Numerical investigation of transitional and weak turbulent flow past a sphere

2000 ◽  
Vol 416 ◽  
pp. 45-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANANIAS G. TOMBOULIDES ◽  
STEVEN A. ORSZAG
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Cylindrical Coordinates ◽  
Efficient Treatment ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Planar Symmetry ◽  
Flow Past A Sphere

This work reports results of numerical simulations of viscous incompressible flow past a sphere. The primary objective is to identify transitions that occur with increasing Reynolds number, as well as their underlying physical mechanisms. The numerical method used is a mixed spectral element/Fourier spectral method developed for applications involving both Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates. In cylindrical coordinates, a formulation, based on special Jacobi-type polynomials, is used close to the axis of symmetry for the efficient treatment of the ‘pole’ problem. Spectral convergence and accuracy of the numerical formulation are verified. Many of the computations reported here were performed on parallel computers. It was found that the first transition of the flow past a sphere is a linear one and leads to a three-dimensional steady flow field with planar symmetry, i.e. it is of the ‘exchange of stability’ type, consistent with experimental observations on falling spheres and linear stability analysis results. The second transition leads to a single-frequency periodic flow with vortex shedding, which maintains the planar symmetry observed at lower Reynolds number. As the Reynolds number increases further, the planar symmetry is lost and the flow reaches a chaotic state. Small scales are first introduced in the flow by Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of the separating cylindrical shear layer; this shear layer instability is present even after the wake is rendered turbulent.

Direct numerical simulation of stratified flow past a sphere at a subcritical Reynolds number of 3700 and moderate Froude number

2017 ◽  
Vol 826 ◽  
pp. 5-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anikesh Pal ◽  
Sutanu Sarkar ◽  
Antonio Posa ◽  
Elias Balaras
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulation ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Recirculation Zone ◽  
Near Wake ◽  
Separated Shear Layer ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Lee Wave ◽  
Flow Past A Sphere

Direct numerical simulation of flow past a sphere in a stratified fluid is carried out at a subcritical Reynolds number of 3700 and $Fr=U_{\infty }/ND=1,2$ and 3 to understand the dynamics of moderately stratified flows with $Fr=O(1)$. Here, $U_{\infty }$ is the free stream velocity, $N$ is the background buoyancy frequency and $D$ is the sphere diameter. The unstratified flow past the sphere consists of a separated shear layer that transitions to turbulence, a recirculation zone and a wake with a mean centreline deficit velocity, $U_{0}$, that decreases with downstream distance as a power law. With increasing stratification, the separated shear layer plunges inward vertically and its roll up is inhibited, the recirculation zone is shortened and the mean wake decays at a slower rate of $U_{0}\propto (x_{1}/D)^{-0.25}$ in the non-equilibrium (NEQ) region. The transition from the near wake where $U_{0}$ has a decay rate similar to the unstratified case to the NEQ regime occurs as an oscillatory modulation by a steady lee wave pattern with a period of $t=2\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}/N$ that leads to accelerated $U_{0}$ between $Nt=\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}$ and approximately $Nt=2\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}$. Far downstream, the wake is dominated by coherent horizontal motions. The acceleration of $U_{0}$ by the lee wave and the lower turbulence production in the NEQ regime, thereby less loss to turbulence, prolongs the lifetime of the wake relative to its unstratified counterpart. The intensity, temporal spectra and structure of turbulent fluctuations in the wake are assessed. Buoyancy induces significant anisotropy among the velocity components and between their vertical and horizontal profiles. Consequently, the near wake ($x_{1}/D<10$) exhibits significant differences in turbulence profiles relative to its unstratified counterpart. Spectra of vertical velocity show a discrete peak in the near wake that is maintained further downstream. The turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) balance is computed and contributions from pressure transport and buoyancy are found to become increasingly important as stratification increases. The findings of this investigation will be helpful in designing accurate initial conditions for the temporally evolving model of stratified wakes.

scholarly journals Linear stability and weakly nonlinear analysis of the flow past rotating spheres

2016 ◽  
Vol 807 ◽  
pp. 62-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Citro ◽  
J. Tchoufag ◽  
D. Fabre ◽  
F. Giannetti ◽  
P. Luchini
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Navier Stokes Equation ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Rotating Sphere ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Planar Symmetry ◽  
Flow Past A Sphere

We study the flow past a sphere rotating in the transverse direction with respect to the incoming uniform flow, and particularly consider the stability features of the wake as a function of the Reynolds number $Re$ and the sphere dimensionless rotation rate $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$. Direct numerical simulations and three-dimensional global stability analyses are performed in the ranges $150\leqslant \mathit{Re}\leqslant 300$ and $0\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}\leqslant 1.2$. We first describe the base flow, computed as the steady solution of the Navier–Stokes equation, with special attention to the structure of the recirculating region and to the lift force exerted on the sphere. The stability analysis of this base flow shows the existence of two different unstable modes, which occur in different regions of the $Re/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$ parameter plane. Mode I, which exists for weak rotations ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}<0.4$), is similar to the unsteady mode existing for a non-rotating sphere. Mode II, which exists for larger rotations ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}>0.7$), is characterized by a larger frequency. Both modes preserve the planar symmetry of the base flow. We detail the structure of these eigenmodes, as well as their structural sensitivity, using adjoint methods. Considering small rotations, we then compare the numerical results with those obtained using weakly nonlinear approaches. We show that the steady bifurcation occurring for $Re>212$ for a non-rotating sphere is changed into an imperfect bifurcation, unveiling the existence of two other base-flow solutions which are always unstable.

Regeneration of turbulent fluctuations in low-Froude-number flow over a sphere at a Reynolds number of 3700

2016 ◽  
Vol 804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anikesh Pal ◽  
Sutanu Sarkar ◽  
Antonio Posa ◽  
Elias Balaras
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Froude Number ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Turbulence Energy ◽  
Horizontal Shear ◽  
Near Wake ◽  
Turbulent Fluctuations ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Low Froude Number ◽  
Flow Past A Sphere

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed to study the behaviour of flow past a sphere in the regime of high stratification (low Froude number $Fr$). In contrast to previous results at lower Reynolds numbers, which suggest monotone suppression of turbulence with increasing stratification in flow past a sphere, it is found that, below a critical $Fr$, increasing the stratification induces unsteady vortical motion and turbulent fluctuations in the near wake. The near wake is quantified by computing the energy spectra, the turbulence energy equation, the partition of energy into horizontal and vertical components, and the buoyancy Reynolds number. These diagnostics show that the stabilizing effect of buoyancy changes flow over the sphere to flow around the sphere. This qualitative change in the flow leads to a new regime of unsteady vortex shedding in the horizontal planes and intensified horizontal shear which result in turbulence regeneration.

Flow past a rotationally oscillating cylinder

2013 ◽  
Vol 735 ◽  
pp. 307-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
C. Lopez ◽  
O. Probst ◽  
G. Francisco ◽  
D. Askari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Vortex Shedding ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Far Field ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Vortex Shedding Frequency ◽  
Shedding Frequency ◽  
Flow Visualizations ◽  
Hydrogen Bubble Technique

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 ${\sim }2. 5$.

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.

scholarly journals The PIV study of air flow past the counter-swirler 53983

2018 ◽  
Vol 168 ◽  
pp. 05004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Duda
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Particle Image Velocimetry ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Particle Image ◽  
Contact Region ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Swirling Jets ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Image Velocimetry ◽  
Band Pass

PIV (particle image velocimetry) measurement of the air flow past a counter-swirler 53983 (anticlockwise swirler surrounded by clockwise swirler) is performed. The measurement is focused to an area at the boundary between the inner swirling jet and the outer one rotating oppositely. The Reynolds number Re based on the inner swirler diameter ranged form 1.2·103 to 2.1·104. By using band pass filtering the shear layer and vortices in the contact region between counter-swirling jets is highlighted. The shear layer between these regions shortens and decays into vortices as Reynolds number increases.

On the flow past a sphere at low Reynolds number

1969 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 751-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Chester ◽  
D. R. Breach ◽  
Ian Proudman
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Viscous Fluid ◽  
Low Reynolds Number ◽  
Incompressible Viscous Fluid ◽  
Euler’S Constant ◽  
Stokes Drag ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Low Reynolds ◽  
Euler's Constant ◽  
Flow Past A Sphere

The flow of an incompressible, viscous fluid past a sphere is considered for small values of the Reynolds number. In particular the drag is found to be given by \[ D = D_s\{1+{\textstyle\frac{3}{8}}R+{\textstyle\frac{9}{40}}R^2(\log R+\gamma + {\textstyle\frac{5}{3}}\log 2 - {\textstyle\frac{323}{360}})+{\textstyle\frac{27}{80}}R^3\log R+O(R^3)\}, \] where Ds is the Stokes drag, R is the Reynolds number and γ is Euler's constant.

scholarly journals Large-eddy simulation of the compressible flow past a wavy cylinder

2010 ◽  
Vol 665 ◽  
pp. 238-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHANG-YUE XU ◽  
LI-WEI CHEN ◽  
XI-YUN LU
Keyword(s):  
Circular Cylinder ◽  
Drag Reduction ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Compressible Flow ◽  
Passive Control ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Separated Shear Layer ◽  
Flow Past ◽  
Cylinder Flow

Numerical investigation of the compressible flow past a wavy cylinder was carried out using large-eddy simulation for a free-stream Mach number M∞ = 0.75 and a Reynolds number based on the mean diameter Re = 2 × 105. The flow past a corresponding circular cylinder was also calculated for comparison and validation against experimental data. Various fundamental mechanisms dictating the intricate flow phenomena, including drag reduction and fluctuating force suppression, shock and shocklet elimination, and three-dimensional separation and separated shear-layer instability, have been studied systematically. Because of the passive control of the flow over a wavy cylinder, the mean drag coefficient of the wavy cylinder is less than that of the circular cylinder with a drag reduction up to 26%, and the fluctuating force coefficients are significantly suppressed to be nearly zero. The vortical structures near the base region of the wavy cylinder are much less vigorous than those of the circular cylinder. The three-dimensional shear-layer shed from the wavy cylinder is more stable than that from the circular cylinder. The vortex roll up of the shear layer from the wavy cylinder is delayed to a further downstream location, leading to a higher-base-pressure distribution. The spanwise pressure gradient and the baroclinic effect play an important role in generating an oblique vortical perturbation at the separated shear layer, which may moderate the increase of the fluctuations at the shear layer and reduce the growth rate of the shear layer. The analysis of the convective Mach number indicates that the instability processes in the shear-layer evolution are derived from oblique modes and bi-dimensional instability modes and their competition. The two-layer structures of the shear layer are captured using the instantaneous Lamb vector divergence, and the underlying dynamical processes associated with the drag reduction are clarified. Moreover, some phenomena relevant to the compressible effect, such as shock waves, shocklets and shock/turbulence interaction, are analysed. It is found that the shocks and shocklets which exist in the circular cylinder flow are eliminated for the wavy cylinder flow and the wavy surface provides an effective way of shock control. As the shock/turbulence interaction is avoided, a significant drop of the turbulent fluctuations around the wavy cylinder occurs. The results obtained in this study provide physical insight into the understanding of the mechanisms relevant to the passive control of the compressible flow past a wavy surface.

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