Weakly sheared turbulent flows generated by multiscale inhomogeneous grids

2018 ◽  
Vol 848 ◽  
pp. 788-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaokai Zheng ◽  
P. J. K. Bruce ◽  
J. M. R. Graham ◽  
J. C. Vassilicos
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Shear Flows ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Incoming Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Vertical Bars

A group of three multiscale inhomogeneous grids have been tested to generate different types of turbulent shear flows with different mean shear rate and turbulence intensity profiles. Cross hot-wire measurements were taken in a wind tunnel with Reynolds number$Re_{D}$of 6000–20 000, based on the width of the vertical bars of the grid and the incoming flow velocity. The effect of local drag coefficient$C_{D}$on the mean velocity profile is discussed first, and then by modifying the vertical bars to obtain a uniform aspect ratio the mean velocity profile is shown to be predictable using the local blockage ratio profile. It is also shown that, at a streamwise location$x=x_{m}$, the turbulence intensity profile along the vertical direction$u^{\prime }(y)$scales with the wake interaction length$x_{\ast ,n}^{peak}=0.21g_{n}^{2}/(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}C_{D}w_{n})$($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$is a constant characterizing the incoming flow condition, and$g_{n}$,$w_{n}$are the gap and width of the vertical bars, respectively, at layer$n$) such that$(u^{\prime }/U_{n})^{2}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}^{2}(C_{D}w_{n}/x_{\ast ,n}^{peak})^{-1}\sim (x_{m}/x_{\ast ,n}^{peak})^{b}$, where$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$is a constant determined by the free-stream turbulence level,$U_{n}$is the local mean velocity and$b$is a dimensionless power law constant. A general framework of grid design method based on these scalings is proposed and discussed. From the evolution of the shear stress coefficient$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}(x)$, integral length scale$L(x)$and the dissipation coefficient$C_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}}(x)$, a simple turbulent kinetic energy model is proposed that describes the evolution of our grid generated turbulence field using one centreline measurement and one vertical profile of$u^{\prime }(y)$at the beginning of the evolution. The results calculated from our model agree well with our measurements in the streamwise extent up to$x/H\approx 2.5$, where$H$is the height of the grid, suggesting that it might be possible to design some shear flows with desired mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles by designing the geometry of a passive grid.

Turbulence intensity in wall-bounded and wall-free flows

2015 ◽  
Vol 770 ◽  
pp. 289-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian P. Castro
Keyword(s):  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Shear Flows ◽  
Outer Region ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Reference Velocity ◽  
Wall Flows ◽  
Diagnostic Plot ◽  
Suitable Reference

Turbulence intensity variations in the outer region of turbulent shear flows are considered, in the context of the diagnostic plot first introduced by Alfredsson et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 23, 2011, 041702) and for both (smooth and rough) wall-bounded flows and classical free shear flows. With $U$ defined as the mean velocity within the flow, $U_{e}$ as a suitable reference velocity and $u^{\prime }$ as the root mean square of the fluctuating velocity, it is demonstrated that, for wall flows, the attached eddy hypothesis yields a closely linear diagnostic plot ($u^{\prime }/U$ versus $U/U_{e}$) over a certain Reynolds number range, explaining why the relation seems to work well for both boundary layers and channels despite its lack of any physical basis (Castro et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 727, 2013, pp. 119–131). It is shown that mixing layers, jets and wakes also exhibit linear variations of $u^{\prime }/U$ versus $U/U_{e}$ over much of the flows (starting roughly from where the turbulence production is a maximum), with slopes of these variations determined by the total mean strain rate, characterised by Townsend’s flow constant $R_{s}$. The diagnostic plot thus has a wider range of applicability than might have been anticipated.

Asymptotic theory of turbulent shear flows

1970 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirit S. Yajnik
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flows ◽  
Functional Relationship ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Law Of The Wall ◽  
Underdetermined System ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flows ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Law

A theory is proposed in this paper to describe the behaviour of a class of turbulent shear flows as the Reynolds number approaches infinity. A detailed analysis is given for simple representative members of this class, such as fully developed channel and pipe flows and two-dimensional turbulent boundary layers. The theory considers an underdetermined system of equations and depends critically on the idea that these flows consist of two rather different types of regions. The method of matched asymptotic expansions is employed together with asymptotic hypotheses describing the order of various terms in the equations of mean motion and turbulent kinetic energy. As these hypotheses are not closure hypotheses, they do not impose any functional relationship between quantities determined by the mean velocity field and those determined by the Reynolds stress field. The theory leads to asymptotic laws corresponding to the law of the wall, the logarithmic law, the velocity defect law, and the law of the wake.

Simulation of a propelled wake with moderate excess momentum in a stratified fluid

2011 ◽  
Vol 692 ◽  
pp. 28-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. de Stadler ◽  
Sutanu Sarkar
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Turbulent Kinetic Energy ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Stratified Fluid ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Excess Momentum ◽  
The Mean

AbstractDirect numerical simulation is used to simulate the turbulent wake behind an accelerating axisymmetric self-propelled body in a stratified fluid. Acceleration is modelled by adding a velocity profile corresponding to net thrust to a self-propelled velocity profile resulting in a wake with excess momentum. The effect of a small to moderate amount of excess momentum on the initially momentumless self-propelled wake is investigated to evaluate if the addition of excess momentum leads to a large qualitative change in wake dynamics. Both the amount and shape of excess momentum are varied. Increasing the amount of excess momentum and/or decreasing the radial extent of excess momentum was found to increase the defect velocity, mean kinetic energy, shear in the velocity gradient and the wake width. The increased shear in the mean profile resulted in increased production of turbulent kinetic energy leading to an increase in turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation. Slightly larger vorticity structures were observed in the late wake with excess momentum although the differences between vorticity structures in the self-propelled and 40 % excess momentum cases was significantly smaller than suggested by previous experiments. Buoyancy was found to preserve the doubly inflected velocity profile in the vertical direction, and similarity for the mean velocity and turbulent kinetic energy was found to occur in both horizontal and vertical directions. While quantitative differences were observed between cases with and without excess momentum, qualitatively similar evolution was found to occur.

Measurements in a Transitional Boundary Layer With Görtler Vortices

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Terrence W. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Görtler Vortices ◽  
Concave Wall ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Gortler Vortices

The laminar-turbulent transition process has been documented in a concave-wall boundary layer subject to low (0.6%) free-stream turbulence intensity. Transition began at a Reynolds number, Rex (based on distance from the leading edge of the test wall), of 3.5×105 and was completed by 4.7×105. The transition was strongly influenced by the presence of stationary, streamwise, Görtler vortices. Transition under similar conditions has been documented in previous studies, but because concave-wall transition tends to be rapid, measurements within the transition zone were sparse. In this study, emphasis is on measurements within the zone of intermittent flow. Twenty-five profiles of mean streamwise velocity, fluctuating streamwise velocity, and intermittency have been acquired at five values of Rex, and five spanwise locations relative to a Görtler vortex. The mean velocity profiles acquired near the vortex downwash sites exhibit inflection points and local minima. These minima, located in the outer part of the boundary layer, provide evidence of a “tilting” of the vortices in the spanwise direction. Profiles of fluctuating velocity and intermittency exhibit peaks near the locations of the minima in the mean velocity profiles. These peaks indicate that turbulence is generated in regions of high shear, which are relatively far from the wall. The transition mechanism in this flow is different from that on flat walls, where turbulence is produced in the near-wall region. The peak intermittency values in the profiles increase with Rex, but do not follow the “universal” distribution observed in most flat-wall, transitional boundary layers. The results have applications whenever strong concave curvature may result in the formation of Görtler vortices in otherwise 2-D flows. Because these cases were run with a low value of free-stream turbulence intensity, the flow is not a replication of a gas turbine flow. However, the results do provide a base case for further work on transition on the pressure side of gas turbine airfoils, where concave curvature effects are combined with the effects of high free-stream turbulence and strong streamwise pressure gradients, for they show the effects of embedded streamwise vorticity in a flow that is free of high-turbulence effects.

Outline of a theory of turbulent shear flow

1956 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. V. R. Malkus
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Momentum Transport ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Spectral Structure ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
The Mean

In this paper the spatial variations and spectral structure of steady-state turbulent shear flow in channels are investigated without the introduction of empirical parameters. This is made possible by the assumption that the non-linear momentum transport has only stabilizing effects on the mean field of flow. Two constraints on the possible momentum transport are drawn from this assumption: first, that the mean flow will be statistically stable if an Orr-Sommerfeld type equation is satisfied by fluctuations of the mean; second, that the smallest scale of motion that can be present in the spectrum of the momentum transport is the scale of the marginally stable fluctuations of the mean. Within these two constraints, and for a given mass transport, an upper limit is sought for the rate of dissipation of potential energy into heat. Solutions of the stability equation depend upon the shape of the mean velocity profile. In turn, the mean velocity profile depends upon the spatial spectrum of the momentum transport. A variational technique is used to determine that momentum transport spectrum which is both marginally stable and produces a maximum dissipation rate. The resulting spectrum determines the velocity profile and its dependence on the boundary conditions. Past experimental work has disclosed laminar, ‘transitional’, logarithmic and parabolic regions of the velocity profile. Several experimental laws and their accompanying constants relate the extent of these regions to the boundary conditions. The theoretical profile contains each feature and law that is observed. First approximations to the constants are found, and give, in particular, a value for the logarithmic slope (von Kármán's constant) which is within the experimental error. However, the theoretical boundary constant is smaller than the observed value. Turbulent channel flow seems to achieve the extreme state found here, but a more decisive quantitative comparison of theory and experiment requires improvement in the solutions of the classical laminar stability problem.

scholarly journals Blind test comparison of the performance and wake flow between two in-line wind turbines exposed to different turbulent inflow conditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Bartl ◽  
Lars Sætran
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Wake Flow ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Blind Test ◽  
Turbulent Inflow ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Inflow Conditions

Abstract. This is a summary of the results of the fourth blind test workshop that was held in Trondheim in October 2015. Herein, computational predictions on the performance of two in-line model wind turbines as well as the mean and turbulent wake flow are compared to experimental data measured at the wind tunnel of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). A detailed description of the model geometry, the wind tunnel boundary conditions and the test case specifications was published before the workshop. Expert groups within computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were invited to submit predictions on wind turbine performance and wake flow without knowing the experimental results at the outset. The focus of this blind test comparison is to examine the model turbines' performance and wake development with nine rotor diameters downstream at three different turbulent inflow conditions. Aside from a spatially uniform inflow field of very low-turbulence intensity (TI = 0.23 %) and high-turbulence intensity (TI = 10.0 %), the turbines are exposed to a grid-generated highly turbulent shear flow (TI = 10.1 %).Five different research groups contributed their predictions using a variety of simulation models, ranging from fully resolved Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models to large eddy simulations (LESs). For the three inlet conditions, the power and the thrust force of the upstream turbine is predicted fairly well by most models, while the predictions of the downstream turbine's performance show a significantly higher scatter. Comparing the mean velocity profiles in the wake, most models approximate the mean velocity deficit level sufficiently well. However, larger variations between the models for higher downstream positions are observed. Prediction of the turbulence kinetic energy in the wake is observed to be very challenging. Both the LES model and the IDDES (improved delayed detached eddy simulation) model, however, consistently manage to provide fairly accurate predictions of the wake turbulence.

The maintenance of Reynolds stress in turbulent shear flow

1967 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. M. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Reynolds Stress ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
The Mean

A mechanism is proposed for the manner in which the turbulent components support Reynolds stress in turbulent shear flow. This involves a generalization of Miles's mechanism in which each of the turbulent components interacts with the mean flow to produce an increment of Reynolds stress at the ‘matched layer’ of that particular component. The summation over all the turbulent components leads to an expression for the gradient of the Reynolds stress τ(z) in the turbulence\[ \frac{d\tau}{dz} = {\cal A}\Theta\overline{w^2}\frac{d^2U}{dz^2}, \]where${\cal A}$is a number, Θ the convected integral time scale of thew-velocity fluctuations andU(z) the mean velocity profile. This is consistent with a number of experimental results, and measurements on the mixing layer of a jet indicate thatA= 0·24 in this case. In other flows, it would be expected to be of the same order, though its precise value may vary somewhat from one to another.

A unified approach for symmetries in plane parallel turbulent shear flows

2001 ◽  
Vol 427 ◽  
pp. 299-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN OBERLACK
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flows ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Law Of The Wall ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flows ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Logarithmic Law

A new theoretical approach for turbulent flows based on Lie-group analysis is presented. It unifies a large set of ‘solutions’ for the mean velocity of stationary parallel turbulent shear flows. These results are not solutions in the classical sense but instead are defined by the maximum number of possible symmetries, only restricted by the flow geometry and other external constraints. The approach is derived from the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, the fluctuation equations, and the velocity product equations, which are the dyad product of the velocity fluctuations with the equations for the velocity fluctuations. The results include the logarithmic law of the wall, an algebraic law, the viscous sublayer, the linear region in the centre of a Couette flow and in the centre of a rotating channel flow, and a new exponential mean velocity profile not previously reported that is found in the mid-wake region of high Reynolds number flat-plate boundary layers. The algebraic scaling law is confirmed in both the centre and the near-wall regions in both experimental and DNS data of turbulent channel flows. In the case of the logarithmic law of the wall, the scaling with the distance from the wall arises as a result of the analysis and has not been assumed in the derivation. All solutions are consistent with the similarity of the velocity product equations to arbitrary order. A method to derive the mean velocity profiles directly from the two-point correlation equations is shown.

scholarly journals Effect of the Flame Dome Depth and Improvement of the Pressure Loss in the Dump Diffuser

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Honami ◽  
Wataru Tsuboi ◽  
Takaaki Shizawa
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Reynolds Stress ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Sudden Expansion ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stress Profiles

This paper presents the effect of flame dome depth on the total pressure performance and flow behavior in a sudden expansion region of the combustor diffuser without flow entering the dome head. The mean velocity and turbulent Reynolds stress profiles in the sudden expansion region were measured by a Laser Doppler Velocitmetry (LDV) system. The experiments show that total pressure loss is increased, when flame dome depth is increased. Installation of an inclined combuster wall in the sudden expansion region is suggested from the viewpoint of a control of the reattaching flow. The inclined combustor wall is found to be effective in improvement of the diffuser performance. Better characteristics of the flow rate distribution into the branched channels are obtained in the inclined wall configuration, even if the distorted velocity profile is provided at the diffuser inlet.

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