modeling framework to investigate wall-turbulence. Simulations of a streamwise-constant (2D/3C) model have been shown to produce the roll/streak structures and accurately reproduce the blunted turbulent mean velocity profile in plane Couette flow. The related restricted nonlinear (RNL) model captures these same features but also exhibits self-sustaining turbulent behavior. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the RNL system results in similar statistics for a number of flow quantities and a flow field that is consistent with DNS of the Navier-Stokes equations. Aiming to develop reduced-order models of wall-bounded turbulence at very high Reynolds numbers in which viscous near-wall dynamics cannot be resolved, this work presents the development of an RNL formulation of the filtered Navier-Stokes equations solved for in large-eddy simulations (LES). The proposed LES-RNL system is a computationally affordable reduced-order modeling tool that is of interest for studying the underlying dynamics of high-Reynolds wall-turbulence and for engineering applications where the flow field is dominated by streamwise-coherent motions. This work is supported by NSF (IGERT, SEP-1230788 and IIA-1243482).

Improved observations of turbulence dissipation rates from wind profiling radars

DOE PAGES

McCaffrey, Katherine; Bianco, Laura; Wilczak, James M.

2017-07-20

Observations of turbulence dissipation rates in the planetary boundary layer are crucial for validation of parameterizations in numerical weather prediction models. However, because dissipation rates are difficult to obtain, they are infrequently measured through the depth of the boundary layer. For this reason, demonstrating the ability of commonly used wind profiling radars (WPRs) to estimate this quantity would be greatly beneficial. During the XPIA field campaign at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory, two WPRs operated in an optimized configuration, using high spectral resolution for increased accuracy of Doppler spectral width, specifically chosen to estimate turbulence from a vertically pointing beam. Multiplemore » post-processing techniques, including different numbers of spectral averages and peak processing algorithms for calculating spectral moments, were evaluated to determine the most accurate procedures for estimating turbulence dissipation rates using the information contained in the Doppler spectral width, using sonic anemometers mounted on a 300 m tower for validation. Furthermore, the optimal settings were determined, producing a low bias, which was later corrected. Resulting estimations of turbulence dissipation rates correlated well ( R 2 = 0.54 and 0.41) with the sonic anemometers, and profiles up to 2 km from the 449 MHz WPR and 1 km from the 915 MHz WPR were observed.« less

Improved observations of turbulence dissipation rates from wind profiling radars

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCaffrey, Katherine; Bianco, Laura; Wilczak, James M.

Observations of turbulence dissipation rates in the planetary boundary layer are crucial for validation of parameterizations in numerical weather prediction models. However, because dissipation rates are difficult to obtain, they are infrequently measured through the depth of the boundary layer. For this reason, demonstrating the ability of commonly used wind profiling radars (WPRs) to estimate this quantity would be greatly beneficial. During the XPIA field campaign at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory, two WPRs operated in an optimized configuration, using high spectral resolution for increased accuracy of Doppler spectral width, specifically chosen to estimate turbulence from a vertically pointing beam. Multiplemore » post-processing techniques, including different numbers of spectral averages and peak processing algorithms for calculating spectral moments, were evaluated to determine the most accurate procedures for estimating turbulence dissipation rates using the information contained in the Doppler spectral width, using sonic anemometers mounted on a 300 m tower for validation. Furthermore, the optimal settings were determined, producing a low bias, which was later corrected. Resulting estimations of turbulence dissipation rates correlated well ( R 2 = 0.54 and 0.41) with the sonic anemometers, and profiles up to 2 km from the 449 MHz WPR and 1 km from the 915 MHz WPR were observed.« less

The excitation of spiral density waves through turbulent fluctuations in accretion discs - II. Numerical simulations with MRI-driven turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinemann, T.; Papaloizou, J. C. B.

2009-07-01

We present fully three-dimensional local simulations of compressible magneto-rotational instability (MRI) turbulence with the object of studying and elucidating the excitation of the non-axisymmetric spiral density waves that are observed to always be present in such simulations. They are potentially important for affecting protoplanetary migration through the action of associated stochastic gravitational forces and producing residual transport in MHD inactive regions through which they may propagate. The simulations we perform are with zero net flux and produce mean activity levels corresponding to the Shakura & Syunyaev α ~ 5 × 10-3, being at the lower end of the range usually considered in accretion disc modelling. We reveal the nature of the mechanism responsible for the excitation of these waves by determining the time-dependent evolution of the Fourier transforms of the participating state variables. The dominant waves are found to have no vertical structure and to be excited during periodically repeating swings in which they change from leading to trailing. The initial phase of the evolution of such a swing is found to be in excellent agreement with that expected from the WKBJ theory developed in a preceding paper by Heinemann & Papaloizou. However, shortly after the attainment of the expected maximum wave amplitude, the waves begin to be damped on account of the formation of weak shocks. As expected from the theory, the waves are seen to shorten in radial wavelength as they propagate. This feature enables non-linear dissipation to continue in spite of amplitude decrease. As a consequence, the waves are almost always seen to be in the non-linear regime. We demonstrate that the important source terms causing excitation of the waves are related to a quantity that reduces to the potential vorticity for small perturbations from the background state with no vertical dependence. We find that the root mean square density fluctuations associated with the waves are positively correlated with both this quantity and the general level of hydromagnetic turbulence. The mean angular momentum transport associated with spiral density waves generated in our simulations is estimated to be a significant fraction of that associated with the turbulent Reynolds stress.

Evaluation of a locally homogeneous model of spray evaporation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shearer, A. J.; Faeth, G. M.

1979-01-01

A model of spray evaporation which employs a second-order turbulence model in conjunction with the locally homogeneous flow approximation, which implies infinitely fast interphase transport rates is presented. Measurements to test the model were completed for single phase constant and variable density jets, as well as an evaporating spray in stagnant air. Profiles of mean velocity, composition, temperature and drop size distribution as well as velocity fluctuations and Reynolds stress, were measured within the spray. Predictions were in agreement with measurements in single phase flows and also with many characteristics of the spray, e.g. flow width, radial profiles of mean and turbulent quantities, and the axial rate of decay of mean velocity and mixture fraction.

Modeling of turbulent supersonic H2-air combustion with a multivariate beta PDF

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baurle, R. A.; Hassan, H. A.

1993-01-01

Recent calculations of turbulent supersonic reacting shear flows using an assumed multivariate beta PDF (probability density function) resulted in reduced production rates and a delay in the onset of combustion. This result is not consistent with available measurements. The present research explores two possible reasons for this behavior: use of PDF's that do not yield Favre averaged quantities, and the gradient diffusion assumption. A new multivariate beta PDF involving species densities is introduced which makes it possible to compute Favre averaged mass fractions. However, using this PDF did not improve comparisons with experiment. A countergradient diffusion model is then introduced. Preliminary calculations suggest this to be the cause of the discrepancy.

An airborne sensor for the avoidance of clear air turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gary, B. L.

1981-01-01

This paper describes an airborne microwave radiometer that may be able to provide altitude guidance away from layers containing clear air turbulence, CAT. The sensor may also be able to predict upper limits for the severity of upcoming CAT. The 55 GHz radiometer is passive, not radar, and it measures the temperature of oxygen molecules in the viewing direction (averaged along a several-kilometer path). A small computer directs the viewing direction through elevation angle scans, and converts observed quantities to an 'altitude temperature profile'. The principle for CAT avoidance is that CAT is found statistically more often within inversion layers and at the tropopause, both of which are easily located from sensor-generated altitude temperature profiles.

Cancellation exponent and multifractal structure in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics: direct numerical simulations and Lagrangian averaged modeling.

PubMed

Graham, Jonathan Pietarila; Mininni, Pablo D; Pouquet, Annick

2005-10-01

We present direct numerical simulations and Lagrangian averaged (also known as alpha model) simulations of forced and free decaying magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in two dimensions. The statistics of sign cancellations of the current at small scales is studied using both the cancellation exponent and the fractal dimension of the structures. The alpha model is found to have the same scaling behavior between positive and negative contributions as the direct numerical simulations. The alpha model is also able to reproduce the time evolution of these quantities in free decaying turbulence. At large Reynolds numbers, an independence of the cancellation exponent with the Reynolds numbers is observed.

Turbulent Surface Flux Measurements over Snow-Covered Sea Ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreas, E. L.; Fairall, C. W.; Grachev, A. A.; Guest, P. S.; Jordan, R. E.; Persson, P. G.

2006-12-01

Our group has used eddy correlation to make over 10,000 hours of measurements of the turbulent momentum and heat fluxes over snow-covered sea ice in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Polar sea ice is an ideal site for studying fundamental processes for turbulent exchange over snow. Both our Arctic and Antarctic sites---in the Beaufort Gyre and deep into the Weddell Sea, respectively---were expansive, flat areas with continuous snow cover; and both were at least 300 km from any topography that might have complicated the atmospheric flow. In this presentation, we will review our measurements of the turbulent fluxes of momentum and sensible and latent heat. In particular, we will describe our experiences making turbulence instruments work in the fairly harsh polar, marine boundary layer. For instance, several of our Arctic sites were remote from our main camp and ran unattended for a week at a time. Besides simply making flux measurements, we have been using the data to develop a bulk flux algorithm and to study fundamental turbulence processes in the atmospheric surface layer. The bulk flux algorithm predicts the turbulent surface fluxes from mean meteorological quantities and, thus, will find use in data analyses and models. For example, components of the algorithm are already embedded in our one- dimensional mass and energy budget model SNTHERM. Our fundamental turbulence studies have included deducing new scaling regimes in the stable boundary layer; examining the Monin-Obukhov similarity functions, especially in stable stratification; and evaluating the von Kármán constant with the largest atmospheric data set ever applied to such a study. During this presentation, we will highlight some of this work.

Turbulence Modeling and Computation of Turbine Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakshminarayana, B.; Luo, J.

1996-01-01

The objective of the present research is to develop improved turbulence models for the computation of complex flows through turbomachinery passages, including the effects of streamline curvature, heat transfer and secondary flows. Advanced turbulence models are crucial for accurate prediction of rocket engine flows, due to existance of very large extra strain rates, such as strong streamline curvature. Numerical simulation of the turbulent flows in strongly curved ducts, including two 180-deg ducts, one 90-deg duct and a strongly concave curved turbulent boundary layer have been carried out with Reynolds stress models (RSM) and algebraic Reynolds stress models (ARSM). An improved near-wall pressure-strain correlation has been developed for capturing the anisotropy of turbulence in the concave region. A comparative study of two modes of transition in gas turbine, the by-pass transition and the separation-induced transition, has been carried out with several representative low-Reynolds number (LRN) k-epsilon models. Effects of blade surface pressure gradient, freestream turbulence and Reynolds number on the blade boundary layer development, and particularly the inception of transition are examined in detail. The present study indicates that the turbine blade transition, in the presence of high freestream turbulence, is predicted well with LRN k-epsilon models employed. The three-dimensional Navier-Stokes procedure developed by the present authors has been used to compute the three-dimensional viscous flow through the turbine nozzle passage of a single stage turbine. A low Reynolds number k-epsilon model and a zonal k-epsilon/ARSM (algebraic Reynolds stress model) are utilized for turbulence closure. An assessment of the performance of the turbulence models has been carried out. The two models are found to provide similar predictions for the mean flow parameters, although slight improvement in the prediction of some secondary flow quantities has been obtained by the ARSM model. It's found that the wake profiles inside the endwall boundary layers are predicted better than those near the mid-span.

Performance of four turbulence closure models implemented using a generic length scale method

USGS Publications Warehouse

Warner, J.C.; Sherwood, C.R.; Arango, H.G.; Signell, R.P.

2005-01-01

A two-equation turbulence model (one equation for turbulence kinetic energy and a second for a generic turbulence length-scale quantity) proposed by Umlauf and Burchard [J. Marine Research 61 (2003) 235] is implemented in a three-dimensional oceanographic model (Regional Oceanographic Modeling System; ROMS v2.0). These two equations, along with several stability functions, can represent many popular turbulence closures, including the k-kl (Mellor-Yamada Level 2.5), k-??, and k-?? schemes. The implementation adds flexibility to the model by providing an unprecedented range of turbulence closure selections in a single 3D oceanographic model and allows comparison and evaluation of turbulence models in an otherwise identical numerical environment. This also allows evaluation of the effect of turbulence models on other processes such as suspended-sediment distribution or ecological processes. Performance of the turbulence models and sediment-transport schemes is investigated with three test cases for (1) steady barotropic flow in a rectangular channel, (2) wind-induced surface mixed-layer deepening in a stratified fluid, and (3) oscillatory stratified pressure-gradient driven flow (estuarine circulation) in a rectangular channel. Results from k-??, k-??, and gen (a new closure proposed by Umlauf and Burchard [J. Marine Research 61 (2003) 235]) are very similar for these cases, but the k-kl closure results depend on a wall-proximity function that must be chosen to suit the flow. Greater variations appear in simulations of suspended-sediment concentrations than in salinity simulations because the transport of suspended-sediment amplifies minor variations in the methods. The amplification is caused by the added physics of a vertical settling rate, bottom stress dependent resuspension, and diffusive transport of sediment in regions of well mixed salt and temperature. Despite the amplified sensitivity of sediment to turbulence models in the estuary test case, the four closures investigated here all generated estuarine turbidity maxima that were similar in their shape, location, and concentrations. 

Correlation-based Transition Modeling for External Aerodynamic Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medida, Shivaji

Conventional turbulence models calibrated for fully turbulent boundary layers often over-predict drag and heat transfer on aerodynamic surfaces with partially laminar boundary layers. A robust correlation-based model is developed for use in Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations to predict laminar-to-turbulent transition onset of boundary layers on external aerodynamic surfaces. The new model is derived from an existing transition model for the two-equation k-omega Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model, and is coupled with the one-equation Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model. The transition model solves two transport equations for intermittency and transition momentum thickness Reynolds number. Experimental correlations and local mean flow quantities are used in the model to account for effects of freestream turbulence level and pressure gradients on transition onset location. Transition onset is triggered by activating intermittency production using a vorticity Reynolds number criterion. In the new model, production and destruction terms of the intermittency equation are modified to improve consistency in the fully turbulent boundary layer post-transition onset, as well as ensure insensitivity to freestream eddy viscosity value specified in the SA model. In the original model, intermittency was used to control production and destruction of turbulent kinetic energy. Whereas, in the new model, only the production of eddy viscosity in SA model is controlled, and the destruction term is not altered. Unlike the original model, the new model does not use an additional correction to intermittency for separation-induced transition. Accuracy of drag predictions are improved significantly with the use of the transition model for several two-dimensional single- and multi-element airfoil cases over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The new model is able to predict the formation of stable and long laminar separation bubbles on low-Reynolds number airfoils that is not captured with conventional turbulence models. The validated transition model is successfully applied to rotating blade configurations in axial flow conditions to study the effects of transitional boundary layers on rotor thrust and torque. In helicopter rotors, inclusion of transition effects increased thrust prediction by 2% and decreased torque by as much as 8% at lower collective angles, due to reduced airfoil profile drag. In wind turbine rotors, transition model predicted a 7%--70% increase in generated shaft torque at lower wind speeds, due to lower viscous drag. This has important implications for CFD analysis of small wind turbines operating at low values of rated power. Transition onset locations along upper and lower surfaces of rotor blades are analyzed in detail. A new crossflow transition onset criterion is developed to account for crossflow instability effects in three-dimensional boundary layers. Preliminary results for swept wing and rotating blade flows demonstrate the need to account for crossflow transition in three-dimensional simulations of wings, rotating blades, and airframes. Inclusion of crossflow effects resulted in accelerated transition in the presence of favorable pressure gradients and yawed flow. Finally, a new correction to the wall damping function in the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model is proposed to improve sensitivity of the model to strong adverse pressure gradients (APG). The correction reduces turbulence production in the boundary layer when the ratio of magnitudes of local turbulent stress to the wall shear stress exceeds a threshold value, therefore enabling earlier separation of boundary layer. Improved prediction of static and dynamic stall on two-dimensional airfoils is demonstrated with the APG correction.

Prediction of Transitional Flows in the Low Pressure Turbine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, George; Xiong, Guohua

1998-01-01

Current turbulence models tend to give too early and too short a length of flow transition to turbulence, and hence fail to predict flow separation induced by the adverse pressure gradients and streamline flow curvatures. Our discussion will focus on the development and validation of transition models. The baseline data for model comparisons are the T3 series, which include a range of free-stream turbulence intensity and cover zero-pressure gradient to aft-loaded turbine pressure gradient flows. The method will be based on the conditioned N-S equations and a transport equation for the intermittency factor. First, several of the most popular 2-equation models in predicting flow transition are examined: k-e [Launder-Sharina], k-w [Wilcox], Lien-Leschiziner and SST [Menter] models. All models fail to predict the onset and the length of transition, even for the simplest flat plate with zero-pressure gradient(T3A). Although the predicted onset position of transition can be varied by providing different inlet turbulent energy dissipation rates, the appropriate inlet conditions for turbulence quantities should be adjusted to match the decay of the free-stream turbulence. Arguably, one may adjust the low-Reynolds-number part of the model to predict transition. This approach has so far not been very successful. However, we have found that the low-Reynolds-number model of Launder and Sharma [1974], which is an improved version of Jones and Launder [1972] gave the best overall performance. The Launder and Sharma model was designed to capture flow re-laminarization (a reverse of flow transition), but tends to give rise to a too early and too fast transition in comparison with the physical transition. The three test cases were for flows with zero pressure gradient but with different free-stream turbulent intensities. The same can be said about the model when considering flows subject to pressure gradient(T3C1). To capture the effects of transition using existing turbulence models, one approach is to make use of the concept of the intermittency to predict the flow transition. It was originally based on the intermittency distribution of Narasimha [1957], and then gradually evolved into a transport equation for the intermittency factor. Gostelow and associates [1994,1995] have made some improvements to Narasimha's method in an attempt to account for both favorable and adverse pressure gradients. Their approach is based on a linear, explicit combination of laminar and turbulent solutions. This approach fails to predict the overshoot of the skin friction on a flat plate near the end of transition zone, even though the length of transition is well predicted. The major flaw of Gostelow's approach is that it assumes the non-turbulent part being the laminar solution and the turbulent part being the turbulent solution and they do not interact across the transitional region. The technique in condition averaging the flow equations in intermittent flows was first introduced by Libby [1975] and Dopazo [1977] and further refined by Dick and associates [1988, 1996]. This approach employs two sets of transport equations for the non-turbulent part and the other for the turbulent part. The advantage of this approach is that it allows the interaction of non-turbulent and turbulent velocities through the introduction of additional source terms in the continuity and momentum equations for the non-turbulent and turbulent velocities. However, the strong coupling of the two sets of equations has caused some numerical difficulties, which requires special attention. The prediction of the skin friction can be improved by this approach via the implicit coupling of non-turbulent and turbulent velocity flelds. Another improvement of the interrmittency model can be further made by allowing the intermittency to vary in the cross-stream direction. This is one step prior to testing any proposal for the transport equation for the intermittency factor. Instead of solving the transport equation for the intermittency factor, the distribution for the intermittency factor is prescribed by Klebanoff's empirical formula [1955]. The skin friction is very well predicted by this new modification, including the overshoot of the profile near the end of the transition zone. The outcome of this study is very encouraging since it indicates that the proper description of the intermittency distribution is the key to the success of the model prediction. This study will be used to guide us on the modelling of the intermittency transport equation.

Damping of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence in Partially Ionized Gas and the Observed Difference of Velocities of Neutrals and Ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falceta-Gonçalves, D.; Lazarian, A.; Houde, M.

2010-04-01

Theoretical and observational studies on the turbulence of the interstellar medium developed fast in the past decades. The theory of supersonic magnetized turbulence, as well as the understanding of the projection effects of observed quantities, is still in progress. In this work, we explore the characterization of the turbulent cascade and its damping from observational spectral line profiles. We address the difference of ion and neutral velocities by clarifying the nature of the turbulence damping in the partially ionized. We provide theoretical arguments in favor of the explanation of the larger Doppler broadening of lines arising from neutral species compared to ions as arising from the turbulence damping of ions at larger scales. Also, we compute a number of MHD numerical simulations for different turbulent regimes and explicit turbulent damping, and compare both the three-dimensional distributions of velocity and the synthetic line profile distributions. From the numerical simulations, we place constraints on the precision with which one can measure the three-dimensional dispersion depending on the turbulence sonic Mach number. We show that no universal correspondence between the three-dimensional velocity dispersions measured in the turbulent volume and minima of the two-dimensional velocity dispersions available through observations exist. For instance, for subsonic turbulence the correspondence is poor at scales much smaller than the turbulence injection scale, while for supersonic turbulence the correspondence is poor for the scales comparable with the injection scale. We provide a physical explanation of the existence of such a two-dimensional to three-dimensional correspondence and discuss the uncertainties in evaluating the damping scale of ions that can be obtained from observations. However, we show that the statistics of velocity dispersion from observed line profiles can provide the spectral index and the energy transfer rate of turbulence. Also, by comparing two similar simulations with different viscous coefficients, it was possible to constrain the turbulent cut-off scale. This may especially prove useful since it is believed that ambipolar diffusion may be one of the dominant dissipative mechanisms in star-forming regions. In this case, the determination of the ambipolar diffusion scale may be used as a complementary method for the determination of magnetic field intensity in collapsing cores. We discuss the implications of our findings in terms of a new approach to magnetic field measurement proposed by Li & Houde.

On the scaling of avaloids and turbulence with the average density approaching the density limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antar, G. Y.; Counsell, G.; Ahn, J.-W.

2005-08-01

This article is dedicated to the characterization of turbulent transport in the scrape-off layer of the Mega Ampère Spherical Tokamak [A. Sykes et al., Phys. Plasmas 8, 2101 (2001)] as a function of the average density (nL). The aim is to answer a renewed interest in this subject since the bursty character of turbulence in the scrape-off layer was shown to be caused by large-scale events with high radial velocity reaching about 1/10th of the sound speed called avaloids [G. Antar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett 87, 065001 (2001)]. With increasing density, turbulence and transport increase nonlinearly at the midplane while remaining almost unchanged in the target region. Using various and complementary statistical analyses, the existence of a "critical" density, at nL/nG≃0.35 is emphasized; nG is the Greenwald density. Both above and below this density, intermittency decreases and avaloids play a decreasing role in the particle radial transport. This is interpreted as caused by the interplay between avaloids and the surrounding turbulent structures which mix them more efficiently with increasing density as the level of the background turbulence increases. The scaling of the different quantities with respect to the normalized density is obtained. It reveals that not only the level of turbulence and transport increase, but also the radial velocity and length scales. This increases the coupling between the hot plasma edge and the cold scrape-off layer that may explain the disruptive instability occurring at high densities.

Heat transport in Rayleigh–Bénard convection and angular momentum transport in Taylor–Couette flow: a comparative study

PubMed Central

Brauckmann, Hannes J.

2017-01-01

Rayleigh–Bénard convection and Taylor–Couette flow are two canonical flows that have many properties in common. We here compare the two flows in detail for parameter values where the Nusselt numbers, i.e. the thermal transport and the angular momentum transport normalized by the corresponding laminar values, coincide. We study turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection in air at Rayleigh number Ra=107 and Taylor–Couette flow at shear Reynolds number ReS=2×104 for two different mean rotation rates but the same Nusselt numbers. For individual pairwise related fields and convective currents, we compare the probability density functions normalized by the corresponding root mean square values and taken at different distances from the wall. We find one rotation number for which there is very good agreement between the mean profiles of the two corresponding quantities temperature and angular momentum. Similarly, there is good agreement between the fluctuations in temperature and velocity components. For the heat and angular momentum currents, there are differences in the fluctuations outside the boundary layers that increase with overall rotation and can be related to differences in the flow structures in the boundary layer and in the bulk. The study extends the similarities between the two flows from global quantities to local quantities and reveals the effects of rotation on the transport. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Toward the development of high-fidelity models of wall turbulence at large Reynolds number’. PMID:28167575

Offset Stream Technology Test-Summary of Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Clifford A.; Bridges, James E.; Henderson, Brenda

2007-01-01

Statistical jet noise prediction codes that accurately predict spectral directivity for both cold and hot jets are highly sought both in industry and academia. Their formulation, whether based upon manipulations of the Navier-Stokes equations or upon heuristic arguments, require substantial experimental observation of jet turbulence statistics. Unfortunately, the statistics of most interest involve the space-time correlation of flow quantities, especially velocity. Until the last 10 years, all turbulence statistics were made with single-point probes, such as hotwires or laser Doppler anemometry. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) brought many new insights with its ability to measure velocity fields over large regions of jets simultaneously; however, it could not measure velocity at rates higher than a few fields per second, making it unsuitable for obtaining temporal spectra and correlations. The development of time-resolved PIV, herein called TR-PIV, has removed this limitation, enabling measurement of velocity fields at high resolution in both space and time. In this paper, ground-breaking results from the application of TR-PIV to single-flow hot jets are used to explore the impact of heat on turbulent statistics of interest to jet noise models. First, a brief summary of validation studies is reported, undertaken to show that the new technique produces the same trusted results as hotwire at cold, low-speed jets. Second, velocity spectra from cold and hot jets are compared to see the effect of heat on the spectra. It is seen that heated jets possess 10 percent more turbulence intensity compared to the unheated jets with the same velocity. The spectral shapes, when normalized using Strouhal scaling, are insensitive to temperature if the stream-wise location is normalized relative to the potential core length. Similarly, second order velocity correlations, of interest in modeling of jet noise sources, are also insensitive to temperature as well.

Effect of Temperature on Jet Velocity Spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bridges, James E.; Wernet, Mark P.

2007-01-01

Statistical jet noise prediction codes that accurately predict spectral directivity for both cold and hot jets are highly sought both in industry and academia. Their formulation, whether based upon manipulations of the Navier-Stokes equations or upon heuristic arguments, require substantial experimental observation of jet turbulence statistics. Unfortunately, the statistics of most interest involve the space-time correlation of flow quantities, especially velocity. Until the last 10 years, all turbulence statistics were made with single-point probes, such as hotwires or laser Doppler anemometry. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) brought many new insights with its ability to measure velocity fields over large regions of jets simultaneously; however, it could not measure velocity at rates higher than a few fields per second, making it unsuitable for obtaining temporal spectra and correlations. The development of time-resolved PIV, herein called TR-PIV, has removed this limitation, enabling measurement of velocity fields at high resolution in both space and time. In this paper, ground-breaking results from the application of TR-PIV to single-flow hot jets are used to explore the impact of heat on turbulent statistics of interest to jet noise models. First, a brief summary of validation studies is reported, undertaken to show that the new technique produces the same trusted results as hotwire at cold, low-speed jets. Second, velocity spectra from cold and hot jets are compared to see the effect of heat on the spectra. It is seen that heated jets possess 10 percent more turbulence intensity compared to the unheated jets with the same velocity. The spectral shapes, when normalized using Strouhal scaling, are insensitive to temperature if the stream-wise location is normalized relative to the potential core length. Similarly, second order velocity correlations, of interest in modeling of jet noise sources, are also insensitive to temperature as well.

Effects of finite hot-wire spatial resolution on turbulence statistics and velocity spectra in a round turbulent free jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghi, Hamed; Lavoie, Philippe; Pollard, Andrew

2018-03-01

The effect of finite hot-wire spatial resolution on turbulence statistics and velocity spectra in a round turbulent free jet is investigated. To quantify spatial resolution effects, measurements were taken using a nano-scale thermal anemometry probe (NSTAP) and compared to results from conventional hot-wires with sensing lengths of l=0.5 and 1 mm. The NSTAP has a sensing length significantly smaller than the Kolmogorov length scale η for the present experimental conditions, whereas the sensing lengths for the conventional probes are larger than η. The spatial resolution is found to have a significant impact on the dissipation both on and off the jet centreline with the NSTAP results exceeding those obtained from the conventional probes. The resolution effects along the jet centreline are adequately predicted using a Wyngaard-type spectral technique (Wyngaard in J Sci Instr 1(2):1105-1108,1968), but additional attenuation on the measured turbulence quantities are observed off the centreline. The magnitude of this attenuation is a function of both the ratio of wire length to Kolmogorov length scale and the magnitude of the shear. The effect of spatial resolution is noted to have an impact on the power-law decay parameters for the turbulent kinetic energy that is computed. The effect of spatial filtering on the streamwise dissipation energy spectra is also considered. Empirical functions are proposed to estimate the effect of finite resolution, which take into account the mean shear.

Multi-window PIV measurements around a breathing manikin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marr, David

2005-11-01

The presented work includes multi-scale measurements via a stereo article Image Velocimetry (PIV) system to view a pair of two-component windows of dissimilar scale using a varied focal length. These measurements are taken in the breathing zone of an isothermal breathing manikin (from mouth) in an environmental chamber of average office cubicle dimensions without ventilation and are analogous to an oscillatory jet. From these phase-averaged measurements, we can extract information concerning length scales, turbulence quantities and low dimensional information in order to both determine correlation between data at different length scales as well as continuing research in exposure assessment for the indoor environment. In this talk we will present these turbulence quantities and interpret their influence on the breathing zone. While the largest scale is that of the room itself, we find that the relevant spatial scales associated with the breathing zone are much lower in magnitude. In future experiments, we will expand the multi window PIV technique to include PIV window configured to obtain scales of order the cubicle simultaneously with those of the breathing zone. This will aid in our understanding of the combined impact of these multiple scales on occupant exposure in the indoor environment.

Inadequacy representation of flamelet-based RANS model for turbulent non-premixed flame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Myoungkyu; Oliver, Todd; Moser, Robert

2017-11-01

Stochastic representations for model inadequacy in RANS-based models of non-premixed jet flames are developed and explored. Flamelet-based RANS models are attractive for engineering applications relative to higher-fidelity methods because of their low computational costs. However, the various assumptions inherent in such models introduce errors that can significantly affect the accuracy of computed quantities of interest. In this work, we develop an approach to represent the model inadequacy of the flamelet-based RANS model. In particular, we pose a physics-based, stochastic PDE for the triple correlation of the mixture fraction. This additional uncertain state variable is then used to construct perturbations of the PDF for the instantaneous mixture fraction, which is used to obtain an uncertain perturbation of the flame temperature. A hydrogen-air non-premixed jet flame is used to demonstrate the representation of the inadequacy of the flamelet-based RANS model. This work was supported by DARPA-EQUiPS(Enabling Quantification of Uncertainty in Physical Systems) program.

On the influence of curvature and torsion on turbulence in helically coiled pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciofalo, M.; Di Liberto, M.; Marotta, G.

2014-04-01

Turbulent flow and heat transfer in helically coiled pipes at Reτ=400 was investigated by DNS using finite volume grids with up to 2.36×107 nodes. Two curvatures (0.1 and 0.3) and two torsions (0 and 0.3) were considered. The flow was fully developed hydrodynamically and thermally. The central discretization scheme was adopted for diffusion and advection terms, and the second order backward Euler scheme for time advancement. The grid spacing in wall units was ~3 radially, 7.5 circumferentially and 20 axially. The time step was equal to one viscous wall unit and simulations were typically protracted for 8000 time steps, the last 4000 of which were used to compute statistics. The results showed that curvature affects the flow significantly. As it increases from 0.1 to 0.3 the friction coefficient and the Nusselt number increase and the secondary flow becomes stronger; axial velocity fluctuations decrease, but the main Reynolds shear stress increases. Torsion, at least at the moderate level tested (0.3), has only a minor effect on mean and turbulence quantities, yielding only a slight reduction of peak turbulence levels while leaving pressure drop and heat transfer almost unaffected.

Turbulent thermal superstructures in Rayleigh-Bénard convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, Richard J. A. M.; Blass, Alexander; Zhu, Xiaojue; Verzicco, Roberto; Lohse, Detlef

2018-04-01

We report the observation of superstructures, i.e., very large-scale and long living coherent structures in highly turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection up to Rayleigh Ra=109 . We perform direct numerical simulations in horizontally periodic domains with aspect ratios up to Γ =128 . In the considered Ra number regime the thermal superstructures have a horizontal extend of six to seven times the height of the domain and their size is independent of Ra. Many laboratory experiments and numerical simulations have focused on small aspect ratio cells in order to achieve the highest possible Ra. However, here we show that for very high Ra integral quantities such as the Nusselt number and volume averaged Reynolds number only converge to the large aspect ratio limit around Γ ≈4 , while horizontally averaged statistics such as standard deviation and kurtosis converge around Γ ≈8 , the integral scale converges around Γ ≈32 , and the peak position of the temperature variance and turbulent kinetic energy spectra only converge around Γ ≈64 .

ON HYDRODYNAMIC MOTIONS IN DEAD ZONES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oishi, Jeffrey S.; Mac Low, Mordecai-Mark, E-mail: jsoishi@astro.berkeley.ed, E-mail: mordecai@amnh.or

We investigate fluid motions near the midplane of vertically stratified accretion disks with highly resistive midplanes. In such disks, the magnetorotational instability drives turbulence in thin layers surrounding a resistive, stable dead zone. The turbulent layers in turn drive motions in the dead zone. We examine the properties of these motions using three-dimensional, stratified, local, shearing-box, non-ideal, magnetohydrodynamical simulations. Although the turbulence in the active zones provides a source of vorticity to the midplane, no evidence for coherent vortices is found in our simulations. It appears that this is because of strong vertical oscillations in the dead zone. By analyzingmore » time series of azimuthally averaged flow quantities, we identify an axisymmetric wave mode particular to models with dead zones. This mode is reduced in amplitude, but not suppressed entirely, by changing the equation of state from isothermal to ideal. These waves are too low frequency to affect sedimentation of dust to the midplane, but may have significance for the gravitational stability of the resulting midplane dust layers.« less

Irrigant flow within a prepared root canal using various flow rates: a Computational Fluid Dynamics study.

PubMed

Boutsioukis, C; Lambrianidis, T; Kastrinakis, E

2009-02-01

To study using computer simulation the effect of irrigant flow rate on the flow pattern within a prepared root canal, during final irrigation with a syringe and needle. Geometrical characteristics of a side-vented endodontic needle and clinically realistic flow rate values were obtained from previous and preliminary studies. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was created using FLUENT 6.2 software. Calculations were carried out for five selected flow rates (0.02-0.79 mL sec(-1)) and velocity and turbulence quantities along the domain were evaluated. Irrigant replacement was limited to 1-1.5 mm apical to the needle tip for all flow rates tested. Low-Reynolds number turbulent flow was detected near the needle outlet. Irrigant flow rate affected significantly the flow pattern within the root canal. Irrigation needles should be placed to within 1 mm from working length to ensure fluid exchange. Turbulent flow of irrigant leads to more efficient irrigant replacement. CFD represents a powerful tool for the study of irrigation.

Resolving the fine-scale structure in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheel, Janet; Emran, Mohammad; Schumacher, Joerg

2013-11-01

Results from high-resolution direct numerical simulations of turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection in a cylindrical cell with an aspect ratio of one will be presented. We focus on the finest scales of convective turbulence, in particular the statistics of the kinetic energy and thermal dissipation rates in the bulk and the whole cell. These dissipation rates as well as the local dissipation scales are compared for different Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers. We also have investigated the convergence properties of our spectral element method and have found that both dissipation fields are very sensitive to insufficient resolution. We also demonstrate that global transport properties, such as the Nusselt number and the energy balances, are partly insensitive to insufficient resolution and yield consistent results even when the dissipation fields are under-resolved. Our present numerical framework is also compared with high-resolution simulations which use a finite difference method. For most of the compared quantities the agreement is found to be satisfactory.

Determining Near-Bottom Fluxes of Passive Tracers in Aquatic Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bluteau, Cynthia E.; Ivey, Gregory N.; Donis, Daphne; McGinnis, Daniel F.

2018-03-01

In aquatic systems, the eddy correlation method (ECM) provides vertical flux measurements near the sediment-water interface. The ECM independently measures the turbulent vertical velocities w' and the turbulent tracer concentration c' at a high sampling rate (> 1 Hz) to obtain the vertical flux w'c'¯ from their time-averaged covariance. This method requires identifying and resolving all the flow-dependent time (and length) scales contributing to w'c'¯. With increasingly energetic flows, we demonstrate that the ECM's current technology precludes resolving the smallest flux-contributing scales. To avoid these difficulties, we show that for passive tracers such as dissolved oxygen, w'c'¯ can be measured from estimates of two scalar quantities: the rate of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation ɛ and the rate of tracer variance dissipation χc. Applying this approach to both laboratory and field observations demonstrates that w'c'¯ is well resolved by the new method and can provide flux estimates in more energetic flows where the ECM cannot be used.

Turbulent heat flux measurements in a transitional boundary layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sohn, K. H.; Zaman, K. B. M. Q.; Reshotko, E.

1992-01-01

During an experimental investigation of the transitional boundary layer over a heated flat plate, an unexpected result was encountered for the turbulent heat flux (bar-v't'). This quantity, representing the correlation between the fluctuating normal velocity and the temperature, was measured to be negative near the wall under certain conditions. The result was unexpected as it implied a counter-gradient heat transfer by the turbulent fluctuations. Possible reasons for this anomalous result were further investigated. The possible causes considered for this negative bar-v't' were: (1) plausible measurement error and peculiarity of the flow facility, (2) large probe size effect, (3) 'streaky structure' in the near wall boundary layer, and (4) contributions from other terms usually assumed negligible in the energy equation including the Reynolds heat flux in the streamwise direction (bar-u't'). Even though the energy balance has remained inconclusive, none of the items (1) to (3) appear to be contributing directly to the anomaly.

Lagrangian Fluid Element Tracking and Estimation of Local Displacement Speeds in Turbulent Premixed Flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramji, Sarah Ann

Improved understanding of turbulence-flame interactions in premixed combustion can be achieved using fully 3D time-resolved multi-kHz multi-scalar experimental measurements. These interactions may be represented by the evolution of various Lagrangian quantities described by theoretical Lagrangian Fluid Elements (LFEs). The data used in this work came from two experimental campaigns that used simultaneous T-PIV and OH/CH2O PLIF, at Sandia National Labs and the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson. In this thesis, an algorithm to accurately track LFEs through this 4D experimental space has been developed and verified by cross-correlation with the T-PIV seed particle fields. A novel method to measure the local instantaneous displacement speed in 3D has been developed, using this algorithm to track control masses of fluid that interact with the flame front. Statistics of the displacement speed have been presented, and the effects of local turbulence and flame topological properties on the displacement speed have been studied.

Characterizing Ocean Turbulence from Argo, Acoustic Doppler, and Simulation Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCaffrey, Katherine

Turbulence is inherently chaotic and unsteady, so observing it and modeling it are no easy tasks. The ocean's sheer size makes it even more difficult to observe, and its unpredictable and ever-changing forcings introduce additional complexities. Turbulence in the oceans ranges from basin scale to the scale of the molecular viscosity. The method of energy transfer between scales is, however, an area of active research, so observations of the ocean at all scales are crucial to understanding the basic dynamics of its motions. In this collection of work, I use a variety of datasets to characterize a wide range of scales of turbulence, including observations from multiple instruments and from models with different governing equations. I analyzed the largest scales of the turbulent range using the global salinity data of the Argo profiling float network. Taking advantage of the scattered and discontinuous nature of this dataset, the second-order structure function was calculated down to 2000m depth, and shown to be useful for predicting spectral slopes. Results showed structure function slopes of 2/3 at small scales, and 0 at large scales, which corresponds with spectral slopes of -5/3 at small scales, and -1 at large scales. Using acoustic Doppler velocity measurements, I characterized the meter- to kilometer-scale turbulence at a potential tidal energy site in the Puget Sound, WA. Acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) observations provided the data for an analysis that includes coherence, anisotropy, and intermittency. In order to more simply describe these features, a parameterization was done with four turbulence metrics, and the anisotropy magnitude, introduced here, was shown to most closely capture the coherent events. Then, using both the NREL TurbSim stochastic turbulence generator and the NCAR large-eddy simulation (LES) model, I calculated turbulence statistics to validate the accuracy of these methods in reproducing the tidal channel. TurbSim models statistics at the height of a turbine hub (5m) well, but do not model coherent events, while the LES does create these events, but not realistically in this configuration, based on comparisons with observations. Each of the datasets have disadvantages when it comes to observing turbulence. The Argo network is sparse in space, and few measurements are taken simultaneously in time. Therefore spatial and temporal averaging is needed, which requires the turbulence to be homogeneous and stationary if it is to be generalized. Though the acoustic Doppler current profiler provides a vertical profile of velocities, the fluctuations are dominated by instrument noise and beam spread, preventing it from being used for most turbulence metrics. ADV measurements have much less noise, and no beam spread, but the observations are made at one point in space, limiting us to temporal statistics or an assumption of "frozen turbulence" to infer spatial scales. As for the models, TurbSim does not have any real-world forcing, and uses parameterized spectra, and coherence functions and randomizes phase information, while LES models must make assumptions about sub-grid scales, which may be inaccurate. Additionally, all models are set up with idealizations of the forcing and domain, which may make the results unlike observations in a particular location and time. Despite these difficulties in observing and characterizing turbulence, I present several quantities that use the imperfect, yet still valuable observations, to attain a better description of the turbulence in the oceans.

Effects of soot absorption coefficient-Planck function correlation on radiative heat transfer in oxygen-enriched propane turbulent diffusion flame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Consalvi, J. L.; Nmira, F.

2016-03-01

The main objective of this article is to quantify the influence of the soot absorption coefficient-Planck function correlation on radiative loss and flame structure in an oxygen-enhanced propane turbulent diffusion flame. Calculations were run with and without accounting for this correlation by using a standard k-ε model and the steady laminar flamelet model (SLF) coupled to a joint Probability Density Function (PDF) of mixture fraction, enthalpy defect, scalar dissipation rate, and soot quantities. The PDF transport equation is solved by using a Stochastic Eulerian Field (SEF) method. The modeling of soot production is carried out by using a flamelet-based semi-empirical acetylene/benzene soot model. Radiative heat transfer is modeled by using a wide band correlated-k model and turbulent radiation interactions (TRI) are accounted for by using the Optically-Thin Fluctuation Approximation (OTFA). Predicted soot volume fraction, radiant wall heat flux distribution and radiant fraction are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Model results show that soot absorption coefficient and Planck function are negatively correlated in the region of intense soot emission. Neglecting this correlation is found to increase significantly the radiative loss leading to a substantial impact on flame structure in terms of mean and rms values of temperature. In addition mean and rms values of soot volume fraction are found to be less sensitive to the correlation than temperature since soot formation occurs mainly in a region where its influence is low.

Simulations of sooting turbulent jet flames using a hybrid flamelet/stochastic Eulerian field method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Consalvi, Jean-Louis; Nmira, Fatiha; Burot, Daria

2016-03-01

The stochastic Eulerian field method is applied to simulate 12 turbulent C1-C3 hydrocarbon jet diffusion flames covering a wide range of Reynolds numbers and fuel sooting propensities. The joint scalar probability density function (PDF) is a function of the mixture fraction, enthalpy defect, scalar dissipation rate and representative soot properties. Soot production is modelled by a semi-empirical acetylene/benzene-based soot model. Spectral gas and soot radiation is modelled using a wide-band correlated-k model. Emission turbulent radiation interactions (TRIs) are taken into account by means of the PDF method, whereas absorption TRIs are modelled using the optically thin fluctuation approximation. Model predictions are found to be in reasonable agreement with experimental data in terms of flame structure, soot quantities and radiative loss. Mean soot volume fractions are predicted within a factor of two of the experiments whereas radiant fractions and peaks of wall radiative fluxes are within 20%. The study also aims to assess approximate radiative models, namely the optically thin approximation (OTA) and grey medium approximation. These approximations affect significantly the radiative loss and should be avoided if accurate predictions of the radiative flux are desired. At atmospheric pressure, the relative errors that they produced on the peaks of temperature and soot volume fraction are within both experimental and model uncertainties. However, these discrepancies are found to increase with pressure, suggesting that spectral models describing properly the self-absorption should be considered at over-atmospheric pressure.

Optical Random Riemann Waves in Integrable Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Randoux, Stéphane; Gustave, François; Suret, Pierre; El, Gennady

2017-06-01

We examine integrable turbulence (IT) in the framework of the defocusing cubic one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation. This is done theoretically and experimentally, by realizing an optical fiber experiment in which the defocusing Kerr nonlinearity strongly dominates linear dispersive effects. Using a dispersive-hydrodynamic approach, we show that the development of IT can be divided into two distinct stages, the initial, prebreaking stage being described by a system of interacting random Riemann waves. We explain the low-tailed statistics of the wave intensity in IT and show that the Riemann invariants of the asymptotic nonlinear geometric optics system represent the observable quantities that provide new insight into statistical features of the initial stage of the IT development by exhibiting stationary probability density functions.

Decaying two-dimensional turbulence in a circular container.

PubMed

Schneider, Kai; Farge, Marie

2005-12-09

We present direct numerical simulations of two-dimensional decaying turbulence at initial Reynolds number 5 x 10(4) in a circular container with no-slip boundary conditions. Starting with random initial conditions the flow rapidly exhibits self-organization into coherent vortices. We study their formation and the role of the viscous boundary layer on the production and decay of integral quantities. The no-slip wall produces vortices which are injected into the bulk flow and tend to compensate the enstrophy dissipation. The self-organization of the flow is reflected by the transition of the initially Gaussian vorticity probability density function (PDF) towards a distribution with exponential tails. Because of the presence of coherent vortices the pressure PDF become strongly skewed with exponential tails for negative values.

Turbulence vs Self-organized criticality: A hybrid approach, with implications for substorm dynamics of the magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milovanov, Alexander

Plasmas in astrophysics, cosmical geophysics, and laboratory plasmas are often found in far-from-equilibrium dynamical state usually described as ``turbulence". It has been argued and discussed in the literature that the typical signatures of turbulent systems including power-law power spectral density and the scale-free statistics of fluctuating observable quantities can more or less successfully be reproduced by complex systems in the state of self-organized criticality (SOC). An obvious distinction between the theoretical concepts of turbulence and SOC has not been obtained, though (for the challenges that lie ahead, and current scientific debate, see the recently announced book on ``Self-Organized Criticality Systems" - available in open access from Open Academic Press, http://www.openacademicpress.de/). Here we discuss these issues further and show that the behavior crucially depends on the type of boundary conditions, feedback mechanisms, and the role of nonlinearity. We then apply this approach to the dynamics of Earth's geomagnetic tail and propose a hybrid model of ``turbulent" current sheet, which explicitly takes into account the self-organization processes taking place. The model yields the slope of magnetic fluctuation spectra in the near-Earth stretched magnetotail prior to the substorm below the characteristic frequency turnover scales posed by convection. A comparison between the model theoretical predictions and the available data of in situ satellite observations is given.

Assessment of turbulent flow effects on the vessel wall using four-dimensional flow MRI.

PubMed

Ziegler, Magnus; Lantz, Jonas; Ebbers, Tino; Dyverfeldt, Petter

2017-06-01

To explore the use of MR-estimated turbulence quantities for the assessment of turbulent flow effects on the vessel wall. Numerical velocity data for two patient-derived models was obtained using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for two physiological flow rates. The four-dimensional (4D) Flow MRI measurements were simulated at three different spatial resolutions and used to investigate the estimation of turbulent wall shear stress (tWSS) using the intravoxel standard deviation (IVSD) of velocity and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) estimated near the vessel wall. Accurate estimation of tWSS using the IVSD is limited by the spatial resolution achievable with 4D Flow MRI. TKE, estimated near the wall, has a strong linear relationship to the tWSS (mean R 2  = 0.84). Near-wall TKE estimates from MR simulations have good agreement to CFD-derived ground truth (mean R 2  = 0.90). Maps of near-wall TKE have strong visual correspondence to tWSS. Near-wall estimation of TKE permits assessment of relative maps of tWSS, but direct estimation of tWSS is challenging due to limitations in spatial resolution. Assessment of tWSS and near-wall TKE may open new avenues for analysis of different pathologies. Magn Reson Med 77:2310-2319, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Nighttime wind and scalar variability within and above an Amazonian canopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, Pablo E. S.; Acevedo, Otávio C.; Sörgel, Matthias; Tsokankunku, Anywhere; Wolff, Stefan; Araújo, Alessandro C.; Souza, Rodrigo A. F.; Sá, Marta O.; Manzi, Antônio O.; Andreae, Meinrat O.

2018-03-01

Nocturnal turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and fluxes of energy, CO2 and O3 between the Amazon forest and the atmosphere are evaluated for a 20-day campaign at the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) site. The distinction of these quantities between fully turbulent (weakly stable) and intermittent (very stable) nights is discussed. Spectral analysis indicates that low-frequency, nonturbulent fluctuations are responsible for a large portion of the variability observed on intermittent nights. In these conditions, the low-frequency exchange may dominate over the turbulent transfer. In particular, we show that within the canopy most of the exchange of CO2 and H2O happens on temporal scales longer than 100 s. At 80 m, on the other hand, the turbulent fluxes are almost absent in such very stable conditions, suggesting a boundary layer shallower than 80 m. The relationship between TKE and mean winds shows that the stable boundary layer switches from the very stable to the weakly stable regime during intermittent bursts of turbulence. In general, fluxes estimated with long temporal windows that account for low-frequency effects are more dependent on the stability over a deeper layer above the forest than they are on the stability between the top of the canopy and its interior, suggesting that low-frequency processes are controlled over a deeper layer above the forest.

Turbulent Boundary Layers in Oscillating Flows. Part 1: an Experimental and Computational Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cook, W. J.

1986-01-01

An experimental-computational study of the behavior of turbulent boundary layers for oscillating air flows over a plane surface with a small favorable mean pressure gradient is described. Experimental studies were conducted for boundary layers generated on the test section wall of a facility that produces a flow with a mean free stream velocity and a superposed nearly-pure sinusoidal component over a wide range of frequency. Flow at a nominal mean free stream velocity of 50 m/s were studied at atmospheric pressure and temperature at selected axial positions over a 2 m test length for frequencies ranging from 4 to 29 Hz. Quantitative experimental results are presented for unsteady velocity profiles and longitudinal turbulence levels obtained from hot wire anemometer measurements at three axial positions. Mean velocity profiles for oscillating flows were found to exhibit only small deviations from corresponding steady flow profiles, while amplitudes and phase relationships exhibited a strong dependence on axial position and frequency. Since sinusoidal flows could be generated over a wide range of frequency, studies at fixed values of reduced frequency at different axial positions were studied. Results show that there is some utility in the use of reduced frequency to correlate unsteady velocity results. The turbulence level u' sub rms was observed to vary essentially sinusoidally around values close to those measured in steady flow. However, the amplitude of oscillation and phase relations for turbulence level were found to be strongly frequency dependent. Numerical predictions were obtained using an unsteady boundary layer computational code and the Cebeci-Smith and Glushko turbulence models. Predicted quantities related to unsteady velocity profiles exhibit fair agreement with experiment when the Cebeci-Smith turbulence model is used.

Characteristics of Non-Premixed Turbulent Flames in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hegde, U.; Yuan, Z. G.; Stocker, D. P.; Bahadori, M. Y.

2001-01-01

This project is concerned with the characteristics of turbulent hydrocarbon (primarily propane) gas-jet diffusion flames in microgravity. A microgravity environment provides the opportunity to study the structure of turbulent diffusion flames under momentum-dominated conditions (large Froude number) at moderate Reynolds number which is a combination not achievable in normal gravity. This paper summarizes progress made since the last workshop. Primarily, the features of flame radiation from microgravity turbulent jet diffusion flames in a reduced gravity environment are described. Tests were conducted for non-premixed, nitrogen diluted propane flames burning in quiescent air in the NASA Glenn 5.18 Second Zero Gravity Facility. Measured flame radiation from wedge-shaped, axial slices of the flame are compared for microgravity and normal gravity flames. Results from numerical computations of the flame using a k-e model for the turbulence are also presented to show the effects of flame radiation on the thermal field. Flame radiation is an important quantity that is impacted by buoyancy as has been shown in previous studies by the authors and also by Urban et al. It was found that jet diffusion flames burning under microgravity conditions have significantly higher radiative loss (about five to seven times higher) compared to their normal gravity counterparts because of larger flame size in microgravity and larger convective heat loss fraction from the flame in normal gravity. These studies, however, were confined to laminar flames. For the case of turbulent flames, the flame radiation is a function of time and both the time-averaged and time-dependent components are of interest. In this paper, attention is focused primarily on the time-averaged level of the radiation but the turbulent structure of the flame is also assessed from considerations of the radiation power spectra.

Inclusion of surface gravity wave effects in vertical mixing parameterizations with application to Chesapeake Bay, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, A. W.; Sanford, L. P.; Scully, M. E.; Suttles, S. E.

2016-02-01

Enhancement of wind-driven mixing by Langmuir turbulence (LT) may have important implications for exchanges of mass and momentum in estuarine and coastal waters, but the transient nature of LT and observational constraints make quantifying its impact on vertical exchange difficult. Recent studies have shown that wind events can be of first order importance to circulation and mixing in estuaries, prompting this investigation into the ability of second-moment turbulence closure schemes to model wind-wave enhanced mixing in an estuarine environment. An instrumented turbulence tower was deployed in middle reaches of Chesapeake Bay in 2013 and collected observations of coherent structures consistent with LT that occurred under regions of breaking waves. Wave and turbulence measurements collected from a vertical array of Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADVs) provided direct estimates of TKE, dissipation, turbulent length scale, and the surface wave field. Direct measurements of air-sea momentum and sensible heat fluxes were collected by a co-located ultrasonic anemometer deployed 3m above the water surface. Analyses of the data indicate that the combined presence of breaking waves and LT significantly influences air-sea momentum transfer, enhancing vertical mixing and acting to align stress in the surface mixed layer in the direction of Lagrangian shear. Here these observations are compared to the predictions of commonly used second-moment turbulence closures schemes, modified to account for the influence of wave breaking and LT. LT parameterizations are evaluated under neutrally stratified conditions and buoyancy damping parameterizations are evaluated under stably stratified conditions. We compare predicted turbulent quantities to observations for a variety of wind, wave, and stratification conditions. The effects of fetch-limited wave growth, surface buoyancy flux, and tidal distortion on wave mixing parameterizations will also be discussed.

Wind Wake Watcher v. 1.0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martin, Shawn

This software enables the user to produce Google Earth visualizations of turbine wake effects for wind farms. The visualizations are based on computations of statistical quantities that vary with wind direction and help quantify the effects on power production of upwind turbines on turbines in their wakes. The results of the software are plot images and kml files that can be loaded into Google Earth. The statistics computed are described in greater detail in the paper: S. Martin, C. H. Westergaard, and J. White (2016), Visualizing Wind Farm Wakes Using SCADA Data, in Wither Turbulence and Big Data in themore » 21st Century? Eds. A. Pollard, L. Castillo, L. Danaila, and M. Glauser. Springer, pgs. 231-254.« less

Simulations of turbulent asymptotic suction boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobke, Alexandra; Örlü, Ramis; Schlatter, Philipp

2016-02-01

A series of large-eddy simulations of a turbulent asymptotic suction boundary layer (TASBL) was performed in a periodic domain, on which uniform suction was applied over a flat plate. Three Reynolds numbers (defined as ratio of free-stream and suction velocity) of Re = 333, 400 and 500 and a variety of domain sizes were considered in temporal simulations in order to investigate the turbulence statistics, the importance of the computational domain size, the arising flow structures as well as temporal development length required to achieve the asymptotic state. The effect of these two important parameters was assessed in terms of their influence on integral quantities, mean velocity, Reynolds stresses, higher order statistics, amplitude modulation and spectral maps. While the near-wall region up to the buffer region appears to scale irrespective of Re and domain size, the parameters of the logarithmic law (i.e. von Kármán and additive coefficient) decrease with increasing Re, while the wake strength decreases with increasing spanwise domain size and vanishes entirely once the spanwise domain size exceeds approximately two boundary-layer thicknesses irrespective of Re. The wake strength also reduces with increasing simulation time. The asymptotic state of the TASBL is characterised by surprisingly large friction Reynolds numbers and inherits features of wall turbulence at numerically high Re. Compared to a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) or a channel flow without suction, the components of the Reynolds-stress tensor are overall reduced, but exhibit a logarithmic increase with decreasing suction rates, i.e. increasing Re. At the same time, the anisotropy is increased compared to canonical wall-bounded flows without suction. The reduced amplitudes in turbulence quantities are discussed in light of the amplitude modulation due to the weakened larger outer structures. The inner peak in the spectral maps is shifted to higher wavelength and the strength of the outer peak is much less than for TBLs. An additional spatial simulation was performed, in order to relate the simulation results to wind tunnel experiments, which - in accordance with the results from the temporal simulation - indicate that a truly TASBL is practically impossible to realise in a wind tunnel. Our unique data set agrees qualitatively with existing literature results for both numerical and experimental studies, and at the same time sheds light on the fact why the asymptotic state could not be established in a wind tunnel experiment, viz. because experimental studies resemble our simulation results from too small simulation boxes or insufficient development times.

Heat transport in Rayleigh-Bénard convection and angular momentum transport in Taylor-Couette flow: a comparative study.

PubMed

Brauckmann, Hannes J; Eckhardt, Bruno; Schumacher, Jörg

2017-03-13

Rayleigh-Bénard convection and Taylor-Couette flow are two canonical flows that have many properties in common. We here compare the two flows in detail for parameter values where the Nusselt numbers, i.e. the thermal transport and the angular momentum transport normalized by the corresponding laminar values, coincide. We study turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection in air at Rayleigh number Ra=10 7 and Taylor-Couette flow at shear Reynolds number Re S =2×10 4 for two different mean rotation rates but the same Nusselt numbers. For individual pairwise related fields and convective currents, we compare the probability density functions normalized by the corresponding root mean square values and taken at different distances from the wall. We find one rotation number for which there is very good agreement between the mean profiles of the two corresponding quantities temperature and angular momentum. Similarly, there is good agreement between the fluctuations in temperature and velocity components. For the heat and angular momentum currents, there are differences in the fluctuations outside the boundary layers that increase with overall rotation and can be related to differences in the flow structures in the boundary layer and in the bulk. The study extends the similarities between the two flows from global quantities to local quantities and reveals the effects of rotation on the transport.This article is part of the themed issue 'Toward the development of high-fidelity models of wall turbulence at large Reynolds number'. © 2017 The Author(s).

MAPPING THE GAS TURBULENCE IN THE COMA CLUSTER: PREDICTIONS FOR ASTRO-H

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

ZuHone, J. A.; Markevitch, M.; Zhuravleva, I.

2016-02-01

Astro-H will be able for the first time to map gas velocities and detect turbulence in galaxy clusters. One of the best targets for turbulence studies is the Coma cluster, due to its proximity, absence of a cool core, and lack of a central active galactic nucleus. To determine what constraints Astro-H will be able to place on the Coma velocity field, we construct simulated maps of the projected gas velocity and compute the second-order structure function, an analog of the velocity power spectrum. We vary the injection scale, dissipation scale, slope, and normalization of the turbulent power spectrum, andmore » apply measurement errors and finite sampling to the velocity field. We find that even with sparse coverage of the cluster, Astro-H will be able to measure the Mach number and the injection scale of the turbulent power spectrum—the quantities determining the energy flux down the turbulent cascade and the diffusion rate for everything that is advected by the gas (metals, cosmic rays, etc.). Astro-H will not be sensitive to the dissipation scale or the slope of the power spectrum in its inertial range, unless they are outside physically motivated intervals. We give the expected confidence intervals for the injection scale and the normalization of the power spectrum for a number of possible pointing configurations, combining the structure function and velocity dispersion data. Importantly, we also determine that measurement errors on the line shift will bias the velocity structure function upward, and show how to correct this bias.« less

Mapping the Gas Turbulence in the Coma Cluster: Predictions for Astro-H

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

ZuHone, J. A.; Markevitch, M.; Zhuravleva, I.

2016-01-01

Astro-H will be able for the first time to map gas velocities and detect turbulence in galaxy clusters. One of the best targets for turbulence studies is the Coma cluster, due to its proximity, absence of a cool core, and lack of a central active galactic nucleus. To determine what constraints Astro-H will be able to place on the Coma velocity field, we construct simulated maps of the projected gas velocity and compute the second-order structure function, an analog of the velocity power spectrum. We vary the injection scale, dissipation scale, slope, and normalization of the turbulent power spectrum, and apply measurement errors and finite sampling to the velocity field. We find that even with sparse coverage of the cluster, Astro-H will be able to measure the Mach number and the injection scale of the turbulent power spectrum-the quantities determining the energy flux down the turbulent cascade and the diffusion rate for everything that is advected by the gas (metals, cosmic rays, etc.). Astro-H will not be sensitive to the dissipation scale or the slope of the power spectrum in its inertial range, unless they are outside physically motivated intervals. We give the expected confidence intervals for the injection scale and the normalization of the power spectrum for a number of possible pointing configurations, combining the structure function and velocity dispersion data. Importantly, we also determine that measurement errors on the line shift will bias the velocity structure function upward, and show how to correct this bias.

The turbulence structure of katabatic flows below and above wind-speed maximum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grachev, Andrey; Leo, Laura; Di Sabatino, Silvana; Fernando, Harindra; Pardyjak, Eric; Fairall, Christopher

2015-04-01

Measurements of atmospheric small-scale turbulence made over the complex-terrain at the US Army Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah during the Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations (MATERHORN) Program are used to describe the turbulence structure of katabatic flows. Turbulent and mean meteorological data were continuously measured at multiple levels (up to seven) on four towers deployed along East lower slope (2-4 degrees) of Granite Mountain. The multi-level, multi-tower observations obtained during a 30-day long MATERHORN-Fall field campaign in September-October 2102 allow studying temporal and spatial structure of nocturnal slope flows in detail. In this study, we focus on the various statistics (fluxes, variances, spectra, cospectra, etc.) of the small-scale turbulence of katabatic winds. Observed vertical profiles of velocity, turbulent fluxes, and other quantities show steep gradients near the surface but in the layer above the slope jet these variables vary with height more slowly than near the surface. It is found that vertical momentum flux and horizontal heat (buoyancy) flux in a slope-following coordinate system change their sign below and above the wind maximum of a katabatic flow. The vertical momentum flux is directed downward (upward) whereas the horizontal heat flux is downslope (upslope) below (above) the wind maximum. Our study, therefore, suggests that a position of the jet speed maximum can be derived from linear interpolation between positive and negative values of the momentum flux (or the horizontal heat flux) and determination of a height where a flux becomes zero. It is shown that the standard deviations of all wind speed components (and therefore the turbulent kinetic energy) and the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy have a local minimum, whereas the standard deviation of air temperature has an absolute maximum at the height of wind speed maximum. We report several cases when the destructive effect of vertical heat (buoyancy) flux is completely cancelled by the generation of turbulence due to the horizontal heat (buoyancy) flux. Turbulence in the layer above the wind-speed maximum is decoupled from the surface and it is consistent with the classical local z-less predictions for stably stratified boundary layer.

The most intense electric currents in turbulent high speed solar wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podesta, J. J.

2017-12-01

Theory and simulations suggest that dissipation of turbulent energy in collisionless astrophysical plasmas occurs most rapidly in spatial regions where the current density is most intense. To advance understanding of plasma heating by turbulent dissipation in the solar corona and solar wind, it is of interest to characterize the properties of plasma regions where the current density takes exceptionally large values and to identify the operative dissipation processes. In the solar wind, the curl of the magnetic field cannot be measured using data from a single spacecraft, however, a suitable proxy for this quantity can be constructed from the spatial derivative of the magnetic field along the flow direction of the plasma. This new approach is used to study the properties of the most intense current carrying structures in a high speed solar wind stream near 1 AU. In this study, based on 11 Hz magnetometer data from the WIND spacecraft, the spatial resolution of the proxy technique is approximately equal to the proton inertial length. Intense current sheets or current carrying structures were identified as events where the magnitude of the current density exceeds μ+5σ, where μ and σ are the mean and standard deviation of the magnitude of the current density (or its proxy), respectively. Statistical studies show (1) the average size of these 5σ events is close to the smallest resolvable scale in the data set, the proton inertial length; (2) the linear distance between neighboring events follows a power law distribution; and (3) the average peak current density of 5σ events is around 1 pA/cm2. The analysis techniques used in these studies have been validated using simulated spacecraft data from three dimensional hybrid simulations which show that results based on the analysis of the proxy are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to results based on the analysis of the true current density.

A reduced order model based on Kalman filtering for sequential data assimilation of turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meldi, M.; Poux, A.

2017-10-01

A Kalman filter based sequential estimator is presented in this work. The estimator is integrated in the structure of segregated solvers for the analysis of incompressible flows. This technique provides an augmented flow state integrating available observation in the CFD model, naturally preserving a zero-divergence condition for the velocity field. Because of the prohibitive costs associated with a complete Kalman Filter application, two model reduction strategies have been proposed and assessed. These strategies dramatically reduce the increase in computational costs of the model, which can be quantified in an augmentation of 10%- 15% with respect to the classical numerical simulation. In addition, an extended analysis of the behavior of the numerical model covariance Q has been performed. Optimized values are strongly linked to the truncation error of the discretization procedure. The estimator has been applied to the analysis of a number of test cases exhibiting increasing complexity, including turbulent flow configurations. The results show that the augmented flow successfully improves the prediction of the physical quantities investigated, even when the observation is provided in a limited region of the physical domain. In addition, the present work suggests that these Data Assimilation techniques, which are at an embryonic stage of development in CFD, may have the potential to be pushed even further using the augmented prediction as a powerful tool for the optimization of the free parameters in the numerical simulation.

Discovering Hidden Controlling Parameters using Data Analytics and Dimensional Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Del Rosario, Zachary; Lee, Minyong; Iaccarino, Gianluca

2017-11-01

Dimensional Analysis is a powerful tool, one which takes a priori information and produces important simplifications. However, if this a priori information - the list of relevant parameters - is missing a relevant quantity, then the conclusions from Dimensional Analysis will be incorrect. In this work, we present novel conclusions in Dimensional Analysis, which provide a means to detect this failure mode of missing or hidden parameters. These results are based on a restated form of the Buckingham Pi theorem that reveals a ridge function structure underlying all dimensionless physical laws. We leverage this structure by constructing a hypothesis test based on sufficient dimension reduction, allowing for an experimental data-driven detection of hidden parameters. Both theory and examples will be presented, using classical turbulent pipe flow as the working example. Keywords: experimental techniques, dimensional analysis, lurking variables, hidden parameters, buckingham pi, data analysis. First author supported by the NSF GRFP under Grant Number DGE-114747.

A reevaluaion of data on atmospheric turbulence and airplane gust loads for application in spectral calculations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Press, Harry; Meadows, May T; Hadlock, Ivan

1956-01-01

The available information on the spectrum of atmospheric turbulence is first briefly reviewed. On the basis of these results, methods are developed for the conversion of available gust statistics normally given in terms of counts of gusts or acceleration peaks into a form appropriate for use in spectral calculations. The fundamental quantity for this purpose appears to be the probability distribution of the root-mean-square gust velocity. Estimates of this distribution are derived from data for a number of load histories of transport operations; also, estimates of the variation of this distribution with altitude and weather condition are derived from available data and the method of applying these results to the calculation of airplane gust-response histories in operations is also outlined. (author)

Multiple shooting shadowing for sensitivity analysis of chaotic dynamical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blonigan, Patrick J.; Wang, Qiqi

2018-02-01

Sensitivity analysis methods are important tools for research and design with simulations. Many important simulations exhibit chaotic dynamics, including scale-resolving turbulent fluid flow simulations. Unfortunately, conventional sensitivity analysis methods are unable to compute useful gradient information for long-time-averaged quantities in chaotic dynamical systems. Sensitivity analysis with least squares shadowing (LSS) can compute useful gradient information for a number of chaotic systems, including simulations of chaotic vortex shedding and homogeneous isotropic turbulence. However, this gradient information comes at a very high computational cost. This paper presents multiple shooting shadowing (MSS), a more computationally efficient shadowing approach than the original LSS approach. Through an analysis of the convergence rate of MSS, it is shown that MSS can have lower memory usage and run time than LSS.

Reynolds-Stress Budgets in an Impinging Shock Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vyas, Manan A.; Yoder, Dennis A.; Gaitonde, Datta V.

2018-01-01

Implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) of a shock wave/boundary-layer interaction (SBLI) was performed. Comparisons with experimental data showed a sensitivity of the current prediction to the modeling of the sidewalls. This was found to be common among various computational studies in the literature where periodic boundary conditions were used in the spanwise direction, as was the case in the present work. Thus, although the experiment was quasi-two-dimensional, the present simulation was determined to be two-dimensional. Quantities present in the exact equation of the Reynolds-stress transport, i.e., production, molecular diffusion, turbulent transport, pressure diffusion, pressure strain, dissipation, and turbulent mass flux were calculated. Reynolds-stress budgets were compared with past large-eddy simulation and direct numerical simulation datasets in the undisturbed portion of the turbulent boundary layer to validate the current approach. The budgets in SBLI showed the growth in the production term for the primary normal stress and energy transfer mechanism was led by the pressure strain term in the secondary normal stresses. The pressure diffusion term, commonly assumed as negligible by turbulence model developers, was shown to be small but non-zero in the normal stress budgets, however it played a key role in the primary shear stress budget.

Extracting physical quantities from BES data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Michael; Field, Anthony; Schekochihin, Alexander; van Wyk, Ferdinand; MAST Team

2015-11-01

We propose a method to extract the underlying physical properties of turbulence from measurements, thereby facilitating quantitative comparisons between theory and experiment. Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) diagnostics record fluctuating intensity time series, which are related to the density field in the plasma through Point-Spread Functions (PSFs). Assuming a suitable form for the correlation function of the underlying turbulence, analytical expressions are derived that relate the correlation parameters of the intensity field: the radial and poloidal correlation lengths and wavenumbers, the correlation time and the fluctuation amplitude, to the equivalent correlation properties of the density field. In many cases, the modification caused by the PSFs is substantial enough to change conclusions about physics. Our method is tested by applying PSFs to the ``real'' density field, generated by non-linear gyrokinetic simulations of MAST, to create synthetic turbulence data, from which the method successfully recovers the correlation function of the ``real'' density field. This method is applied to BES data from MAST to determine the scaling of the 2D structure of the ion-scale turbulence with equilibrium parameters, including the ExB flow shear. Work funded by the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 633053 and from the RCUK Energy Programme [grant number EP/I501045].

Upscaling the Navier-Stokes Equation for Turbulent Flows in Porous Media Using a Volume Averaging Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Brian; He, Xiaoliang; Apte, Sourabh

2017-11-01

Turbulent flows through porous media are encountered in a number of natural and engineered systems. Many attempts to close the Navier-Stokes equation for such type of flow have been made, for example using RANS models and double averaging. On the other hand, Whitaker (1996) applied volume averaging theorem to close the macroscopic N-S equation for low Re flow. In this work, the volume averaging theory is extended into the turbulent flow regime to posit a relationship between the macroscale velocities and the spatial velocity statistics in terms of the spatial averaged velocity only. Rather than developing a Reynolds stress model, we propose a simple algebraic closure, consistent with generalized effective viscosity models (Pope 1975), to represent the spatial fluctuating velocity and pressure respectively. The coefficients (one 1st order, two 2nd order and one 3rd order tensor) of the linear functions depend on averaged velocity and gradient. With the data set from DNS, performed with inertial and turbulent flows (pore Re of 300, 500 and 1000) through a periodic face centered cubic (FCC) unit cell, all the unknown coefficients can be computed and the closure is complete. The macroscopic quantity calculated from the averaging is then compared with DNS data to verify the upscaling. NSF Project Numbers 1336983, 1133363.

Boundary Conditions for Scalar (Co)Variances over Heterogeneous Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machulskaya, Ekaterina; Mironov, Dmitrii

2018-05-01

The problem of boundary conditions for the variances and covariances of scalar quantities (e.g., temperature and humidity) at the underlying surface is considered. If the surface is treated as horizontally homogeneous, Monin-Obukhov similarity suggests the Neumann boundary conditions that set the surface fluxes of scalar variances and covariances to zero. Over heterogeneous surfaces, these boundary conditions are not a viable choice since the spatial variability of various surface and soil characteristics, such as the ground fluxes of heat and moisture and the surface radiation balance, is not accounted for. Boundary conditions are developed that are consistent with the tile approach used to compute scalar (and momentum) fluxes over heterogeneous surfaces. To this end, the third-order transport terms (fluxes of variances) are examined analytically using a triple decomposition of fluctuating velocity and scalars into the grid-box mean, the fluctuation of tile-mean quantity about the grid-box mean, and the sub-tile fluctuation. The effect of the proposed boundary conditions on mixing in an archetypical stably-stratified boundary layer is illustrated with a single-column numerical experiment. The proposed boundary conditions should be applied in atmospheric models that utilize turbulence parametrization schemes with transport equations for scalar variances and covariances including the third-order turbulent transport (diffusion) terms.

A diapycnal diffusivity model for stratified environmental flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouffard, Damien; Boegman, Leon

2013-06-01

The vertical diffusivity of density, Kρ, regulates ocean circulation, climate and coastal water quality. Kρ is difficult to measure and model in these stratified turbulent flows, resulting in the need for the development of Kρ parameterizations from more readily measurable flow quantities. Typically, Kρ is parameterized from turbulent temperature fluctuations using the Osborn-Cox model or from the buoyancy frequency, N, kinematic viscosity, ν, and the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, ɛ, using the Osborn model. More recently, Shih et al. (2005, J. Fluid Mech. 525: 193-214) proposed a laboratory scale parameterization for Kρ, at Prandtl number (ratio of the viscosity over the molecular diffusivity) Pr = 0.7, in terms of the turbulence intensity parameter, Re=ɛ/(νN), which is the ratio between the destabilizing effect of turbulence to the stabilizing effects of stratification and viscosity. In the present study, we extend the SKIF parameterization, against extensive sets of published data, over 0.7 < Pr < 700 and validate it at field scale. Our results show that the SKIF model must be modified to include a new Buoyancy-controlled mixing regime, between the Molecular and Transitional regimes, where Kρ is captured using the molecular diffusivity and Osborn model, respectively. The Buoyancy-controlled regime occurs over 10Pr

Turbulent Natural Convection in a Square Cavity with a Circular Cylinder

DOE PAGES

Aithal, S. M.

2016-07-19

In this paper, numerical simulations of high Rayleigh number flows (10 8-10 10) were conducted to investigate the turbulent fluid flow and thermal characteristics of natural convection induced by a centrally placed hot cylinder in a cold square enclosure. The effect of the aspect ratio (radius of the cylinder to the side of the cavity) was investigated for three values (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) for each Rayleigh number. Effects of turbulence induced by the high Rayleigh number (>10 7) were computed by using the unsteady k-ω model. A spectral-element method with high polynomial order (high resolution) was used to solvemore » the system of unsteady time-averaged equations of continuity, momentum, and energy, along with the turbulence equations. Detailed comparison with other numerical work is presented. Contours of velocity, temperature, and turbulence quantities are presented for various high Rayleigh numbers. Also presented is the influence of the Rayleigh number on the local Nusselt number on the centrally placed hot cylinder and the cold enclosure walls. Time-marching results show that the steady-state solutions can be obtained even for high Rayleigh numbers considered in this study. The results also show that the average and peak Nusselt numbers roughly double for each order of magnitude increase of the Rayleigh number for all radii considered. Finally, a correlation for the average Nusselt number as a function of Rayleigh number and aspect ratio is also presented.« less

Turbulent Natural Convection in a Square Cavity with a Circular Cylinder

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aithal, S. M.

In this paper, numerical simulations of high Rayleigh number flows (10 8-10 10) were conducted to investigate the turbulent fluid flow and thermal characteristics of natural convection induced by a centrally placed hot cylinder in a cold square enclosure. The effect of the aspect ratio (radius of the cylinder to the side of the cavity) was investigated for three values (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) for each Rayleigh number. Effects of turbulence induced by the high Rayleigh number (>10 7) were computed by using the unsteady k-ω model. A spectral-element method with high polynomial order (high resolution) was used to solvemore » the system of unsteady time-averaged equations of continuity, momentum, and energy, along with the turbulence equations. Detailed comparison with other numerical work is presented. Contours of velocity, temperature, and turbulence quantities are presented for various high Rayleigh numbers. Also presented is the influence of the Rayleigh number on the local Nusselt number on the centrally placed hot cylinder and the cold enclosure walls. Time-marching results show that the steady-state solutions can be obtained even for high Rayleigh numbers considered in this study. The results also show that the average and peak Nusselt numbers roughly double for each order of magnitude increase of the Rayleigh number for all radii considered. Finally, a correlation for the average Nusselt number as a function of Rayleigh number and aspect ratio is also presented.« less

Simulation of turbulent separated flows using a novel, evolution-based, eddy-viscosity formulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellucci, Paul

Currently, there exists a lack of confidence in the computational simulation of turbulent separated flows at large Reynolds numbers. The most accurate methods available are too computationally costly to use in engineering applications. Thus, inexpensive models, developed using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, are often extended beyond their applicability. Although these methods will often reproduce integrated quantities within engineering tolerances, such metrics are often insensitive to details within a separated wake, and therefore, poor indicators of simulation fidelity. Using concepts borrowed from large-eddy simulation (LES), a two-equation RANS model is modified to simulate the turbulent wake behind a circular cylinder. This modification involves the computation of one additional scalar field, adding very little to the overall computational cost. When properly inserted into the baseline RANS model, this modification mimics LES in the separated wake, yet reverts to the unmodified form at the cylinder surface. In this manner, superior predictive capability may be achieved without the additional cost of fine spatial resolution associated with LES near solid boundaries. Simulations using modified and baseline RANS models are benchmarked against both LES and experimental data for a circular cylinder wake at Reynolds number 3900. In addition, the computational tool used in this investigation is subject to verification via the Method of Manufactured Solutions. Post-processing of the resultant flow fields includes both mean value and triple-decomposition analysis. These results reveal substantial improvements using the modified system and appear to drive the baseline wake solution toward that of LES, as intended.

Entropic multirelaxation lattice Boltzmann models for turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bösch, Fabian; Chikatamarla, Shyam S.; Karlin, Ilya V.

2015-10-01

We present three-dimensional realizations of a class of lattice Boltzmann models introduced recently by the authors [I. V. Karlin, F. Bösch, and S. S. Chikatamarla, Phys. Rev. E 90, 031302(R) (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.031302] and review the role of the entropic stabilizer. Both coarse- and fine-grid simulations are addressed for the Kida vortex flow benchmark. We show that the outstanding numerical stability and performance is independent of a particular choice of the moment representation for high-Reynolds-number flows. We report accurate results for low-order moments for homogeneous isotropic decaying turbulence and second-order grid convergence for most assessed statistical quantities. It is demonstrated that all the three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann realizations considered herein converge to the familiar lattice Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model when the resolution is increased. Moreover, thanks to the dynamic nature of the entropic stabilizer, the present model features less compressibility effects and maintains correct energy and enstrophy dissipation. The explicit and efficient nature of the present lattice Boltzmann method renders it a promising candidate for both engineering and scientific purposes for highly turbulent flows.

Direct Numerical Simulation of turbulent heat transfer up to Reτ = 2000

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoyas, Sergio; Pérez-Quiles, Jezabel; Lluesma-Rodríguez, Federico

2017-11-01

We present a new set of direct numerical simulations of turbulent heat transfer in a channel flow for a Prandtl number of 0.71 and a friction Reynolds number of 2000. Mixed boundary conditions, i.e., wall temperature is time independent and varies linearly along streamwise component, have been used as boundary conditions for the thermal field. The effect of the size of the box in the one point statistics of the thermal field, and the kinetic energy, dissipation and turbulent budgets has been studied, showing that a domain with streamwise and spanwise sizes of 4 πh and 2 πh, where h is the channel half-height, is large enough to reproduce the one point statistics of larger boxes. The scaling of the previous quantities with respect to the Reynolds number has been also studied using a new dataset of simulations at smaller Reynolds number, finding two different scales for the inner and outer layers of the flow. Funded by project ENE2015-71333-R of the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.

A-priori testing of sub-grid models for chemically reacting nonpremixed turbulent shear flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jimenez, J.; Linan, A.; Rogers, M. M.; Higuera, F. J.

1996-01-01

The beta-assumed-pdf approximation of (Cook & Riley 1994) is tested as a subgrid model for the LES computation of nonpremixed turbulent reacting flows, in the limit of cold infinitely fast chemistry, for two plane turbulent mixing layers with different degrees of intermittency. Excellent results are obtained for the computation of integrals properties such as product mass fraction, and the model is applied to other quantities such as powers of the temperature and the pdf of the scalar itself. Even in these cases the errors are small enough to be useful in practical applications. The analysis is extended to slightly out of equilibrium problems such as the generation of radicals, and formulated in terms of the pdf of the scalar gradients. It is shown that the conditional gradient distribution is universal in a wide range of cases whose limits are established. Within those limits, engineering approximations to the radical concentration are also possible. It is argued that the experiments in this paper are essentially in the limit of infinite Reynolds number.

Heat Transfer Through Turbulent Friction Layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reichardt, H.

1943-01-01

The "general Prandtl number" Pr(exp 1) - A(sub q)/A Pr, aside from the Reynolds number determines the ratio of turbulent to molecular heat transfer, and the temperature distribution in turbulent friction layers. A(sub q) = exchange coefficient for heat; A = exchange coefficient for momentum transfer. A formula is derived from the equation defining the general Prandtl number which describes the temperature as a function of the velocity. For fully developed thermal boundary layers all questions relating to heat transfer to and from incompressible fluids can be treated in a simple manner if the ratio of the turbulent shear stress to the total stress T(sub t)/T in the layers near the wall is known, and if the A(sub q)/A can be regarded as independent of the distance from the wall. The velocity distribution across a flat smooth channel and deep into the laminar sublayer was measured for isothermal flow to establish the shear stress ratio T(sub t)/T and to extend the universal wall friction law. The values of T(sub t)/T which resulted from these measurements can be approximately represented by a linear function of the velocity in the laminar-turbulent transition zone. The effect of the temperature relationship of the material values on the flow near the wall is briefly analyzed. It was found that the velocity at the laminar boundary (in contrast to the thickness of the laminar layer) is approximately independent of the temperature distribution. The temperature gradient at the wall and the distribution of temperature and heat flow in the turbulent friction layers were calculated on the basis of the data under two equations. The derived formulas and the figures reveal the effects of the Prandtl number, the Reynolds number, the exchange quantities and the temperature relationship of the material values.

Ocean Wave Studies with Applications to Ocean Modeling and Improvement of Satellite Altimeter Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glazman, Roman E.

1999-01-01

Combining analysis of satellite data (altimeter, scatterometer, high-resolution visible and infrared images, etc.) with mathematical modeling of non-linear wave processes, we investigate various ocean wave fields (on scales from capillary to planetary), their role in ocean dynamics and turbulent transport (of heat and biogeochemical quantities), and their effects on satellite altimeter measuring accuracy. In 1998 my attention was focused on long internal gravity waves (10 to 1000 km), known also as baroclinic inertia-gravity (BIG) waves. We found these waves to be a major factor of altimeter measurements "noise," resulting in a greater uncertainty [up to 10 cm in terms of sea surface height (SSH) amplitude] in the measured SSH signal than that caused by the sea state bias variations (up to 5 cm or so). This effect still remains largely overlooked by the satellite altimeter community. Our studies of BIG waves address not only their influence on altimeter measurements but also their role in global ocean dynamics and in transport and turbulent diffusion of biogeochemical quantities. In particular, in collaboration with Prof Peter Weichman, Caltech, we developed a theory of turbulent diffusion caused by wave motions of most general nature. Applied to the problem of horizontal turbulent diffusion in the ocean, the theory yielded the effective diffusion coefficient as a function of BIG wave parameters obtainable from satellite altimeter data. This effort, begun in 1997, has been successfully completed in 1998. We also developed a theory that relates spatial fluctuations of scalar fields (such as sea surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, drifting ice concentration, etc.) to statistical characteristics of BIG waves obtainable from altimeter measurements. A manuscript is in the final stages of preparation. In order to verify the theoretical predictions and apply them to observations, we are now analyzing Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data on sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll concentration jointly with TOPEX/POSEIDON data on SSH variations.

Airborne measurements of turbulent trace gas fluxes and analysis of eddy structure in the convective boundary layer over complex terrain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasel, M.; Kottmeier, Ch.; Corsmeier, U.; Wieser, A.

2005-03-01

Using the new high-frequency measurement equipment of the research aircraft DO 128, which is described in detail, turbulent vertical fluxes of ozone and nitric oxide have been calculated from data sampled during the ESCOMPTE program in the south of France. Based on airborne turbulence measurements, radiosonde data and surface energy balance measurements, the convective boundary layer (CBL) is examined under two different aspects. The analysis covers boundary-layer convection with respect to (i) the control of CBL depth by surface heating and synoptic scale influences, and (ii) the structure of convective plumes and their vertical transport of ozone and nitric oxides. The orographic structure of the terrain causes significant differences between planetary boundary layer (PBL) heights, which are found to exceed those of terrain height variations on average. A comparison of boundary-layer flux profiles as well as mean quantities over flat and complex terrain and also under different pollution situations and weather conditions shows relationships between vertical gradients and corresponding turbulent fluxes. Generally, NO x transports are directed upward independent of the terrain, since primary emission sources are located near the ground. For ozone, negative fluxes are common in the lower CBL in accordance with the deposition of O 3 at the surface. The detailed structure of thermals, which largely carry out vertical transports in the boundary layer, are examined with a conditional sampling technique. Updrafts mostly contain warm, moist and NO x loaded air, while the ozone transport by thermals alternates with the background ozone gradient. Evidence for handover processes of trace gases to the free atmosphere can be found in the case of existing gradients across the boundary-layer top. An analysis of the size of eddies suggests the possibility of some influence of the heterogeneous terrain in mountainous area on the length scales of eddies.

Development of a Dual-PIV system for high-speed flow applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schreyer, Anne-Marie; Lasserre, Jean J.; Dupont, Pierre

2015-10-01

A new Dual-particle image velocimetry (Dual-PIV) system for application in supersonic flows was developed. The system was designed for shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions with separation. This type of flow places demanding requirements on the system, from the large range of characteristic frequencies O(100 Hz-100 kHz) to spatial and temporal resolutions necessary for the measurement of turbulent quantities (Dolling in AIAA J 39(8):1517-1531, 2001; Dupont et al. in J Fluid Mech 559:255-277, 2006; Smits and Dussauge in Turbulent shear layers in supersonic flow, 2nd edn. Springer, New York, 2006). While classic PIV systems using high-resolution CCD sensors allow high spatial resolution, these systems cannot provide the required temporal resolution. Existing high-speed PIV systems provide temporal and CMOS sensor resolutions, and even laser pulse energies, that are not adapted to our needs. The only obvious solution allowing sufficiently high spatial resolution, access to high frequencies, and a high laser pulse energy is a multi-frame system: a Dual-PIV system, consisting of two synchronized PIV systems observing the same field of view, will give access to temporal characteristics of the flow. The key technology of our system is frequency-based image separation: two lasers of different wavelengths illuminate the field of view. The cross-pollution with laser light from the respective other branches was quantified during system validation. The overall system noise was quantified, and the prevailing error of only 2 % reflects the good spatial and temporal alignment. The quality of the measurement system is demonstrated with some results on a subsonic jet flow including the spatio-temporal inter-correlation functions between the systems. First measurements in a turbulent flat-plate boundary layer at Mach 2 show the same satisfactory data quality and are also presented and discussed.

Atmospheric turbulence compensation in orbital angular momentum communications: Advances and perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shuhui; Chen, Shi; Gao, Chunqing; Willner, Alan E.; Wang, Jian

2018-02-01

Orbital angular momentum (OAM)-carrying beams have recently generated considerable interest due to their potential use in communication systems to increase transmission capacity and spectral efficiency. For OAM-based free-space optical (FSO) links, a critical challenge is the atmospheric turbulence that will distort the helical wavefronts of OAM beams leading to the decrease of received power, introducing crosstalk between multiple channels, and impairing link performance. In this paper, we review recent advances in turbulence effects compensation techniques for OAM-based FSO communication links. First, basic concepts of atmospheric turbulence and theoretical model are introduced. Second, atmospheric turbulence effects on OAM beams are theoretically and experimentally investigated and discussed. Then, several typical turbulence compensation approaches, including both adaptive optics-based (optical domain) and signal processing-based (electrical domain) techniques, are presented. Finally, key challenges and perspectives of compensation of turbulence-distorted OAM links are discussed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

H.E. Mynick, P. Xanthopoulos and A.H. Boozer

Using the nonlinear gyrokinetic code package GENE/GIST, we study the turbulent transport in a broad family of stellarator designs, to understand the geometry-dependence of the microturbulence. By using a set of flux tubes on a given flux surface, we construct a picture of the 2D structure of the microturbulence over that surface, and relate this to relevant geometric quantities, such as the curvature, local shear, and effective potential in the Schrodinger-like equation governing linear drift modes.

Eddy damping, backscatter, and subgrid stresses in subgrid modeling of turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhou, YE

1991-01-01

The Brief Report demonstrates the relationship of eddy-viscosity models to subgrid stresses. A formula that determines the relative importance of the cross stress and the Reynolds stress for the net eddy-damping and backscatter contributions is derived. The cross-stress term with sharp-cut filtering is identified as an important quantity to model. These concepts could prove useful as a basis for constructing specific models for the Reynolds and cross stresses.

Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Multicomponent Droplets and Two- and Three Dimensional Measurements in Flames.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-03-31

fluorescence intensity with temperature , which allows the fuel cn ce to be found directly from the acetaldehyde fluorescence. An alternative means of measuring... oxidizer . The measured quantities are used to form 17 a conserved scalar from which the mixtur fraction is determined in an iterative process. We have...turbulent nonpemIixed acetaklehyde flame. Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) was chosen for its relatively high fluorescence yield and small variation of

Computation of inverse magnetic cascades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montgomery, D.

1981-01-01

Inverse cascades of magnetic quantities for turbulent incompressible magnetohydrodynamics are reviewed, for two and three dimensions. The theory is extended to the Strauss equations, a description intermediate between two and three dimensions appropriate to Tokamak magnetofluids. Consideration of the absolute equilibrium Gibbs ensemble for the system leads to a prediction of an inverse cascade of magnetic helicity, which may manifest itself as a major disruption. An agenda for computational investigation of this conjecture is proposed.

A Model for Jet-Surface Interaction Noise Using Physically Realizable Upstream Turbulence Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Afsar, Mohammed Z.; Leib, Stewart J.; Bozak, Richard F.

2015-01-01

This paper is a continuation of previous work in which a generalized Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT) formulation was used to model low-frequency trailing-edge noise. The research was motivated by proposed next-generation aircraft configurations where the exhaust system is tightly integrated with the airframe. Data from recent experiments at NASA on the interaction between high-Reynolds-number subsonic jet flows and an external flat plate showed that the power spectral density (PSD) of the far-field pressure underwent considerable amplification at low frequencies. For example, at the 900 observation angle, the low-frequency noise could be as much as 10dB greater than the jet noise itself. In this paper, we present predictions of the noise generated by the interaction of a rectangular jet with the trailing edge of a semi-infinite flat plate. The calculations are based on a formula for the acoustic spectrum of this noise source derived from an exact formal solution of the linearized Euler equations involving (in this case) one arbitrary convected scalar quantity and a Rayleigh equation Green's function. A low-frequency asymptotic approximation for the Green's function based on a two-dimensional mean flow is used in the calculations along with a physically realizable upstream turbulence spectrum, which includes a finite de-correlation region. Numerical predictions, based on three-dimensional RANS solutions for a range of subsonic acoustic Mach number jets and nozzle aspect ratios are compared with experimental data. Comparisons of the RANS results with flow data are also presented for selected cases. We find that a finite decorrelation region increases the low-frequency algebraic decay (the low frequency "rolloff") of the acoustic spectrum with angular frequency thereby producing much closer agreement with noise data for Strouhal numbers less than 0.1. Secondly, the large-aspectratio theory is able to predict the low-frequency amplification due to the jet-edge interaction reasonably well, even for moderate aspect ratio nozzles. We show also that the noise predictions for smaller aspect ratio jets can be fine-tuned using the appropriate RANS-based mean flow and turbulence properties.

Generation of Turbulent Inflow Conditions for Pipe Flow via an Annular Ribbed Turbulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moallemi, Nima; Brinkerhoff, Joshua

2016-11-01

The generation of turbulent inflow conditions adds significant computational expense to direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent pipe flows. Typical approaches involve introducing boxes of isotropic turbulence to the velocity field at the inlet of the pipe. In the present study, an alternative method is proposed that incurs a lower computational cost and allows the anisotropy observed in pipe turbulence to be physically captured. The method is based on a periodic DNS of a ribbed turbulator upstream of the inlet boundary of the pipe. The Reynolds number based on the bulk velocity and pipe diameter is 5300 and the blockage ratio (BR) is 0.06 based on the rib height and pipe diameter. The pitch ratio is defined as the ratio of rib streamwise spacing to rib height and is varied between 1.7 and 5.0. The generation of turbulent flow structures downstream of the ribbed turbulator are identified and discussed. Suitability of this method for accurate representation of turbulent inflow conditions is assessed through comparison of the turbulent mean properties, fluctuations, Reynolds stress profiles, and spectra with published pipe flow DNS studies. The DNS results achieve excellent agreement with the numerical and experimental data available in the literature.

Large Scale Turbulent Structures in Supersonic Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, Ram Mohan; Lundgren, Thomas S.

1997-01-01

Jet noise is a major concern in the design of commercial aircraft. Studies by various researchers suggest that aerodynamic noise is a major contributor to jet noise. Some of these studies indicate that most of the aerodynamic jet noise due to turbulent mixing occurs when there is a rapid variation in turbulent structure, i.e. rapidly growing or decaying vortices. The objective of this research was to simulate a compressible round jet to study the non-linear evolution of vortices and the resulting acoustic radiations. In particular, to understand the effect of turbulence structure on the noise. An ideal technique to study this problem is Direct Numerical Simulations(DNS), because it provides precise control on the initial and boundary conditions that lead to the turbulent structures studied. It also provides complete 3-dimensional time dependent data. Since the dynamics of a temporally evolving jet are not greatly different from those, of a spatially evolving jet, a temporal jet problem was solved, using periodicity ill the direction of the jet axis. This enables the application of Fourier spectral methods in the streamwise direction. Physically this means that turbulent structures in the jet are repeated in successive downstream cells instead of being gradually modified downstream into a jet plume. The DNS jet simulation helps us understand the various turbulent scales and mechanisms of turbulence generation in the evolution of a compressible round jet. These accurate flow solutions will be used in future research to estimate near-field acoustic radiation by computing the total outward flux across a surface and determine how it is related to the evolution of the turbulent solutions. Furthermore, these simulations allow us to investigate the sensitivity of acoustic radiations to inlet/boundary conditions, with possible application to active noise suppression. In addition, the data generated can be used to compute various turbulence quantities such as mean velocities, turbulent stresses, etc. which will aid in turbulence modeling. This report will be presented in two chapters. The first chapter describes some work on the linear stability of a supersonic round jet and the implications of this for the jet noise problem. The second chapter is an extensive discussion of numerical work using the spectral method which we use to solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations to study turbulent jet flows. The method uses Fourier expansions in the azimuthal and streamwise direction and a 1-D B-spline basis representation in the radial direction. The B-spline basis is locally supported and this ensures block diagonal matrix equations which can be solved in O(N) steps. This is a modification of a boundary layer code developed by Robert Moser. A very accurate highly resolved Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of a turbulent jet flow is produced.

Large Scale Turbulent Structures in Supersonic Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, Ram Mohan; Lundgren, Thomas S.

1997-01-01

Jet noise is a major concern in the design of commercial aircraft. Studies by various researchers suggest that aerodynamic noise is a major contributor to jet noise. Some of these studies indicate that most of the aerodynamic jet noise due to turbulent mixing occurs when there is a rapid variation in turbulent structure, i.e. rapidly growing or decaying vortices. The objective of this research was to simulate a compressible round jet to study the non-linear evolution of vortices and the resulting acoustic radiations. In particular, to understand the effect of turbulence structure on the noise. An ideal technique to study this problem is Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), because it provides precise control on the initial and boundary conditions that lead to the turbulent structures studied. It also provides complete 3-dimensional time dependent data. Since the dynamics of a temporally evolving jet are not greatly different from those of a spatially evolving jet, a temporal jet problem was solved, using periodicity in the direction of the jet axis. This enables the application of Fourier spectral methods in the streamwise direction. Physically this means that turbulent structures in the jet are repeated in successive downstream cells instead of being gradually modified downstream into a jet plume. The DNS jet simulation helps us understand the various turbulent scales and mechanisms of turbulence generation in the evolution of a compressible round jet. These accurate flow solutions will be used in future research to estimate near-field acoustic radiation by computing the total outward flux across a surface and determine how it is related to the evolution of the turbulent solutions. Furthermore, these simulations allow us to investigate the sensitivity of acoustic radiations to inlet/boundary conditions, with possible appli(,a- tion to active noise suppression. In addition, the data generated can be used to compute, various turbulence quantities such as mean velocities, turbulent stresses, etc. which will aid in turbulence modeling. This report will be presented in two chapters. The first chapter describes some work on the linear stability of a supersonic round jet and the implications of this for the jet noise problem. The second chapter is an extensive discussion of numerical work using the spectral method which we use to solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations to study turbulent jet flows. The method uses Fourier expansions in the azimuthal and streamwise direction and a 1-D B-spline basis representation in the radial direction. The B-spline basis is locally supported and this ensures block diagonal matrix equations which can be solved in O(N) steps. This is a modification of a boundary layer code developed by Robert Moser. A very accurate highly resolved DNS of a turbulent jet flow is produced.

Measurement of turbulent spatial structure and kinetic energy spectrum by exact temporal-to-spatial mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchhave, Preben; Velte, Clara M.

2017-08-01

We present a method for converting a time record of turbulent velocity measured at a point in a flow to a spatial velocity record consisting of consecutive convection elements. The spatial record allows computation of dynamic statistical moments such as turbulent kinetic wavenumber spectra and spatial structure functions in a way that completely bypasses the need for Taylor's hypothesis. The spatial statistics agree with the classical counterparts, such as the total kinetic energy spectrum, at least for spatial extents up to the Taylor microscale. The requirements for applying the method are access to the instantaneous velocity magnitude, in addition to the desired flow quantity, and a high temporal resolution in comparison to the relevant time scales of the flow. We map, without distortion and bias, notoriously difficult developing turbulent high intensity flows using three main aspects that distinguish these measurements from previous work in the field: (1) The measurements are conducted using laser Doppler anemometry and are therefore not contaminated by directional ambiguity (in contrast to, e.g., frequently employed hot-wire anemometers); (2) the measurement data are extracted using a correctly and transparently functioning processor and are analysed using methods derived from first principles to provide unbiased estimates of the velocity statistics; (3) the exact mapping proposed herein has been applied to the high turbulence intensity flows investigated to avoid the significant distortions caused by Taylor's hypothesis. The method is first confirmed to produce the correct statistics using computer simulations and later applied to measurements in some of the most difficult regions of a round turbulent jet—the non-equilibrium developing region and the outermost parts of the developed jet. The proposed mapping is successfully validated using corresponding directly measured spatial statistics in the fully developed jet, even in the difficult outer regions of the jet where the average convection velocity is negligible and turbulence intensities increase dramatically. The measurements in the developing region reveal interesting features of an incomplete Richardson-Kolmogorov cascade under development.

Target parameter estimation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hocking, W. K.

1989-01-01

The objective of any radar experiment is to determine as much as possible about the entities which scatter the radiation. This review discusses many of the various parameters which can be deduced in a radar experiment, and also critically examines the procedures used to deduce them. Methods for determining the mean wind velocity, the RMS fluctuating velocities, turbulence parameters, and the shapes of the scatterers are considered. Complications with these determinations are discussed. It is seen throughout that a detailed understanding of the shape and cause of the scatterers is important in order to make better determinations of these various quantities. Finally, some other parameters, which are less easily acquired, are considered. For example, it is noted that momentum fluxes due to buoyancy waves and turbulence can be determined, and on occasions radars can be used to determine stratospheric diffusion coefficients and even temperature profiles in the atmosphere.

Numerical Simulations of Strong MHD Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mason, J.; Cattaneo, F.; Boldyrev, S.

2007-11-01

Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence plays an important role in many astrophysical phenomena, including the solar wind, angular momentum transport in accretion disks and interstellar scintillation. Despite more than 40 years of investigations much within the subject remains controversial. Recently a new theory has been developed [1, 2]. It predicts a scale-dependent dynamic alignment between the velocity and magnetic fluctuations and leads to the field-perpendicular energy spectrum E(k)k-3/2. Here we discuss this new theory and present the results of a series of numerical tests. Quantities measured include the alignment angle, the spectrum and the third order structure functions for which the exact relations due to Politano & Pouquet [3] hold. [1] Boldyrev, S. (2005) Astrophys. J. 626, L37. [2] Boldyrev, S. (2006) Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 115002. [3] Politano, H. & Pouquet, A. (1998) Geophys. Res. Lett. 25, 273.

Drift due to viscous vortex rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrell, Thomas; Spagnolie, Saverio; Thiffeault, Jean-Luc

2016-11-01

Biomixing is the study of fluid mixing due to swimming organisms. While large organisms typically produce turbulent flows in their wake, small organisms produce less turbulent wakes; the main mechanism of mixing is the induced net particle displacement (drift). Several experiments have examined this drift for small jellyfish, which produce vortex rings that trap and transport a fair amount of fluid. Inviscid theory implies infinite particle displacements for the trapped fluid, so the effect of viscosity must be included to understand the damping of real vortex motion. We use a model viscous vortex ring to compute particle displacements and other relevant quantities, such as the integrated moments of the displacement. Fluid entrainment at the tail end of a growing vortex 'envelope' is found to play an important role in the total fluid transport and drift. Partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-1109315.

On the scaling of velocity and vorticity variances in turbulent channel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonard, A.

2015-11-01

The availability of new DNS-based statistics for turbulent channel flow (Lee & Moser, JFM 2015) along with previous results (e.g., Hoyas & Jiménez, Phys. Flu. 2006) has provided the opportunity for another look at the scaling laws for this flow. For example, data from the former (fig. 4(e)) for the streamwise velocity variance in the outer region clearly indicate a modified log law for that quantity at Reτ = 5200 , i.e., + =C0 -C1 ln (y / δ) -C2 ln (y / δ)2 where δ is the channel half height. We find that this result fits the the data very well for 0 . 1 < y / δ < 0 . 8 . The Reynolds number (5200) is still apparently too low to observe the much-discussed log law (above with C2 = 0), which, presumably, would appear for roughly y / δ < 0 . 1 , as it does in high Reτ pipe flow (Hultmark et al., PRL 2012) with δ replaced by R. On the other hand, the above modified log law with the same values for C1 and C2 is a good fit for the pipe data at Reτ = 98 ×105 for y / R > 0 . 12 (fig. 4 of Hultmark et al.).

Admiralty Inlet Hub-Height Turbulence Measurements from June 2012

DOE Data Explorer

Kilcher, Levi

2012-06-18

This data is from measurements at Admiralty Head, in admiralty inlet. The measurements were made using an IMU equipped ADV mounted on a mooring, the 'Tidal Turbulence Mooring' or 'TTM'. The inertial measurements from the IMU allows for removal of mooring motion in post processing. The mooring motion has been removed from the stream-wise and vertical velocity signals (u, w). The lateral (v) velocity may have some 'persistent motion contamination' due to mooring sway. The ADV was positioned 11m above the seafloor in 58m of water at 48.1515N, 122.6858W. Units ----- - Velocity data (_u, urot, uacc) is in m/s. - Acceleration (Accel) data is in m/s^2. - Angular rate (AngRt) data is in rad/s. - The components of all vectors are in 'ENU' orientation. That is, the first index is True East, the second is True North, and the third is Up (vertical). - All other quantities are in the units defined in the Nortek Manual. Motion correction and rotation into the ENU earth reference frame was performed using the Python-based open source DOLfYN library (http://lkilcher.github.io/dolfyn/). Details on motion correction can be found there. For additional details on this dataset see the included Marine Energy Technology Symposium paper.

Turbulent Mixing Layer Control using Ns-DBD Plasma Actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Ashish; Little, Jesse

2016-11-01

A low speed turbulent mixing layer (Reθo =1282, U1 /U2 = 0 . 28 and U2 = 11 . 8 m / s) is subject to nanosecond pulse driven dielectric barrier discharge (ns-DBD) plasma actuation. The forcing frequency corresponds to a Strouhal number (St) of 0.032 which is the most amplified frequency based on stability theory. Flow response is studied as a function of the pulse energy, the energy input time scale (carrier frequency) and the duration of actuation (duty cycle). It is found that successful actuation requires a combination of forcing parameters. An evaluation of the forcing efficacy is achieved by examining different flow quantities such as momentum thickness, vorticity and velocity fluctuations. In accordance with past work, a dependence is found between the initial shear layer thickness and the energy coupled to the flow. More complex relationships are also revealed such as a limitation on the maximum pulse energy which yields control. Also, the pulse energy and the carrier frequency (inverse of period between successive pulses) are interdependent whereby an optimum exists between them and extreme values of either parameter is inconsonant with the control desired. These observations establish a rich and complex process behind ns-DBD plasma actuation. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-12-1-0044).

Tropical Ocean Surface Energy Balance Variability: Linking Weather to Climate Scales

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, J. Brent; Clayson, Carol Anne

2013-01-01

Radiative and turbulent surface exchanges of heat and moisture across the atmosphere-ocean interface are fundamental components of the Earth s energy and water balance. Characterizing the spatiotemporal variability of these exchanges of heat and moisture is critical to understanding the global water and energy cycle variations, quantifying atmosphere-ocean feedbacks, and improving model predictability. These fluxes are integral components to tropical ocean-atmosphere variability; they can drive ocean mixed layer variations and modify the atmospheric boundary layer properties including moist static stability, thereby influencing larger-scale tropical dynamics. Non-parametric cluster-based classification of atmospheric and ocean surface properties has shown an ability to identify coherent weather regimes, each typically associated with similar properties and processes. Using satellite-based observational radiative and turbulent energy flux products, this study investigates the relationship between these weather states and surface energy processes within the context of tropical climate variability. Investigations of surface energy variations accompanying intraseasonal and interannual tropical variability often use composite-based analyses of the mean quantities of interest. Here, a similar compositing technique is employed, but the focus is on the distribution of the heat and moisture fluxes within their weather regimes. Are the observed changes in surface energy components dominated by changes in the frequency of the weather regimes or through changes in the associated fluxes within those regimes? It is this question that the presented work intends to address. The distribution of the surface heat and moisture fluxes is evaluated for both normal and non-normal states. By examining both phases of the climatic oscillations, the symmetry of energy and water cycle responses are considered.

Turbulence-induced resonance vibrations cause pollen release in wind-pollinated Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae).

PubMed

Timerman, David; Greene, David F; Urzay, Javier; Ackerman, Josef D

2014-12-06

In wind pollination, the release of pollen from anthers into airflows determines the quantity and timing of pollen available for pollination. Despite the ecological and evolutionary importance of pollen release, wind-stamen interactions are poorly understood, as are the specific forces that deliver pollen grains into airflows. We present empirical evidence that atmospheric turbulence acts directly on stamens in the cosmopolitan, wind-pollinated weed, Plantago lanceolata, causing resonant vibrations that release episodic bursts of pollen grains. In laboratory experiments, we show that stamens have mechanical properties corresponding to theoretically predicted ranges for turbulence-driven resonant vibrations. The mechanical excitation of stamens at their characteristic resonance frequency caused them to resonate, shedding pollen vigorously. The characteristic natural frequency of the stamens increased over time with each shedding episode due to the reduction in anther mass, which increased the mechanical energy required to trigger subsequent episodes. Field observations of a natural population under turbulent wind conditions were consistent with these laboratory results and demonstrated that pollen is released from resonating stamens excited by small eddies whose turnover periods are similar to the characteristic resonance frequency measured in the laboratory. Turbulence-driven vibration of stamens at resonance may be a primary mechanism for pollen shedding in wind-pollinated angiosperms. The capacity to release pollen in wind can be viewed as a primary factor distinguishing animal- from wind-pollinated plants, and selection on traits such as the damping ratio and flexural rigidity may be of consequence in evolutionary transitions between pollination systems. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Comparison of stable boundary layer depth estimation from sodar and profile mast.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dieudonne, Elsa; Anderson, Philip

2015-04-01

The depth of the atmospheric turbulent mixing layer next to the earths surface, hz, is a key parameter in analysis and modeling of the interaction of the atmosphere with the surface. The transfer of momentum, heat, moisture and trace gases are to a large extent governed by this depth, which to a first approximation acts as a finite reservoir to these quantities. Correct estimates of the evolution of hz assists the would allow accurate prognosis of the near-surface accumulation of these variables, that is, wind speed, temperature, humidity and tracer concentration. Measuring hz however is not simple, especially where stable stratification acts to reduce internal mixing, and indeed, it is not clear whether hz is similar for momentum, heat and tracer. Two methods are compared here, to assess their similarity: firstly using acoustic back-scatter is used as an indicator of turbulent strength, the upper limit implying a change to laminar flow and the top of the boundary layer. Secondly, turbulence kinetic energy profiles, TKE(z), are extrapolated to estimate z for TKE(z) = 0, again implying laminar flow. Both techniques have the implied benefit of being able to run continually (via sodar and turbulence mast respectively) with the prospect of continual, autonomous data analysis generating time series of hz. This report examines monostatic sodar echo and sonic anemometer-derived turbulence profile data from Halley Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf Antarctica, during the austral winter of 2003. We report that the two techniques frequently show significant disagreement in estimated depth, and still require manual intervention, but further progress is possible.

Turbulence-induced resonance vibrations cause pollen release in wind-pollinated Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae)

PubMed Central

Timerman, David; Greene, David F.; Urzay, Javier; Ackerman, Josef D.

2014-01-01

In wind pollination, the release of pollen from anthers into airflows determines the quantity and timing of pollen available for pollination. Despite the ecological and evolutionary importance of pollen release, wind–stamen interactions are poorly understood, as are the specific forces that deliver pollen grains into airflows. We present empirical evidence that atmospheric turbulence acts directly on stamens in the cosmopolitan, wind-pollinated weed, Plantago lanceolata, causing resonant vibrations that release episodic bursts of pollen grains. In laboratory experiments, we show that stamens have mechanical properties corresponding to theoretically predicted ranges for turbulence-driven resonant vibrations. The mechanical excitation of stamens at their characteristic resonance frequency caused them to resonate, shedding pollen vigorously. The characteristic natural frequency of the stamens increased over time with each shedding episode due to the reduction in anther mass, which increased the mechanical energy required to trigger subsequent episodes. Field observations of a natural population under turbulent wind conditions were consistent with these laboratory results and demonstrated that pollen is released from resonating stamens excited by small eddies whose turnover periods are similar to the characteristic resonance frequency measured in the laboratory. Turbulence-driven vibration of stamens at resonance may be a primary mechanism for pollen shedding in wind-pollinated angiosperms. The capacity to release pollen in wind can be viewed as a primary factor distinguishing animal- from wind-pollinated plants, and selection on traits such as the damping ratio and flexural rigidity may be of consequence in evolutionary transitions between pollination systems. PMID:25297315

Application of transilient turbulent theory to study interactions between the atmospheric boundary layer and forest canopies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inclán, M. G.; Forkel, R.; Dlugi, R.; Stull, R. B.

1996-06-01

The new Forest-Land-Atmosphere ModEl called FLAME is presented. The first-order, nonlocal turbulence closure called transilient turbulence theory (Stull, 1993) is applied to study the interactions between a forested land-surface and the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). The transilient scheme is used for unequal vertical grid spacing and includes the effects of drag, wake turbulence, and interference to vertical mixing by plant elements. Radiation transfer within the vegetation and the equations for the energy balance at the leaf surface have been taken from Norman (1979). Among others, the model predicts profiles of air temperature, humidity and wind velocity within the ABL, sensible and latent heat fluxes from the soil and the vegetation, the stomata and aerodynamic resistances, as well as profiles of temperature and water content in the soil. Preliminary studies carried out for a cloud free day and idealized initial conditions are presented. The canopy height is 30 m within a vertical domain of 3 km. The model is able to capture some of the effects usually observed within and above forested areas, including the relative wind speed maximum in the trunk space and the counter gradient-fluxes in the lower part of the plant stand. Of special interest is the determination of the location and magnitude of the turbulent mixing between model layers, which permits one to identify the effects of large eddies transporting momentum and scalar quantities into the canopy. A comparison between model simulations and field measurements will be presented in a future paper.

Description of a Website Resource for Turbulence Modeling Verification and Validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rumsey, Christopher L.; Smith, Brian R.; Huang, George P.

2010-01-01

The activities of the Turbulence Model Benchmarking Working Group - which is a subcommittee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee - are described. The group s main purpose is to establish a web-based repository for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence model documentation, including verification and validation cases. This turbulence modeling resource has been established based on feedback from a survey on what is needed to achieve consistency and repeatability in turbulence model implementation and usage, and to document and disseminate information on new turbulence models or improvements to existing models. The various components of the website are described in detail: description of turbulence models, turbulence model readiness rating system, verification cases, validation cases, validation databases, and turbulence manufactured solutions. An outline of future plans of the working group is also provided.

HOST turbine heat transfer subproject overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gladden, Herbert J.

1986-01-01

The experimental part of the turbine heat transfer subproject consists of six large experiments, which are highlighted in this overview, and three of somewhat more modest scope. One of the initial efforts was the stator airfoil heat transfer program. The non-film cooled and the showerhead film cooled data have already been reported. The gill region film cooling effort is currently underway. The investigation of secondary flows in a 90 deg curved duct, was completed. The first phase examined flows with a relatively thin inlet boundary layer and low free stream turbulence. The second phase studied a thicker inlet boundary layer and higher free stream turbulence. A comparison of analytical and experimental cross flow velocity vectors is shown for the 60 deg plane. Two experiments were also conducted in the high pressure facility. One examined full coverage film cooled vanes, and the other, advanced instrumentation. The other three large experimental efforts were conducted in a rotation reference frame. An experiment to obtain gas path airfoil heat transfer coefficients in the large, low speed turbine was completed. Single-stage data with both high and low-inlet turbulence were taken. The second phase examined a one and one-half stage turbine and focused on the second vane row. Under phase 3 aerodynamic quantities such as interrow time-averaged and rms values of velocity, flow angle, inlet turbulence, and surface pressure distribution were measured.

Ordered roughness effects on NACA 0026 airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harun, Z.; Abbas, A. A.; Dheyaa, R. Mohammed; Ghazali, M. I.

2016-10-01

The effects of highly-ordered rough surface - riblets, applied onto the surface of a NACA 0026 airfoil, are investigated experimentally using wind tunnel. The riblets are arranged in directionally converging - diverging pattern with dimensions of height, h = 1 mm, pitch or spacing, s = 1 mm, yaw angle α = 0o and 10o The airfoil with external geometry of 500 mm span, 600 mm chord and 156 mm thickness has been built using mostly woods and aluminium. Turbulence quantities are collected using hotwire anemometry. Hotwire measurements show that flows past converging and diverging pattern inherit similar patterns in the near-wall region for both mean velocity and turbulence intensities profiles. The mean velocity profiles in logarithmic regions for both flows past converging and diverging riblet pattern are lower than that with yaw angle α = 0o. Converging riblets cause the boundary layer to thicken and the flow with yaw angle α = 0o produces the thinnest boundary layer. Both the converging and diverging riblets cause pronounced outer peaks in the turbulence intensities profiles. Most importantly, flows past converging and diverging pattern experience 30% skin friction reductions. Higher order statistics show that riblet surfaces produce similar effects due to adverse pressure gradient. It is concluded that a small strip of different ordered roughness features applied at a leading edge of an airfoil can change the turbulence characteristics dramatically.

Scalar Similarity for Relaxed Eddy Accumulation Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruppert, Johannes; Thomas, Christoph; Foken, Thomas

2006-07-01

The relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) method allows the measurement of trace gas fluxes when no fast sensors are available for eddy covariance measurements. The flux parameterisation used in REA is based on the assumption of scalar similarity, i.e., similarity of the turbulent exchange of two scalar quantities. In this study changes in scalar similarity between carbon dioxide, sonic temperature and water vapour were assessed using scalar correlation coefficients and spectral analysis. The influence on REA measurements was assessed by simulation. The evaluation is based on observations over grassland, irrigated cotton plantation and spruce forest. Scalar similarity between carbon dioxide, sonic temperature and water vapour showed a distinct diurnal pattern and change within the day. Poor scalar similarity was found to be linked to dissimilarities in the energy contained in the low frequency part of the turbulent spectra ( < 0.01 Hz). The simulations of REA showed significant change in b-factors throughout the diurnal course. The b-factor is part of the REA parameterisation scheme and describes a relation between the concentration difference and the vertical flux of a trace gas. The diurnal course of b-factors for carbon dioxide, sonic temperature and water vapour matched well. Relative flux errors induced in REA by varying scalar similarity were generally below ± 10%. Systematic underestimation of the flux of up to - 40% was found for the use of REA applying a hyperbolic deadband (HREA). This underestimation was related to poor scalar similarity between the scalar of interest and the scalar used as proxy for the deadband definition.

Estimating Turbulent Surface Fluxes from Small Unmanned Aircraft: Evaluation of Current Abilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Boer, G.; Lawrence, D.; Elston, J.; Cassano, J. J.; Mack, J.; Wildmann, N.; Nigro, M. A.; Ivey, M.; Wolfe, D. E.; Muschinski, A.

2014-12-01

Heat transfer between the atmosphere and Earth's surface represents a key component to understanding Earth energy balance, making it important in understanding and simulating climate. Arguably, the oceanic air-sea interface and Polar sea-ice-air interface are amongst the most challenging in which to measure these fluxes. This difficulty results partially from challenges associated with infrastructure deployment on these surfaces and partially from an inability to obtain spatially representative values over a potentially inhomogeneous surface. Traditionally sensible (temperature) and latent (moisture) fluxes are estimated using one of several techniques. A preferred method involves eddy-correlation where cross-correlation between anomalies in vertical motion (w) and temperature (T) or moisture (q) is used to estimate heat transfer. High-frequency measurements of these quantities can be derived using tower-mounted instrumentation. Such systems have historically been deployed over land surfaces or on ships and buoys to calculate fluxes at the air-land or air-sea interface, but such deployments are expensive and challenging to execute, resulting in a lack of spatially diverse measurements. A second ("bulk") technique involves the observation of horizontal windspeed, temperature and moisture at a given altitude over an extended time period in order to estimate the surface fluxes. Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) represent a unique platform from which to derive these fluxes. These sUAS can be small ( 1 m), lightweight ( 700 g), low cost ( $2000) and relatively easy to deploy to remote locations and over inhomogeneous surfaces. We will give an overview of the ability of sUAS to provide measurements necessary for estimating surface turbulent fluxes. This discussion is based on flights in the vicinity of the 1000 ft. Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) tower, and over the US Department of Energy facility at Oliktok Point, Alaska. We will present initial comparisons between UAS-derived turbulent fluxes and those derived from tower-based instrumentation and discuss differences in the context of sensor technology and flight patterns employed to collect data.

Multiresolution Wavelet Based Adaptive Numerical Dissipation Control for Shock-Turbulence Computations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sjoegreen, B.; Yee, H. C.

2001-01-01

The recently developed essentially fourth-order or higher low dissipative shock-capturing scheme of Yee, Sandham and Djomehri (1999) aimed at minimizing nu- merical dissipations for high speed compressible viscous flows containing shocks, shears and turbulence. To detect non smooth behavior and control the amount of numerical dissipation to be added, Yee et al. employed an artificial compression method (ACM) of Harten (1978) but utilize it in an entirely different context than Harten originally intended. The ACM sensor consists of two tuning parameters and is highly physical problem dependent. To minimize the tuning of parameters and physical problem dependence, new sensors with improved detection properties are proposed. The new sensors are derived from utilizing appropriate non-orthogonal wavelet basis functions and they can be used to completely switch to the extra numerical dissipation outside shock layers. The non-dissipative spatial base scheme of arbitrarily high order of accuracy can be maintained without compromising its stability at all parts of the domain where the solution is smooth. Two types of redundant non-orthogonal wavelet basis functions are considered. One is the B-spline wavelet (Mallat & Zhong 1992) used by Gerritsen and Olsson (1996) in an adaptive mesh refinement method, to determine regions where re nement should be done. The other is the modification of the multiresolution method of Harten (1995) by converting it to a new, redundant, non-orthogonal wavelet. The wavelet sensor is then obtained by computing the estimated Lipschitz exponent of a chosen physical quantity (or vector) to be sensed on a chosen wavelet basis function. Both wavelet sensors can be viewed as dual purpose adaptive methods leading to dynamic numerical dissipation control and improved grid adaptation indicators. Consequently, they are useful not only for shock-turbulence computations but also for computational aeroacoustics and numerical combustion. In addition, these sensors are scheme independent and can be stand alone options for numerical algorithm other than the Yee et al. scheme.

Investigating the Interaction of a Supersonic Single Expansion Ramp Nozzle and Sonic Wall Jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berry, Matthew G.

For nearly 80 years, the jet engine has set the pace for aviation technology around the world. Complexity of design has compounded upon each iteration of nozzle development, while the rate of fundamental fluids knowledge struggles to keep up. The increase in velocities associated with supersonic jets, have exacerbated the need for flow physics research. Supersonic flight remains the standard for military aircraft and is being rediscovered for commercial use. With the addition of multiple streams, complex nozzle geometries, and airframe integration in modern aircraft, the flow physics rapidly become more difficult. As performance capabilities increase, so do the noise producing mechanisms and unsteady dynamics. This has prompted an experimental investigation into the flow field and turbulence quantities of a modern jet nozzle configuration. A rectangular supersonic multi-stream nozzle with aft deck is characterized using time-resolved schlieren imaging, stereo PIV measurements, deck mounted pressure transducers, and far-field microphones. These experiments are performed at the Skytop Turbulence Laboratory at Syracuse University. LES data by The Ohio State University are paired with these experiments and give valuable insight into regions of the flow unable to be probed. By decomposing this complex flow field into two canonical flows, a supersonic rectangular nozzle and a sonic wall jet, a fundamental approach is taken to observe how these two jets interact. Thorough investigations of the highly turbulent flow field are being performed. Current analytical techniques employed are statistical quantities, turbulence properties, and low-dimensional models. Results show a dominant high frequency structure that propagates through the entire field and is observable in all experimental methods. The structures emanate from the interaction point of the supersonic jet and sonic wall jet. Additionally, the propagation paths are directionally dependent. Further, spanwise PIV measurements observe the asymmetric nozzle to be relatively two-dimensional across half of the jet span. An investigation into the effect of the aft deck has shown that the jet plume deflection depended on the aft deck length. This deflection is tied to separation and reattachment caused by reflecting oblique shocks. Additionally, low-dimensional models in the form of POD and DMD observe the most energetic and periodic structures in the turbulent flow field. Finally, these experimental results are paired with LES using data fusion techniques to form a more complete view of the flow. The comprehensive dataset will help validate computational models and create a basis for future SERN and aft deck designs.

Entrainment, transport and deposition of sediment by saline gravity currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zordan, Jessica; Juez, Carmelo; Schleiss, Anton J.; Franca, Mário J.

2018-05-01

Few studies have addressed simultaneously the feedback between the hydrodynamics of a gravity current and the geomorphological changes of a mobile bed. Hydrodynamic quantities such as turbulent and mean velocities, bed shear stress and turbulent stresses undoubtedly govern the processes of entrainment, transport and deposition. On the other hand, the incorporation of entrained sediment in the current may change its momentum by introducing extra internal stresses, introducing thus a feedback process. These two main questions are here investigated. Laboratory experiments of saline gravity currents, produced by lock-exchange, flowing over a mobile bed channel reach, are here reported. Different initial buoyancies of the current in the lock are tested together with three different grain sizes of the non-coherent sediment that form the erodible bed. Results from velocity measurements are combined with the visualization of the sediment movement in the mobile reach and with post-test topographic and photo surveys of the geomorphology modifications of the channel bed. Mean and turbulent velocities are measured and bed shear stress and Reynolds stresses are estimated. We show that the mean vertical component of the velocity and bed shear stress are highly correlated with the first instants of sediment entrainment. Vertical turbulent velocity is similarly related to entrainment, although with lower correlation values, contributing as well to the sediment movement. Bed shear stress and Reynolds shear stress measured near the bed are correlated with sediment entrainment for longer periods, indicating that these quantities are associated to distal transport as well. Geomorphological changes in the mobile bed are strongly related to the impulse caused by the bed shear stress on the sediment. On the other hand, we show that the nature of the grain of the mobile bed reach influences the hydrodynamics of the current which means that a feedback mechanisms between both occurs during the passage of the unsteady gravity current. The signature of this geomorphological changes, which is visible in the form of longitudinal steaks of accumulated sediment downstream the mobile bed, is related to the flow initial buoyancy and to the size of the mobile bed sediment. It is argued that the bed material and near-bed turbulent coherent motion interact and mutually influence each other. The geometry of the front of the gravity currents changes with the incorporation of the sediment, indicating that with the presence of sediment extra energy losses occur in the front of the current.

Advances in wave turbulence: rapidly rotating flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cambon, C.; Rubinstein, R.; Godeferd, F. S.

2004-07-01

At asymptotically high rotation rates, rotating turbulence can be described as a field of interacting dispersive waves by the general theory of weak wave turbulence. However, rotating turbulence has some complicating features, including the anisotropy of the wave dispersion relation and the vanishing of the wave frequency on a non-vanishing set of 'slow' modes. These features prevent straightforward application of existing theories and lead to some interesting properties, including the transfer of energy towards the slow modes. This transfer competes with, and might even replace, the transfer to small scales envisioned in standard turbulence theories. In this paper, anisotropic spectra for rotating turbulence are proposed based on weak turbulence theory; some evidence for their existence is given based on numerical calculations of the wave turbulence equations. Previous arguments based on the properties of resonant wave interactions suggest that the slow modes decouple from the others. Here, an extended wave turbulence theory with non-resonant interactions is proposed in which all modes are coupled; these interactions are possible only because of the anisotropy of the dispersion relation. Finally, the vanishing of the wave frequency on the slow modes implies that these modes cannot be described by weak turbulence theory. A more comprehensive approach to rotating turbulence is proposed to overcome this limitation.

Models of inertial range spectra of interplanetary magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhou, YE; Matthaeus, William H.

1990-01-01

A framework based on turbulence theory is presented to develop approximations for the local turbulence effects that are required in transport models. An approach based on Kolmogoroff-style dimensional analysis is presented as well as one based on a wave-number diffusion picture. Particular attention is given to the case of MHD turbulence with arbitrary cross helicity and with arbitrary ratios of the Alfven time scale and the nonlinear time scale.

A multiple-time-scale turbulence model based on variable partitioning of turbulent kinetic energy spectrum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, S.-W.; Chen, C.-P.

1988-01-01

The paper presents a multiple-time-scale turbulence model of a single point closure and a simplified split-spectrum method. Consideration is given to a class of turbulent boundary layer flows and of separated and/or swirling elliptic turbulent flows. For the separated and/or swirling turbulent flows, the present turbulence model yielded significantly improved computational results over those obtained with the standard k-epsilon turbulence model.

Unsteady loads due to propulsive lift configurations. Part B: Pressure and velocity measurements in a three dimensional wall jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Catalano, G. D.; Morton, J. B.; Humphris, R. R.

1978-01-01

The effects of increasing the velocity ratio, lambda sub j were explored. The quantities measured include the width of the mixing region, the mean velocity field, turbulent intensities and time scales. In addition, wall and static pressure velocity correlations and coherences are presented. The velocity measurements were made using a laser Doppler velocimeter with a phase locked loop processor. The fluctuating pressures were monitored using condenser type microphones.

Inertioelastic Flow Instability at a Stagnation Point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burshtein, Noa; Zografos, Konstantinos; Shen, Amy Q.; Poole, Robert J.; Haward, Simon J.

2017-10-01

A number of important industrial applications exploit the ability of small quantities of high molecular weight polymer to suppress instabilities that arise in the equivalent flow of Newtonian fluids, a particular example being turbulent drag reduction. However, it can be extremely difficult to probe exactly how the polymer acts to, e.g., modify the streamwise near-wall eddies in a fully turbulent flow. Using a novel cross-slot flow configuration, we exploit a flow instability in order to create and study a single steady-state streamwise vortex. By quantitative experiment, we show how the addition of small quantities (parts per million) of a flexible polymer to a Newtonian solvent dramatically affects both the onset conditions for this instability and the subsequent growth of the axial vorticity. Complementary numerical simulations with a finitely extensible nonlinear elastic dumbbell model show that these modifications are due to the growth of polymeric stress within specific regions of the flow domain. Our data fill a significant gap in the literature between the previously reported purely inertial and purely elastic flow regimes and provide a link between the two by showing how the instability mode is transformed as the fluid elasticity is varied. Our results and novel methods are relevant to understanding the mechanisms underlying industrial uses of weakly elastic fluids and also to understanding inertioelastic instabilities in more confined flows through channels with intersections and stagnation points.

Modulation of a methane Bunsen flame by upstream perturbations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Souza, T. Cardoso; Bastiaans, R. J. M.; De Goey, L. P. H.; Geurts, B. J.

2017-04-01

In this paper the effects of an upstream spatially periodic modulation acting on a turbulent Bunsen flame are investigated using direct numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the flamelet generated manifold (FGM) method to parameterise the chemistry. The premixed Bunsen flame is spatially agitated with a set of coherent large-scale structures of specific wave-number, K. The response of the premixed flame to the external modulation is characterised in terms of time-averaged properties, e.g. the average flame height ⟨H⟩ and the flame surface wrinkling ⟨W⟩. Results show that the flame response is notably selective to the size of the length scales used for agitation. For example, both flame quantities ⟨H⟩ and ⟨W⟩ present an optimal response, in comparison with an unmodulated flame, when the modulation scale is set to relatively low wave-numbers, 4π/L ≲ K ≲ 6π/L, where L is a characteristic scale. At the agitation scales where the optimal response is observed, the average flame height, ⟨H⟩, takes a clearly defined minimal value while the surface wrinkling, ⟨W⟩, presents an increase by more than a factor of 2 in comparison with the unmodulated reference case. Combined, these two response quantities indicate that there is an optimal scale for flame agitation and intensification of combustion rates in turbulent Bunsen flames.

Numerical method for predicting flow characteristics and performance of nonaxisymmetric nozzles. Part 2: Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, P. D.

1980-01-01

A computer implemented numerical method for predicting the flow in and about an isolated three dimensional jet exhaust nozzle is summarized. The approach is based on an implicit numerical method to solve the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations in a boundary conforming curvilinear coordinate system. Recent improvements to the original numerical algorithm are summarized. Equations are given for evaluating nozzle thrust and discharge coefficient in terms of computed flowfield data. The final formulation of models that are used to simulate flow turbulence effect is presented. Results are presented from numerical experiments to explore the effect of various quantities on the rate of convergence to steady state and on the final flowfield solution. Detailed flowfield predictions for several two and three dimensional nozzle configurations are presented and compared with wind tunnel experimental data.

Admiralty Inlet Advanced Turbulence Measurements: June 2014

DOE Data Explorer

Kilcher, Levi

2014-06-30

This data is from measurements at Admiralty Head, in Admiralty Inlet (Puget Sound) in June of 2014. The measurements were made using Inertial Motion Unit (IMU) equipped ADVs mounted on Tidal Turbulence Mooring's (TTMs). The TTM positions the ADV head above the seafloor to make mid-depth turbulence measurements. The inertial measurements from the IMU allows for removal of mooring motion in post processing. The mooring motion has been removed from the stream-wise and vertical velocity signals (u, w). The lateral (v) velocity has some 'persistent motion contamination' due to mooring sway. Each ttm was deployed with two ADVs. The 'top' ADV head was positioned 0.5m above the 'bottom' ADV head. The TTMs were placed in 58m of water. The position of the TTMs were: ttm01 : (48.1525, -122.6867) ttm01b : (48.15256666, -122.68678333) ttm02b : (48.152783333, -122.686316666) Deployments TTM01b and TTM02b occurred simultaneously and were spaced approximately 50m apart in the cross-stream direction. Units ----- - Velocity data (_u, urot, uacc) is in m/s. - Acceleration (Accel) data is in m/s^2. - Angular rate (AngRt) data is in rad/s. - The components of all vectors are in 'ENU' orientation. That is, the first index is True East, the second is True North, and the third is Up (vertical). - All other quantities are in the units defined in the Nortek Manual. Motion correction and rotation into the ENU earth reference frame was performed using the Python-based open source DOLfYN library (http://lkilcher.github.io/dolfyn/). Details on motion correction can be found there. Additional details on TTM measurements at this site can be found in the included Marine Energy Technology Symposium paper.

Validation of gyrokinetic simulations with measurements of electron temperature fluctuations and density-temperature phase angles on ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freethy, S. J.; Görler, T.; Creely, A. J.; Conway, G. D.; Denk, S. S.; Happel, T.; Koenen, C.; Hennequin, P.; White, A. E.; ASDEX Upgrade Team

2018-05-01

Measurements of turbulent electron temperature fluctuation amplitudes, δTe ⊥/Te , frequency spectra, and radial correlation lengths, Lr(Te ⊥) , have been performed at ASDEX Upgrade using a newly upgraded Correlation ECE diagnostic in the range of scales k⊥<1.4 cm-1, kr<3.5 cm-1 ( k⊥ρs<0.28 and krρs<0.7 ). The phase angle between turbulent temperature and density fluctuations, αnT, has also been measured by using an ECE radiometer coupled to a reflectometer along the same line of sight. These quantities are used simultaneously to constrain a set of ion-scale non-linear gyrokinetic turbulence simulations of the outer core (ρtor = 0.75) of a low density, electron heated L-mode plasma, performed using the gyrokinetic simulation code, GENE. The ion and electron temperature gradients were scanned within uncertainties. It is found that gyrokinetic simulations are able to match simultaneously the electron and ion heat flux at this radius within the experimental uncertainties. The simulations were performed based on a reference discharge for which δTe ⊥/Te measurements were available, and Lr(Te ⊥) and αnT were then predicted using synthetic diagnostics prior to measurements in a repeat discharge. While temperature fluctuation amplitudes are overestimated by >50% for all simulations within the sensitivity scans performed, good quantitative agreement is found for Lr(Te ⊥) and αnT. A validation metric is used to quantify the level of agreement of individual simulations with experimental measurements, and the best agreement is found close to the experimental gradient values.

Admiralty Inlet Advanced Turbulence Measurements: May 2015

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kilcher, Levi

This data is from measurements at Admiralty Head, in Admiralty Inlet (Puget Sound) in May of 2015. The measurements were made using Inertial Motion Unit (IMU) equipped ADVs mounted on a 'StableMoor' (Manufacturer: DeepWater Buoyancy) buoy and a Tidal Turbulence Mooring (TTM). These platforms position ADV heads above the seafloor to make mid-depth turbulence measurements. The inertial measurements from the IMU allows for removal of mooring motion in post processing. The mooring and buoy motion has been removed from the stream-wise and vertical velocity signals (u, w). The lateral (v) velocity has some 'persistent motion contamination' due to mooring sway.more » The TTM was deployed with one ADV, it's position was: 48 09.145', -122 41.209' The StableMoor was deployed twice, the first time it was deployed in 'wing-mode' with two ADVs ('Port' and 'Star') at: 48 09.166', -122 41.173' The second StableMoor deployment was in 'Nose' mode with one ADV at: 48 09.166', -122 41.174' Units ----- - Velocity data (_u, urot, uacc) is in m/s. - Acceleration (Accel) data is in m/s^2. - Angular rate (AngRt) data is in rad/s. - The components of all vectors are in 'ENU' orientation. That is, the first index is True East, the second is True North, and the third is Up (vertical). - All other quantities are in the units defined in the Nortek Manual. Motion correction and rotation into the ENU earth reference frame was performed using the Python-based open source DOLfYN library (http://lkilcher.github.io/dolfyn/). Details on motion correction can be found there. Additional details on TTM measurements at this site can be found in the included Marine Energy Technology Symposium paper.« less

Computations of Complex Three-Dimensional Turbulent Free Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, Robert V.; Demuren, Ayodeji O.

1997-01-01

Three-dimensional, incompressible turbulent jets with rectangular and elliptical cross-sections are simulated with a finite-difference numerical method. The full Navier- Stokes equations are solved at low Reynolds numbers, whereas at high Reynolds numbers filtered forms of the equations are solved along with a sub-grid scale model to approximate the effects of the unresolved scales. A 2-N storage, third-order Runge-Kutta scheme is used for temporary discretization and a fourth-order compact scheme is used for spatial discretization. Although such methods are widely used in the simulation of compressible flows, the lack of an evolution equation for pressure or density presents particular difficulty in incompressible flows. The pressure-velocity coupling must be established indirectly. It is achieved, in this study, through a Poisson equation which is solved by a compact scheme of the same order of accuracy. The numerical formulation is validated and the dispersion and dissipation errors are documented by the solution of a wide range of benchmark problems. Three-dimensional computations are performed for different inlet conditions which model the naturally developing and forced jets. The experimentally observed phenomenon of axis-switching is captured in the numerical simulation, and it is confirmed through flow visualization that this is based on self-induction of the vorticity field. Statistical quantities such as mean velocity, mean pressure, two-point velocity spatial correlations and Reynolds stresses are presented. Detailed budgets of the mean momentum and Reynolds stresses are presented. Detailed budgets of the mean momentum and Reynolds stress equations are presented to aid in the turbulence modeling of complex jets. Simulations of circular jets are used to quantify the effect of the non-uniform curvature of the non-circular jets.

Modeling of Flow Transition Using an Intermittency Transport Equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suzen, Y. B.; Huang, P. G.

1999-01-01

A new transport equation for intermittency factor is proposed to model transitional flows. The intermittent behavior of the transitional flows is incorporated into the computations by modifying the eddy viscosity, mu(sub t), obtainable from a turbulence model, with the intermittency factor, gamma: mu(sub t, sup *) = gamma.mu(sub t). In this paper, Menter's SST model (Menter, 1994) is employed to compute mu(sub t) and other turbulent quantities. The proposed intermittency transport equation can be considered as a blending of two models - Steelant and Dick (1996) and Cho and Chung (1992). The former was proposed for near-wall flows and was designed to reproduce the streamwise variation of the intermittency factor in the transition zone following Dhawan and Narasimha correlation (Dhawan and Narasimha, 1958) and the latter was proposed for free shear flows and was used to provide a realistic cross-stream variation of the intermittency profile. The new model was used to predict the T3 series experiments assembled by Savill (1993a, 1993b) including flows with different freestream turbulence intensities and two pressure-gradient cases. For all test cases good agreements between the computed results and the experimental data are observed.

Hybrid RANS-LES using high order numerical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henry de Frahan, Marc; Yellapantula, Shashank; Vijayakumar, Ganesh; Knaus, Robert; Sprague, Michael

2017-11-01

Understanding the impact of wind turbine wake dynamics on downstream turbines is particularly important for the design of efficient wind farms. Due to their tractable computational cost, hybrid RANS/LES models are an attractive framework for simulating separation flows such as the wake dynamics behind a wind turbine. High-order numerical methods can be computationally efficient and provide increased accuracy in simulating complex flows. In the context of LES, high-order numerical methods have shown some success in predictions of turbulent flows. However, the specifics of hybrid RANS-LES models, including the transition region between both modeling frameworks, pose unique challenges for high-order numerical methods. In this work, we study the effect of increasing the order of accuracy of the numerical scheme in simulations of canonical turbulent flows using RANS, LES, and hybrid RANS-LES models. We describe the interactions between filtering, model transition, and order of accuracy and their effect on turbulence quantities such as kinetic energy spectra, boundary layer evolution, and dissipation rate. This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Exascale Computing Project, under Contract No. DE-AC36-08-GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Experimental investigation of turbulent flow through a circular-to-rectangular transition duct. Ph.D. Thesis - Washington Univ.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, David O.

1991-01-01

Steady, incompressible, turbulent, swirl-free flow through a circular-to-rectangular transition duck was studied experimentally. The cross-sectional area remains the same at the exit as at the inlet, but varies through the transition section to a maximum value approximately 15 percent above the inlet value. The cross-sectional geometry everywhere along the duct is defined by the equation of a superellipse. Mean and turbulence data were accumulated utilizing pressure and hot-wire instrumentation at five stations along the test section. Data are presented for operating bulk Reynolds numbers of 88,000 and 390,000. Measured quantities include total and static pressure, the three components of the mean velocity vector, and the six components of the Reynolds stress tensor. In addition to the transition duct measurements, a hot-wire technique which relies on the sequential use of single rotatable normal and slant-wire probes was proposed. The technique is applicable for measurement of the total mean velocity vector and the complete Reynolds stress tensor when the primary flow is arbitrarily skewed relative to a plane which lies normal to the probe axis of rotation.

Benchmark studies of thermal jet mixing in SFRs using a two-jet model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Omotowa, O. A.; Skifton, R.; Tokuhiro, A.

To guide the modeling, simulations and design of Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs), we explore and compare the predictive capabilities of two numerical solvers COMSOL and OpenFOAM in the thermal jet mixing of two buoyant jets typical of the outlet flow from a SFR tube bundle. This process will help optimize on-going experimental efforts at obtaining high resolution data for V and V of CFD codes as anticipated in next generation nuclear systems. Using the k-{epsilon} turbulence models of both codes as reference, their ability to simulate the turbulence behavior in similar environments was first validated for single jet experimental datamore » reported in literature. This study investigates the thermal mixing of two parallel jets having a temperature difference (hot-to-cold) {Delta}T{sub hc}= 5 deg. C, 10 deg. C and velocity ratios U{sub c}/U{sub h} = 0.5, 1. Results of the computed turbulent quantities due to convective mixing and the variations in flow field along the axial position are presented. In addition, this study also evaluates the effect of spacing ratio between jets in predicting the flow field and jet behavior in near and far fields. (authors)« less

Vortex scaling ranges in two-dimensional turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgess, Helen; Scott, Richard; Dritschel, David

2017-11-01

We introduce a scaling theory for vortices in the forced inverse energy cascade of 2D turbulence. Far-from-equilibrium systems generically exhibit multiple scaling regimes associated with transport of conserved quantities. Motivated by this observation, we model a three-part time-evolving vortex number density distribution, n (A) tαiA-ri , i ∈ 1 , 2 , 3 , conserving the first three moments of ωv2n (A) in three distinct scaling ranges. Here ωv2 is the `vortex intensity', or mean square vorticity evaluated over vortices, and areas A are intense regions of vorticity bounded by vorticity isolines. We predict αi and ri by enforcing conservation in `comoving intervals', whose endpoints evolve at the vortex growth rate; this amounts to assuming invariance under the dilatation of flow features associated with the inverse cascade, and that vortex area growth is the appropriate measure of dilatation in all scaling ranges. High resolution numerical simulations verify the predictions, which are insensitive to the vorticity threshold used to isolate the areas. Similar concepts can be applied to model vortices in decaying 2D turbulence, pointing toward a unified description of vortices in both systems.

Pulsatile turbulent flow through pipe bends at high Dean and Womersley numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalpakli, Athanasia; Örlü, Ramis; Tillmark, Nils; Alfredsson, P. Henrik

2011-12-01

Turbulent pulsatile flows through pipe bends are prevalent in internal combustion engine components which consist of bent pipe sections and branching conduits. Nonetheless, most of the studies related to pulsatile flows in pipe bends focus on incompressible, low Womersley and low Dean number flows, primarily because they aim in modeling blood flow, while internal combustion engine related flows have mainly been addressed in terms of integral quantities and consist of single point measurements. The present study aims at bridging the gap between these two fields by means of time-resolved stereoscopic particle image velocimetry measurements in a pipe bend with conditions that are close to those encountered in exhaust manifolds. The time/phase-resolved three-dimensional cross-sectional flow-field 3 pipe diameters downstream the pipe bend is captured and the interplay between different secondary motions throughout a pulse cycle is discussed.

Magnetofluid Simulations of the Global Solar Wind Including Pickup Ions and Turbulence Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldstein, Melvyn L.; Usmanov, Arcadi V.; Matthaeus, William H.

2011-01-01

I will describe a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model of the solar wind that takes into account turbulent heating of the wind by velocity and magnetic fluctuations as well as a variety of effects produced by interstellar pickup protons. In this report, the interstellar pickup protons are treated as one fluid and the protons and electrons are treated together as a second fluid. The model equations include a Reynolds decomposition of the plasma velocity and magnetic field into mean and fluctuating quantities, as well as energy transfer from interstellar pickup protons to solar wind protons that results in the deceleration of the solar wind. The model is used to simulate the global steady-state structure of the solar wind in the region from 0.3 to 100 AU. Where possible, the model is compared with Voyager data. Initial results from generalization to a three-fluid model is described elsewhere in this session.

The vortex as a clock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breidenthal, Robert

2003-11-01

Using heuristic arguments, the fundamental effect of acceleration on dissipation in self-similar turbulence is explored. If the ratio of the next vortex rotation period to the last one is always constant, a flow is temporally self-similar. This implies that the vortex rotation period is a linear function of time. For ordinary, unforced turbulence, the period increases linearly in time. However, by imposing an external e-folding time scale on the flow that decreases linearly in time, the dissipation rate is changed from that of the corresponding unforced flow. The dissipation rate depends on the time rate of change of the rotation period as well as the dimensions of the dynamic quantity controlling the flow. For almost all canonical laboratory flows, acceleration reduces the dissipation and entrainment rates. An example is the exponential jet, where the flame length increases by about 20conventional jet. An exception is Rayleigh-Taylor flow, where acceleration increases the dissipation rate.

Flame surface statistics of constant-pressure turbulent expanding premixed flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saha, Abhishek; Chaudhuri, Swetaprovo; Law, Chung K.

2014-04-01

In this paper we investigate the local flame surface statistics of constant-pressure turbulent expanding flames. First the statistics of local length ratio is experimentally determined from high-speed planar Mie scattering images of spherically expanding flames, with the length ratio on the measurement plane, at predefined equiangular sectors, defined as the ratio of the actual flame length to the length of a circular-arc of radius equal to the average radius of the flame. Assuming isotropic distribution of such flame segments we then convolute suitable forms of the length-ratio probability distribution functions (pdfs) to arrive at the corresponding area-ratio pdfs. It is found that both the length ratio and area ratio pdfs are near log-normally distributed and shows self-similar behavior with increasing radius. Near log-normality and rather intermittent behavior of the flame-length ratio suggests similarity with dissipation rate quantities which stimulates multifractal analysis.

Streamwise evolution of statistical events and the triple correlation in a model wind turbine array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viestenz, Kyle; Cal, Raúl Bayoán

2013-11-01

Hot-wire anemometry data, obtained from a wind tunnel experiment containing a 3 × 3 wind turbine array, are used to conditionally average the Reynolds stresses. Nine profiles at the centerline behind the array are analyzed to characterize the turbulent velocity statistics of the wake flow. Quadrant analysis yields statistical events occurring in the wake of the wind farm, where quadrants 2 and 4 produce ejections and sweeps, respectively. A balance between these quadrants is expressed via the ΔSo parameter, which attains a maximum value at the bottom tip and changes sign near the top tip of the rotor. These are then associated to the triple correlation term present in the turbulent kinetic energy equation of the fluctuations. The development of these various quantities is assessed in light of wake remediation, energy transport and possess significance in closure models. National Science Foundation: ECCS-1032647.

On the Lamb vector divergence as a momentum field diagnostic employed in turbulent channel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamman, Curtis W.; Kirby, Robert M.; Klewicki, Joseph C.

2006-11-01

Vorticity, enstrophy, helicity, and other derived field variables provide invaluable information about the kinematics and dynamics of fluids. However, whether or not derived field variables exist that intrinsically identify spatially localized motions having a distinct capacity to affect a time rate of change of linear momentum is seldom addressed in the literature. The purpose of the present study is to illustrate the unique attributes of the divergence of the Lamb vector in order to qualify its potential for characterizing such spatially localized motions. Toward this aim, we describe the mathematical properties, near-wall behavior, and scaling characteristics of the divergence of the Lamb vector for turbulent channel flow. When scaled by inner variables, the mean divergence of the Lamb vector merges to a single curve in the inner layer, and the fluctuating quantities exhibit a strong correlation with the Bernoulli function throughout much of the inner layer.

Effects of entrained water and strong turbulence on afterburning within solid rocket motor plumes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gomberg, R. I.; Wilmoth, R. G.

1978-01-01

During the first few seconds of the space shuttle trajectory, the solid rocket boosters will be in the proximity of the launch pad. Because of the launch pad structures and the surface of the earth, the turbulent mixing experienced by the exhaust gases will be greatly increased over that for the free flight situation. In addition, a system will be present, designed to protect the lifting vehicle from launch structure vibrations, which will inject quantities of liquid water into the hot plume. The effects of these two phenomena on the temperatures, chemical composition, and flow field present in the afterburning solid rocket motor exhaust plumes of the space shuttle were studied. Results are included from both a computational model of the afterburning and supporting measurements from Titan 3 exhaust plumes taken at Kennedy Space Center with infrared scanned radiometers.

The energy spectrum and geometrical structure of Galactic turbulent magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Xiaohui; Gaensler, Bryan; Mcclure-Griffiths, Naomi; Purcell, Cormac; Hill, Alex; Burkhart, Blakesley; Lazarian, Alex

2012-10-01

The energy spectrum and geometrical structure of the turbulent magnetic field can offer a solid test of different theoretical models on the generation and evolution of Galactic magnetic fields. They are also pivotal to understanding the propagation of cosmic-ray particles. However, the energy spectrum has been difficult to determine and the geometrical structure has never been obtained so far, due to lack of proper methods and observations. We aim to infer these quantities by applying our newly developed techniques to polarisation images. These images are required to be observed with high angular resolution and broadband multi-channel polarimetry, which is possible only recently using the ATCA. As a pilot study, we plan to map the 2X2 degree high-latitude field centred at l=255.5 degree and b=-38 degree at 1.1-3.1 GHz in total intensity and polarisation.

The energy spectrum and geometrical structure of Galactic turbulent magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Xiaohui; Gaensler, Bryan; Mcclure-Griffiths, Naomi; Purcell, Cormac; Hill, Alex; Burkhart, Blakesley; Lazarian, Alex

2012-04-01

The energy spectrum and geometrical structure of the turbulent magnetic field can offer a solid test of different theoretical models on the generation and evolution of Galactic magnetic fields. They are also pivotal to understanding the propagation of cosmic-ray particles. However, the energy spectrum has been difficult to determine and the geometrical structure has never been obtained so far, due to lack of proper methods and observations. We aim to infer these quantities by applying our newly developed techniques to polarisation images. These images are required to be observed with high angular resolution and broadband multi-channel polarimetry, which is possible only recently using the ATCA. As a pilot study, we plan to map the 2X2 degree high-latitude field centred at l=255.5 degree and b=-38 degree at 1.1-3.1 GHz in total intensity and polarisation.

Validation of a Pseudo-Sound Theory for the Pressure-Dilatation in DNS of Compressible Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ristorcelli, J. R.; Blaisdell, G. A.

1997-01-01

The results of an asymptotic theory for statistical closures for compressible turbulence are explored and validated with the direct numerical simulation of the isotropic decay and the homogeneous shear. An excellent collapse of the data is seen. The slow portion is found to scale, as predicted by the theory, with the quantity M(sub t)(sup 2) and epsilon(sub s). The rapid portion has an unambiguous scaling with alpha(sup 2)M(sub t)(sup s)epsilon(sub s)[P(sub k)/epsilon - l](Sk/epsilon)(sup 2). Implicit in the scaling is a dependence, as has been noted by others, on the gradient Mach number. A new feature of the effects of compressibility, that of the Kolmogorov scaling coefficient, alpha, is discussed. It is suggested that alpha may contain flow specific physics associated with large scales that might provide further insight into the structural effects of compressibility.

A comparative study of manhole hydraulics using stereoscopic PIV and different RANS models.

PubMed

Beg, Md Nazmul Azim; Carvalho, Rita F; Tait, Simon; Brevis, Wernher; Rubinato, Matteo; Schellart, Alma; Leandro, Jorge

2017-04-01

Flows in manholes are complex and may include swirling and recirculation flow with significant turbulence and vorticity. However, how these complex 3D flow patterns could generate different energy losses and so affect flow quantity in the wider sewer network is unknown. In this work, 2D3C stereo Particle Image Velocimetry measurements are made in a surcharged scaled circular manhole. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model in OpenFOAM ® with four different Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) turbulence model is constructed using a volume of fluid model, to represent flows in this manhole. Velocity profiles and pressure distributions from the models are compared with the experimental data in view of finding the best modelling approach. It was found among four different RANS models that the re-normalization group (RNG) k-ɛ and k-ω shear stress transport (SST) gave a better approximation for velocity and pressure.

Vector Third Moment of Turbulent MHD Fluctuations: Theory and Interpretation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forman, M. A.; MacBride, B. T.; Smith, C. W.

2006-12-01

We call attention to the fact that a certain vector third moment of turbulent MHD fluctuations, even if they are anisotropic, obeys an exact scaling relation in the inertial range. Politano and Pouquet (1998, PP) proved it from the MHD equations specifically. It is a direct analog of the long-known von Karman-Howarth-Monin (KHM) vector relation in anisotropic hydrodynamic turbulence, which follows from the Navier-Stokes equations (see Frisch, 1995). The relevant quantities in MHD are the plus and minus Elsasser vectors and their fluctuations over vector spatial differences. These are used in the mixed vector third moment S+/-(r). The mixed moment is essential, because in the MHD equations for the Elsasser variables, the z + and z- are mixed in the non-linear term. The PP relation is div (S+/-(r))= -4*(epsilon +/-) where (epsilon +/-) is the turbulent energy dissipation rate in the +/- cascade, in Joules/(kg-sec). Of the many possible vector and tensor third moments of MHD vector fluctuations, S+/-(r) is the only one known to have an exact (although vector differential) scaling valid in anisotropic MHD in the inertial range. The PP scaling of a distinctly non-zero third moment indicates that an inertial range cascade is present. The PP scaling does NOT simply result from a dimensional argument, but is derived directly from the MHD equations. A power-law power spectrum alone does not necessarily imply an inertial cascade is present. Furthermore, only the scaling of S+/-(r) gives the epsilon +/- directly. Earlier methods of determining epsilon +/-, based on the amplitude of the power spectrum, make assumptions about isotropy, Alfvenicity and scaling that are not exact. Thus, the observation of a finite S+/-(r) and its scaling with vector r, are fundamental to MHD turbulence in the solar wind, or in any magnetized plasma. We are engaged in evaluating S+/-(r )and its anisotropic scaling in the solar wind, beginning with ACE field and plasma data. For this, we are using the Taylor hypothesis that r = Vt, where t is a time lag of fluctuations seen at a single spacecraft. Because we use a forward time lag, we actually measure -S+/-(r ) which is positive in a direct cascade. We report some results in an accompanying poster. This presentation concentrates on the theory, and how the results are to be interpreted. References: Frisch, U., Turbulence, Cambridge U. Press, 1995, p. 78 Politano, H. and Pouquet, A. Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 273, 1998

Global Turbulence Decision Support for Aviation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, J.; Sharman, R.; Kessinger, C.; Feltz, W.; Wimmers, A.

2009-09-01

Turbulence is widely recognized as the leading cause of injuries to flight attendants and passengers on commercial air carriers, yet legacy decision support products such as SIGMETs and SIGWX charts provide relatively low spatial- and temporal-resolution assessments and forecasts of turbulence, with limited usefulness for strategic planning and tactical turbulence avoidance. A new effort is underway to develop an automated, rapid-update, gridded global turbulence diagnosis and forecast system that addresses upper-level clear-air turbulence, mountain-wave turbulence, and convectively-induced turbulence. This NASA-funded effort, modeled on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's Graphical Turbulence Guidance (GTG) and GTG Nowcast systems, employs NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) model output and data from NASA and operational satellites to produce quantitative turbulence nowcasts and forecasts. A convective nowcast element based on GFS forecasts and satellite data provides a basis for diagnosing convective turbulence. An operational prototype "Global GTG” system has been running in real-time at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research since the spring of 2009. Initial verification based on data from TRMM, Cloudsat and MODIS (for the convection nowcasting) and AIREPs and AMDAR data (for turbulence) are presented. This product aims to provide the "single authoritative source” for global turbulence information for the U.S. Next Generation Air Transportation System.

Multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis for two nonstationary signals.

PubMed

Zhou, Wei-Xing

2008-06-01

We propose a method called multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis to investigate the multifractal behaviors in the power-law cross-correlations between two time series or higher-dimensional quantities recorded simultaneously, which can be applied to diverse complex systems such as turbulence, finance, ecology, physiology, geophysics, and so on. The method is validated with cross-correlated one- and two-dimensional binomial measures and multifractal random walks. As an example, we illustrate the method by analyzing two financial time series.

A Unified Approach to Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Turbulence and the Evaluation of Multiparameter Integrals

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-07-01

The solutions in some cases have been made more general , as in the papers of Fried2 and Tyler3 by defining normnalized quantities; the tabular and... generalized hypergeometric functions. For that case, he shows that the integral, which can be transformed into a Mellin- Barnes integral, can be expressed as a...finite sum of generalized hypergeometric functions which are equivalent to a Meijer’s G-function. He briefly considers the case in which the

Direct numerical simulation of viscoelastic-fluid-based nanofluid turbulent channel flow with heat transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Juan-Cheng; Li, Feng-Chen; Cai, Wei-Hua; Zhang, Hong-Na; Yu, Bo

2015-08-01

Our previous experimental studies have confirmed that viscoelastic-fluid-based nanofluid (VFBN) prepared by suspending nanoparticles in a viscoelastic base fluid (VBF, behaves drag reduction at turbulent flow state) can reduce turbulent flow resistance as compared with water and enhance heat transfer as compared with VBF. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is performed in this study to explore the mechanisms of heat transfer enhancement (HTE) and flow drag reduction (DR) for the VFBN turbulent flow. The Giesekus model is used as the constitutive equation for VFBN. Our previously proposed thermal dispersion model is adopted to take into account the thermal dispersion effects of nanoparticles in the VFBN turbulent flow. The DNS results show similar behaviors for flow resistance and heat transfer to those obtained in our previous experiments. Detailed analyses are conducted for the turbulent velocity, temperature, and conformation fields obtained by DNSs for different fluid cases, and for the friction factor with viscous, turbulent, and elastic contributions and heat transfer rate with conductive, turbulent and thermal dispersion contributions of nanoparticles, respectively. The mechanisms of HTE and DR of VFBN turbulent flows are then discussed. Based on analogy theory, the ratios of Chilton-Colburn factor to friction factor for different fluid flow cases are investigated, which from another aspect show the significant enhancement in heat transfer performance for some cases of water-based nanofluid and VFBN turbulent flows. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51276046), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Grant No. 20112302110020), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2014M561037), and the President Fund of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China (Grant No. Y3510213N00).

Semiempirical methods for computing turbulent flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belov, I. A.; Ginzburg, I. P.

1986-01-01

Two semiempirical theories which provide a basis for determining the turbulent friction and heat exchange near a wall are presented: (1) the Prandtl-Karman theory, and (2) the theory utilizing an equation for the energy of turbulent pulsations. A comparison is made between exact numerical methods and approximate integral methods for computing the turbulent boundary layers in the presence of pressure, blowing, or suction gradients. Using the turbulent flow around a plate as an example, it is shown that, when computing turbulent flows with external turbulence, it is preferable to construct a turbulence model based on the equation for energy of turbulent pulsations.

Some Basic Laws of Isotropic Turbulent Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loitsianskii, L. G.

1945-01-01

An Investigation is made of the diffusion of artificially produced turbulence behind screens or other turbulence producers. The method is based on the author's concept of disturbance moment as a certain theoretically well-founded measure of turbulent disturbances.

Overdamped large-eddy simulations of turbulent pipe flow up to Reτ = 1500

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feldmann, Daniel; Avila, Marc

2018-04-01

We present results from large-eddy simulations (LES) of turbulent pipe flow in a computational domain of 42 radii in length. Wide ranges of shear the Reynolds number and Smagorinsky model parameter are covered, 180 ≤ Reτ ≤ 1500 and 0.05 ≤ Cs ≤ 1.2, respectively. The aim is to asses the effect of Cs on the resolved flow field and turbulence statistics as well as to test whether very large scale motions (VLSM) in pipe flow can be isolated from the near-wall cycle by enhancing the dissipative character of the static Smagorinsky model with elevated Cs values. We found that the optimal Cs to achieve best agreement with reference data varies with Reτ and further depends on the wall normal location and the quantity of interest. Furthermore, for increasing Reτ , the optimal Cs for pipe flow LES seems to approach the theoretically optimal value for LES of isotropic turbulence. In agreement with previous studies, we found that for increasing Cs small-scale streaks in simple flow field visualisations are gradually quenched and replaced by much larger smooth streaks. Our analysis of low-order turbulence statistics suggests, that these structures originate from an effective reduction of the Reynolds number and thus represent modified low-Reynolds number near-wall streaks rather than VLSM. We argue that overdamped LES with the static Smagorinsky model cannot be used to unambiguously determine the origin and the dynamics of VLSM in pipe flow. The approach might be salvaged by e.g. using more sophisticated LES models accounting for energy flux towards large scales or explicit anisotropic filter kernels.

Distance-from-the-wall scaling of turbulent motions in wall-bounded flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baidya, R.; Philip, J.; Hutchins, N.; Monty, J. P.; Marusic, I.

2017-02-01

An assessment of self-similarity in the inertial sublayer is presented by considering the wall-normal velocity, in addition to the streamwise velocity component. The novelty of the current work lies in the inclusion of the second velocity component, made possible by carefully conducted subminiature ×-probe experiments to minimise the errors in measuring the wall-normal velocity. We show that not all turbulent stress quantities approach the self-similar asymptotic state at an equal rate as the Reynolds number is increased, with the Reynolds shear stress approaching faster than the streamwise normal stress. These trends are explained by the contributions from attached eddies. Furthermore, the Reynolds shear stress cospectra, through its scaling with the distance from the wall, are used to assess the wall-normal limits where self-similarity applies within the wall-bounded flow. The results are found to be consistent with the recent prediction from the work of Wei et al. ["Properties of the mean momentum balance in turbulent boundary layer, pipe and channel flows," J. Fluid Mech. 522, 303-327 (2005)], Klewicki ["Reynolds number dependence, scaling, and dynamics of turbulent boundary layers," J. Fluids Eng. 132, 094001 (2010)], and others that the self-similar region starts and ends at z+˜O (√{δ+}) and O (δ+) , respectively. Below the self-similar region, empirical evidence suggests that eddies responsible for turbulent stresses begin to exhibit distance-from-the-wall scaling at a fixed z+ location; however, they are distorted by viscous forces, which remain a leading order contribution in the mean momentum balance in the region z+≲O (√{δ+}) , and thus result in a departure from self-similarity.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lyra, Wladimir; Lin, Min-Kai, E-mail: wlyra@caltech.edu, E-mail: mklin924@cita.utoronto.ca

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array has returned images of transitional disks in which large asymmetries are seen in the distribution of millimeter sized dust in the outer disk. The explanation in vogue borrows from the vortex literature and suggests that these asymmetries are the result of dust trapping in giant vortices, excited via Rossby wave instabilities at planetary gap edges. Due to the drag force, dust trapped in vortices will accumulate in the center and diffusion is needed to maintain a steady state over the lifetime of the disk. While previous work derived semi-analytical models of the process, in thismore » paper we provide analytical steady-steady solutions. Exact solutions exist for certain vortex models. The solution is determined by the vortex rotation profile, the gas scale height, the vortex aspect ratio, and the ratio of dust diffusion to gas-dust friction. In principle, all of these quantities can be derived from observations, which would validate the model and also provide constrains on the strength of the turbulence inside the vortex core. Based on our solution, we derive quantities such as the gas-dust contrast, the trapped dust mass, and the dust contrast at the same orbital location. We apply our model to the recently imaged Oph IRS 48 system, finding values within the range of the observational uncertainties.« less

Atmospheric pressure, density, temperature and wind variations between 50 and 200 km

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Justus, C. G.; Woodrum, A.

1972-01-01

Data on atmospheric pressure, density, temperature and winds between 50 and 200 km were collected from sources including Meteorological Rocket Network data, ROBIN falling sphere data, grenade release and pitot tube data, meteor winds, chemical release winds, satellite data, and others. These data were analyzed by a daily difference method and results on the distribution statistics, magnitude, and spatial structure of the irregular atmospheric variations are presented. Time structures of the irregular variations were determined by the analysis of residuals from harmonic analysis of time series data. The observed height variations of irregular winds and densities are found to be in accord with a theoretical relation between these two quantities. The latitude variations (at 50 - 60 km height) show an increasing trend with latitude. A possible explanation of the unusually large irregular wind magnitudes of the White Sands MRN data is given in terms of mountain wave generation by the Sierra Nevada range about 1000 km west of White Sands. An analytical method is developed which, based on an analogy of the irregular motion field with axisymmetric turbulence, allows measured or model correlation or structure functions to be used to evaluate the effective frequency spectra of scalar and vector quantities of a spacecraft moving at any speed and at any trajectory elevation angle.

PDF modeling of turbulent flows on unstructured grids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakosi, Jozsef

In probability density function (PDF) methods of turbulent flows, the joint PDF of several flow variables is computed by numerically integrating a system of stochastic differential equations for Lagrangian particles. Because the technique solves a transport equation for the PDF of the velocity and scalars, a mathematically exact treatment of advection, viscous effects and arbitrarily complex chemical reactions is possible; these processes are treated without closure assumptions. A set of algorithms is proposed to provide an efficient solution of the PDF transport equation modeling the joint PDF of turbulent velocity, frequency and concentration of a passive scalar in geometrically complex configurations. An unstructured Eulerian grid is employed to extract Eulerian statistics, to solve for quantities represented at fixed locations of the domain and to track particles. All three aspects regarding the grid make use of the finite element method. Compared to hybrid methods, the current methodology is stand-alone, therefore it is consistent both numerically and at the level of turbulence closure without the use of consistency conditions. Since both the turbulent velocity and scalar concentration fields are represented in a stochastic way, the method allows for a direct and close interaction between these fields, which is beneficial in computing accurate scalar statistics. Boundary conditions implemented along solid bodies are of the free-slip and no-slip type without the need for ghost elements. Boundary layers at no-slip boundaries are either fully resolved down to the viscous sublayer, explicitly modeling the high anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the low-Reynolds-number wall region without damping or wall-functions or specified via logarithmic wall-functions. As in moment closures and large eddy simulation, these wall-treatments provide the usual trade-off between resolution and computational cost as required by the given application. Particular attention is focused on modeling the dispersion of passive scalars in inhomogeneous turbulent flows. Two different micromixing models are investigated that incorporate the effect of small scale mixing on the transported scalar: the widely used interaction by exchange with the mean and the interaction by exchange with the conditional mean model. An adaptive algorithm to compute the velocity-conditioned scalar mean is proposed that homogenizes the statistical error over the sample space with no assumption on the shape of the underlying velocity PDF. The development also concentrates on a generally applicable micromixing timescale for complex flow domains. Several newly developed algorithms are described in detail that facilitate a stable numerical solution in arbitrarily complex flow geometries, including a stabilized mean-pressure projection scheme, the estimation of conditional and unconditional Eulerian statistics and their derivatives from stochastic particle fields employing finite element shapefunctions, particle tracking through unstructured grids, an efficient particle redistribution procedure and techniques related to efficient random number generation. The algorithm is validated and tested by computing three different turbulent flows: the fully developed turbulent channel flow, a street canyon (or cavity) flow and the turbulent wake behind a circular cylinder at a sub-critical Reynolds number. The solver has been parallelized and optimized for shared memory and multi-core architectures using the OpenMP standard. Relevant aspects of performance and parallelism on cache-based shared memory machines are discussed and presented in detail. The methodology shows great promise in the simulation of high-Reynolds-number incompressible inert or reactive turbulent flows in realistic configurations.

Solar-cycle dependence of a model turbulence spectrum using IMP and ACE observations over 38 years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burger, R. A.; Nel, A. E.; Engelbrecht, N. E.

2014-12-01

Ab initio modulation models require a number of turbulence quantities as input for any reasonable diffusion tensor. While turbulence transport models describe the radial evolution of such quantities, they in turn require observations in the inner heliosphere as input values. So far we have concentrated on solar minimum conditions (e.g. Engelbrecht and Burger 2013, ApJ), but are now looking at long-term modulation which requires turbulence data over at a least a solar magnetic cycle. As a start we analyzed 1-minute resolution data for the N-component of the magnetic field, from 1974 to 2012, covering about two solar magnetic cycles (initially using IMP and then ACE data). We assume a very simple three-stage power-law frequency spectrum, calculate the integral from the highest to the lowest frequency, and fit it to variances calculated with lags from 5 minutes to 80 hours. From the fit we then obtain not only the asymptotic variance at large lags, but also the spectral index of the inertial and the energy, as well as the breakpoint between the inertial and energy range (bendover scale) and between the energy and cutoff range (cutoff scale). All values given here are preliminary. The cutoff range is a constraint imposed in order to ensure a finite energy density; the spectrum is forced to be either flat or to decrease with decreasing frequency in this range. Given that cosmic rays sample magnetic fluctuations over long periods in their transport through the heliosphere, we average the spectra over at least 27 days. We find that the variance of the N-component has a clear solar cycle dependence, with smaller values (~6 nT2) during solar minimum and larger during solar maximum periods (~17 nT2), well correlated with the magnetic field magnitude (e.g. Smith et al. 2006, ApJ). Whereas the inertial range spectral index (-1.65 ± 0.06) does not show a significant solar cycle variation, the energy range index (-1.1 ± 0.3) seems to be anti-correlated with the variance (Bieber et al. 1993, JGR); both indices show close to normal distributions. In contrast, the variance (e.g. Burlaga and Ness, 1998, JGR), and both the bendover scale (see Ruiz et al. 2014, Solar Physics) and cutoff scale appear to be log-normal distributed.

Geometry of tracer trajectories in rotating turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alards, Kim M. J.; Rajaei, Hadi; Del Castello, Lorenzo; Kunnen, Rudie P. J.; Toschi, Federico; Clercx, Herman J. H.

2017-04-01

The geometry of passive tracer trajectories is studied in two different types of rotating turbulent flows; rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection (RBC; experiments and direct numerical simulations) and rotating electromagnetically forced turbulence (EFT; experiments). This geometry is fully described by the curvature and torsion of trajectories, and from these geometrical quantities we can subtract information on the typical flow structures at different rotation rates. Previous studies, focusing on nonrotating homogeneous isotropic turbulence (HIT), show that the probability density functions (PDFs) of curvature and torsion reveal pronounced power laws. However, the set-ups studied here involve inhomogeneous turbulence, and in RBC the flow near the horizontal plates is definitely anisotropic. We investigate how the typical shapes of the curvature and torsion PDFs, including the pronounced scaling laws, are influenced by this level of anisotropy and inhomogeneity and how this effect changes with rotation. A first effect of rotation is observed as a shift of the curvature and torsion PDFs towards higher values in the case of RBC and towards lower values in the case of EFT. This shift is related to the length scale of typical vortical structures that decreases with rotation in RBC, but increases with rotation in EFT, explaining the opposite shifts of the curvature (and torsion) PDFs. A second remarkable observation is that in RBC the HIT scaling laws are always recovered, as long as the boundary layer (BL) is excluded. This suggests that these scaling laws are very robust and hold as long as we measure in the turbulent bulk. In the BL of the RBC cell, however, the scaling deviates from the HIT prediction for lower rotation rates. This scaling behavior is found to be consistent with the coupling between the boundary layer dynamics and the bulk flow, which changes under rotation. In particular, it is found that the active coupling of the Ekman-type boundary layer with the bulk flow suppresses anisotropy in the BL region for increasing rotation rates.

Study of edge turbulence in dimensionally similar laboratory plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stroth, Ulrich

2003-10-01

In recent years, the numerical simulation of turbulence has made considerable progress. Predictions are made for large plasma volumes taking into account realistic magnetic geometries. Because of diagnostic limitations, in fusion plasmas the means of experimental testing of the models are rather limited. Toroidal low-temperature plasmas offer the possibility for detailed comparisons between experiment and simulation. Due to the reduced plasma parameters, the relevant quantities can be measured in the entire plasma. At the same time, the relevant non-dimensional parameters can be comparable to those in the edge of fusion plasmas. This presentation reports on results from the torsatron TJ-K [1,2] operated with a low-temperature plasma. The data are compared with simulations using the drift-Alfven-wave code DALF3 [3]. Langmuir probe arrays with 64 tips are used to measure the spatial structure of the turbulence. The same analyses techniques are applied to experimental and numerical data. The measured properties of spectra and probability density functions are reproduced by the code. Although the plasma in experiment and simulation does not exhibit critical pressure gradients, the radial transport fluctuations are strongly intermittent in both cases. Using Hydrogen, Helium and Argon as working gases, the scale parameter ρs could be varied by more than a factor of ten. As predicted by theory, the size of the turbulent eddies increases with ρ_s. The measured cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations are small, indicating the importance of the drift-wave dynamics for the turbulence in toroidal plasmas. The wave number spectra decay with an exponent of -3 as one would expect for the enstrophy cascade in 2D turbulence. [1] N. Krause et al., Rev. Sci. Instr. 73, 3474 (2002) [2] C. Lechte et al., New J. of Physics 4, 34 (2002) [3] B. Scott, Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion 39, 1635 (1997)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nicoll, Ken A.; O'Connor, E.

Large-scale properties of clouds such as lifetime, optical thickness, and precipitation are all dependent on small-scale cloud microphysical processes. Such processes determine when droplets will grow or shrink, their size, and the number of cloud droplets. Although our understanding of cloud microphysics has vastly improved over the past several decades with the development of remote sensing methods such as lidar and radar, there remain a number of processes that are not well understood, such as the effect of electrical charge on cloud microphysics. To understand the various processes and feedback mechanisms, high-vertical–resolution observations are required. Radiosondes provide an ideal platformmore » for providing routine vertical profiles of in situ measurements at any location (with a vertical resolution of a few meters). Modified meteorological radiosondes have been extensively developed at the University of Reading for measuring cloud properties, to allow measurements beyond the traditional thermodynamic quantities (pressure, temperature and relative humidity) to be obtained cost-effectively. This project aims to investigate a number of cloud processes in which in situ cloud observations from these modified radiosondes can provide information either complementary to or not obtainable by lidar/radar systems. During two intensive operational periods (IOPs) in May and August 2014 during deployment to Hyytiälä, Finland, the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility’s Second ARM Mobile Facility (AMF2) launched a total of 24 instrumented radiosondes through a number of different cloud types ranging from low-level stratiform cloud to cumulonimbus. Twelve balloon flights of an accelerometer turbulence sensor were made, which detected significant turbulence on eleven of these flights. Most of the turbulent episodes encountered were due to convective processes, but several were associated with the transition from troposphere to stratosphere at the tropopause. Similarities in the location of turbulent layers were generally found between the balloon turbulence sensor and the Ka-band radar, but with discrepancies between the orders of magnitude of turbulence detected. The reason for these discrepancies is the subject of future work.« less

Market Assessment of Forward-Looking Turbulence Sensing Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kauffmann, Paul

2003-01-01

This viewgraph presentation provides a cost benefit analysis of three next-generation forward-looking turbulence sensing systems: X band turbulence radar system for convective turbulence, LIDAR based turbulence systems to sense clear air turbulence and a combined hybrid system. Parameters for the cost benefit analysis were established using a business model which considered injury rates, cost of injuries, indirect costs, market penetration rate estimates and product success characteristics. Topics covered include: study approach, business case equations, data acquisition, benchmark analysis. Data interpretation from the cost benefit analysis is presented. The researchers conclude that the market potential for these products is based primarily on injury cost reduction and that X band radar systems have the greatest chance for commercial success.

A multiple-time-scale turbulence model based on variable partitioning of turbulent kinetic energy spectrum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, S.-W.; Chen, C.-P.

1987-01-01

A multiple-time-scale turbulence model of a single point closure and a simplified split-spectrum method is presented. In the model, the effect of the ratio of the production rate to the dissipation rate on eddy viscosity is modeled by use of the multiple-time-scales and a variable partitioning of the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum. The concept of a variable partitioning of the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum and the rest of the model details are based on the previously reported algebraic stress turbulence model. Example problems considered include: a fully developed channel flow, a plane jet exhausting into a moving stream, a wall jet flow, and a weakly coupled wake-boundary layer interaction flow. The computational results compared favorably with those obtained by using the algebraic stress turbulence model as well as experimental data. The present turbulence model, as well as the algebraic stress turbulence model, yielded significantly improved computational results for the complex turbulent boundary layer flows, such as the wall jet flow and the wake boundary layer interaction flow, compared with available computational results obtained by using the standard kappa-epsilon turbulence model.

A multiple-time-scale turbulence model based on variable partitioning of the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, S.-W.; Chen, C.-P.

1989-01-01

A multiple-time-scale turbulence model of a single point closure and a simplified split-spectrum method is presented. In the model, the effect of the ratio of the production rate to the dissipation rate on eddy viscosity is modeled by use of the multiple-time-scales and a variable partitioning of the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum. The concept of a variable partitioning of the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum and the rest of the model details are based on the previously reported algebraic stress turbulence model. Example problems considered include: a fully developed channel flow, a plane jet exhausting into a moving stream, a wall jet flow, and a weakly coupled wake-boundary layer interaction flow. The computational results compared favorably with those obtained by using the algebraic stress turbulence model as well as experimental data. The present turbulence model, as well as the algebraic stress turbulence model, yielded significantly improved computational results for the complex turbulent boundary layer flows, such as the wall jet flow and the wake boundary layer interaction flow, compared with available computational results obtained by using the standard kappa-epsilon turbulence model.

Soap film flows: Statistics of two-dimensional turbulence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vorobieff, P.; Rivera, M.; Ecke, R.E.

1999-08-01

Soap film flows provide a very convenient laboratory model for studies of two-dimensional (2-D) hydrodynamics including turbulence. For a gravity-driven soap film channel with a grid of equally spaced cylinders inserted in the flow, we have measured the simultaneous velocity and thickness fields in the irregular flow downstream from the cylinders. The velocity field is determined by a modified digital particle image velocimetry method and the thickness from the light scattered by the particles in the film. From these measurements, we compute the decay of mean energy, enstrophy, and thickness fluctuations with downstream distance, and the structure functions of velocity,more » vorticity, thickness fluctuation, and vorticity flux. From these quantities we determine the microscale Reynolds number of the flow R{sub {lambda}}{approx}100 and the integral and dissipation scales of 2D turbulence. We also obtain quantitative measures of the degree to which our flow can be considered incompressible and isotropic as a function of downstream distance. We find coarsening of characteristic spatial scales, qualitative correspondence of the decay of energy and enstrophy with the Batchelor model, scaling of energy in {ital k} space consistent with the k{sup {minus}3} spectrum of the Kraichnan{endash}Batchelor enstrophy-scaling picture, and power-law scalings of the structure functions of velocity, vorticity, vorticity flux, and thickness. These results are compared with models of 2-D turbulence and with numerical simulations. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}« less

On the Micrometeorology of the Southern Great Plains. 2: Turbulence Statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hicks, Bruce B.; Pendergrass, W. R.; Vogel, C. A.; Keener, R. N.; Leyton, S. M.

2015-03-01

Fast-response micrometeorological data obtained from an instrumented 32-m tower at an arid site near Ocotillo, Texas are used to examine the daily time evolution of the lower atmosphere. Correlation coefficients between turbulence properties (fast response wind-speed components and temperature) confirm that over this sparsely vegetated site the effects of convection are observed soon after sunrise, well ahead of the morning transition from stable to unstable stratification. Details of this kind are obscured when results are considered as functions of conventional stability parameters, since such standard analytical methods combine features of the morning and evening transitions into a single presentation. Partial correlation coefficients and semi-partials indicate that the local turbulent kinetic energy is mainly associated with local fluxes of heat and momentum near neutral and in most stable conditions, but decreases substantially during the times of strongest instability (possibly reflecting the scatter introduced by sampling infrequent convective episodes using a single tower). For many of the variables considered here, the standard deviations are about the same as the linear averages, indicating that the distributions are close to log-normal. The present data indicate that if the intent is to address some specific situation then 10 % error bounds on turbulence quantities (e.g. fluxes) correspond to averaging over a distance scale of the order of 10 km and a time scale of about 3 h. As the distance and time scales become smaller, the uncertainties due to factors external to the local surface increase.

Ensemble Averaged Probability Density Function (APDF) for Compressible Turbulent Reacting Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Tsan-Hsing; Liu, Nan-Suey

2012-01-01

In this paper, we present a concept of the averaged probability density function (APDF) for studying compressible turbulent reacting flows. The APDF is defined as an ensemble average of the fine grained probability density function (FG-PDF) with a mass density weighting. It can be used to exactly deduce the mass density weighted, ensemble averaged turbulent mean variables. The transport equation for APDF can be derived in two ways. One is the traditional way that starts from the transport equation of FG-PDF, in which the compressible Navier- Stokes equations are embedded. The resulting transport equation of APDF is then in a traditional form that contains conditional means of all terms from the right hand side of the Navier-Stokes equations except for the chemical reaction term. These conditional means are new unknown quantities that need to be modeled. Another way of deriving the transport equation of APDF is to start directly from the ensemble averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The resulting transport equation of APDF derived from this approach appears in a closed form without any need for additional modeling. The methodology of ensemble averaging presented in this paper can be extended to other averaging procedures: for example, the Reynolds time averaging for statistically steady flow and the Reynolds spatial averaging for statistically homogeneous flow. It can also be extended to a time or spatial filtering procedure to construct the filtered density function (FDF) for the large eddy simulation (LES) of compressible turbulent reacting flows.

NEUTRINO-DRIVEN CONVECTION IN CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE: HIGH-RESOLUTION SIMULATIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radice, David; Ott, Christian D.; Abdikamalov, Ernazar

2016-03-20

We present results from high-resolution semiglobal simulations of neutrino-driven convection in core-collapse supernovae. We employ an idealized setup with parameterized neutrino heating/cooling and nuclear dissociation at the shock front. We study the internal dynamics of neutrino-driven convection and its role in redistributing energy and momentum through the gain region. We find that even if buoyant plumes are able to locally transfer heat up to the shock, convection is not able to create a net positive energy flux and overcome the downward transport of energy from the accretion flow. Turbulent convection does, however, provide a significant effective pressure support to the accretionmore » flow as it favors the accumulation of energy, mass, and momentum in the gain region. We derive an approximate equation that is able to explain and predict the shock evolution in terms of integrals of quantities such as the turbulent pressure in the gain region or the effects of nonradial motion of the fluid. We use this relation as a way to quantify the role of turbulence in the dynamics of the accretion shock. Finally, we investigate the effects of grid resolution, which we change by a factor of 20 between the lowest and highest resolution. Our results show that the shallow slopes of the turbulent kinetic energy spectra reported in previous studies are a numerical artifact. Kolmogorov scaling is progressively recovered as the resolution is increased.« less

3D Electric Waveforms of Solar Wind Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kellogg, P. J.; Goetz, K.; Monson, S. J.

2018-01-01

Electric fields provide the major coupling between the turbulence of the solar wind and particles. A large part of the turbulent spectrum of fluctuations in the solar wind is thought to be kinetic Alfvén waves; however, whistlers have recently been found to be important. In this article, we attempt to determine the mode identification of individual waveforms using the three-dimensional antenna system of the SWaves experiments on the STEREO spacecraft. Samples are chosen using waveforms with an apparent periodic structure, selected visually. The short antennas of STEREO respond to density fluctuations and to electric fields. Measurement of four quantities using only three antennas presents a problem. Methods to overcome or to ignore this difficulty are presented. We attempt to decide whether the waveforms correspond to the whistler mode or the Alfvén mode by using the direction of rotation of the signal. Most of the waveforms are so oblique—nearly linearly polarized—that the direction cannot be determined. However, about one third of the waveforms can be identified, and whistlers and Alfvén waves are present in roughly equal numbers. The selected waveforms are very intense but intermittent and are orders of magnitude stronger than the average, yet their accumulated signal accounts for a large fraction of the average. The average, however, is supposed to be the result of a turbulent mixture of many waves, not short coherent events. This presents a puzzle for future work.

Large eddy simulation of soot evolution in an aircraft combustor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, Michael E.; Pitsch, Heinz

2013-11-01

An integrated kinetics-based Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach for soot evolution in turbulent reacting flows is applied to the simulation of a Pratt & Whitney aircraft gas turbine combustor, and the results are analyzed to provide insights into the complex interactions of the hydrodynamics, mixing, chemistry, and soot. The integrated approach includes detailed models for soot, combustion, and the unresolved interactions between soot, chemistry, and turbulence. The soot model is based on the Hybrid Method of Moments and detailed descriptions of soot aggregates and the various physical and chemical processes governing their evolution. The detailed kinetics of jet fuel oxidation and soot precursor formation is described with the Radiation Flamelet/Progress Variable model, which has been modified to account for the removal of soot precursors from the gas-phase. The unclosed filtered quantities in the soot and combustion models, such as source terms, are closed with a novel presumed subfilter PDF approach that accounts for the high subfilter spatial intermittency of soot. For the combustor simulation, the integrated approach is combined with a Lagrangian parcel method for the liquid spray and state-of-the-art unstructured LES technology for complex geometries. Two overall fuel-to-air ratios are simulated to evaluate the ability of the model to make not only absolute predictions but also quantitative predictions of trends. The Pratt & Whitney combustor is a Rich-Quench-Lean combustor in which combustion first occurs in a fuel-rich primary zone characterized by a large recirculation zone. Dilution air is then added downstream of the recirculation zone, and combustion continues in a fuel-lean secondary zone. The simulations show that large quantities of soot are formed in the fuel-rich recirculation zone, and, furthermore, the overall fuel-to-air ratio dictates both the dominant soot growth process and the location of maximum soot volume fraction. At the higher fuel-to-air ratio, the maximum soot volume fraction is found inside the recirculation zone; at the lower fuel-to-air ratio, turbulent fluctuations in the mixture fraction promote the oxidation of soot inside the recirculation zone and suppress the accumulation of a large soot volume fraction. Downstream, soot exits the combustor in intermittent fuel-rich pockets that are not mixed during the injection of dilution air and subsequent secondary fuel-lean combustion. At the higher fuel-to-air ratio, the frequency of these fuel-rich pockets is increased, leading to higher soot emissions from the combustor. Quantitatively, the soot emissions from the combustor are overpredicted by about 50%, which is a substantial improvement over previous works utilizing RANS to predict such emissions. In addition, the ratio between the two fuel-to-air ratios predicted by LES compares very favorably with the experimental measurements. Furthermore, soot growth is dominated by an acetylene-based pathway rather than an aromatic-based pathway, which is usually the dominant mechanism in nonpremixed flames. This finding is the result of the interactions between the hydrodynamics, mixing, chemistry, and soot in the recirculation zone and the resulting residence times of soot at various mixture fractions (compositions), which are not the same in this complex recirculating flow as in nonpremixed jet flames.

Interaction of grid generated turbulence with expansion waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xanthos, Savvas Steliou

2004-11-01

The interaction of traveling expansion waves with grid-generated turbulence was investigated in a large-scale shock tube research facility. The incident shock and the induced flow behind it passed through a rectangular grid, which generated a nearly homogeneous and nearly isotropic turbulent flow. As the shock wave exited the open end of the shock tube, a system of expansion waves was generated which traveled upstream and interacted with the grid-generated turbulence. The Mach number of the incoming flows investigated was about 0.3 hence interactions are considered as interactions with an almost incompressible flow. Mild interactions with expansion waves, which generated expansion ratios of the order of 1.8, were achieved in the present investigations. In that respect the compressibility effects started to become important during the interaction. A custom designed vorticity probe was used to measure for the first time the rate-of-strain, the rate-of-rotation and the velocity-gradient tensors in several of the present flows. Custom made x-hotwire probes were initially used to measure the flow quantities simultaneously at different locations inside the flow field. Although the strength of the generated expansion waves was mild, S = 6U6x EW = 50 to 100 s-1, the effect on damping fluctuations of turbulence was clear. Vorticity fluctuations were reduced dramatically more than velocity or pressure fluctuations. Attenuation of longitudinal velocity fluctuations has been observed in all experiments. It appears that the attenuation increases in interactions with higher Reynolds number. The data of velocity fluctuations in the lateral directions show no consistent behavior change or some minor attenuation through the interaction. The present results clearly show that in most of the cases, attenuation occurs at large xM distances where length scales of the incoming flow are high and turbulence intensities are low. Thus large in size eddies with low velocity fluctuations are affected the most by the interaction with the expansion waves. Spectral analysis indicated that spectral energy is shifted after the interaction to lower wave numbers suggesting that the typical length scales of turbulence are increased after the interaction.

A vision-based tool for the control of hydraulic structures in sewer systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, L.; Sage, D.; Kayal, S.; Jeanbourquin, D.; Rossi, L.

2009-04-01

During rain events, the total amount of the wastewater/storm-water mixture cannot be treated in the wastewater treatment plant; the overflowed water goes directly into the environment (lakes, rivers, streams) via devices called combined sewers overflows (CSOs). This water is untreated and is recognized as an important source of pollution. In most cases, the quantity of overflowed water is unknown due to high hydraulic turbulences during rain events; this quantity is often significant. For this reason, the monitoring of the water flow and the water level is of crucial environmental importance. Robust monitoring of sewer systems is a challenging task to achieve. Indeed, the environment inside sewers systems is inherently harsh and hostile: constant humidity of 100%, fast and large water level changes, corrosive atmosphere, presence of gas, difficult access, solid debris inside the flow. A flow monitoring based on traditional probes placed inside the water (such as Doppler flow meter) is difficult to conduct because of the solid material transported by the flow. Probes placed outside the flow such as ultrasonic water level probes are often used; however the measurement is generally done on only one particular point. Experience has shown that the water level in CSOs during rain events is far from being constant due to hydraulic turbulences. Thus, such probes output uncertain information. Moreover, a check of the data reliability is impossible to achieve. The HydroPix system proposes a novel approach to the monitoring of sewers based on video images, without contact with the water flow. The goal of this system is to provide a monitoring tool for wastewater system managers (end-users). The hardware was chosen in order to suit the harsh conditions of sewers system: Cameras are 100% waterproof and corrosion-resistant; Infra-red LED illumination systems are used (waterproof, low power consumption); A waterproof case contains the registration and communication system. The monitoring software has the following requirements: visual analysis of particular hydraulic behavior, automatic vision-based flow measurements, automatic alarm system for particular events (overflows, risk of flooding, etc), database for data management (images, events, measurements, etc.), ability to be controlled remotely. The software is implemented in modular server/client architecture under LabVIEW development system. We have conducted conclusive in situ tests in various sewers configurations (CSOs, storm-water sewerage, WWTP); they have shown the ability of the HydroPix to perform accurate monitoring of hydraulic structures. Visual information demonstrated a better understanding of the flow behavior in complex and difficult environment.

Numerical studies of laser beam propagation with phase screen method using Non-Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yıldız, Fehmiye; Kurt, Hamza

2017-09-01

It is well known that atmospheric turbulence severely limits the applications based on the laser propagation though the atmosphere. The most common disturbances occurring due to the atmospheric turbulence are beam spreading, beam wandering, and scintillation. These effects are continuously changing in response to atmospheric conditions. In this study, we create a Non-Kolmogorov turbulence model which is based on the geometrical optics approximation and the property of Gamma function and integrate with in Gaussian beam analytically. This approach helps us to understand the propagation of the laser beam at different wavelengths in the atmospheric turbulence.

Impact of Subgrid Scale Models and Heat Loss on Large Eddy Simulations of a Premixed Jet Burner Using Flamelet-Generated Manifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez Perez, Francisco E.; Im, Hong G.; Lee, Bok Jik; Fancello, Alessio; Donini, Andrea; van Oijen, Jeroen A.; de Goey, L. Philip H.

2017-11-01

Large eddy simulations (LES) of a turbulent premixed jet flame in a confined chamber are performed employing the flamelet-generated manifold (FGM) method for tabulation of chemical kinetics and thermochemical properties, as well as the OpenFOAM framework for computational fluid dynamics. The burner has been experimentally studied by Lammel et al. (2011) and features an off-center nozzle, feeding a preheated lean methane-air mixture with an equivalence ratio of 0.71 and mean velocity of 90 m/s, at 573 K and atmospheric pressure. Conductive heat loss is accounted for in the FGM tabulation via burner-stabilized flamelets and the subgrid-scale (SGS) turbulence-chemistry interaction is modeled via presumed filtered density functions. The impact of heat loss inclusion as well as SGS modeling for both the SGS stresses and SGS variance of progress variable on the numerical results is investigated. Comparisons of the LES results against measurements show a significant improvement in the prediction of temperature when heat losses are incorporated into FGM. While further enhancements in the LES results are accomplished by using SGS models based on transported quantities and/or dynamically computed coefficients as compared to the Smagorinsky model, heat loss inclusion is more relevant. This research was sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and made use of computational resources at KAUST Supercomputing Laboratory.

Wind observations above an urban river using a new lidar technique, scintillometry and anemometry.

PubMed

Wood, C R; Pauscher, L; Ward, H C; Kotthaus, S; Barlow, J F; Gouvea, M; Lane, S E; Grimmond, C S B

2013-01-01

Airflow along rivers might provide a key mechanism for ventilation in cities: important for air quality and thermal comfort. Airflow varies in space and time in the vicinity of rivers. Consequently, there is limited utility in point measurements. Ground-based remote sensing offers the opportunity to study 3D airflow in locations which are difficult to observe with conventional approaches. For three months in the winter and spring of 2011, the airflow above the River Thames in central London was observed using a scanning Doppler lidar, a scintillometer and sonic anemometers. First, an inter-comparison showed that lidar-derived mean wind-speed estimates compare almost as well to sonic anemometers (root-mean-square error (rmse) 0.65-0.68 ms(-1)) as comparisons between sonic anemometers (0.35-0.73 ms(-1)). Second, the lidar duo-beam operating strategy provided horizontal transects of wind vectors (comparison with scintillometer rmse 1.12-1.63 ms(-1)) which revealed mean and turbulent airflow across the river and surrounds; in particular, channelled airflow along the river and changes in turbulence quantities consistent with the roughness changes between built and river environments. The results have important consequences for air quality and dispersion around urban rivers, especially given that many cities have high traffic rates on roads located on riverbanks. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of simulated turbulence on aircraft handling qualities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobson, I. D.; Joshi, D. S.

1977-01-01

The influence of simulated turbulence on aircraft handling qualities is presented. Pilot opinions of the handling qualities of a light general aviation aircraft were evaluated in a motion-base simulator using a simulated turbulence environment. A realistic representation of turbulence disturbances is described in terms of rms intensity and scale length and their random variations with time. The time histories generated by the proposed turbulence models showed characteristics which are more similar to real turbulence than the frequently-used Gaussian turbulence model. The proposed turbulence models flexibly accommodate changes in atmospheric conditions and are easily implemented in flight simulator studies.

Reliability of numerical wind tunnels for VAWT simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raciti Castelli, M.; Masi, M.; Battisti, L.; Benini, E.; Brighenti, A.; Dossena, V.; Persico, G.

2016-09-01

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based on the Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) equations have long been widely used to study vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). Following a comprehensive experimental survey on the wakes downwind of a troposkien-shaped rotor, a campaign of bi-dimensional simulations is presented here, with the aim of assessing its reliability in reproducing the main features of the flow, also identifying areas needing additional research. Starting from both a well consolidated turbulence model (k-ω SST) and an unstructured grid typology, the main simulation settings are here manipulated in a convenient form to tackle rotating grids reproducing a VAWT operating in an open jet wind tunnel. The dependence of the numerical predictions from the selected grid spacing is investigated, thus establishing the less refined grid size that is still capable of capturing some relevant flow features such as integral quantities (rotor torque) and local ones (wake velocities).

Similarity transformation for equilibrium boundary layers, including effects of blowing and suction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xi; Hussain, Fazle

2017-03-01

We present a similarity transformation for the mean velocity profiles in sink flow turbulent boundary layers, including effects of blowing and suction. It is based on symmetry analysis which transforms the governing partial differential equations (for mean mass and momentum) into an ordinary differential equation and yields a new result including an exact, linear relation between the mean normal (V ) and streamwise (U ) velocities. A characteristic length function is further introduced which, under a first order expansion (whose coefficient is η ) in wall blowing and suction velocity, leads to the similarity transformation for U with the value of η ≈-1 /9 . This transformation is shown to be a group invariant and maps different U profiles under different blowing and suction conditions into a (universal) profile for no blowing or suction. Its inverse transformation enables predictions of all mean quantities in the mean mass and momentum equations, in good agreement with DNS data.

The investigation of soot and temperature distributions in a visualized direct injection diesel engine using laser diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Yong-taek; Kim, Ki-bum; Lee, Ki-hyung

2008-11-01

Based upon the method of temperature calibration using the diffusion flame, the temperature and soot concentrations of the turbulent flame in a visualized diesel engine were qualitatively measured. Two different cylinder heads were used to investigate the effect of swirl ratio within the combustion chamber. From this experiment, we find that the highest flame temperature of the non-swirl head engine is approximately 2400 K and that of the swirl head engine is 2100 K. In addition, as the pressure of fuel injection increases, the in-cylinder temperature increases due to the improved combustion of a diesel engine. This experiment represented the soot quantity in the KL factor and revealed that the KL factor was high when the fuel collided with the cylinder wall. Moreover, the KL factor was also high in the area of the chamber where the temperature dropped rapidly.

The hybrid RANS/LES of partially premixed supersonic combustion using G/Z flamelet model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jinshui; Wang, Zhenguo; Bai, Xuesong; Sun, Mingbo; Wang, Hongbo

2016-10-01

In order to describe partially premixed supersonic combustion numerically, G/Z flamelet model is developed and compared with finite rate model in hybrid RANS/LES simulation to study the strut-injection supersonic combustion flow field designed by the German Aerospace Center. A new temperature calculation method based on time-splitting method of total energy is introduced in G/Z flamelet model. Simulation results show that temperature predictions in partially premixed zone by G/Z flamelet model are more consistent with experiment than finite rate model. It is worth mentioning that low temperature reaction zone behind the strut is well reproduced. Other quantities such as average velocity and average velocity fluctuation obtained by developed G/Z flamelet model are also in good agreement with experiment. Besides, simulation results by G/Z flamelet also reveal the mechanism of partially premixed supersonic combustion by the analyses of the interaction between turbulent burning velocity and flow field.

An Onsager Singularity Theorem for Turbulent Solutions of Compressible Euler Equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drivas, Theodore D.; Eyink, Gregory L.

2017-12-01

We prove that bounded weak solutions of the compressible Euler equations will conserve thermodynamic entropy unless the solution fields have sufficiently low space-time Besov regularity. A quantity measuring kinetic energy cascade will also vanish for such Euler solutions, unless the same singularity conditions are satisfied. It is shown furthermore that strong limits of solutions of compressible Navier-Stokes equations that are bounded and exhibit anomalous dissipation are weak Euler solutions. These inviscid limit solutions have non-negative anomalous entropy production and kinetic energy dissipation, with both vanishing when solutions are above the critical degree of Besov regularity. Stationary, planar shocks in Euclidean space with an ideal-gas equation of state provide simple examples that satisfy the conditions of our theorems and which demonstrate sharpness of our L 3-based conditions. These conditions involve space-time Besov regularity, but we show that they are satisfied by Euler solutions that possess similar space regularity uniformly in time.

Temporal slow-growth formulation for direct numerical simulation of compressible wall-bounded flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Topalian, Victor; Oliver, Todd A.; Ulerich, Rhys; Moser, Robert D.

2017-08-01

A slow-growth formulation for DNS of wall-bounded turbulent flow is developed and demonstrated to enable extension of slow-growth modeling concepts to wall-bounded flows with complex physics. As in previous slow-growth approaches, the formulation assumes scale separation between the fast scales of turbulence and the slow evolution of statistics such as the mean flow. This separation enables the development of approaches where the fast scales of turbulence are directly simulated while the forcing provided by the slow evolution is modeled. The resulting model admits periodic boundary conditions in the streamwise direction, which avoids the need for extremely long domains and complex inflow conditions that typically accompany spatially developing simulations. Further, it enables the use of efficient Fourier numerics. Unlike previous approaches [Guarini, Moser, Shariff, and Wray, J. Fluid Mech. 414, 1 (2000), 10.1017/S0022112000008466; Maeder, Adams, and Kleiser, J. Fluid Mech. 429, 187 (2001), 10.1017/S0022112000002718; Spalart, J. Fluid Mech. 187, 61 (1988), 10.1017/S0022112088000345], the present approach is based on a temporally evolving boundary layer and is specifically tailored to give results for calibration and validation of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models. The use of a temporal homogenization simplifies the modeling, enabling straightforward extension to flows with complicating features, including cold and blowing walls. To generate data useful for calibration and validation of RANS models, special care is taken to ensure that the mean slow-growth forcing is closed in terms of the mean and other quantities that appear in standard RANS models, ensuring that there is no confounding between typical RANS closures and additional closures required for the slow-growth problem. The performance of the method is demonstrated on two problems: an essentially incompressible, zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer and a transonic boundary layer over a cooled, transpiring wall. The results show that the approach produces flows that are qualitatively similar to other slow-growth methods as well as spatially developing simulations and that the method can be a useful tool in investigating wall-bounded flows with complex physics.

Turbulence-flame interactions in DNS of a laboratory high Karlovitz premixed turbulent jet flame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Haiou; Hawkes, Evatt R.; Chen, Jacqueline H.

2016-09-01

In the present work, direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a laboratory premixed turbulent jet flame was performed to study turbulence-flame interactions. The turbulent flame features moderate Reynolds number and high Karlovitz number (Ka). The orientations of the flame normal vector n, the vorticity vector ω and the principal strain rate eigenvectors ei are examined. The in-plane and out-of-plane angles are introduced to quantify the vector orientations, which also measure the flame geometry and the vortical structures. A general observation is that the distributions of these angles are more isotropic downstream as the flame and the flow become more developed. The out-of-plane angle of the flame normal vector, β, is a key parameter in developing the correction of 2D measurements to estimate the corresponding 3D quantities. The DNS results show that the correction factor is unity at the inlet and approaches its theoretical value of an isotropic distribution downstream. The alignment characteristics of n, ω and ei, which reflect the interactions of turbulence and flame, are also studied. Similar to a passive scalar gradient in non-reacting flows, the flame normal has a tendency to align with the most compressive strain rate, e3, in the flame, indicating that turbulence contributes to the production of scalar gradient. The vorticity dynamics are examined via the vortex stretching term, which was found to be the predominant source of vorticity generation balanced by dissipation, in the enstrophy transport equation. It is found that although the vorticity preferentially aligns with the intermediate strain rate, e2, the contribution of the most extensive strain rate, e1, to vortex stretching is comparable with that of the intermediate strain rate, e2. This is because the eigenvalue of the most extensive strain rate, λ1, is always large and positive. It is confirmed that the vorticity vector is preferentially positioned along the flame tangential plane, contributing to the dominance of cylindrical curvature of the flame front. Finally, the effect of heat release on the turbulence-flame interactions is examined. It is found that heat release has only limited impact on the statistics due to the minor role played by the strain rate induced by heat release rate in the current high Ka flame.

Environmental forecasting and turbulence modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunt, J. C. R.

This review describes the fundamental assumptions and current methodologies of the two main kinds of environmental forecast; the first is valid for a limited period of time into the future and over a limited space-time ‘target’, and is largely determined by the initial and preceding state of the environment, such as the weather or pollution levels, up to the time when the forecast is issued and by its state at the edges of the region being considered; the second kind provides statistical information over long periods of time and/or over large space-time targets, so that they only depend on the statistical averages of the initial and ‘edge’ conditions. Environmental forecasts depend on the various ways that models are constructed. These range from those based on the ‘reductionist’ methodology (i.e., the combination of separate, scientifically based, models for the relevant processes) to those based on statistical methodologies, using a mixture of data and scientifically based empirical modeling. These are, as a rule, focused on specific quantities required for the forecast. The persistence and predictability of events associated with environmental and turbulent flows and the reasons for variation in the accuracy of their forecasts (of the first and second kinds) are now better understood and better modeled. This has partly resulted from using analogous results of disordered chaotic systems, and using the techniques of calculating ensembles of realizations, ideally involving several different models, so as to incorporate in the probabilistic forecasts a wider range of possible events. The rationale for such an approach needs to be developed. However, other insights have resulted from the recognition of the ordered, though randomly occurring, nature of the persistent motions in these flows, whose scales range from those of synoptic weather patterns (whether storms or ‘blocked’ anticyclones) to small scale vortices. These eigen states can be predicted from the reductionist models or may be modeled specifically, for example, in terms of ‘self-organized’ critical phenomena. It is noted how in certain applications of turbulent modeling its methods are beginning to resemble those of environmental simulations, because of the trend to introduce ‘on-line’ controls of the turbulent flows in advanced flows in advanced engineering fluid systems. In real time simulations, for both local environmental processes and these engineering systems, maximum information is needed about the likely flow patterns in order to optimize both the assimilation of limited real-time data and the use of limited real-time computing capacity. It is concluded that philosophical studies of how scientific models develop and of the concept of determinism in science are helpful in considering these complex issues.

Dynamic and Thermal Turbulent Time Scale Modelling for Homogeneous Shear Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schwab, John R.; Lakshminarayana, Budugur

1994-01-01

A new turbulence model, based upon dynamic and thermal turbulent time scale transport equations, is developed and applied to homogeneous shear flows with constant velocity and temperature gradients. The new model comprises transport equations for k, the turbulent kinetic energy; tau, the dynamic time scale; k(sub theta), the fluctuating temperature variance; and tau(sub theta), the thermal time scale. It offers conceptually parallel modeling of the dynamic and thermal turbulence at the two equation level, and eliminates the customary prescription of an empirical turbulent Prandtl number, Pr(sub t), thus permitting a more generalized prediction capability for turbulent heat transfer in complex flows and geometries. The new model also incorporates constitutive relations, based upon invariant theory, that allow the effects of nonequilibrium to modify the primary coefficients for the turbulent shear stress and heat flux. Predictions of the new model, along with those from two other similar models, are compared with experimental data for decaying homogeneous dynamic and thermal turbulence, homogeneous turbulence with constant temperature gradient, and homogeneous turbulence with constant temperature gradient and constant velocity gradient. The new model offers improvement in agreement with the data for most cases considered in this work, although it was no better than the other models for several cases where all the models performed poorly.

Research on propagation properties of controllable hollow flat-topped beams in turbulent atmosphere based on ABCD matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Huilong; Lü, Yanfei; Zhang, Jing; Xia, Jing; Pu, Xiaoyun; Dong, Yuan; Li, Shutao; Fu, Xihong; Zhang, Angfeng; Wang, Changjia; Tan, Yong; Zhang, Xihe

2015-01-01

This paper studies the propagation properties of controllable hollow flat-topped beams (CHFBs) in turbulent atmosphere based on ABCD matrix, sets up a propagation model and obtains an analytical expression for the propagation. With the help of numerical simulation, the propagation properties of CHFBs in different parameters are studied. Results indicate that in turbulent atmosphere, with the increase of propagation distance, the darkness of CHFBs gradually annihilate, and eventually evolve into Gaussian beams. Compared with the propagation properties in free space, the turbulent atmosphere enhances the diffraction effect of CHFBs and reduces the propagation distance for CHFBs to evolve into Gaussian beams. In strong turbulence atmospheric propagation, Airy disk phenomenon will disappear. The study on the propagation properties of CHFBs in turbulence atmosphere by using ABCD matrix is simple and convenient. This method can also be applied to study the propagation properties of other hollow laser beams in turbulent atmosphere.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fang, Ming; Albrecht, Bruce A.; Ghate, Virendra P.

This study first illustrates the utility of using the Doppler spectrum width from millimetrewavelength radar to calculate the energy dissipation rate and then to use the energy dissipation rate to study turbulence structure in a continental stratocumulus cloud. It is shown that the turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate calculated from the radar-measured Doppler spectrum width agrees well with that calculated from the Doppler velocity power spectrum. During the 16-h stratocumulus cloud event, the small-scale turbulence contributes 40%of the total velocity variance at cloud base, 50% at normalized cloud depth=0.8 and 70% at cloud top, which suggests that small-scale turbulence playsmore » a critical role near the cloud top where the entrainment and cloud-top radiative cooling act. The 16-h mean vertical integral length scale decreases from about 160 m at cloud base to 60 m at cloud top, and this signifies that the larger scale turbulence dominates around cloud base whereas the small-scale turbulence dominates around cloud top. The energy dissipation rate, total variance and squared spectrum width exhibit diurnal variations, but unlike marine stratocumulus they are high during the day and lowest around sunset at all levels; energy dissipation rates increase at night with the intensification of the cloud-top cooling. In the normalized coordinate system, the averaged coherent structure of updrafts is characterized by low energy dissipation rates in the updraft core and higher energy dissipation rates surround the updraft core at the top and along the edges. In contrast, the energy dissipation rate is higher inside the downdraft core indicating that the downdraft core is more turbulent. The turbulence around the updraft is weaker at night and stronger during the day; the opposite is true around the downdraft. This behaviour indicates that the turbulence in the downdraft has a diurnal cycle similar to that observed in marine stratocumuluswhereas the turbulence diurnal cycle in the updraft is reversed. For both updraft and downdraft, the maximum energy dissipation rate occurs at a cloud depth=0.8 where the maximum reflectivity and air acceleration or deceleration are observed. Resolved turbulence dominates near cloud base whereas unresolved turbulence dominates near cloud top. Similar to the unresolved turbulence, the resolved turbulence described by the radial velocity variance is higher in the downdraft than in the updraft. The impact of the surface heating on the resolved turbulence in the updraft decreases with height and diminishes around the cloud top. In both updrafts and downdrafts, the resolved turbulence increases with height and reaches a maximum at cloud depth=0.4 and then decreases to the cloud top; the resolved turbulence near cloud top, just as the unresolved turbulence, is mostly due to the cloud-top radiative cooling.« less

Turbulence Scales, Rise Times, Caustics, and the Simulation of Sonic Boom Propagation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierce, Allan D.

1996-01-01

The general topic of atmospheric turbulence effects on sonic boom propagation is addressed with especial emphasis on taking proper and efficient account of the contributions of the portion oi the turbulence that is associated with extremely high wavenumber components. The recent work reported by Bart Lipkens in his doctoral thesis is reexamined to determine whether the good agreement between his measured rise times with the 1971 theory of the author is fortuitous. It is argued that Lipken's estimate of the distance to the first caustic was a gross overestimate because of the use of a sound speed correlation function shaped like a gaussian curve. In particular, it is argued that the expected distance to the first caustic varies with the kinematic viscosity nu and the energy epsilon dissipated per unit mass per unit time, and the sound speed c as : d(sub first caustic) = nu(exp 7/12) c(exp 2/3)/ epsilon(exp 5/12)(nu x epsilon/c(exp 4))(exp a), where the exponent a is greater than -7/12 and can be argued to be either O or 1/24. In any event, the surprising aspect of the relationship is that it actually goes to zero as the viscosity goes to zero with s held constant. It is argued that the apparent overabundance of caustics can be grossly reduced by a general computational and analytical perspective that partitions the turbulence into two parts, divided by a wavenumber k(sub c). Wavenumbers higher than kc correspond to small-scale turbulence, and the associated turbulence can be taken into account by a renormalization of the ambient sound speed so that the result has a small frequency dependence that results from a spatial averaging over of the smaller-scale turbulent fluctuations. Selection of k(sub c). can be made so large that only a very small number of caustics are encountered if one adopts the premise that the frequency dispersion of pulses is caused by that part of the turbulence spectrum which lies in the inertial range originally predicted by Kolmogoroff. The acoustic propagating wave's dispersion relation has the acoustic wavenumber being of the form k = (omega/c) + F(omega), where c is a spatially averaged sound speed and where, for mechanical turbulence, the extra term F(omega) must depend on only the angular frequency omega, the sound speed c, and the turbulent energy dissipation epsilon per unit fluid mass and per unit time. If the turbulence is weak, then the quantity F(omega) has to be of second order in the portions of the turbulent fluid velocity in the inertial range, so, following Kolmogoroff's reasoning, it must vary with epsilon as epsilon(exp 2/3). Simple dimensional analysis then reveals that F(omega) is K epsilon(exp 2/3) c(exp -7/3) omega(exp l/3), K being a universal dimensionless complex constant.

Version 2 Goddard Satellite-Based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF2)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chou, Shu-Hsien; Nelkin, Eric; Ardizzone, Joe; Atlas, Robert M.; Shie, Chung-Lin; Starr, David O'C. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Information on the turbulent fluxes of momentum, moisture, and heat at the air-sea interface is essential in improving model simulations of climate variations and in climate studies. We have derived a 13.5-year (July 1987-December 2000) dataset of daily surface turbulent fluxes over global oceans from the Special Sensor Mcrowave/Imager (SSM/I) radiance measurements. This dataset, version 2 Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF2), has a spatial resolution of 1 degree x 1 degree latitude-longitude and a temporal resolution of 1 day. Turbulent fluxes are derived from the SSM/I surface winds and surface air humidity, as well as the 2-m air and sea surface temperatures (SST) of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, using a bulk aerodynamic algorithm based on the surface layer similarity theory.

Statistics of Point Vortex Turbulence in Non-neutral Flows and in Flows with Translational and Rotational Symmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esler, J. G.

2017-12-01

A theory (Esler and Ashbee in J Fluid Mech 779:275-308, 2015) describing the statistics of N freely-evolving point vortices in a bounded two-dimensional domain is extended. First, the case of a non-neutral vortex gas is addressed, and it is shown that the density of states function can be identified with the probability density function of an infinite sum of independent non-central chi-squared random variables, the details of which depend only on the shape of the domain. Equations for the equilibrium energy spectrum and other statistical quantities follow, the validity of which are verified against direct numerical simulations of the equations of motion. Second, domains with additional conserved quantities associated with a symmetry (e.g., circle, periodic channel) are investigated, and it is shown that the treatment of the non-neutral case can be modified to account for the additional constraint.

Toward a CFD nose-to-tail capability - Hypersonic unsteady Navier-Stokes code validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, Thomas A.; Flores, Jolen

1989-01-01

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research for hypersonic flows presents new problems in code validation because of the added complexity of the physical models. This paper surveys code validation procedures applicable to hypersonic flow models that include real gas effects. The current status of hypersonic CFD flow analysis is assessed with the Compressible Navier-Stokes (CNS) code as a case study. The methods of code validation discussed to beyond comparison with experimental data to include comparisons with other codes and formulations, component analyses, and estimation of numerical errors. Current results indicate that predicting hypersonic flows of perfect gases and equilibrium air are well in hand. Pressure, shock location, and integrated quantities are relatively easy to predict accurately, while surface quantities such as heat transfer are more sensitive to the solution procedure. Modeling transition to turbulence needs refinement, though preliminary results are promising.

Annual research briefs, 1993. [Center for Turbulence Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

The 1993 annual progress reports of the Research Fellow and students of the Center for Turbulence Research are included. The first group of reports are directed towards the theory and application of active control in turbulent flows including the development of a systematic mathematical procedure based on the Navier Stokes equations for flow control. The second group of reports are concerned with the prediction of turbulent flows. The remaining articles are devoted to turbulent reacting flows, turbulence physics, experiments, and simulations.

Eigenspace perturbations for structural uncertainty estimation of turbulence closure models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jofre, Lluis; Mishra, Aashwin; Iaccarino, Gianluca

2017-11-01

With the present state of computational resources, a purely numerical resolution of turbulent flows encountered in engineering applications is not viable. Consequently, investigations into turbulence rely on various degrees of modeling. Archetypal amongst these variable resolution approaches would be RANS models in two-equation closures, and subgrid-scale models in LES. However, owing to the simplifications introduced during model formulation, the fidelity of all such models is limited, and therefore the explicit quantification of the predictive uncertainty is essential. In such scenario, the ideal uncertainty estimation procedure must be agnostic to modeling resolution, methodology, and the nature or level of the model filter. The procedure should be able to give reliable prediction intervals for different Quantities of Interest, over varied flows and flow conditions, and at diametric levels of modeling resolution. In this talk, we present and substantiate the Eigenspace perturbation framework as an uncertainty estimation paradigm that meets these criteria. Commencing from a broad overview, we outline the details of this framework at different modeling resolution. Thence, using benchmark flows, along with engineering problems, the efficacy of this procedure is established. This research was partially supported by NNSA under the Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program (PSAAP) II, and by DARPA under the Enabling Quantification of Uncertainty in Physical Systems (EQUiPS) project (technical monitor: Dr Fariba Fahroo).

Modelling emission turbulence-radiation interaction by using a hybrid flamelet/stochastic Eulerian field method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Consalvi, Jean-Louis

2017-01-01

The time-averaged Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE) introduces two unclosed terms, known as `absorption Turbulence Radiation Interaction (TRI)' and `emission TRI'. Emission TRI is related to the non-linear coupling between fluctuations of the absorption coefficient and fluctuations of the Planck function and can be described without introduction any approximation by using a transported PDF method. In this study, a hybrid flamelet/ Stochastic Eulerian Field Model is used to solve the transport equation of the one-point one-time PDF. In this formulation, the steady laminar flamelet model (SLF) is coupled to a joint Probability Density Function (PDF) of mixture fraction, enthalpy defect, scalar dissipation rate, and soot quantities and the PDF transport equation is solved by using a Stochastic Eulerian Field (SEF) method. Soot production is modeled by a semi-empirical model and the spectral dependence of the radiatively participating species, namely combustion products and soot, are computed by using a Narrow Band Correlated-k (NBCK) model. The model is applied to simulate an ethylene/methane turbulent jet flame burning in an oxygen-enriched environment. Model results are compared with the experiments and the effects of taken into account Emission TRI on flame structure, soot production and radiative loss are discussed.

Local velocity scaling in an impeller discharge flow in T400 vessel agitated by tooth impeller in a fully turbulent region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šulc, Radek; Ditl, Pavel; Fořt, Ivan; Jašíkova, Darina; Kotek, Michal; Kopecký, Václav; Kysela, Bohuš

2018-06-01

Hydrodynamics and flow field were measured in an agitated vessel using 2-D Time Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (2-D TR PIV). The experiments were carried out in a fully baffled cylindrical flat bottom vessel 400 mm in inner diameter agitated by a tooth impeller 133 mm in diameter. The velocity fields were measured in the impeller discharge flow for impeller rotation speeds from 300 rpm to 700 rpm and three liquids of different viscosities (i.e. (i) distilled water, ii) a 28% vol. aqueous solution of glycol, and iii) a 43% vol. aqueous solution of glycol), corresponding to the impeller Reynolds number in the range 68 000 < Re < 221 000. This Re range secures the fully-developed turbulent flow of agitated liquid. In accordance with the theory of mixing, the dimensionless mean and fluctuation velocities in the measured directions were found to be constant and independent of the impeller Reynolds number. On the basis of the test results the spatial distributions of dimensionless velocities were calculated. The radial turbulence intensity was found to be in the majority in the range from 0.3 to 0.9, which corresponds to the high level of this quantity.

Resolving the fine-scale structure in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheel, Janet D.; Emran, Mohammad S.; Schumacher, Jörg

2013-11-01

We present high-resolution direct numerical simulation studies of turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection in a closed cylindrical cell with an aspect ratio of one. The focus of our analysis is on the finest scales of convective turbulence, in particular the statistics of the kinetic energy and thermal dissipation rates in the bulk and the whole cell. The fluctuations of the energy dissipation field can directly be translated into a fluctuating local dissipation scale which is found to develop ever finer fluctuations with increasing Rayleigh number. The range of these scales as well as the probability of high-amplitude dissipation events decreases with increasing Prandtl number. In addition, we examine the joint statistics of the two dissipation fields and the consequences of high-amplitude events. We have also investigated the convergence properties of our spectral element method and have found that both dissipation fields are very sensitive to insufficient resolution. We demonstrate that global transport properties, such as the Nusselt number, and the energy balances are partly insensitive to insufficient resolution and yield correct results even when the dissipation fields are under-resolved. Our present numerical framework is also compared with high-resolution simulations which use a finite difference method. For most of the compared quantities the agreement is found to be satisfactory.

Improved engineering models for turbulent wall flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

She, Zhen-Su; Chen, Xi; Zou, Hong-Yue; Hussain, Fazle

2015-11-01

We propose a new approach, called structural ensemble dynamics (SED), involving new concepts to describe the mean quantities in wall-bounded flows, and its application to improving the existing engineering turbulence models, as well as its physical interpretation. First, a revised k - ω model for pipe flows is obtained, which accurately predicts, for the first time, both mean velocity and (streamwise) kinetic energy for a wide range of the Reynolds number (Re), validated by Princeton experimental data. In particular, a multiplicative factor is introduced in the dissipation term to model an anomaly in the energy cascade in a meso-layer, predicting the outer peak of agreeing with data. Secondly, a new one-equation model is obtained for compressible turbulent boundary layers (CTBL), building on a multi-layer formula of the stress length function and a generalized temperature-velocity relation. The former refines the multi-layer description - viscous sublayer, buffer layer, logarithmic layer and a newly defined bulk zone - while the latter characterizes a parabolic relation between the mean velocity and temperature. DNS data show our predictions to have a 99% accuracy for several Mach numbers Ma = 2.25, 4.5, improving, up to 10%, a previous similar one-equation model (Baldwin & Lomax, 1978). Our results promise notable improvements in engineering models.

Inner Structure of CME Shock Fronts Revealed by the Electromotive Force and Turbulent Transport Coefficients in Helios-2 Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourdin, Philippe-A.; Hofer, Bernhard; Narita, Yasuhito

2018-03-01

Electromotive force is an essential quantity in dynamo theory. During a coronal mass ejection (CME), magnetic helicity gets decoupled from the Sun and advected into the heliosphere with the solar wind. Eventually, a heliospheric magnetic transient event might pass by a spacecraft, such as the Helios space observatories. Our aim is to investigate the electromotive force, the kinetic helicity effect (α term), the turbulent diffusion (β term), and the cross-helicity effect (γ term) in the inner heliosphere below 1 au. We set up a one-dimensional model of the solar wind velocity and magnetic field for a hypothetic interplanetary CME. Because turbulent structures within the solar wind evolve much slower than this structure needs to pass by the spacecraft, we use a reduced curl operator to compute the current density and vorticity. We test our CME shock-front model against an observed magnetic transient that passes by the Helios-2 spacecraft. At the peak of the fluctuations in this event we find strongly enhanced α, β, and γ terms, as well as a strong peak in the total electromotive force. Our method allows us to automatically identify magnetic transient events from any in situ spacecraft observations that contain magnetic field and plasma velocity data of the solar wind.

A priori analysis of differential diffusion for model development for scale-resolving simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunger, Franziska; Dietzsch, Felix; Gauding, Michael; Hasse, Christian

2018-01-01

The present study analyzes differential diffusion and the mechanisms responsible for it with regard to the turbulent/nonturbulent interface (TNTI) with special focus on model development for scale-resolving simulations. In order to analyze differences between resolved and subfilter phenomena, direct numerical simulation (DNS) data are compared with explicitly filtered data. The DNS database stems from a temporally evolving turbulent plane jet transporting two passive scalars with Schmidt numbers of unity and 0.25 presented by Hunger et al. [F. Hunger et al., J. Fluid Mech. 802, R5 (2016), 10.1017/jfm.2016.471]. The objective of this research is twofold: (i) to compare the position of the turbulent-nonturbulent interface between the original DNS data and the filtered data and (ii) to analyze differential diffusion and the impact of the TNTI with regard to scale resolution in the filtered DNS data. For the latter, differential diffusion quantities are studied, clearly showing the decrease of differential diffusion at the resolved scales with increasing filter width. A transport equation for the scalar differences is evaluated. Finally, the existence of large scalar gradients, gradient alignment, and the diffusive fluxes being the physical mechanisms responsible for the separation of the two scalars are compared between the resolved and subfilter scales.

Application of Self-Similarity Constrained Reynolds-Averaged Turbulence Models to Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtmyer-Meshkov Unstable Turbulent Mixing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartland, Tucker A.; Schilling, Oleg

2016-11-01

Analytical self-similar solutions corresponding to Rayleigh-Taylor, Richtmyer-Meshkov and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability are combined with observed values of the growth parameters in these instabilities to derive coefficient sets for K- ɛ and K- L- a Reynolds-averaged turbulence models. It is shown that full numerical solutions of the model equations give mixing layer widths, fields, and budgets in good agreement with the corresponding self-similar quantities for small Atwood number. Both models are then applied to Rayleigh-Taylor instability with increasing density contrasts to estimate the Atwood number above which the self-similar solutions become invalid. The models are also applied to a reshocked Richtmyer-Meshkov instability, and the predictions are compared with data. The expressions for the growth parameters obtained from the similarity analysis are used to develop estimates for the sensitivity of their values to changes in important model coefficients. Numerical simulations using these modified coefficient values are then performed to provide bounds on the model predictions associated with uncertainties in these coefficient values. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. This work was supported by the 2016 LLNL High-Energy-Density Physics Summer Student Program.

Numerical Study of Boundary-Layer in Aerodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Tom I-P.

1997-01-01

The accomplishments made in the following three tasks are described: (1) The first task was to study shock-wave boundary-layer interactions with bleed - this study is relevant to boundary-layer control in external and mixed-compression inlets of supersonic aircraft; (2) The second task was to test RAAKE, a code developed for computing turbulence quantities; and (3) The third task was to compute flow around the Ames ER-2 aircraft that has been retrofitted with containers over its wings and fuselage. The appendices include two reports submitted to AIAA for publication.

Analytical expressions for the log-amplitude correlation function of a plane wave through anisotropic atmospheric refractive turbulence.

PubMed

Gudimetla, V S Rao; Holmes, Richard B; Smith, Carey; Needham, Gregory

2012-05-01

The effect of anisotropic Kolmogorov turbulence on the log-amplitude correlation function for plane-wave fields is investigated using analysis, numerical integration, and simulation. A new analytical expression for the log-amplitude correlation function is derived for anisotropic Kolmogorov turbulence. The analytic results, based on the Rytov approximation, agree well with a more general wave-optics simulation based on the Fresnel approximation as well as with numerical evaluations, for low and moderate strengths of turbulence. The new expression reduces correctly to previously published analytic expressions for isotropic turbulence. The final results indicate that, as asymmetry becomes greater, the Rytov variance deviates from that given by the standard formula. This deviation becomes greater with stronger turbulence, up to moderate turbulence strengths. The anisotropic effects on the log-amplitude correlation function are dominant when the separation of the points is within the Fresnel length. In the direction of stronger turbulence, there is an enhanced dip in the correlation function at a separation close to the Fresnel length. The dip is diminished in the weak-turbulence axis, suggesting that energy redistribution via focusing and defocusing is dominated by the strong-turbulence axis. The new analytical expression is useful when anisotropy is observed in relevant experiments. © 2012 Optical Society of America

Annual Research Briefs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spinks, Debra (Compiler)

1997-01-01

This report contains the 1997 annual progress reports of the research fellows and students supported by the Center for Turbulence Research (CTR). Titles include: Invariant modeling in large-eddy simulation of turbulence; Validation of large-eddy simulation in a plain asymmetric diffuser; Progress in large-eddy simulation of trailing-edge turbulence and aeronautics; Resolution requirements in large-eddy simulations of shear flows; A general theory of discrete filtering for LES in complex geometry; On the use of discrete filters for large eddy simulation; Wall models in large eddy simulation of separated flow; Perspectives for ensemble average LES; Anisotropic grid-based formulas for subgrid-scale models; Some modeling requirements for wall models in large eddy simulation; Numerical simulation of 3D turbulent boundary layers using the V2F model; Accurate modeling of impinging jet heat transfer; Application of turbulence models to high-lift airfoils; Advances in structure-based turbulence modeling; Incorporating realistic chemistry into direct numerical simulations of turbulent non-premixed combustion; Effects of small-scale structure on turbulent mixing; Turbulent premixed combustion in the laminar flamelet and the thin reaction zone regime; Large eddy simulation of combustion instabilities in turbulent premixed burners; On the generation of vorticity at a free-surface; Active control of turbulent channel flow; A generalized framework for robust control in fluid mechanics; Combined immersed-boundary/B-spline methods for simulations of flow in complex geometries; and DNS of shock boundary-layer interaction - preliminary results for compression ramp flow.

Numerical simulation of the nocturnal turbulence characteristics over Rattlesnake Mountain

Treesearch

W.E. Heilman; E.S. Takle

1991-01-01

A two-dimensional second-order turbulence-closure model based on Mellor-Yamada level 3 is used to examine the nocturnal turbulence characteristics over Rattlesnake Mountain in Washington. Simulations of mean horizontal velocities and potential temperatures agree well with data. The equations for the components of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) show that anisotropy...

Simulation of a 3D Turbulent Wavy Channel based on the High-order WENO Scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Bor-Jang; Chou, Chung-Chyi; Tsai, Yeong-Pei; Chuang, Ying Hung

2018-02-01

Passive interest turbulent drag reduction, effective means to improve air vehicle fuel consumption costs. Most turbulent problems happening to the nature and engineering applications were exactly the turbulence problem frequently caused by one or more turbulent shear flows. This study was operated with incompressible 3-D channels with cyclic wavy boundary to explore the physical properties of turbulence flow. This research measures the distribution of average velocity, instant flowing field shapes, turbulence and pressure distribution, etc. Furthermore, the systematic computation and analysis for the 3-D flow field was also implemented. It was aimed to clearly understand the turbulence fields formed by wavy boundary of tube flow. The purpose of this research is to obtain systematic structural information about the turbulent flow field and features of the turbulence structure are discussed.

Verification and Validation (V&V) Methodologies for Multiphase Turbulent and Explosive Flows. V&V Case Studies of Computer Simulations from Los Alamos National Laboratory GMFIX codes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dartevelle, S.

2006-12-01

Large-scale volcanic eruptions are inherently hazardous events, hence cannot be described by detailed and accurate in situ measurements; hence, volcanic explosive phenomenology is inadequately constrained in terms of initial and inflow conditions. Consequently, little to no real-time data exist to Verify and Validate computer codes developed to model these geophysical events as a whole. However, code Verification and Validation remains a necessary step, particularly when volcanologists use numerical data for mitigation of volcanic hazards as more often performed nowadays. The Verification and Validation (V&V) process formally assesses the level of 'credibility' of numerical results produced within a range of specific applications. The first step, Verification, is 'the process of determining that a model implementation accurately represents the conceptual description of the model', which requires either exact analytical solutions or highly accurate simplified experimental data. The second step, Validation, is 'the process of determining the degree to which a model is an accurate representation of the real world', which requires complex experimental data of the 'real world' physics. The Verification step is rather simple to formally achieve, while, in the 'real world' explosive volcanism context, the second step, Validation, is about impossible. Hence, instead of validating computer code against the whole large-scale unconstrained volcanic phenomenology, we rather suggest to focus on the key physics which control these volcanic clouds, viz., momentum-driven supersonic jets and multiphase turbulence. We propose to compare numerical results against a set of simple but well-constrained analog experiments, which uniquely and unambiguously represent these two key-phenomenology separately. Herewith, we use GMFIX (Geophysical Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchange, v1.62), a set of multiphase- CFD FORTRAN codes, which have been recently redeveloped to meet the strict Quality Assurance, verification, and validation requirements from the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management of the US Dept of Energy. GMFIX solves Navier-Stokes and energy partial differential equations for each phase with appropriate turbulence and interfacial coupling between phases. For momentum-driven single- to multi-phase underexpanded jets, the position of the first Mach disk is known empirically as a function of both the pressure ratio, K, and the particle mass fraction, Phi at the nozzle. Namely, the higher K, the further downstream the Mach disk and the higher Phi, the further upstream the first Mach disk. We show that GMFIX captures these two essential features. In addition, GMFIX displays all the properties found in these jets, such as expansion fans, incident and reflected shocks, and subsequent downstream mach discs, which make this code ideal for further investigations of equivalent volcanological phenomena. One of the other most challenging aspects of volcanic phenomenology is the multiphase nature of turbulence. We also validated GMFIX in comparing the velocity profiles and turbulence quantities against well constrained analog experiments. The velocity profiles agree with the analog ones as well as these of production of turbulent quantities. Overall, the Verification and the Validation experiments although inherently challenging suggest GMFIX captures the most essential dynamical properties of multiphase and supersonic flows and jets.

Turbulence-induced channel crosstalk in an orbital angular momentum-multiplexed free-space optical link

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anguita, Jaime A.; Neifeld, Mark A.; Vasic, Bane V.

2008-05-01

A multichannel free-space optical (FSO) communication system based on orbital angular momentum (OAM)-carrying beams is studied. We numerically analyze the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the system and find that turbulence induces attenuation and crosstalk among channels. Based on a model in which the constituent channels are binary symmetric and crosstalk is a Gaussian noise source, we find optimal sets of OAM states at each turbulence condition studied and determine the aggregate capacity of the multichannel system at those conditions. OAM-multiplexed FSO systems that operate in the weak turbulence regime are found to offer good performance. We verify that the aggregate capacity decreases as the turbulence increases. A per-channel bit-error rate evaluation is presented to show the uneven effects of crosstalk on the constituent channels.

CFD modeling of turbulent mixing through vertical pressure tube type boiling water reactor fuel rod bundles with spacer-grids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Shashi Kant; Sinha, S. L.; Chandraker, D. K.

2018-05-01

Numerical simulation has been carried out for the study of natural mixing of a Tracer (Passive scalar) to describe the development of turbulent diffusion in an injected sub-channel and, afterwards on, cross-mixing between adjacent sub-channels. In this investigation, post benchmark evaluation of the inter-subchannel mixing was initiated to test the ability of state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes to numerically predict the important turbulence parameters downstream of a ring type spacer grid in a rod-bundle. A three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool (STAR-CCM+) was used to model the single phase flow through a 30° segment or 1/12th of the cross segment of a 54-rod bundle with a ring shaped spacer grid. Polyhedrons were used to discretize the computational domain, along with prismatic cells near the walls, with an overall mesh count of 5.2 M cell volumes. The Reynolds Stress Models (RSM) was tested because of RSM accounts for the turbulence anisotropy, to assess their capability in predicting the velocities as well as mass fraction of potassium nitrate measured in the experiment. In this way, the line probes are located in the different position of subchannels which could be used to characterize the progress of the mixing along the flow direction, and the degree of cross-mixing assessed using the quantity of tracer arriving in the neighbouring sub-channels. The predicted dimensionless mixing scalar along the length, however, was in good agreement with the measurements downstream of spacers.

Mode Analyses of Gyrokinetic Simulations of Plasma Microturbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatch, David R.

This thesis presents analysis of the excitation and role of damped modes in gyrokinetic simulations of plasma microturbulence. In order to address this question, mode decompositions are used to analyze gyrokinetic simulation data. A mode decomposition can be constructed by projecting a nonlinearly evolved gyrokinetic distribution function onto a set of linear eigenmodes, or alternatively by constructing a proper orthogonal decomposition of the distribution function. POD decompositions are used to examine the role of damped modes in saturating ion temperature gradient driven turbulence. In order to identify the contribution of different modes to the energy sources and sinks, numerical diagnostics for a gyrokinetic energy quantity were developed for the GENE code. The use of these energy diagnostics in conjunction with POD mode decompositions demonstrates that ITG turbulence saturates largely through dissipation by damped modes at the same perpendicular spatial scales as those of the driving instabilities. This defines a picture of turbulent saturation that is very different from both traditional hydrodynamic scenarios and also many common theories for the saturation of plasma turbulence. POD mode decompositions are also used to examine the role of subdominant modes in causing magnetic stochasticity in electromagnetic gyrokinetic simulations. It is shown that the magnetic stochasticity, which appears to be ubiquitous in electromagnetic microturbulence, is caused largely by subdominant modes with tearing parity. The application of higher-order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) to the full distribution function from gyrokinetic simulations is presented. This is an effort to demonstrate the ability to characterize and extract insight from a very large, complex, and high-dimensional data-set - the 5-D (plus time) gyrokinetic distribution function.

An investigation of the effects of spanwise wall oscillation on the structure of a turbulent boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trujillo, Steven Mathew

Transition of a fluid boundary layer from a laminar to a turbulent regime is accompanied by a large increase in skin friction drag. The ability to manipulate the flow or its bounding geometry to reduce this drag effectively has been a long-sought goal in contemporary fluid mechanics. Recently, workers have demonstrated that continuous lateral oscillation of the flow's bounding surface is one means to this goal, producing significant drag reduction. The present study was performed to understand better the mechanism by which such a flow achieves drag reduction. An oscillating wall section was installed in a water channel facility, and the resulting flow was studied using laser Doppler velocimetry, hot-film anemometry, and visualization techniques. Traditional mean and fluctuating statistics were examined, as well as statistics computed from conditionally-sampled turbulent events. The dependence of these quantities on the phase of the oscillating surface's motion was also studied. Visualization-based studies were employed to provide insight into the structural changes brought on by the wall oscillation. The most dramatic changes effected by the wall motion were seen as reductions in frequency of bursts and sweeps, events which concentrate large production of Reynolds stress and which ultimately augment wall skin friction. These Reynolds-stress reductions were reflected in reductions in mean and fluctuating quantifies in the lower regions of the boundary layer. Other velocity measurements confirmed earlier workers' speculations that the secondary flow induced by the oscillating wall is comparable to Stokes' solution for an oscillating plate in a quiescent fluid. Other than this secondary flow, however, the boundary layer displayed essentially no dependence on the phase of the wall motion. A simple cost analysis showed that, in general, the energy cost required to implement this technique is greater than the savings it produces. The visualizations of the flow revealed a more uniform flow in the near-wall region resulting from wall oscillation. Quantitative analyses of the visualizations supported the velocity-based Reynolds-stress reductions; the same data also revealed that the quasi-streamwise vortical structures above the wall did not appear to be altered significantly by the wall motion.

Multifluid Simulations of the Global Solar Wind Including Pickup Ions and Turbulence Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldstein, Melvyn L.; Usmanov, A. V.

2011-01-01

I will describe a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model of the solar wind that takes into account turbulent heating of the wind by velocity and magnetic fluctuations as well as a variety of effects produced by interstellar pickup protons. The interstellar pickup protons are treated in the model as one fluid and the protons and electrons are treated together as a second fluid. The model equations include a Reynolds decomposition of the plasma velocity and magnetic field into mean and fluctuating quantities, as well as energy transfer from interstellar pickup protons to solar wind protons that results in the deceleration of the solar wind. The model is used to simulate the global steady-state structure of the solar wind in the region from 0.3 to 100 AU. The simulation assumes that the background magnetic field on the Sun is either a dipole (aligned or tilted with respect to the solar rotation axis) or one that is deduced from solar magnetograms.

Development of subminiature multi-sensor hot-wire probes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Westphal, Russell V.; Ligrani, Phillip M.; Lemos, Fred R.

1988-01-01

Limitations on the spatial resolution of multisensor hot wire probes have precluded accurate measurements of Reynolds stresses very near solid surfaces in wind tunnels and in many practical aerodynamic flows. The fabrication, calibration and qualification testing of very small single horizontal and X-array hot-wire probes which are intended to be used near solid boundaries in turbulent flows where length scales are particularly small, is described. Details of the sensor fabrication procedure are reported, along with information needed to successfully operate the probes. As compared with conventional probes, manufacture of the subminiature probes is more complex, requiring special equipment and careful handling. The subminiature probes tested were more fragile and shorter lived than conventional probes; they obeyed the same calibration laws but with slightly larger experimental uncertainty. In spite of these disadvantages, measurements of mean statistical quantities and spectra demonstrate the ability of the subminiature sensors to provide the measurements in the near wall region of turbulent boundary layers that are more accurate than conventional sized probes.

One-equation near-wall turbulence modeling with the aid of direct simulation data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodi, W.; Mansour, N. N.

1990-01-01

The length scales appearing in the relations for the eddy viscosity and dissipation rate in one-equation models were evaluated from direct numerical simulation data for developed channel and boundary-layer flow at two Reynolds numbers each. To prepare the ground for the evaluation, the distribution of the most relevant mean-flow and turbulence quantities is presented and discussed with respect to Reynolds-number influence and to differences between channel and boundary-layer flow. An alternative model is also examined in which bar-(v'(exp 2))(exp 1/2) is used as velocity scale instead of k(exp 1/2). With this velocity scale, the length scales now appearing in the model follow very closely a linear relationship near the wall so that no damping is necessary. For the determination of bar-v'(exp 2) in the context of a one-equation model, a correlation is provided between bar-(v'(exp 2))/k and bar-(u'v')/k.

Transport of light, trace impurities in Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowan, W. L.; Bespamyatnov, I. O.; Liao, K. T.; Horton, W.; Fu, X. R.; Hughes, J. W.

2012-10-01

Light impurity profiles for boron were measured in ITB, H-mode, L-mode, and I-mode discharges in Alcator C-Mod. Within this wide range of modes, the profiles varied from peaked to hollow to flat. Specifically, hollow profiles are often observed in H-mode, while ITBs produce strong peaking, and L-mode produces moderate peaking. I-mode discharges are characterized by flat impurity profiles. For the study reported here, the profiles were measured with charge exchange recombination spectroscopy. The dependences of Rv/D were sought on dimensionless quantities including ion density scale length, effective charge, collisionality, and temperature scale length. We find that neoclassical transport consistently underestimates the measured transport. The excess measured transport is assumed to be turbulent. The strongest dependence of Rv/D is with temperature scale length. In addition, the measured transport was compared with the prediction of an analytical theory of drift wave turbulence that identifies transport implications for drift waves driven by ion and impurity density gradients.

Dynamical transitions associated with turbulence in a helicon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Light, Adam D.; Tian, Li; Chakraborty Thakur, Saikat; Tynan, George R.

2017-10-01

Diagnostic capabilities are often cited as a limiting factor in our understanding of transport in fusion devices. Increasingly advanced multichannel diagnostics are being applied to classify transport regimes and to search for ``trigger'' features that signal an oncoming dynamical event, such as an ELM or an L-H transition. In this work, we explore a technique that yields information about global properties of plasma dynamics from a single time series of a relevant plasma quantity. Electrostatic probe data from the Controlled Shear Decorrelation eXperiment (CSDX) is analyzed using recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) in the context of previous work on the transition to weak drift-wave turbulence. The recurrence characteristics of a phase space trajectory provide a quantitative means to classify dynamics and identify transitions in a complex system. We present and quantify dynamical variations in the plasma variables as a function of the background magnetic field strength. A dynamical transition corresponding to the emergence of broadband fluctuations is identified using RQA measures.

Effect of initial conditions on constant pressure mixing between two turbulent streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kangovi, S.

1983-02-01

It is pointed out that a study of the process of mixing between two dissimilar streams has varied applications in different fields. The applications include the design of an after burner in a high by-pass ratio aircraft engine and the disposal of effluents in a stream. The mixing process determines important quantities related to the energy transfer from main stream to the secondary stream, the temperature and velocity profiles, and the local kinematic and dissipative structure within the mixing region, and the growth of the mixing layer. Hill and Page (1968) have proposed the employment of an 'assumed epsilon' method in which the eddy viscosity model of Goertler (1942) is modified to account for the initial boundary layer. The present investigation is concerned with the application of the assumed epsilon technique to the study of the effect of initial conditions on the development of the turbulent mixing layer between two compressible, nonisoenergetic streams at constant pressure.

A priori study of subgrid-scale flux of a passive scalar in isotropic homogeneous turbulence.

PubMed

Chumakov, Sergei G

2008-09-01

We perform a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence with a passive scalar that is forced by mean gradient. The DNS data are used to study the properties of subgrid-scale flux of a passive scalar in the framework of large eddy simulation (LES), such as alignment trends between the flux, resolved, and subgrid-scale flow structures. It is shown that the direction of the flux is strongly coupled with the subgrid-scale stress axes rather than the resolved flow quantities such as strain, vorticity, or scalar gradient. We derive an approximate transport equation for the subgrid-scale flux of a scalar and look at the relative importance of the terms in the transport equation. A particular form of LES tensor-viscosity model for the scalar flux is investigated, which includes the subgrid-scale stress. Effect of different models for the subgrid-scale stress on the model for the subgrid-scale flux is studied.

Quantitative Comparisons of a Coarse-Grid LES with Experimental Data for Backward-Facing Step Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonough, J. M.

1999-11-01

A novel approach to LES employing an additive decomposition of both solutions and governing equations (similar to ``multi-level'' approaches of Dubois et al.,Dynamic Multilevel Methods and the Simulation of Turbulence, Cambridge University Press, 1999) is presented; its main structural features are lack of filtering of governing equations (instead, solutions are filtered to remove aliasing due to under resolution) and direct modeling of subgrid-scale primitive variables (rather than modeling their correlations) in the manner proposed by Hylin and McDonough (Int. J. Fluid Mech. Res. 26, 228-256, 1999). A 2-D implementation of this formalism is applied to the backward-facing step flow studied experimentally by Driver and Seegmiller (AIAA J. 23, 163-171, 1985) and Driver et al. (AIAA J. 25, 914-919, 1987), and run on grids sufficiently coarse to permit easy extension to 3-D, industrially-realistic problems. Comparisons of computed and experimental mean quantities (velocity profiles, turbulence kinetic energy, reattachment lengths, etc.) and effects of grid refinement will be presented.

Diagnosing turbulence for research aircraft safety using open source toolkits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, T. J.; Guy, N.

Open source software toolkits have been developed and applied to diagnose in-cloud turbulence in the vicinity of Earth science research aircraft, via analysis of ground-based Doppler radar data. Based on multiple retrospective analyses, these toolkits show promise for detecting significant turbulence well prior to cloud penetrations by research aircraft. A pilot study demonstrated the ability to provide mission scientists turbulence estimates in near real time during an actual field campaign, and thus these toolkits are recommended for usage in future cloud-penetrating aircraft field campaigns.

Free-space optical channel simulator for weak-turbulence conditions.

PubMed

Bykhovsky, Dima

2015-11-01

Free-space optical (FSO) communication may be severely influenced by the inevitable turbulence effect that results in channel gain fluctuations and fading. The objective of this paper is to provide a simple and effective simulator of the weak-turbulence FSO channel that emulates the influence of the temporal covariance effect. Specifically, the proposed model is based on lognormal distributed samples with a corresponding correlation time. The simulator is based on the solution of the first-order stochastic differential equation (SDE). The results of the provided SDE analysis reveal its efficacy for turbulent channel modeling.

On the Connection Between One-and Two-Equation Models of Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menter, F. R.; Rai, Man Mohan (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

A formalism will be presented that allows the transformation of two-equation eddy viscosity turbulence models into one-equation models. The transformation is based on an assumption that is widely accepted over a large range of boundary layer flows and that has been shown to actually improve predictions when incorporated into two-equation models of turbulence. Based on that assumption, a new one-equation turbulence model will be derived. The new model will be tested in great detail against a previously introduced one-equation model and against its parent two-equation model.

Effect of non-Poisson samples on turbulence spectra from laser velocimetry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sree, Dave; Kjelgaard, Scott O.; Sellers, William L., III

1994-01-01

Spectral analysis of laser velocimetry (LV) data plays an important role in characterizing a turbulent flow and in estimating the associated turbulence scales, which can be helpful in validating theoretical and numerical turbulence models. The determination of turbulence scales is critically dependent on the accuracy of the spectral estimates. Spectral estimations from 'individual realization' laser velocimetry data are typically based on the assumption of a Poisson sampling process. What this Note has demonstrated is that the sampling distribution must be considered before spectral estimates are used to infer turbulence scales.

Atmospheric turbulence profiling with unknown power spectral density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helin, Tapio; Kindermann, Stefan; Lehtonen, Jonatan; Ramlau, Ronny

2018-04-01

Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology in modern ground-based optical telescopes to compensate for the wavefront distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence. One method that allows to retrieve information about the atmosphere from telescope data is so-called SLODAR, where the atmospheric turbulence profile is estimated based on correlation data of Shack-Hartmann wavefront measurements. This approach relies on a layered Kolmogorov turbulence model. In this article, we propose a novel extension of the SLODAR concept by including a general non-Kolmogorov turbulence layer close to the ground with an unknown power spectral density. We prove that the joint estimation problem of the turbulence profile above ground simultaneously with the unknown power spectral density at the ground is ill-posed and propose three numerical reconstruction methods. We demonstrate by numerical simulations that our methods lead to substantial improvements in the turbulence profile reconstruction compared to the standard SLODAR-type approach. Also, our methods can accurately locate local perturbations in non-Kolmogorov power spectral densities.

Influence of bulk turbulence and entrance boundary layer thickness on the curved duct flow field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crawford, R. A.

1988-01-01

The influence of bulk turbulence and boundary layer thickness on the secondary flow development in a square, 90 degree turning duct was investigated. A three-dimensional laser velocimetry system was utilized to measure the mean and fluctuating components of velocity at six cross-planes in the duct. The results from this investigation, with entrance boundary layer thickness of 20 percent, were compared with the thin boundary layer results documented in NASA CR-174811. The axial velocity profiles, cross-flow velocities, and turbulence intensities were compared and evaluated with regard to the influence of bulk turbulence intensity and boundary layer thickness, and the influence was significant. The results of this investigation expand the 90 degree curved duct experimental data base to higher turbulence levels and thicker entrance boundary layers. The experimental results provide a challenging benchmark data base for computational fluid dynamics code development and validation. The variation of inlet bulk turbulence intensity provides additional information to aid in turbulence model evaluation.

The effect of capturing the correct turbulence dissipation rate in BHR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schwarzkopf, John Dennis; Ristorcelli, Raymond

In this manuscript, we discuss the shortcoming of a quasi-equilibrium assumption made in the BHR closure model. Turbulence closure models generally assume fully developed turbulence, which is not applicable to 1) non-equilibrium turbulence (e.g. change in mean pressure gradient) or 2) laminar-turbulence transition flows. Based on DNS data, we show that the current BHR dissipation equation [modeled based on the fully developed turbulence phenomenology] does not capture important features of nonequilibrium flows. To demonstrate our thesis, we use the BHR equations to predict a non-equilibrium flow both with the BHR dissipation and the dissipation from DNS. We find that themore » prediction can be substantially improved, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with the correct dissipation rate. We conclude that a new set of nonequilibrium phenomenological assumptions must be used to develop a new model equation for the dissipation to accurately predict the turbulence time scale used by other models.« less

Characteristics of low reynolds number shear-free turbulence at an impermeable base.

PubMed

Wan Mohtar, W H M; ElShafie, A

2014-01-01

Shear-free turbulence generated from an oscillating grid in a water tank impinging on an impermeable surface at varying Reynolds number 74 ≤ Re(l) ≤ 570 was studied experimentally, where the Reynolds number is defined based on the root-mean-square (r.m.s) horizontal velocity and the integral length scale. A particular focus was paid to the turbulence characteristics for low Re(l) < 150 to investigate the minimum limit of Re l obeying the profiles of rapid distortion theory. The measurements taken at near base included the r.m.s turbulent velocities, evolution of isotropy, integral length scales, and energy spectra. Statistical analysis of the velocity data showed that the anisotropic turbulence structure follows the theory for flows with Re(l) ≥ 117. At low Re(l) < 117, however, the turbulence profile deviated from the prediction where no amplification of horizontal velocity components was observed and the vertical velocity components were seen to be constant towards the tank base. Both velocity components sharply decreased towards zero at a distance of ≈ 1/3 of the integral length scale above the base due to viscous damping. The lower limit where Re(l) obeys the standard profile was found to be within the range 114 ≤ Re(l) ≤ 116.

Characteristics of Low Reynolds Number Shear-Free Turbulence at an Impermeable Base

PubMed Central

Wan Mohtar, W. H. M.; ElShafie, A.

2014-01-01

Shear-free turbulence generated from an oscillating grid in a water tank impinging on an impermeable surface at varying Reynolds number 74 ≤ Re l ≤ 570 was studied experimentally, where the Reynolds number is defined based on the root-mean-square (r.m.s) horizontal velocity and the integral length scale. A particular focus was paid to the turbulence characteristics for low Re l < 150 to investigate the minimum limit of Re l obeying the profiles of rapid distortion theory. The measurements taken at near base included the r.m.s turbulent velocities, evolution of isotropy, integral length scales, and energy spectra. Statistical analysis of the velocity data showed that the anisotropic turbulence structure follows the theory for flows with Re l ≥ 117. At low Re l < 117, however, the turbulence profile deviated from the prediction where no amplification of horizontal velocity components was observed and the vertical velocity components were seen to be constant towards the tank base. Both velocity components sharply decreased towards zero at a distance of ≈1/3 of the integral length scale above the base due to viscous damping. The lower limit where Re l obeys the standard profile was found to be within the range 114 ≤ Re l ≤ 116. PMID:25250384

Channel capacity of OAM based FSO communication systems with partially coherent Bessel-Gaussian beams in anisotropic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Juan; Zhang, Li; Zhang, Kecheng; Ma, Junxian

2018-07-01

Based on the Rytov approximation theory, the transmission model of an orbital angular momentum (OAM)-carrying partially coherent Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beams propagating in weak anisotropic turbulence is established. The corresponding analytical expression of channel capacity is presented. Influences of anisotropic turbulence parameters and beam parameters on channel capacity of OAM-based free-space optical (FSO) communication systems are discussed in detail. The results indicate channel capacity increases with increasing of almost all of the parameters except for transmission distance. Raising the values of some parameters such as wavelength, propagation altitude and non-Kolmogorov power spectrum index, would markedly improve the channel capacity. In addition, we evaluate the channel capacity of Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams and partially coherent BG beams in anisotropic turbulence. It indicates that partially coherent BG beams are better light sources candidates for mitigating the influences of anisotropic turbulence on channel capacity of OAM-based FSO communication systems.

Propagation of rotational Risley-prism-array-based Gaussian beams in turbulent atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Feng; Ma, Haotong; Dong, Li; Ren, Ge; Qi, Bo; Tan, Yufeng

2018-03-01

Limited by the size and weight of prism and optical assembling, Rotational Risley-prism-array system is a simple but effective way to realize high power and superior beam quality of deflecting laser output. In this paper, the propagation of the rotational Risley-prism-array-based Gaussian beam array in atmospheric turbulence is studied in detail. An analytical expression for the average intensity distribution at the receiving plane is derived based on nonparaxial ray tracing method and extended Huygens-Fresnel principle. Power in the diffraction-limited bucket is chosen to evaluate beam quality. The effect of deviation angle, propagation distance and intensity of turbulence on beam quality is studied in detail by quantitative simulation. It reveals that with the propagation distance increasing, the intensity distribution gradually evolves from multiple-petal-like shape into the pattern that contains one main-lobe in the center with multiple side-lobes in weak turbulence. The beam quality of rotational Risley-prism-array-based Gaussian beam array with lower deviation angle is better than its counterpart with higher deviation angle when propagating in weak and medium turbulent (i.e. Cn2 < 10-13m-2/3), the beam quality of higher deviation angle arrays degrades faster as the intensity of turbulence gets stronger. In the case of propagating in strong turbulence, the long propagation distance (i.e. z > 10km ) and deviation angle have no influence on beam quality.

Verification of FLYSAFE Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) objects against aircraft turbulence measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lunnon, R.; Gill, P.; Reid, L.; Mirza, A.

2009-09-01

Prediction of gridded CAT fields The main causes of CAT are (a) Vertical wind shear - low Richardson Number (b) Mountain waves (c) Convection. All three causes contribute roughly equally to CAT occurrences, globally Prediction of shear induced CAT The predictions of shear induced CAT has a longer history than either mountain-wave induced CAT or convectively induced CAT. Both Global Aviation Forecasting Centres are currently using the Ellrod TI1 algorithm (Ellrod and Knapp, 1992). This predictor is the scalar product of deformation [akm1]and vertical wind shear. More sophisticated algorithms can amplify errors in non-linear, differentiated quantities so it is very likely that Ellrod will out-perform other algorithms when verified globally. Prediction of mountain wave CAT The Global Aviation Forecasting Centre in the UK has been generating automated forecasts of mountain wave CAT since the late 1990s, based on the diagnosis of gravity wave drag. Generation of CAT objects In the FLYSAFE project it was decided at an early stage that short range forecasts of meteorological hazards, i.e. icing, Clear Air Turbulence, Cumulonimbus Clouds, should be represented as weather objects, that is, descriptions of individual hazardous volumes of airspace. For CAT, the forecast information on which the weather objects were based was gridded, that comprised a representation of a hazard level for all points in a pre-defined 3-D grid, for a range of forecast times. A "grid-to-objects" capability was generated. This is discussed further in Mirza and Drouin (this conference). Verification of CAT forecasts Verification was performed using digital accelerometer data from aircraft in the British Airways Boeing 747 fleet. A preliminary processing of the aircraft data were performed to generate a truth field on a scale similar to that used to provide gridded forecasts to airlines. This truth field was binary, i.e. each flight segment was characterised as being either "turbulent" or "benign". A gridded forecast field is a continuously changing variable. In contrast, a simple weather object must be characterised by a specific threshold. For a gridded forecast and a binary truth measure it is possible to generate Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. For weather objects, a single point in the hit-rate/false-alarm-rate space can be generated. If this point is plotted on a ROC curve graph then the skill of the forecast using weather objects can be compared with the skill of the gridded forecast.

Asymptotic stability of spectral-based PDF modeling for homogeneous turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campos, Alejandro; Duraisamy, Karthik; Iaccarino, Gianluca

2015-11-01

Engineering models of turbulence, based on one-point statistics, neglect spectral information inherent in a turbulence field. It is well known, however, that the evolution of turbulence is dictated by a complex interplay between the spectral modes of velocity. For example, for homogeneous turbulence, the pressure-rate-of-strain depends on the integrated energy spectrum weighted by components of the wave vectors. The Interacting Particle Representation Model (IPRM) (Kassinos & Reynolds, 1996) and the Velocity/Wave-Vector PDF model (Van Slooten & Pope, 1997) emulate spectral information in an attempt to improve the modeling of turbulence. We investigate the evolution and asymptotic stability of the IPRM using three different approaches. The first approach considers the Lagrangian evolution of individual realizations (idealized as particles) of the stochastic process defined by the IPRM. The second solves Lagrangian evolution equations for clusters of realizations conditional on a given wave vector. The third evolves the solution of the Eulerian conditional PDF corresponding to the aforementioned clusters. This last method avoids issues related to discrete particle noise and slow convergence associated with Lagrangian particle-based simulations.

Turbulence observations in the Gulf of Trieste under moderate wind forcing and different water column stratification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcello Falcieri, Francesco; Kantha, Lakshmi; Benetazzo, Alvise; Bergamasco, Andrea; Bonaldo, Davide; Barbariol, Francesco; Malačič, Vlado; Sclavo, Mauro; Carniel, Sandro

2016-03-01

The oceanographic campaign CARPET2014 (Characterizing Adriatic Region Preconditionig EvenTs), (30 January-4 February 2014) collected the very first turbulence data in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) under moderate wind (average wind speed 10 m s-1) and heat flux (net negative heat flux ranging from 150 to 400 W m-2). Observations consisted of 38 CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) casts and 478 microstructure profiles (grouped into 145 ensembles) with three sets of yoyo casts, each lasting for about 12 consecutive hours. Averaging closely repeated casts, such as the ensembles, can lead to a smearing effect when in the presence of a vertical density structure with strong interfaces that can move up or down between subsequent casts under the influence of tides and internal waves. In order to minimize the smearing effect of such displacements on mean quantities, we developed an algorithm to realign successive microstructure profiles to produce sharper and more meaningful mean profiles of measured turbulence parameters. During the campaign, the water column in the gulf evolved from well-mixed to stratified conditions due to Adriatic waters intruding at the bottom along the gulf's south-eastern coast. We show that during the warm and relatively dry winter, the water column in the Gulf of Trieste, even under moderate wind forcing, was not completely mixed due to the influence of bottom waters intruding from the open sea. Inside the gulf, two types of water intrusions were found during yoyo casts: one coming from the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea (i.e. cooler, fresher and more turbid) and one coming from the open sea in front of the Po Delta (i.e. warmer, saltier and less turbid). The two intrusions had different impacts on turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate profiles. The former, with high turbidity, acted as a barrier to wind-driven turbulence, while the latter, with low sediment concentrations and a smaller vertical density gradient, was not able to suppress downward penetration of turbulence from the surface.

von Kármán–Howarth and Corrsin equations closure based on Lagrangian description of the fluid motion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Divitiis, Nicola de, E-mail: n.dedivitiis@gmail.com

A new approach to obtain the closure formulas for the von Kármán–Howarth and Corrsin equations is presented, which is based on the Lagrangian representation of the fluid motion, and on the Liouville theorem associated to the kinematics of a pair of fluid particles. This kinematics is characterized by the finite scale separation vector which is assumed to be statistically independent from the velocity field. Such assumption is justified by the hypothesis of fully developed turbulence and by the property that this vector varies much more rapidly than the velocity field. This formulation leads to the closure formulas of von Kármán–Howarthmore » and Corrsin equations in terms of longitudinal velocity and temperature correlations following a demonstration completely different with respect to the previous works. Some of the properties and the limitations of the closed equations are discussed. In particular, we show that the times of evolution of the developed kinetic energy and temperature spectra are finite quantities which depend on the initial conditions.« less

Exact statistical results for binary mixing and reaction in variable density turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ristorcelli, J. R.

2017-02-01

We report a number of rigorous statistical results on binary active scalar mixing in variable density turbulence. The study is motivated by mixing between pure fluids with very different densities and whose density intensity is of order unity. Our primary focus is the derivation of exact mathematical results for mixing in variable density turbulence and we do point out the potential fields of application of the results. A binary one step reaction is invoked to derive a metric to asses the state of mixing. The mean reaction rate in variable density turbulent mixing can be expressed, in closed form, using the first order Favre mean variables and the Reynolds averaged density variance, ⟨ρ2⟩ . We show that the normalized density variance, ⟨ρ2⟩ , reflects the reduction of the reaction due to mixing and is a mix metric. The result is mathematically rigorous. The result is the variable density analog, the normalized mass fraction variance ⟨c2⟩ used in constant density turbulent mixing. As a consequence, we demonstrate that use of the analogous normalized Favre variance of the mass fraction, c″ ⁣2˜ , as a mix metric is not theoretically justified in variable density turbulence. We additionally derive expressions relating various second order moments of the mass fraction, specific volume, and density fields. The central role of the density specific volume covariance ⟨ρ v ⟩ is highlighted; it is a key quantity with considerable dynamical significance linking various second order statistics. For laboratory experiments, we have developed exact relations between the Reynolds scalar variance ⟨c2⟩ its Favre analog c″ ⁣2˜ , and various second moments including ⟨ρ v ⟩ . For moment closure models that evolve ⟨ρ v ⟩ and not ⟨ρ2⟩ , we provide a novel expression for ⟨ρ2⟩ in terms of a rational function of ⟨ρ v ⟩ that avoids recourse to Taylor series methods (which do not converge for large density differences). We have derived analytic results relating several other second and third order moments and see coupling between odd and even order moments demonstrating a natural and inherent skewness in the mixing in variable density turbulence. The analytic results have applications in the areas of isothermal material mixing, isobaric thermal mixing, and simple chemical reaction (in progress variable formulation).

Aerodynamic performance of transonic and subsonic airfoils: Effects of surface roughness, turbulence intensity, Mach number, and streamline curvature-airfoil shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qiang

The effects of surface roughness, turbulence intensity, Mach number, and streamline curvature-airfoil shape on the aerodynamic performance of turbine airfoils are investigated in compressible, high speed flows. The University of Utah Transonic Wind Tunnel is employed for the experimental part of the study. Two different test sections are designed to produce Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, passage mass flow rates, and physical dimensions, which match values along turbine blades in operating engines: (i) a nonturning test section with a symmetric airfoil, and (ii) a cascade test section with a cambered turbine vane. The nonuniform, irregular, three-dimensional surface roughness is characterized using the equivalent sand grain roughness size. Changing the airfoil surface roughness condition has a substantial effect on wake profiles of total pressure loss coefficients, normalized Mach number, normalized kinetic energy, and on the normalized and dimensional magnitudes of Integrated Aerodynamic Losses produced by the airfoils. Comparisons with results for a symmetric airfoil and a cambered vane show that roughness has more substantial effects on losses produced by the symmetric airfoil than the cambered vane. Data are also provided that illustrate the larger loss magnitudes are generally present with flow turning and cambered airfoils, than with symmetric airfoils. Wake turbulence structure of symmetric airfoils and cambered vanes are also studied experimentally. The effects of surface roughness and freestream turbulence levels on wake distributions of mean velocity, turbulence intensity, and power spectral density profiles and vortex shedding frequencies are quantified one axial chord length downstream of the test airfoils. As the level of surface roughness increases, all wake profile quantities broaden significantly and nondimensional vortex shedding frequencies decrease. Wake profiles produced by the symmetric airfoil are more sensitive to variations of surface roughness and freestream turbulence, compared with data from the cambered vane airfoil. Stanton numbers, skin friction coefficients, aerodynamic losses, and Reynolds analogy behavior are numerically predicted for a turbine vane using the FLUENT with a k-epsilon RNG model to show the effects of Mach number, mainstream turbulence level, and surface roughness. Comparisons with wake aerodynamic loss experimental data are made. Numerically predicted skin friction coefficients and Stanton numbers are also used to deduce Reynolds analogy behavior on the vane suction and pressure sides.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of turbulence trapped in geodesic acoustic modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, M.; Kobayashi, T.; Itoh, K.; Kasuya, N.; Kosuga, Y.; Fujisawa, A.; Itoh, S.-I.

2018-01-01

The spatio-temporal dynamics of turbulence with the interaction of geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs) are investigated, focusing on the phase-space structure of turbulence, where the phase-space consists of real-space and wavenumber-space. Based on the wave-kinetic framework, the coupling equation between the GAM and the turbulence is numerically solved. The turbulence trapped by the GAM velocity field is obtained. Due to the trapping effect, the turbulence intensity increases where the second derivative of the GAM velocity (curvature of the GAM) is negative. While, in the positive-curvature region, the turbulence is suppressed. Since the trapped turbulence propagates with the GAMs, this relationship is sustained spatially and temporally. The dynamics of the turbulence in the wavenumber spectrum are converted in the evolution of the frequency spectrum, and the simulation result is compared with the experimental observation in JFT-2M tokamak, where the similar patterns are obtained. The turbulence trapping effect is a key to understand the spatial structure of the turbulence in the presence of sheared flows.

Average intensity and coherence properties of a partially coherent Lorentz-Gauss beam propagating through oceanic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dajun; Wang, Guiqiu; Wang, Yaochuan

2018-01-01

Based on the Huygens-Fresnel integral and the relationship of Lorentz distribution and Hermite-Gauss function, the average intensity and coherence properties of a partially coherent Lorentz-Gauss beam propagating through oceanic turbulence have been investigated by using numerical examples. The influences of beam parameters and oceanic turbulence on the propagation properties are also discussed in details. It is shown that the partially coherent Lorentz-Gauss beam with smaller coherence length will spread faster in oceanic turbulence, and the stronger oceanic turbulence will accelerate the spreading of partially coherent Lorentz-Gauss beam in oceanic turbulence.

Test code for the assessment and improvement of Reynolds stress models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubesin, M. W.; Viegas, J. R.; Vandromme, D.; Minh, H. HA

1987-01-01

An existing two-dimensional, compressible flow, Navier-Stokes computer code, containing a full Reynolds stress turbulence model, was adapted for use as a test bed for assessing and improving turbulence models based on turbulence simulation experiments. To date, the results of using the code in comparison with simulated channel flow and over an oscillating flat plate have shown that the turbulence model used in the code needs improvement for these flows. It is also shown that direct simulation of turbulent flows over a range of Reynolds numbers are needed to guide subsequent improvement of turbulence models.

Turbulence Variance Characteristics in the Unstable Atmospheric Boundary Layer above Flat Pine Forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asanuma, Jun

Variances of the velocity components and scalars are important as indicators of the turbulence intensity. They also can be utilized to estimate surface fluxes in several types of "variance methods", and the estimated fluxes can be regional values if the variances from which they are calculated are regionally representative measurements. On these motivations, variances measured by an aircraft in the unstable ABL over a flat pine forest during HAPEX-Mobilhy were analyzed within the context of the similarity scaling arguments. The variances of temperature and vertical velocity within the atmospheric surface layer were found to follow closely the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory, and to yield reasonable estimates of the surface sensible heat fluxes when they are used in variance methods. This gives a validation to the variance methods with aircraft measurements. On the other hand, the specific humidity variances were influenced by the surface heterogeneity and clearly fail to obey MOS. A simple analysis based on the similarity law for free convection produced a comprehensible and quantitative picture regarding the effect of the surface flux heterogeneity on the statistical moments, and revealed that variances of the active and passive scalars become dissimilar because of their different roles in turbulence. The analysis also indicated that the mean quantities are also affected by the heterogeneity but to a less extent than the variances. The temperature variances in the mixed layer (ML) were examined by using a generalized top-down bottom-up diffusion model with some combinations of velocity scales and inversion flux models. The results showed that the surface shear stress exerts considerable influence on the lower ML. Also with the temperature and vertical velocity variances ML variance methods were tested, and their feasibility was investigated. Finally, the variances in the ML were analyzed in terms of the local similarity concept; the results confirmed the original hypothesis by Panofsky and McCormick that the local scaling in terms of the local buoyancy flux defines the lower bound of the moments.

Wave–turbulence interaction-induced vertical mixing and its effects in ocean and climate models

PubMed Central

Qiao, Fangli; Yuan, Yeli; Deng, Jia; Dai, Dejun; Song, Zhenya

2016-01-01

Heated from above, the oceans are stably stratified. Therefore, the performance of general ocean circulation models and climate studies through coupled atmosphere–ocean models depends critically on vertical mixing of energy and momentum in the water column. Many of the traditional general circulation models are based on total kinetic energy (TKE), in which the roles of waves are averaged out. Although theoretical calculations suggest that waves could greatly enhance coexisting turbulence, no field measurements on turbulence have ever validated this mechanism directly. To address this problem, a specially designed field experiment has been conducted. The experimental results indicate that the wave–turbulence interaction-induced enhancement of the background turbulence is indeed the predominant mechanism for turbulence generation and enhancement. Based on this understanding, we propose a new parametrization for vertical mixing as an additive part to the traditional TKE approach. This new result reconfirmed the past theoretical model that had been tested and validated in numerical model experiments and field observations. It firmly establishes the critical role of wave–turbulence interaction effects in both general ocean circulation models and atmosphere–ocean coupled models, which could greatly improve the understanding of the sea surface temperature and water column properties distributions, and hence model-based climate forecasting capability. PMID:26953182

A finite element computation of turbulent boundary layer flows with an algebraic stress turbulence model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Sang-Wook; Chen, Yen-Sen

1988-01-01

An algebraic stress turbulence model and a computational procedure for turbulent boundary layer flows which is based on the semidiscrete Galerkin FEM are discussed. In the algebraic stress turbulence model, the eddy viscosity expression is obtained from the Reynolds stress turbulence model, and the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate equation is improved by including a production range time scale. Good agreement with experimental data is found for the examples of a fully developed channel flow, a fully developed pipe flow, a flat plate boundary layer flow, a plane jet exhausting into a moving stream, a circular jet exhausting into a moving stream, and a wall jet flow.

A mixing timescale model for TPDF simulations of turbulent premixed flames

DOE PAGES

Kuron, Michael; Ren, Zhuyin; Hawkes, Evatt R.; ...

2017-02-06

Transported probability density function (TPDF) methods are an attractive modeling approach for turbulent flames as chemical reactions appear in closed form. However, molecular micro-mixing needs to be modeled and this modeling is considered a primary challenge for TPDF methods. In the present study, a new algebraic mixing rate model for TPDF simulations of turbulent premixed flames is proposed, which is a key ingredient in commonly used molecular mixing models. The new model aims to properly account for the transition in reactive scalar mixing rate behavior from the limit of turbulence-dominated mixing to molecular mixing behavior in flamelets. An a priorimore » assessment of the new model is performed using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of a lean premixed hydrogen–air jet flame. The new model accurately captures the mixing timescale behavior in the DNS and is found to be a significant improvement over the commonly used constant mechanical-to-scalar mixing timescale ratio model. An a posteriori TPDF study is then performed using the same DNS data as a numerical test bed. The DNS provides the initial conditions and time-varying input quantities, including the mean velocity, turbulent diffusion coefficient, and modeled scalar mixing rate for the TPDF simulations, thus allowing an exclusive focus on the mixing model. Here, the new mixing timescale model is compared with the constant mechanical-to-scalar mixing timescale ratio coupled with the Euclidean Minimum Spanning Tree (EMST) mixing model, as well as a laminar flamelet closure. It is found that the laminar flamelet closure is unable to properly capture the mixing behavior in the thin reaction zones regime while the constant mechanical-to-scalar mixing timescale model under-predicts the flame speed. Furthermore, the EMST model coupled with the new mixing timescale model provides the best prediction of the flame structure and flame propagation among the models tested, as the dynamics of reactive scalar mixing across different flame regimes are appropriately accounted for.« less

Significance of shock structure on supersonic jet mixing noise of axisymmetric nozzles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Chan M.; Krejsa, Eugene A.; Khavaran, Abbas

1994-09-01

One of the key technical elements in NASA's high speed research program is reducing the noise level to meet the federal noise regulation. The dominant noise source is associated with the supersonic jet discharged from the engine exhaust system. Whereas the turbulence mixing is largely responsible for the generation of the jet noise, a broadband shock-associated noise is also generated when the nozzle operates at conditions other than its design. For both mixing and shock noise components, because the source of the noise is embedded in the jet plume, one can expect that jet noise can be predicted from the jet flowfield computation. Mani et al. developed a unified aerodynamic/acoustic prediction scheme by applying an extension of Reichardt's aerodynamic model to compute turbulent shear stresses which are utilized in estimating the strength of the noise source. Although this method produces a fast and practical estimate of the jet noise, a modification by Khavaran et al. has led to an improvement in aerodynamic solution. The most notable feature in this work is that Reichardt's model is replaced with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solution of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The major advantage of this work is that the essential, noise-related flow quantities such as turbulence intensity and shock strength can be better predicted. The predictions were limited to a shock-free design condition and the effect of shock structure on the jet mixing noise was not addressed. The present work is aimed at investigating this issue. Under imperfectly expanded conditions the existence of the shock cell structure and its interaction with the convecting turbulence structure may not only generate a broadband shock-associated noise but also change the turbulence structure, and thus the strength of the mixing noise source. Failure in capturing shock structures properly could lead to incorrect aeroacoustic predictions.

A mixing timescale model for TPDF simulations of turbulent premixed flames

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuron, Michael; Ren, Zhuyin; Hawkes, Evatt R.

Transported probability density function (TPDF) methods are an attractive modeling approach for turbulent flames as chemical reactions appear in closed form. However, molecular micro-mixing needs to be modeled and this modeling is considered a primary challenge for TPDF methods. In the present study, a new algebraic mixing rate model for TPDF simulations of turbulent premixed flames is proposed, which is a key ingredient in commonly used molecular mixing models. The new model aims to properly account for the transition in reactive scalar mixing rate behavior from the limit of turbulence-dominated mixing to molecular mixing behavior in flamelets. An a priorimore » assessment of the new model is performed using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of a lean premixed hydrogen–air jet flame. The new model accurately captures the mixing timescale behavior in the DNS and is found to be a significant improvement over the commonly used constant mechanical-to-scalar mixing timescale ratio model. An a posteriori TPDF study is then performed using the same DNS data as a numerical test bed. The DNS provides the initial conditions and time-varying input quantities, including the mean velocity, turbulent diffusion coefficient, and modeled scalar mixing rate for the TPDF simulations, thus allowing an exclusive focus on the mixing model. Here, the new mixing timescale model is compared with the constant mechanical-to-scalar mixing timescale ratio coupled with the Euclidean Minimum Spanning Tree (EMST) mixing model, as well as a laminar flamelet closure. It is found that the laminar flamelet closure is unable to properly capture the mixing behavior in the thin reaction zones regime while the constant mechanical-to-scalar mixing timescale model under-predicts the flame speed. Furthermore, the EMST model coupled with the new mixing timescale model provides the best prediction of the flame structure and flame propagation among the models tested, as the dynamics of reactive scalar mixing across different flame regimes are appropriately accounted for.« less

Significance of shock structure on supersonic jet mixing noise of axisymmetric nozzles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Chan M.; Krejsa, Eugene A.; Khavaran, Abbas

1994-01-01

One of the key technical elements in NASA's high speed research program is reducing the noise level to meet the federal noise regulation. The dominant noise source is associated with the supersonic jet discharged from the engine exhaust system. Whereas the turbulence mixing is largely responsible for the generation of the jet noise, a broadband shock-associated noise is also generated when the nozzle operates at conditions other than its design. For both mixing and shock noise components, because the source of the noise is embedded in the jet plume, one can expect that jet noise can be predicted from the jet flowfield computation. Mani et al. developed a unified aerodynamic/acoustic prediction scheme by applying an extension of Reichardt's aerodynamic model to compute turbulent shear stresses which are utilized in estimating the strength of the noise source. Although this method produces a fast and practical estimate of the jet noise, a modification by Khavaran et al. has led to an improvement in aerodynamic solution. The most notable feature in this work is that Reichardt's model is replaced with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solution of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The major advantage of this work is that the essential, noise-related flow quantities such as turbulence intensity and shock strength can be better predicted. The predictions were limited to a shock-free design condition and the effect of shock structure on the jet mixing noise was not addressed. The present work is aimed at investigating this issue. Under imperfectly expanded conditions the existence of the shock cell structure and its interaction with the convecting turbulence structure may not only generate a broadband shock-associated noise but also change the turbulence structure, and thus the strength of the mixing noise source. Failure in capturing shock structures properly could lead to incorrect aeroacoustic predictions.

Rortex—A new vortex vector definition and vorticity tensor and vector decompositions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chaoqun; Gao, Yisheng; Tian, Shuling; Dong, Xiangrui

2018-03-01

A vortex is intuitively recognized as the rotational/swirling motion of the fluids. However, an unambiguous and universally accepted definition for vortex is yet to be achieved in the field of fluid mechanics, which is probably one of the major obstacles causing considerable confusions and misunderstandings in turbulence research. In our previous work, a new vector quantity that is called vortex vector was proposed to accurately describe the local fluid rotation and clearly display vortical structures. In this paper, the definition of the vortex vector, named Rortex here, is revisited from the mathematical perspective. The existence of the possible rotational axis is proved through real Schur decomposition. Based on real Schur decomposition, a fast algorithm for calculating Rortex is also presented. In addition, new vorticity tensor and vector decompositions are introduced: the vorticity tensor is decomposed to a rigidly rotational part and a non-rotationally anti-symmetric part, and the vorticity vector is decomposed to a rigidly rotational vector which is called the Rortex vector and a non-rotational vector which is called the shear vector. Several cases, including the 2D Couette flow, 2D rigid rotational flow, and 3D boundary layer transition on a flat plate, are studied to demonstrate the justification of the definition of Rortex. It can be observed that Rortex identifies both the precise swirling strength and the rotational axis, and thus it can reasonably represent the local fluid rotation and provide a new powerful tool for vortex dynamics and turbulence research.

Tribological study of an aerodynamic thrust bearing in the supersonic regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dupuy, F.; Bou-Saïd, B.; Garcia, M.

2017-02-01

Nowadays, aerodynamic air thrust bearing are mainly used over a large panel of turbo-machineries. These systems become increasingly faster and up to operate in supersonic regime. They have not reached a sufficient level of research in terms of high speed. The possibility of an aerodynamic thrust bearing operating in a supersonic regime is studied. First, the air film dynamic study for high Reynolds number is based on the “modified Reynolds” equations, which take into account the inertia terms, the viscosity’s variation in the film thickness, and the turbulence. It’s an extension of the traditional model used in lubrication called the generalized Reynolds equation. The results show that a depression occur at the location of the change of slope of the tapper flat geometry. The hypothesis of presence of shock or rarefaction waves shows that the pressure gradient in the film thickness may be no longer negligible. The modified Reynolds equation may be not enough to describe the problem. A new system is built to study these phenomena: the Navier-Stokes equation are adapted to the film’s geometry. The dynamic air film’s behavior study in supersonic regime requires a shock capturing scheme called WENO scheme (“Weighted Essentially Non Oscillatory”), mainly used in shock and turbulence studies. The numerical results give the film behavior modelling of a fixed air thrust bearing pad. The evolution of the quantities shows that shock wave can occur in a thin film.

Low-to-High Confinement Transition Mediated by Turbulence Radial Wave Number Spectral Shift in a Fusion Plasma.

PubMed

Xu, G S; Wan, B N; Wang, H Q; Guo, H Y; Naulin, V; Rasmussen, J Juul; Nielsen, A H; Wu, X Q; Yan, N; Chen, L; Shao, L M; Chen, R; Wang, L; Zhang, W

2016-03-04

A new model for the low-to-high (L-H) confinement transition has been developed based on a new paradigm for turbulence suppression by velocity shear [G. M. Staebler et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 055003 (2013)]. The model indicates that the L-H transition can be mediated by a shift in the radial wave number spectrum of turbulence, as evidenced here, for the first time, by the direct observation of a turbulence radial wave number spectral shift and turbulence structure tilting prior to the L-H transition at tokamak edge by direct probing. This new mechanism does not require a pretransition overshoot in the turbulent Reynolds stress, shunting turbulence energy to zonal flows for turbulence suppression as demonstrated in the experiment.

MHD pulsatile flow of engine oil based carbon nanotubes between two concentric cylinders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haq, Rizwan Ul; Shahzad, Faisal; Al-Mdallal, Qasem M.

In this article, thermal performance of engine oil in the presence of both single and multiple wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs) between two concentric cylinders is presented. Flow is driven with oscillatory pressure gradient and magneto-hydrodynamics (MHDs) effects are also introduced to control the random motion of the nanoparticles. Arrived broad, it is perceived that the inclusion of nanoparticles increases the thermal conductivity of working fluid significantly for both turbulent and laminar regimes. Fundamental momentum and energy equations are based upon partial differential equations (PDEs) that contain thermos-physical properties of both SWCNTs and MWCNTs. The solution has been evaluated for each mixture, namely: SWCNT-engine oil and MWCNT-engine oil. Results are determined for each velocity, temperature, pressure and stress gradient. Graphical results for the numerical values of the emerging parameters, namely: Hartmann number (M), the solid volume fraction of the nanoparticles (ϕ), Reynolds number (Reω), and the pulsation parameter based on the periodic pressure gradient are analyzed for pressure difference, frictional forces, velocity profile, temperature profile, crux, streamlines and vorticity phenomena. In addition, the assets of various parameters on the flow quantities of observation are investigated.

A new probability distribution model of turbulent irradiance based on Born perturbation theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hongxing; Liu, Min; Hu, Hao; Wang, Qian; Liu, Xiguo

2010-10-01

The subject of the PDF (Probability Density Function) of the irradiance fluctuations in a turbulent atmosphere is still unsettled. Theory reliably describes the behavior in the weak turbulence regime, but theoretical description in the strong and whole turbulence regimes are still controversial. Based on Born perturbation theory, the physical manifestations and correlations of three typical PDF models (Rice-Nakagami, exponential-Bessel and negative-exponential distribution) were theoretically analyzed. It is shown that these models can be derived by separately making circular-Gaussian, strong-turbulence and strong-turbulence-circular-Gaussian approximations in Born perturbation theory, which denies the viewpoint that the Rice-Nakagami model is only applicable in the extremely weak turbulence regime and provides theoretical arguments for choosing rational models in practical applications. In addition, a common shortcoming of the three models is that they are all approximations. A new model, called the Maclaurin-spread distribution, is proposed without any approximation except for assuming the correlation coefficient to be zero. So, it is considered that the new model can exactly reflect the Born perturbation theory. Simulated results prove the accuracy of this new model.

Testing of RANS Turbulence Models for Stratified Flows Based on DNS Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Venayagamoorthy, S. K.; Koseff, J. R.; Ferziger, J. H.; Shih, L. H.

2003-01-01

In most geophysical flows, turbulence occurs at the smallest scales and one of the two most important additional physical phenomena to account for is strati cation (the other being rotation). In this paper, the main objective is to investigate proposed changes to RANS turbulence models which include the effects of stratifi- cation more explicitly. These proposed changes were developed using a DNS database on strati ed and sheared homogenous turbulence developed by Shih et al. (2000) and are described more fully in Ferziger et al. (2003). The data generated by Shih, et al. (2000) (hereinafter referred to as SKFR) are used to study the parameters in the k- model as a function of the turbulent Froude number, Frk. A modified version of the standard k- model based on the local turbulent Froude number is proposed. The proposed model is applied to a stratified open channel flow, a test case that differs significantly from the flows from which the modified parameters were derived. The turbulence modeling and results are discussed in the next two sections followed by suggestions for future work.

Effects of Corrugated Temperature Sheets on Optical Propagation along Quasi-Horizontal Paths in the Stably Stratified Atmosphere

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-11

diameter) are consistent with theoretical predictions based on Taylor’s frozen- turbulence hypothesis and the geometrical - optics approximation. Short...theoretical predictions based on Taylor’s frozen- turbulence hypothesis and the geometrical - optics approximation. Short-term (less than a few seconds... turbulent , quasi-horizontal interfaces, or “sheets”. Collocated in- situ and optical field measurements conducted in the atmospheric surface layer

Multi-fluid Dynamics for Supersonic Jet-and-Crossflows and Liquid Plug Rupture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, Ezeldin A.

Multi-fluid dynamics simulations require appropriate numerical treatments based on the main flow characteristics, such as flow speed, turbulence, thermodynamic state, and time and length scales. In this thesis, two distinct problems are investigated: supersonic jet and crossflow interactions; and liquid plug propagation and rupture in an airway. Gaseous non-reactive ethylene jet and air crossflow simulation represents essential physics for fuel injection in SCRAMJET engines. The regime is highly unsteady, involving shocks, turbulent mixing, and large-scale vortical structures. An eddy-viscosity-based multi-scale turbulence model is proposed to resolve turbulent structures consistent with grid resolution and turbulence length scales. Predictions of the time-averaged fuel concentration from the multi-scale model is improved over Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes models originally derived from stationary flow. The response to the multi-scale model alone is, however, limited, in cases where the vortical structures are small and scattered thus requiring prohibitively expensive grids in order to resolve the flow field accurately. Statistical information related to turbulent fluctuations is utilized to estimate an effective turbulent Schmidt number, which is shown to be highly varying in space. Accordingly, an adaptive turbulent Schmidt number approach is proposed, by allowing the resolved field to adaptively influence the value of turbulent Schmidt number in the multi-scale turbulence model. The proposed model estimates a time-averaged turbulent Schmidt number adapted to the computed flowfield, instead of the constant value common to the eddy-viscosity-based Navier-Stokes models. This approach is assessed using a grid-refinement study for the normal injection case, and tested with 30 degree injection, showing improved results over the constant turbulent Schmidt model both in mean and variance of fuel concentration predictions. For the incompressible liquid plug propagation and rupture study, numerical simulations are conducted using an Eulerian-Lagrangian approach with a continuous-interface method. A reconstruction scheme is developed to allow topological changes during plug rupture by altering the connectivity information of the interface mesh. Rupture time is shown to be delayed as the initial precursor film thickness increases. During the plug rupture process, a sudden increase of mechanical stresses on the tube wall is recorded, which can cause tissue damage.

Gyrokinetic theory of turbulent acceleration and momentum conservation in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, WANG; Shuitao, PENG; P, H. DIAMOND

2018-07-01

Understanding the generation of intrinsic rotation in tokamak plasmas is crucial for future fusion reactors such as ITER. We proposed a new mechanism named turbulent acceleration for the origin of the intrinsic parallel rotation based on gyrokinetic theory. The turbulent acceleration acts as a local source or sink of parallel rotation, i.e., volume force, which is different from the divergence of residual stress, i.e., surface force. However, the order of magnitude of turbulent acceleration can be comparable to that of the divergence of residual stress for electrostatic ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence. A possible theoretical explanation for the experimental observation of electron cyclotron heating induced decrease of co-current rotation was also proposed via comparison between the turbulent acceleration driven by ITG turbulence and that driven by collisionless trapped electron mode turbulence. We also extended this theory to electromagnetic ITG turbulence and investigated the electromagnetic effects on intrinsic parallel rotation drive. Finally, we demonstrated that the presence of turbulent acceleration does not conflict with momentum conservation.

Anisotropic power spectrum of refractive-index fluctuation in hypersonic turbulence.

PubMed

Li, Jiangting; Yang, Shaofei; Guo, Lixin; Cheng, Mingjian

2016-11-10

An anisotropic power spectrum of the refractive-index fluctuation in hypersonic turbulence was obtained by processing the experimental image of the hypersonic plasma sheath and transforming the generalized anisotropic von Kármán spectrum. The power spectrum suggested here can provide as good a fit to measured spectrum data for hypersonic turbulence as that recorded from the nano-planar laser scattering image. Based on the newfound anisotropic hypersonic turbulence power spectrum, Rytov approximation was employed to establish the wave structure function and the spatial coherence radius model of electromagnetic beam propagation in hypersonic turbulence. Enhancing the anisotropy characteristics of the hypersonic turbulence led to a significant improvement in the propagation performance of electromagnetic beams in hypersonic plasma sheath. The influence of hypersonic turbulence on electromagnetic beams increases with the increase of variance of the refractive-index fluctuation and the decrease of turbulence outer scale and anisotropy parameters. The spatial coherence radius was much smaller than that in atmospheric turbulence. These results are fundamental to understanding electromagnetic wave propagation in hypersonic turbulence.

A priori testing of subgrid-scale models for the velocity-pressure and vorticity-velocity formulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winckelmans, G. S.; Lund, T. S.; Carati, D.; Wray, A. A.

1996-01-01

Subgrid-scale models for Large Eddy Simulation (LES) in both the velocity-pressure and the vorticity-velocity formulations were evaluated and compared in a priori tests using spectral Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) databases of isotropic turbulence: 128(exp 3) DNS of forced turbulence (Re(sub(lambda))=95.8) filtered, using the sharp cutoff filter, to both 32(exp 3) and 16(exp 3) synthetic LES fields; 512(exp 3) DNS of decaying turbulence (Re(sub(Lambda))=63.5) filtered to both 64(exp 3) and 32(exp 3) LES fields. Gaussian and top-hat filters were also used with the 128(exp 3) database. Different LES models were evaluated for each formulation: eddy-viscosity models, hyper eddy-viscosity models, mixed models, and scale-similarity models. Correlations between exact versus modeled subgrid-scale quantities were measured at three levels: tensor (traceless), vector (solenoidal 'force'), and scalar (dissipation) levels, and for both cases of uniform and variable coefficient(s). Different choices for the 1/T scaling appearing in the eddy-viscosity were also evaluated. It was found that the models for the vorticity-velocity formulation produce higher correlations with the filtered DNS data than their counterpart in the velocity-pressure formulation. It was also found that the hyper eddy-viscosity model performs better than the eddy viscosity model, in both formulations.

Direct numerical simulation of incompressible axisymmetric flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loulou, Patrick

1994-01-01

In the present work, we propose to conduct direct numerical simulations (DNS) of incompressible turbulent axisymmetric jets and wakes. The objectives of the study are to understand the fundamental behavior of axisymmetric jets and wakes, which are perhaps the most technologically relevant free shear flows (e.g. combuster injectors, propulsion jet). Among the data to be generated are various statistical quantities of importance in turbulence modeling, like the mean velocity, turbulent stresses, and all the terms in the Reynolds-stress balance equations. In addition, we will be interested in the evolution of large-scale structures that are common in free shear flow. The axisymmetric jet or wake is also a good problem in which to try the newly developed b-spline numerical method. Using b-splines as interpolating functions in the non-periodic direction offers many advantages. B-splines have local support, which leads to sparse matrices that can be efficiently stored and solved. Also, they offer spectral-like accuracy that are C(exp O-1) continuous, where O is the order of the spline used; this means that derivatives of the velocity such as the vorticity are smoothly and accurately represented. For purposes of validation against existing results, the present code will also be able to simulate internal flows (ones that require a no-slip boundary condition). Implementation of no-slip boundary condition is trivial in the context of the b-splines.

Numerical investigation of a helicopter combustion chamber using LES and tabulated chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Auzillon, Pierre; Riber, Eléonore; Gicquel, Laurent Y. M.; Gicquel, Olivier; Darabiha, Nasser; Veynante, Denis; Fiorina, Benoît

2013-01-01

This article presents Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of a realistic aeronautical combustor device: the chamber CTA1 designed by TURBOMECA. Under nominal operating conditions, experiments show hot spots observed on the combustor walls, in the vicinity of the injectors. These high temperature regions disappear when modifying the fuel stream equivalence ratio. In order to account for detailed chemistry effects within LES, the numerical simulation uses the recently developed turbulent combustion model F-TACLES (Filtered TAbulated Chemistry for LES). The principle of this model is first to generate a lookup table where thermochemical variables are computed from a set of filtered laminar unstrained premixed flamelets. To model the interactions between the flame and the turbulence at the subgrid scale, a flame wrinkling analytical model is introduced and the Filtered Density Function (FDF) of the mixture fraction is modeled by a β function. Filtered thermochemical quantities are stored as a function of three coordinates: the filtered progress variable, the filtered mixture fraction and the mixture fraction subgrid scale variance. The chemical lookup table is then coupled with the LES using a mathematical formalism that ensures an accurate prediction of the flame dynamics. The numerical simulation of the CTA1 chamber with the F-TACLES turbulent combustion model reproduces fairly the temperature fields observed in experiments. In particular the influence of the fuel stream equivalence ratio on the flame position is well captured.

Non-linear dynamics and alternating 'flip' solutions in ferrofluidic Taylor-Couette flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altmeyer, Sebastian

2018-04-01

This study treats with the influence of a symmetry-breaking transversal magnetic field on the nonlinear dynamics of ferrofluidic Taylor-Couette flow - flow confined between two concentric independently rotating cylinders. We detected alternating 'flip' solutions which are flow states featuring typical characteristics of slow-fast-dynamics in dynamical systems. The flip corresponds to a temporal change in the axial wavenumber and we find them to appear either as pure 2-fold axisymmetric (due to the symmetry-breaking nature of the applied transversal magnetic field) or involving non-axisymmetric, helical modes in its interim solution. The latter ones show features of typical ribbon solutions. In any case the flip solutions have a preferential first axial wavenumber which corresponds to the more stable state (slow dynamics) and second axial wavenumber, corresponding to the short appearing more unstable state (fast dynamics). However, in both cases the flip time grows exponential with increasing the magnetic field strength before the flip solutions, living on 2-tori invariant manifolds, cease to exist, with lifetime going to infinity. Further we show that ferrofluidic flow turbulence differ from the classical, ordinary (usually at high Reynolds number) turbulence. The applied magnetic field hinders the free motion of ferrofluid partials and therefore smoothen typical turbulent quantities and features so that speaking of mildly chaotic dynamics seems to be a more appropriate expression for the observed motion.

Modal interactions between a large-wavelength inclined interface and small-wavelength multimode perturbations in a Richtmyer-Meshkov instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McFarland, Jacob A.; Reilly, David; Black, Wolfgang; Greenough, Jeffrey A.; Ranjan, Devesh

2015-07-01

The interaction of a small-wavelength multimodal perturbation with a large-wavelength inclined interface perturbation is investigated for the reshocked Richtmyer-Meshkov instability using three-dimensional simulations. The ares code, developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, was used for these simulations and a detailed comparison of simulation results and experiments performed at the Georgia Tech Shock Tube facility is presented first for code validation. Simulation results are presented for four cases that vary in large-wavelength perturbation amplitude and the presence of secondary small-wavelength multimode perturbations. Previously developed measures of mixing and turbulence quantities are presented that highlight the large variation in perturbation length scales created by the inclined interface and the multimode complex perturbation. Measures are developed for entrainment, and turbulence anisotropy that help to identify the effects of and competition between each perturbations type. It is shown through multiple measures that before reshock the flow processes a distinct memory of the initial conditions that is present in both large-scale-driven entrainment measures and small-scale-driven mixing measures. After reshock the flow develops to a turbulentlike state that retains a memory of high-amplitude but not low-amplitude large-wavelength perturbations. It is also shown that the high-amplitude large-wavelength perturbation is capable of producing small-scale mixing and turbulent features similar to the small-wavelength multimode perturbations.

Kinetic-Scale Electric and Magnetic Field Fluctuations in the Solar Wind at 1 AU: THEMIS/ARTEMIS Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salem, C. S.; Hanson, E.; Bonnell, J. W.; Chaston, C. C.; Bale, S. D.; Mozer, F.

2017-12-01

We present here an analysis of kinetic-scale electromagnetic fluctuations in the solar wind using data from THEMIS and ARTEMIS spacecraft. We use high-time resolution electric and magnetic field measurements, as well as density fluctuations, up to 128 samples per second, as well as particle burst plasma data during carefully selected solar wind intervals. We focus our analysis on a few such intervals spanning different values of plasma beta and angles between the local magnetic field and the radial Sun-Earth direction. We discuss the careful analysis process of characterizing and removing the different instrumental effects and noise sources affecting the electric and magnetic field data at those scales, above 0.1 Hz or so, above the breakpoint marking the start of the so-called dissipation range of solar wind turbulence. We compute parameters such as the electric to magnetic field ratio, the magnetic compressibility, magnetic helicity, and other relevant quantities in order to diagnose the nature of the fluctuations at those scales between the ion and electron cyclotron frequencies, extracting information on the dominant modes composing the fluctuations. We also discuss the presence and role of coherent structures in the measured fluctuations. The nature of the fluctuations in the dissipation or dispersive scales of solar wind turbulence is still debated. This observational study is also highly relevant to the current Turbulent Dissipation Challenge.

On Displacement Height, from Classical to Practical Formulation: Stress, Turbulent Transport and Vorticity Considerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sogachev, Andrey; Kelly, Mark

2016-03-01

Displacement height ( d) is an important parameter in the simple modelling of wind speed and vertical fluxes above vegetative canopies, such as forests. Here we show that, aside from implicit definition through a (displaced) logarithmic profile, accepted formulations for d do not consistently predict flow properties above a forest. Turbulent transport can affect the displacement height, and is an integral part of what is called the roughness sublayer. We develop a more general approach for estimation of d, through production of turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent transport, and show how previous stress-based formulations for displacement height can be seen as simplified cases of a more general definition including turbulent transport. Further, we also give a simplified and practical form for d that is in agreement with the general approach, exploiting the concept of vortex thickness scale from mixing-layer theory. We assess the new and previous displacement height formulations by using flow statistics derived from the atmospheric boundary-layer Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes model SCADIS as well as from wind-tunnel observations, for different vegetation types and flow regimes in neutral conditions. The new formulations tend to produce smaller d than stress-based forms, falling closer to the classic logarithmically-defined displacement height. The new, more generally defined, displacement height appears to be more compatible with profiles of components of the turbulent kinetic energy budget, accounting for the combined effects of turbulent transport and shear production. The Coriolis force also plays a role, introducing wind-speed dependence into the behaviour of the roughness sublayer; this affects the turbulent transport, shear production, stress, and wind speed, as well as the displacement height, depending on the character of the forest. We further show how our practical (`mixing-layer') form for d matches the new turbulence-based relation, as well as correspondence to previous (stress-based) formulations.

The usefulness of Poynting's theorem in magnetic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treumann, Rudolf A.; Baumjohann, Wolfgang

2017-12-01

We rewrite Poynting's theorem, already used in a previous publication Treumann and Baumjohann (2017a) to derive relations between the turbulent magnetic and electric power spectral densities, to make explicit where the mechanical contributions enter. We then make explicit use of the relativistic transformation of the turbulent electric fluctuations to obtain expressions which depend only on the magnetic and velocity fluctuations. Any electric fluctuations play just an intermediate role. Equations are constructed for the turbulent conductivity spectrum in Alfvénic and non-Alfvénic turbulence in extension of the results in the above citation. An observation-based discussion of their use in application to solar wind turbulence is given. The inertial range solar wind turbulence exhibits signs of chaos and self-organization.

PDF approach for turbulent scalar field: Some recent developments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gao, Feng

1993-01-01

The probability density function (PDF) method has been proven a very useful approach in turbulence research. It has been particularly effective in simulating turbulent reacting flows and in studying some detailed statistical properties generated by a turbulent field There are, however, some important questions that have yet to be answered in PDF studies. Our efforts in the past year have been focused on two areas. First, a simple mixing model suitable for Monte Carlo simulations has been developed based on the mapping closure. Secondly, the mechanism of turbulent transport has been analyzed in order to understand the recently observed abnormal PDF's of turbulent temperature fields generated by linear heat sources.

Computational Modeling for the Flow Over a Multi-Element Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, William W.; Liu, Feng-Jun

1999-01-01

The flow over a multi-element airfoil is computed using two two-equation turbulence models. The computations are performed using the INS2D) Navier-Stokes code for two angles of attack. Overset grids are used for the three-element airfoil. The computed results are compared with experimental data for the surface pressure, skin friction coefficient, and velocity magnitude. The computed surface quantities generally agree well with the measurement. The computed results reveal the possible existence of a mixing-layer-like region of flow next to the suction surface of the slat for both angles of attack.

Numerical prediction of a draft tube flow taking into account uncertain inlet conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brugiere, O.; Balarac, G.; Corre, C.; Metais, O.; Flores, E.; Pleroy

2012-11-01

The swirling turbulent flow in a hydroturbine draft tube is computed with a non-intrusive uncertainty quantification (UQ) method coupled to Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) modelling in order to take into account in the numerical prediction the physical uncertainties existing on the inlet flow conditions. The proposed approach yields not only mean velocity fields to be compared with measured profiles, as is customary in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) practice, but also variance of these quantities from which error bars can be deduced on the computed profiles, thus making more significant the comparison between experiment and computation.

Flame speed and self-similar propagation of expanding turbulent premixed flames.

PubMed

Chaudhuri, Swetaprovo; Wu, Fujia; Zhu, Delin; Law, Chung K

2012-01-27

In this Letter we present turbulent flame speeds and their scaling from experimental measurements on constant-pressure, unity Lewis number expanding turbulent flames, propagating in nearly homogeneous isotropic turbulence in a dual-chamber, fan-stirred vessel. It is found that the normalized turbulent flame speed as a function of the average radius scales as a turbulent Reynolds number to the one-half power, where the average radius is the length scale and the thermal diffusivity is the transport property, thus showing self-similar propagation. Utilizing this dependence it is found that the turbulent flame speeds from the present expanding flames and those from the Bunsen geometry in the literature can be unified by a turbulent Reynolds number based on flame length scales using recent theoretical results obtained by spectral closure of the transformed G equation.

Flame Speed and Self-Similar Propagation of Expanding Turbulent Premixed Flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaudhuri, Swetaprovo; Wu, Fujia; Zhu, Delin; Law, Chung K.

2012-01-01

In this Letter we present turbulent flame speeds and their scaling from experimental measurements on constant-pressure, unity Lewis number expanding turbulent flames, propagating in nearly homogeneous isotropic turbulence in a dual-chamber, fan-stirred vessel. It is found that the normalized turbulent flame speed as a function of the average radius scales as a turbulent Reynolds number to the one-half power, where the average radius is the length scale and the thermal diffusivity is the transport property, thus showing self-similar propagation. Utilizing this dependence it is found that the turbulent flame speeds from the present expanding flames and those from the Bunsen geometry in the literature can be unified by a turbulent Reynolds number based on flame length scales using recent theoretical results obtained by spectral closure of the transformed G equation.

Mean-field theory of differential rotation in density stratified turbulent convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogachevskii, I.

2018-04-01

A mean-field theory of differential rotation in a density stratified turbulent convection has been developed. This theory is based on the combined effects of the turbulent heat flux and anisotropy of turbulent convection on the Reynolds stress. A coupled system of dynamical budget equations consisting in the equations for the Reynolds stress, the entropy fluctuations and the turbulent heat flux has been solved. To close the system of these equations, the spectral approach, which is valid for large Reynolds and Péclet numbers, has been applied. The adopted model of the background turbulent convection takes into account an increase of the turbulence anisotropy and a decrease of the turbulent correlation time with the rotation rate. This theory yields the radial profile of the differential rotation which is in agreement with that for the solar differential rotation.

Hydrodynamic context for considering turbulence impacts on external fertilization.

PubMed

Gaylord, Brian

2008-06-01

Wave-swept shores in the marine environment are characterized by turbulent water motion. This turbulence influences external fertilization in benthic organisms by diluting gametes and producing hydrodynamic shear that is believed to have the capacity to disrupt egg-sperm interaction. However, although turbulence levels associated with decreases in fertilization due to this latter process (shear) have been identified in the laboratory, estimates of the intensities of turbulence in intertidal habitats have been based primarily on scaling arguments of limited precision and unknown accuracy. In the present study, values of energy dissipation rate (a standard measure of the strength of turbulence) were determined for three locations in the surf zone of a rocky shore. These measurements suggest a potential correspondence between threshold levels of turbulence that impair the ability of sperm to fertilize eggs, and actual intensities of turbulence arising in nature.

Scales of Marine Turbulence in Cook Strait (New Zealand) in the Context of Tidal Energy Turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, Craig

2017-04-01

Cook Strait, the channel separating New Zealand's North and South Islands, is at it's narrowest around 22 km across with flows driven by a semidiurnal tide, wind and a baroclinic pressure gradient. Water depths are around 250-300 m in the main part of the channel, with shoals to the south and the submerged Fishermans Rock (aka pinnacle) in the centre northwest of the Strait. The substantial tidal flow speed is due to the tide being nearly out of phase comparing the ends of the strait and further enhanced by a narrowing of the strait. It has significant potential for a tidal energy resource suitable for extraction due to both its significant energy levels but also its proximity to electricity infrastructure and nationally high uptake of renewable energy in general. Here we describe recent flow and turbulence data and contextualise them in terms of scales relevant to marine energy extraction. With flow speeds reaching 3 m s-1 in a water column of > 200 m depth the setting is heuristically known to be highly turbulent. Turbulent energy dissipation rates are modest but high for oceans, around 5x10-5 W kg-1. Thorpe scales, the observed quantity representing the energy-bearing scale, are often as much as one quarter of the water depth. This means eddy sizes can potentially be larger than blade length. A boundary-layer structure was apparent but highly variable. This has implications for both operation of tidal turbines, as well as modulating their effect on the environment. Fishermans Rock itself is interesting as if can be considered a proxy for a larger array of turbines.

Effects of combined dimension reduction and tabulation on the simulations of a turbulent premixed flame using a large-eddy simulation/probability density function method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jeonglae; Pope, Stephen B.

2014-05-01

A turbulent lean-premixed propane-air flame stabilised by a triangular cylinder as a flame-holder is simulated to assess the accuracy and computational efficiency of combined dimension reduction and tabulation of chemistry. The computational condition matches the Volvo rig experiments. For the reactive simulation, the Lagrangian Large-Eddy Simulation/Probability Density Function (LES/PDF) formulation is used. A novel two-way coupling approach between LES and PDF is applied to obtain resolved density to reduce its statistical fluctuations. Composition mixing is evaluated by the modified Interaction-by-Exchange with the Mean (IEM) model. A baseline case uses In Situ Adaptive Tabulation (ISAT) to calculate chemical reactions efficiently. Its results demonstrate good agreement with the experimental measurements in turbulence statistics, temperature, and minor species mass fractions. For dimension reduction, 11 and 16 represented species are chosen and a variant of Rate Controlled Constrained Equilibrium (RCCE) is applied in conjunction with ISAT to each case. All the quantities in the comparison are indistinguishable from the baseline results using ISAT only. The combined use of RCCE/ISAT reduces the computational time for chemical reaction by more than 50%. However, for the current turbulent premixed flame, chemical reaction takes only a minor portion of the overall computational cost, in contrast to non-premixed flame simulations using LES/PDF, presumably due to the restricted manifold of purely premixed flame in the composition space. Instead, composition mixing is the major contributor to cost reduction since the mean-drift term, which is computationally expensive, is computed for the reduced representation. Overall, a reduction of more than 15% in the computational cost is obtained.

Predicting Statistical Response and Extreme Events in Uncertainty Quantification through Reduced-Order Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, D.; Majda, A.

2017-12-01

A low-dimensional reduced-order statistical closure model is developed for quantifying the uncertainty in statistical sensitivity and intermittency in principal model directions with largest variability in high-dimensional turbulent system and turbulent transport models. Imperfect model sensitivity is improved through a recent mathematical strategy for calibrating model errors in a training phase, where information theory and linear statistical response theory are combined in a systematic fashion to achieve the optimal model performance. The idea in the reduced-order method is from a self-consistent mathematical framework for general systems with quadratic nonlinearity, where crucial high-order statistics are approximated by a systematic model calibration procedure. Model efficiency is improved through additional damping and noise corrections to replace the expensive energy-conserving nonlinear interactions. Model errors due to the imperfect nonlinear approximation are corrected by tuning the model parameters using linear response theory with an information metric in a training phase before prediction. A statistical energy principle is adopted to introduce a global scaling factor in characterizing the higher-order moments in a consistent way to improve model sensitivity. Stringent models of barotropic and baroclinic turbulence are used to display the feasibility of the reduced-order methods. Principal statistical responses in mean and variance can be captured by the reduced-order models with accuracy and efficiency. Besides, the reduced-order models are also used to capture crucial passive tracer field that is advected by the baroclinic turbulent flow. It is demonstrated that crucial principal statistical quantities like the tracer spectrum and fat-tails in the tracer probability density functions in the most important large scales can be captured efficiently with accuracy using the reduced-order tracer model in various dynamical regimes of the flow field with distinct statistical structures.

Statistics of strain rates and surface density function in a flame-resolved high-fidelity simulation of a turbulent premixed bluff body burner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandeep, Anurag; Proch, Fabian; Kempf, Andreas M.; Chakraborty, Nilanjan

2018-06-01

The statistical behavior of the surface density function (SDF, the magnitude of the reaction progress variable gradient) and the strain rates, which govern the evolution of the SDF, have been analyzed using a three-dimensional flame-resolved simulation database of a turbulent lean premixed methane-air flame in a bluff-body configuration. It has been found that the turbulence intensity increases with the distance from the burner, changing the flame curvature distribution and increasing the probability of the negative curvature in the downstream direction. The curvature dependences of dilatation rate ∇ṡu → and displacement speed Sd give rise to variations of these quantities in the axial direction. These variations affect the nature of the alignment between the progress variable gradient and the local principal strain rates, which in turn affects the mean flame normal strain rate, which assumes positive values close to the burner but increasingly becomes negative as the effect of turbulence increases with the axial distance from the burner exit. The axial distance dependences of the curvature and displacement speed also induce a considerable variation in the mean value of the curvature stretch. The axial distance dependences of the dilatation rate and flame normal strain rate govern the behavior of the flame tangential strain rate, and its mean value increases in the downstream direction. The current analysis indicates that the statistical behaviors of different strain rates and displacement speed and their curvature dependences need to be included in the modeling of flame surface density and scalar dissipation rate in order to accurately capture their local behaviors.

A comprehensive statistical investigation of schlieren image velocimetry (SIV) using high-velocity helium jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Sayan; Qiao, Li

2017-03-01

A detailed statistical assessment of seedless velocity measurement using Schlieren Image Velocimetry (SIV) was explored using open source Robust Phase Correlation (RPC) algorithm. A well-known flow field, an axisymmetric turbulent helium jet, was analyzed near and intermediate region (0≤ x/d≤ 20) for two different Reynolds numbers, Re d = 11,000 and Re d = 22,000 using schlieren with horizontal knife-edge, schlieren with vertical knife-edge and shadowgraph technique, and the resulted velocity fields from SIV techniques were compared to traditional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements. A novel, inexpensive, easy to setup two-camera SIV technique had been demonstrated to measure high-velocity turbulent jet, with jet exit velocities 304 m/s (Mach = 0.3) and 611 m/s (Mach = 0.6), respectively. Several image restoration and enhancement techniques were tested to improve signal to noise ratio (SNR) in schlieren and shadowgraph images. Processing and post-processing parameters for SIV techniques were examined in detail. A quantitative comparison between self-seeded SIV techniques and traditional PIV had been made using correlation statistics. While the resulted flow field from schlieren with horizontal knife-edge and shadowgraph showed excellent agreement with PIV measurements, schlieren with vertical knife-edge performed poorly. The performance of spatial cross-correlations at different jet locations using SIV techniques and PIV was evaluated. Turbulence quantities like turbulence intensity, mean velocity fields, Reynolds shear stress influenced spatial correlations and correlation plane SNR heavily. Several performance metrics such as primary peak ratio (PPR), peak to correlation energy (PCE), the probability distribution of signal and noise were used to compare capability and potential of different SIV techniques.