scholarly journals Localised turbulence in a circular pipe flow with gradual expansion

2015 ◽  
Vol 771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Selvam ◽  
Jorge Peixinho ◽  
Ashley P. Willis
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Pipe Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Circular Pipe ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Circular Pipe Flow ◽  
Gradual Expansion

We report the results of three-dimensional direct numerical simulations for incompressible viscous fluid in a circular pipe flow with a gradual expansion. At the inlet, a parabolic velocity profile is applied together with a constant finite-amplitude perturbation to represent experimental imperfections. Initially, at low Reynolds number, the solution is steady. As the Reynolds number is increased, the length of the recirculation region near the wall grows linearly. Then, at a critical Reynolds number, a symmetry-breaking bifurcation occurs, where linear growth of asymmetry is observed. Near the point of transition to turbulence, the flow experiences oscillations due to a shear layer instability for a narrow range of Reynolds numbers. At higher Reynolds numbers, the recirculation region breaks into a turbulent state which remains spatially localised and unchanged when the perturbation is removed from the flow. Spatial correlation analysis suggests that the localised turbulence in the gradual expansion possesses a different flow structure from the turbulent puff of uniform pipe flow.

Effect of Initial Constant Acceleration on the Transition to Turbulence in Transient Circular Pipe Flow

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabu Iguchi ◽  
Kazuyoshi Nishihara ◽  
Yusuke Nakahata ◽  
Charles W. Knisely
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Pipe Flow ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Circular Pipe ◽  
Constant Acceleration ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Circular Pipe Flow ◽  
The Cross

Experimental investigation is carried out on the transition to turbulence in a transient circular pipe flow. The flow is accelerated from rest at a constant acceleration until its cross-sectional mean velocity reaches a constant value. Accordingly, the history of the flow thus generated consists of the initial stage of constant acceleration and the following stage of constant cross-sectional mean velocity. The final Reynolds number based on the constant cross-sectional mean velocity and the pipe diameter is chosen to be much greater than the transition Reynolds number of a steady pipe flow of about 3000. The transition to turbulence is judged from the output signal of the axial velocity component and its root-mean-square value measured with a hot-wire anemometer. A turbulent slug appears after the cross-sectional mean velocity of the flow reaches the predetermined constant value under every experimental condition. Turbulence production therefore is suppressed, while the flow is accelerated. The time lag for the appearance of the turbulent slug after the cross-sectional mean velocity of the flow reaches the constant value decreases with an increase in the constant acceleration value. An empirical equation is proposed for estimating the time lag. The propagation velocity of the leading edge of the turbulent slug is independent of the constant acceleration value under the present experimental conditions.

Stability of Hagen-Poiseuille flow with superimposed rigid rotation

1976 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.-A. Mackrodt
Keyword(s):  
Poiseuille Flow ◽  
Pipe Flow ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Neutral Curve ◽  
Rigid Rotation ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations

The linear stability of Hagen-Poiseuille flow (Poiseuille pipe flow) with superimposed rigid rotation against small three-dimensional disturbances is examined at finite and infinite axial Reynolds numbers. The neutral curve, which is obtained by numerical solution of the system of perturbation equations (derived from the Navier-Stokes equations), has been confirmed for finite axial Reynolds numbers by a few simple experiments. The results suggest that, at high axial Reynolds numbers, the amount of rotation required for destabilization could be small enough to have escaped notice in experiments on the transition to turbulence in (nominally) non-rotating pipe flow.

The effect of rigid rotation on the finite-amplitude stability of pipe flow at high Reynolds number

1984 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 193-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Akylas ◽  
J.-P. Demurger
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Pipe Flow ◽  
High Reynolds Number ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Linear Instability ◽  
Rigid Rotation ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Neutral Stability ◽  
Axisymmetric Mode ◽  
High Reynolds

A theoretical study is made of the stability of pipe flow with superimposed rigid rotation to finite-amplitude disturbances at high Reynolds number. The non-axisymmetric mode that requires the least amount of rotation for linear instability is considered. An amplitude expansion is developed close to the corresponding neutral stability curve; the appropriate Landau constant is calculated. It is demonstrated that the flow exhibits nonlinear subcritical instability, the nonlinear effects being particularly strong owing to the large magnitude of the Landau constant. These findings support the view that a small amount of extraneous rotation could play a significant role in the transition to turbulence of pipe flow.

Three-dimensional instabilities in the boundary-layer flow over a long rectangular plate

2011 ◽  
Vol 681 ◽  
pp. 411-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEMANT K. CHAURASIA ◽  
MARK C. THOMPSON
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Vortical Flow ◽  
Forced Flow ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Optimal Perturbation ◽  
Dimensional Instability

A detailed numerical study of the separating and reattaching flow over a square leading-edge plate is presented, examining the instability modes governing transition from two- to three-dimensional flow. Under the influence of background noise, experiments show that the transition scenario typically is incompletely described by either global stability analysis or the transient growth of dominant optimal perturbation modes. Instead two-dimensional transition effectively can be triggered by the convective Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) shear-layer instability; although it may be possible that this could be described alternatively in terms of higher-order optimal perturbation modes. At least in some experiments, observed transition occurs by either: (i) KH vortices shedding downstream directly and then almost immediately undergoing three-dimensional transition or (ii) at higher Reynolds numbers, larger vortical structures are shed that are also three-dimensionally unstable. These two paths lead to distinctly different three-dimensional arrangements of vortical flow structures. This paper focuses on the mechanisms underlying these three-dimensional transitions. Floquet analysis of weakly periodically forced flow, mimicking the observed two-dimensional quasi-periodic base flow, indicates that the two-dimensional vortex rollers shed from the recirculation region become globally three-dimensionally unstable at a Reynolds number of approximately 380. This transition Reynolds number and the predicted wavelength and flow symmetries match well with those of the experiments. The instability appears to be elliptical in nature with the perturbation field mainly restricted to the cores of the shed rollers and showing the spatial vorticity distribution expected for that instability type. Indeed an estimate of the theoretical predicted wavelength is also a good match to the prediction from Floquet analysis and theoretical estimates indicate the growth rate is positive. Fully three-dimensional simulations are also undertaken to explore the nonlinear development of the three-dimensional instability. These show the development of the characteristic upright hairpins observed in the experimental dye visualisations. The three-dimensional instability that manifests at lower Reynolds numbers is shown to be consistent with an elliptic instability of the KH shear-layer vortices in both symmetry and spanwise wavelength.

Three-dimensional dynamics and transition to turbulence in the wake of bluff objects

1992 ◽  
Vol 238 ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Em Karniadakis ◽  
George S. Triantafyllou
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Period Doubling ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Near Wake ◽  
Vortex Filaments ◽  
Average Flow ◽  
Time Average

The wakes of bluff objects and in particular of circular cylinders are known to undergo a ‘fast’ transition, from a laminar two-dimensional state at Reynolds number 200 to a turbulent state at Reynolds number 400. The process has been documented in several experimental investigations, but the underlying physical mechanisms have remained largely unknown so far. In this paper, the transition process is investigated numerically, through direct simulation of the Navier—Stokes equations at representative Reynolds numbers, up to 500. A high-order time-accurate, mixed spectral/spectral element technique is used. It is shown that the wake first becomes three-dimensional, as a result of a secondary instability of the two-dimensional vortex street. This secondary instability appears at a Reynolds number close to 200. For slightly supercritical Reynolds numbers, a harmonic state develops, in which the flow oscillates at its fundamental frequency (Strouhal number) around a spanwise modulated time-average flow. In the near wake the modulation wavelength of the time-average flow is half of the spanwise wavelength of the perturbation flow, consistently with linear instability theory. The vortex filaments have a spanwise wavy shape in the near wake, and form rib-like structures further downstream. At higher Reynolds numbers the three-dimensional flow oscillation undergoes a period-doubling bifurcation, in which the flow alternates between two different states. Phase-space analysis of the flow shows that the basic limit cycle has branched into two connected limit cycles. In physical space the period doubling appears as the shedding of two distinct types of vortex filaments.Further increases of the Reynolds number result in a cascade of period-doubling bifurcations, which create a chaotic state in the flow at a Reynolds number of about 500. The flow is characterized by broadband power spectra, and the appearance of intermittent phenomena. It is concluded that the wake undergoes transition to turbulence following the period-doubling route.

The wake behind a cylinder rolling on a wall at varying rotation rates

2010 ◽  
Vol 648 ◽  
pp. 225-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. STEWART ◽  
M. C. THOMPSON ◽  
T. LEWEKE ◽  
K. HOURIGAN
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Wake Flow ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Rotation Rates ◽  
Transition Mechanism ◽  
Three Dimensional Simulations

A study investigating the flow around a cylinder rolling or sliding on a wall has been undertaken in two and three dimensions. The cylinder motion is specified from a set of five discrete rotation rates, ranging from prograde through to retrograde rolling. A Reynolds number range of 20–500 is considered. The effects of the nearby wall and the imposed body motion on the wake structure and dominant wake transitions have been determined. Prograde rolling is shown to destabilize the wake flow, while retrograde rotation delays the onset of unsteady flow to Reynolds numbers well above those observed for a cylinder in an unbounded flow.Two-dimensional simulations show the presence of two recirculation zones in the steady wake, the lengths of which increase approximately linearly with the Reynolds number. Values of the lift and drag coefficient are also reported for the steady flow regime. Results from a linear stability analysis show that the wake initially undergoes a regular bifurcation from a steady two-dimensional flow to a steady three-dimensional wake for all rotation rates. The critical Reynolds number Rec of transition and the spanwise wavelength of the dominant mode are shown to be highly dependent on, but smoothly varying with, the rotation rate of the cylinder. Varying the rotation from prograde to retrograde rolling acts to increase the value of Rec and decrease the preferred wavelength. The structure of the fully evolved wake mode is then established through three-dimensional simulations. In fact it is found that at Reynolds numbers only marginally (~5%) above critical, the three-dimensional simulations indicate that the saturated state becomes time dependent, although at least initially, this does not result in a significant change to the mode structure. It is only at higher Reynolds numbers that the wake undergoes a transition to vortex shedding.An analysis of the three-dimensional transition indicates that it is unlikely to be due to a centrifugal instability despite the superficial similarity to the flow over a backward-facing step, for which the transition mechanism has been speculated to be centrifugal. However, the attached elongated recirculation region and distribution of the spanwise perturbation vorticity field, and the similarity of these features with those of the flow through a partially blocked channel, suggest the possibility that the mechanism is elliptic in nature. Some analysis which supports this conjecture is undertaken.

Flow Field Study in Louvered Fin and Round Tube Heat Exchangers

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henk Huisseune ◽  
Christophe T’Joen ◽  
Peter De Jaeger ◽  
Michel De Paepe
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Louvered Fin ◽  
Horseshoe Vortices ◽  
Small Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Visualization Experiments ◽  
Fin Spacing

Three-dimensional flow structures influence the heat exchanger’s performance. In this study flow visualization experiments were performed in six scaled-up models of a louvered fin heat exchanger with round tubes. The models have a staggered tube layout and differ only in their fin spacing and louver angle. A water tunnel was designed and built and the flow visualizations were carried out using dye injection. For small Reynolds numbers no horseshoe vortices are developed in front of the tubes and the recirculation regions downstream the tubes are small. As the Reynolds number is increased, the horseshoe vortices become larger and stronger. The recirculation bubbles grow until they cover the entire back of the tube. When the Reynolds number is further increased, the recirculation region becomes unsteady. At the same Reynolds number the vortex strength and the number of vortices in the second tube row is larger than in the first tube row. Reducing the fin pitch suppresses the vortex and wake development. Further it was found that the first unsteady flow patterns appear in the wake of the heat exchanger and these instabilities move upstream with increasing Reynolds number. The onset of unsteadiness is postponed to higher Reynolds numbers when the fin pitch or louver angle is reduced.

The resonant-triad nonlinear interaction in boundary-layer transition

1987 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 227-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. T. Smith ◽  
P. A. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Quantitative Agreement ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Structured Analysis

Recent controlled experiments by Kachanov & Levchenko (1984) and others indicate that, during some slower kinds of transition to turbulence in boundary layers, three-dimensionality can come into play initially as a resonant-triad phenomenon, depending on the disturbance sizes present. The triad interaction, suggested theoretically in the boundary-layer context by Craik (1971) and others, is studied in the present work by means of multi-structured analysis for high characteristic Reynolds numbers. A finite-amplitude/relatively high-frequency approach leads rationally to the nonlinear triad equations, solutions for which are then obtained analytically and computationally in certain central cases of interest (temporal and spatial). The solutions have a rather chaotic spiky appearance as continual energy exchange develops between the two- and three-dimensional nonlinear modes, whose large-scale response seems governed by inviscid dynamics but subject to important, continual ‘rejuvenation’ from small- (fast-) scale viscous action in-between. The three-dimensional growth rate is thereby increased, but not the two-dimensional. Subsequently the disturbed flow enters a higher-amplitude regime similar to that studied in some related papers by the authors and co-workers. Comparisons with the experiments are very supportive of the theory (in the small and in the large), yielding both qualitative and quantitative agreement.

Bifurcation Characteristics of Flows in Rectangular Sudden Expansion Channels

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine Battaglia ◽  
George Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Laminar Flow ◽  
Critical Reynolds Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
Sudden Expansion ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Effective Expansion ◽  
Three Dimensional Simulations

The effect of three-dimensionality on low Reynolds number flows past a symmetric sudden expansion in a channel was investigated. The geometric expansion ratio of in the current study was 2:1 and the aspect ratio was 6:1. Both experimental velocity measurements and two- and three-dimensional simulations for the flow along the centerplane of the rectangular duct are presented for Reynolds numbers in the range of 150 to 600. Comparison of the two-dimensional simulations with the experiments revealed that the simulations fail to capture completely the total expansion effect on the flow, which couples both geometric and hydrodynamic effects. To properly do so requires the definition of an effective expansion ratio, which is the ratio of the downstream and upstream hydraulic diameters and is therefore a function of both the expansion and aspect ratios. When the two-dimensional geometry was consistent with the effective expansion ratio, the new results agreed well with the three-dimensional simulations and the experiments. Furthermore, in the range of Reynolds numbers investigated, the laminar flow through the expansion underwent a symmetry-breaking bifurcation. The critical Reynolds number evaluated from the experiments and the simulations was compared to other values reported in the literature. Overall, side-wall proximity was found to enhance flow stability, helping to sustain laminar flow symmetry to higher Reynolds numbers in comparison to nominally two-dimensional double-expansion geometries. Lastly, and most importantly, when the logarithm of the critical Reynolds number from all these studies was plotted against the reciprocal of the effective expansion ratio, a linear trend emerged that uniquely captured the bifurcation dynamics of all symmetric double-sided planar expansions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document