Dynamics of large-scale circulation of turbulent thermal convection in a horizontal cylinder

2014 ◽  
Vol 740 ◽  
pp. 136-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Song ◽  
Eric Brown ◽  
Russell Hawkins ◽  
Penger Tong
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Thermal Convection ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Horizontal Cylinder ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Stochastic Motion ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Measured Probability ◽  
Horizontal Cylinders

AbstractA systematic study of the effects of cell geometry on the dynamics of large-scale flows in turbulent thermal convection is carried out in horizontal cylindrical cells of different lengths filled with water. Four different flow modes are identified with increasing aspect ratio $\Gamma $. For small aspect ratios ($\Gamma \leq 0.16$), the flow is highly confined in a thin disc-like cell with a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) large-scale circulation (LSC) in the circular plane of the cell. For larger aspect ratios ($\Gamma >0.16$), we observe periodic switching of the angular orientation $\theta $ of the rotation plane of LSC between the two longest diagonals of the cell. The sides of the container along which the LSC oscillates changes at a critical aspect ratio $\Gamma _{c}\simeq 0.82$. The measured switching period is equal to the LSC turnover time for $\Gamma \leq \Gamma _c$, shows a sharp increase at $\Gamma _{c}$ and decays exponentially to the LSC turnover time with increasing $\Gamma $. For $\Gamma \geq 1.3$, a periodic rocking of LSC along the long axis of the cylinder is also observed. The measured probability density function $P(\theta )$ of the LSC orientation $\theta $ peaks at the two diagonal positions, and its shape is described by a phenomenological model proposed by Brown & Ahlers (Phys. Fluids, vol. 20, 2008b, 075101; J. Fluid Mech., vol. 638, 2009, pp. 383–400). Using this model, we describe the dynamics of the LSC orientation $\theta $ by stochastic motion in a double-well potential. The potential is predicted from a model in which the sidewall shape produces an orientation-dependent pressure on the LSC. This model also captures key features of the four flow modes. The experiment reveals an interesting array of rich dynamics of LSC in the horizontal cylinders, which are very different from those observed in the upright cylindrical convection cells. The success of the model for both upright and horizontal cylinders suggests that it can be applied to different geometries.

Unravelling the large-scale circulation modes in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Horn ◽  
Peter J. Schmid ◽  
Jonathan M. Aurnou
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dynamic Mode Decomposition ◽  
Dynamic Mode ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Mode Decomposition ◽  
Coherent Flow Structure

Abstract The large-scale circulation (LSC) is the most fundamental turbulent coherent flow structure in Rayleigh-B\'enard convection. Further, LSCs provide the foundation upon which superstructures, the largest observable features in convective systems, are formed. In confined cylindrical geometries with diameter-to-height aspect ratios of Γ ≅ 1, LSC dynamics are known to be governed by a quasi-two-dimensional, coupled horizontal sloshing and torsional (ST) oscillatory mode. In contrast, in Γ ≥ √2 cylinders, a three-dimensional jump rope vortex (JRV) motion dominates the LSC dynamics. Here, we use dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) on direct numerical simulation data of liquid metal to show that both types of modes co-exist in Γ = 1 and Γ = 2 cylinders but with opposite dynamical importance. Furthermore, with this analysis, we demonstrate that ST oscillations originate from a tilted elliptical mean flow superposed with a symmetric higher order mode, which is connected to the four rolls in the plane perpendicular to the LSC in Γ = 1 tanks.

Heat flux enhancement by regular surface roughness in turbulent thermal convection

2014 ◽  
Vol 763 ◽  
pp. 109-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Wagner ◽  
Olga Shishkina
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Thermal Convection ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Wall Roughness ◽  
Regular Surface ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Flux Enhancement

AbstractDirect numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent thermal convection in a box-shaped domain with regular surface roughness at the heated bottom and cooled top surfaces are conducted for Prandtl number $\mathit{Pr}=0.786$ and Rayleigh numbers $\mathit{Ra}$ between $10^{6}$ and $10^{8}$. The surface roughness is introduced by four parallelepiped equidistantly distributed obstacles attached to the bottom plate, and four obstacles located symmetrically at the top plate. By varying $\mathit{Ra}$ and the height and width of the obstacles, we investigate the influence of the regular wall roughness on the turbulent heat transport, measured by the Nusselt number $\mathit{Nu}$. For fixed $\mathit{Ra}$, the change in the value of $\mathit{Nu}$ is determined not only by the covering area of the surface, i.e. the obstacle height, but also by the distance between the obstacles. The heat flux enhancement is found to be largest for wide cavities between the obstacles which can be ‘washed out’ by the flow. This is also manifested in an empirical relation, which is based on the DNS data. We further discuss theoretical limiting cases for very wide and very narrow obstacles and combine them into a simple model for the heat flux enhancement due to the wall roughness, without introducing any free parameters. This model predicts well the general trends and the order of magnitude of the heat flux enhancement obtained in the DNS. In the $\mathit{Nu}$ versus $\mathit{Ra}$ scaling, the obstacles work in two ways: for smaller $\mathit{Ra}$ an increase of the scaling exponent compared to the smooth case is found, which is connected to the heat flux entering the cavities from below. For larger $\mathit{Ra}$ the scaling exponent saturates to the one for smooth plates, which can be understood as a full washing-out of the cavities. The latter is also investigated by considering the strength of the mean secondary flow in the cavities and its relation to the wind (i.e. the large-scale circulation), that develops in the core part of the domain. Generally, an increase in the roughness height leads to stronger flows both in the cavities and in the bulk region, while an increase in the width of the obstacles strengthens only the large-scale circulation of the fluid and weakens the secondary flows. An increase of the Rayleigh number always leads to stronger flows, both in the cavities and in the bulk.

scholarly journals High resolution parameter study of the vertical shear instability

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 1841-1853
Author(s):  
Natascha Manger ◽  
Hubert Klahr ◽  
Wilhelm Kley ◽  
Mario Flock
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dead Zone ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Shear Instability ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Strong Scaling

ABSTRACT Theoretical models of protoplanetary discs have shown the vertical shear instability (VSI) to be a prime candidate to explain turbulence in the dead zone of the disc. However, simulations of the VSI have yet to show consistent levels of key disc turbulence parameters like the stress-to-pressure ratio α. We aim to reconcile these different values by performing a parameter study on the VSI with focus on the disc density gradient p and aspect ratio h = H/R. We use full 2π 3D simulations of the disc for chosen set of both parameters. All simulations are evolved for 1000 reference orbits, at a resolution of 18 cells per h. We find that the saturated stress-to-pressure ratio in our simulations is dependent on the disc aspect ratio with a strong scaling of α∝h2.6, in contrast to the traditional α model, where viscosity scales as ν∝αh2 with a constant α. We also observe consistent formation of large scale vortices across all investigated parameters. The vortices show uniformly aspect ratios of χ ≈ 10 and radial widths of approximately 1.5H. With our findings we can reconcile the different values reported for the stress-to-pressure ratio from both isothermal and full radiation hydrodynamics models, and show long-term evolution effects of the VSI that could aide in the formation of planetesimals.

The Effect of Aspect-Ratio on the Development of the Large-Scale Structures in the Three-Dimensional Wall Jet

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Hall ◽  
Daniel Ewing
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Wall Pressure ◽  
Symmetric Mode ◽  
Large Scale Structures ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Scale Structures

The development of the large-scale structures in three-dimensional wall jets exiting rectangular nozzles with aspect-ratios of 1 and 4 was investigated using simultaneous measurements of the fluctuating wall pressure across the jet. The pressure fluctuations in the jets were asymmetric and caused the fluctuating wall pressure to be poorly correlated across the jet centerline. A Proper Orthogonal Decomposition analysis indicated that both the first and second modes make similar contributions to the variance of the fluctuating pressure, and were symmetric and antisymmetric, respectively, and the interplay between these modes caused the asymmetry in the instantaneous pressure fluctuations across the jet centreline. A wavelet analysis of the instantaneously reconstructed pressure fields indicated that the fluctuations were predominantly in two frequency bands near the jet centerline, but were only contained in one band on the outer lateral edges of the jet, indicating there were two different large-scale motions present. The development of large-scale structures in the two jets initially differed in the intermediate field with the antisymmetric mode being more prominent in the square jet and the symmetric mode being more prominent in the larger aspect-ratio jet. Further downstream, the symmetric mode was more prominent in both jets.

Reversals of the large-scale circulation in quasi-2D Rayleigh–Bénard convection

2015 ◽  
Vol 778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Ni ◽  
Shi-Di Huang ◽  
Ke-Qing Xia
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Tuning Parameter ◽  
Viscous Drag ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Damping Force ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
2D System ◽  
The Difference

We report an experimental study of the large-scale circulation (LSC) reversal in quasi-2D turbulent thermal convection, in which the aspect ratio ${\it\Gamma}$ ($=\text{height}/\text{length}$ of a rectangular box) is used as a parameter to perturb the stability of the LSC. It is found that the mean time interval $\langle {\it\tau}\rangle$ between two successive reversals increases strongly with increasing ${\it\Gamma}$. A stochastic model is proposed to incorporate the effect of the corner rolls. In the model, the aspect ratio serves as a tuning parameter for the relative weight of the corner rolls that damp the LSC. The model predictions for the shape of the bistable states of the system and $\langle {\it\tau}\rangle$ agree excellently with the experimental results, with $\langle {\it\tau}\rangle$ having an unexpected stretched exponential Rayleigh number dependence, ${\sim}\!\exp (Ra^{{\it\alpha}})$. We further show quantitatively that the main damping force of the LSC in a quasi-2D system is from the corner rolls rather than the viscous drag from the sidewalls, which bridges the difference found in quasi-2D and 3D systems.

The wind in confined thermal convection

2001 ◽  
Vol 449 ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. NIEMELA ◽  
L. SKRBEK ◽  
K. R. SREENIVASAN ◽  
R. J. DONNELLY
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Turbulent Convection ◽  
Physical Explanation ◽  
Dynamical Parameter ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Circulation Velocity ◽  
Rayleigh Benard

A large-scale circulation velocity, often called the ‘wind’, has been observed in turbulent convection in the Rayleigh–Bénard apparatus, which is a closed box with a heated bottom wall. The wind survives even when the dynamical parameter, namely the Rayleigh number, is very large. Over a wide range of time scales greater than its characteristic turnover time, the wind velocity exhibits occasional and irregular reversals without a change in magnitude. We study this feature experimentally in an apparatus of aspect ratio unity, in which the highest attainable Rayleigh number is about 1016. A possible physical explanation is attempted.

scholarly journals Behaviour of tire shred – sand mixtures

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge G Zornberg ◽  
Alexandre R Cabral ◽  
Chardphoom Viratjandr
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Volumetric Strain ◽  
Confining Pressure ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Strain Behaviour ◽  
Tire Shreds

Tire shreds and tire shred – soil mixtures can be used as alternative backfill material in many geotechnical applications. The reuse of tire shreds may not only address growing environmental and economic concerns, but also help solve geotechnical problems associated with low soil shear strength. In this study, an experimental testing program was undertaken using a large-scale triaxial apparatus with the goal of evaluating the optimum dosage and aspect ratio of tire shreds within granular fills. The effects on shear strength of varying confining pressure and sand matrix relative density were also evaluated. The tire shred content and tire shred aspect ratio were found to influence the stress–strain and volumetric strain behaviour of the mixture. The axial strain at failure was found to increase with increasing tire shred content. Except for specimens of pure tire shreds and with comparatively high tire shred content, the test results showed a dilatant behaviour and a well-defined peak shear strength. The optimum tire shred content (i.e., the one leading to the maximum shear strength) was approximately 35%. For a given tire shred content, increasing the tire shred aspect ratio led to increasing overall shear strength, at least for the range of tire shred aspect ratios considered in this study. The shear strength improvement induced by tire shred inclusions was found to be sensitive to the applied confining pressure, with larger shear strength gains obtained under comparatively low confinement.Key words: tire shreds, shear strength, reinforcement, triaxial testing, stress–strain behaviour.

scholarly journals Aspect ratio dependence of heat transfer and large-scale flow in turbulent convection

2010 ◽  
Vol 655 ◽  
pp. 152-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. BAILON-CUBA ◽  
M. S. EMRAN ◽  
J. SCHUMACHER
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Turbulent Convection ◽  
Turbulent Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Cylindrical Cell ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Pod Analysis

The heat transport and corresponding changes in the large-scale circulation (LSC) in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection are studied by means of three-dimensional direct numerical simulations as a function of the aspect ratio Γ of a closed cylindrical cell and the Rayleigh number Ra. The Prandtl number is Pr = 0.7 throughout the study. The aspect ratio Γ is varied between 0.5 and 12 for a Rayleigh number range between 107 and 109. The Nusselt number Nu is the dimensionless measure of the global turbulent heat transfer. For small and moderate aspect ratios, the global heat transfer law Nu = A × Raβ shows a power law dependence of both fit coefficients A and β on the aspect ratio. A minimum of Nu(Γ) is found at Γ ≈ 2.5 and Γ ≈ 2.25 for Ra = 107 and Ra = 108, respectively. This is the point where the LSC undergoes a transition from a single-roll to a double-roll pattern. With increasing aspect ratio, we detect complex multi-roll LSC configurations in the convection cell. For larger aspect ratios Γ ≳ 8, our data indicate that the heat transfer becomes independent of the aspect ratio of the cylindrical cell. The aspect ratio dependence of the turbulent heat transfer for small and moderate Γ is in line with a varying amount of energy contained in the LSC, as quantified by the Karhunen–Loève or proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis of the turbulent convection field. The POD analysis is conducted here by the snapshot method for at least 100 independent realizations of the turbulent fields. The primary POD mode, which replicates the time-averaged LSC patterns, transports about 50% of the global heat for Γ ≥ 1. The snapshot analysis enables a systematic disentanglement of the contributions of POD modes to the global turbulent heat transfer. Although the smallest scale – the Kolmogorov scale ηK – and the largest scale – the cell height H – are widely separated in a turbulent flow field, the LSC patterns in fully turbulent fields exhibit strikingly similar texture to those in the weakly nonlinear regime right above the onset of convection. Pentagonal or hexagonal circulation cells are observed preferentially if the aspect ratio is sufficiently large (Γ ≳ 8).

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