Analysis and direct numerical simulation of the flow at a gravity-current head. Part 1. Flow topology and front speed for slip and no-slip boundaries

2000 ◽  
Vol 418 ◽  
pp. 189-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLOS HÄRTEL ◽  
ECKART MEIBURG ◽  
FRIEDER NECKER

Direct numerical simulations are performed of gravity-current fronts in the lock-exchange configuration. The case of small density differences is considered, where the Boussinesq approximations can be adopted. The key objective of the investigation is a detailed analysis of the flow structure at the foremost part of the front, where no previous high-resolution data were available. For the simulations, high-order numerical methods are used, based on spectral and spectral-element discretizations and compact finite differences. A three-dimensional simulation is conducted of a front spreading along a no-slip boundary at a Reynolds number of about 750. The simulation exhibits all features typically observed in experimental flows near the gravity-current head, including the lobe-and-cleft structure at the leading edge. The results reveal that the flow topology at the head differs from what has been assumed previously, in that the foremost point is not a stagnation point in a translating system. Rather, the stagnation point is located below and slightly behind the foremost point in the vicinity of the wall. The relevance of this finding for the mechanism behind the lobe-and-cleft instability is discussed. In order to explore the high-Reynolds-number regime, and to assess potential Reynolds-number effects, two-dimensional simulations are conducted for Reynolds numbers up to about 30 000, for both no-slip and slip (i.e. shear-stress free) boundaries. It is shown that although quantitative Reynolds-number effects persist over the whole range examined, no qualitative changes in the flow structure at the head can be observed. A comparison of the two-dimensional results with laboratory data and the three-dimensional simulation provides evidence that a two-dimensional model is able to capture essential features of the flow at the head. The simulations also show that for the free-slip case the shape of the head agrees closely with the classical inviscid theory of Benjamin.

2014 ◽  
Vol 761 ◽  
pp. 360-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Arthur ◽  
Oliver B. Fringer

AbstractUsing direct numerical simulations (DNS), we investigate the structure and energetics of breaking internal waves on slopes. We employ a Navier–Stokes code in an idealized three-dimensional domain where an internal solitary wave of depression impinges upon a sloping bottom. Seven cases with varying initial wave amplitude and bathymetric slope, but constant wave Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}_{w}$ are considered. Volume-integrated values of dissipation and irreversible mixing are related to the density and velocity structure of the wave throughout the breaking process. The majority of dissipation (63 %) occurs along the no-slip bottom boundary. Most of the remaining dissipation (35 %) and nearly all irreversible mixing occurs in the interior after breaking, when density overturns are present at the interface. Breaking introduces three-dimensionality to the flow field that is driven by the lateral breakdown of density overturns and the lobe–cleft instability typical of gravity currents. The resulting longitudinal rolls (streamwise vorticity) increase dissipation by roughly 8 % and decrease irreversible mixing by roughly 20 % when compared with a similar two-dimensional simulation. The bulk mixing efficiency is shown to increase for larger and smaller values of the internal Iribarren number ${\it\xi}$, with a minimum for intermediate values of ${\it\xi}$ and a peak near ${\it\xi}=0.8$ for plunging breakers. This trend is explained by the degree of two-dimensionality in the flow, and agrees with previous results in the literature after accounting for Reynolds number effects. Local turbulence quantities are also calculated at ‘virtual moorings’, and a location upslope of the breakpoint but downslope of the intersection of the pycnocline and the bottom is shown to provide a signal that is most representative of the volume-integrated dissipation and mixing results.


2009 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. 65-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. GONZALEZ-JUEZ ◽  
E. MEIBURG ◽  
G. CONSTANTINESCU

The unsteady drag and lift generated by the interaction of a gravity current with a bottom-mounted square cylinder are investigated by means of high-resolution Navier–Stokes simulations. Two-dimensional simulations for Reynolds numbers (Re) O(1000) and three-dimensional simulations for Re = O(10000) demonstrate that the drag coefficient increases exponentially towards a maximum as the current meets the cylinder, then undergoes strong fluctuations and eventually approaches a quasi-steady value. The simulation results show that the maximum drag coefficient can reach a value of 3, with the quasi-steady value being O(1), which should aid in selecting a design drag coefficient for submarine structures under the potential impact of gravity currents. The transient drag and lift fluctuations after impact are associated with the Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices in the mixing layer between the gravity current and the ambient fluid. As these vortices pass over the cylinder, they cause the convection of separated flow regions along the bottom wall towards the cylinder. In two-dimensional simulations at Re = O(10000), these flow structures are seen to be unrealistically coherent and to persist throughout the interaction, thus resulting in a noticeable overprediction of the drag and lift fluctuations. On the other hand, the impact of the current on the cylinder is seen to be very well captured by two-dimensional simulations at all Re values. Three-dimensional simulations lead to excellent agreement with available experimental data throughout the flow/structure interaction. They show that the spanwise variation of the drag is determined by the gravity current's lobe-and-cleft structure at impact and by an unsteady cellular flow structure similar to that found in constant-density flows at later times. A comparison between gravity-current flows and corresponding constant-density flows shows the hydrostatic drag component to be important for gravity currents.


1995 ◽  
Vol 291 ◽  
pp. 369-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald D. Joslin

The spatial evolution of three-dimensional disturbances in an attachment-line boundary layer is computed by direct numerical simulation of the unsteady, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Disturbances are introduced into the boundary layer by harmonic sources that involve unsteady suction and blowing through the wall. Various harmonic-source generators are implemented on or near the attachment line, and the disturbance evolutions are compared. Previous two-dimensional simulation results and nonparallel theory are compared with the present results. The three-dimensional simulation results for disturbances with quasi-two-dimensional features indicate growth rates of only a few percent larger than pure two-dimensional results; however, the results are close enough to enable the use of the more computationally efficient, two-dimensional approach. However, true three-dimensional disturbances are more likely in practice and are more stable than two-dimensional disturbances. Disturbances generated off (but near) the attachment line spread both away from and toward the attachment line as they evolve. The evolution pattern is comparable to wave packets in flat-plate boundary-layer flows. Suction stabilizes the quasi-two-dimensional attachment-line instabilities, and blowing destabilizes these instabilities; these results qualitatively agree with the theory. Furthermore, suction stabilizes the disturbances that develop off the attachment line. Clearly, disturbances that are generated near the attachment line can supply energy to attachment-line instabilities, but suction can be used to stabilize these instabilities.


Author(s):  
Francine Battaglia ◽  
George Papadopoulos

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.


1996 ◽  
Vol 328 ◽  
pp. 19-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. L. Roberts ◽  
M. R. Mackley

We report experimental and numerical observations on the way initially symmetric and time-periodic fluid oscillations in baffled channels develop in complexity. Experiments are carried out in a spatially periodic baffled channel with a sinusoidal oscillatory flow. At modest Reynolds number the observed vortex structure is symmetric and time periodic. At higher values the flow progressively becomes three-dimensional, asymmetric and aperiodic. A two-dimensional simulation of incompressible Newtonian flow is able to follow the flow pattern at modest oscillatory Reynolds number. At higher values we report the development of both asymmetry and a period-doubling cascade leading to a chaotic flow regime. A bifurcation diagram is constructed that can describe the progressive increase in complexity of the flow.


Author(s):  
Bruno S. Carmo ◽  
Rafael S. Gioria ◽  
Ivan Korkischko ◽  
Cesar M. Freire ◽  
Julio R. Meneghini

Two- and three-dimensional simulations of the flow around straked cylinders are presented. For the two-dimensional simulations we used the Spectral/hp Element Method, and carried out simulations for five different angles of rotation of the cylinder with respect to the free stream. Fixed and elastically-mounted cylinders were tested, and the Reynolds number was kept constant and equal to 150. The results were compared to those obtained from the simulation of the flow around a bare cylinder under the same conditions. We observed that the two-dimensional strakes are not effective in suppressing the vibration of the cylinders, but also noticed that the responses were completely different even with a slight change in the angle of rotation of the body. The three-dimensional results showed that there are two mechanisms of suppression: the main one is the decrease in the vortex shedding correlation along the span, whilst a secondary one is the vortex wake formation farther downstream.


2013 ◽  
Vol 735 ◽  
pp. 307-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
C. Lopez ◽  
O. Probst ◽  
G. Francisco ◽  
D. Askari ◽  
...  

AbstractFlow past a circular cylinder executing sinusoidal rotary oscillations about its own axis is studied experimentally. The experiments are carried out at a Reynolds number of 185, oscillation amplitudes varying from $\mathrm{\pi} / 8$ to $\mathrm{\pi} $, and at non-dimensional forcing frequencies (ratio of the cylinder oscillation frequency to the vortex-shedding frequency from a stationary cylinder) varying from 0 to 5. The diagnostic is performed by extensive flow visualization using the hydrogen bubble technique, hot-wire anemometry and particle-image velocimetry. The wake structures are related to the velocity spectra at various forcing parameters and downstream distances. It is found that the phenomenon of lock-on occurs in a forcing frequency range which depends not only on the amplitude of oscillation but also the downstream location from the cylinder. The experimentally measured lock-on diagram in the forcing amplitude and frequency plane at various downstream locations ranging from 2 to 23 diameters is presented. The far-field wake decouples, after the lock-on at higher forcing frequencies and behaves more like a regular Bénard–von Kármán vortex street from a stationary cylinder with vortex-shedding frequency mostly lower than that from a stationary cylinder. The dependence of circulation values of the shed vortices on the forcing frequency reveals a decay character independent of forcing amplitude beyond forcing frequency of ${\sim }1. 0$ and a scaling behaviour with forcing amplitude at forcing frequencies ${\leq }1. 0$. The flow visualizations reveal that the far-field wake becomes two-dimensional (planar) near the forcing frequencies where the circulation of the shed vortices becomes maximum and strong three-dimensional flow is generated as mode shape changes in certain forcing parameter conditions. It is also found from flow visualizations that even at higher Reynolds number of 400, forcing the cylinder at forcing amplitudes of $\mathrm{\pi} / 4$ and $\mathrm{\pi} / 2$ can make the flow field two-dimensional at forcing frequencies greater than ${\sim }2. 5$.


Open Physics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Dawid Wajnert ◽  
Bronisław Tomczuk

AbstractThis paper presents two mathematical models for temperature field analysis in a new hybrid magnetic bearing. Temperature distributions have been calculated using a three dimensional simulation and a two dimensional one. A physical model for temperature testing in the magnetic bearing has been developed. Some results obtained from computer simulations were compared with measurements.


1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Nash ◽  
R. R. Tseng

SummaryThis paper presents the results of some calculations of the incompressible turbulent boundary layer on an infinite yawed wing. A discussion is made of the effects of increasing lift coefficient, and increasing Reynolds number, on the displacement thickness, and on the magnitude and direction of the skin friction. The effects of the state of the boundary layer (laminar or turbulent) along the attachment line are also considered.A study is made to determine whether the behaviour of the boundary layer can adequately be predicted by a two-dimensional calculation. It is concluded that there is no simple way to do this (as is provided, in the laminar case, by the principle of independence). However, with some modification, a two-dimensional calculation can be made to give an acceptable numerical representation of the chordwise components of the flow.


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