Rotating free-shear flows. Part 2. Numerical simulations

1995 ◽  
Vol 293 ◽  
pp. 47-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Métais ◽  
Carlos Flores ◽  
Shinichiro Yanase ◽  
James J. Riley ◽  
Marcel Lesieur
Keyword(s):  
Solid Body ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Rossby Number ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Body Rotation ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Hairpin Vortices ◽  
Solid Body Rotation ◽  
Rotation Rates

The three-dimensional dynamics of the coherent vortices in periodic planar mixing layers and in wakes subjected to solid-body rotation of axis parallel to the basic vorticity are investigated through direct (DNS) and large-eddy simulations (LES). Initially, the flow is forced by a weak random perturbation superposed on the basic shear, the perturbation being either quasi-two-dimensional (forced transition) or three-dimensional (natural transition). For an initial Rossby number Ro(i), based on the vorticity at the inflexion point, of small modulus, the effect of rotation is to always make the flow more two-dimensional, whatever the sense of rotation (cyclonic or anticyclonic). This is in agreement with the Taylor–Proudman theorem. In this case, the longitudinal vortices found in forced transition without rotation are suppressed.It is shown that, in a cyclonic mixing layer, rotation inhibits the growth of three-dimensional perturbations, whatever the value of the Rossby number. This inhibition exists also in the anticyclonic case for |Ro(i)| ≤ 1. At moderate anticyclonic rotation rates (Ro(i) < −1), the flow is strongly destabilized. Maximum destabilization is achieved for |Ro(i) ≈ 2.5, in good agreement with the linear-stability analysis performed by Yanase et al. (1993). The layer is then composed of strong longitudinal alternate absolute vortex tubes which are stretched by the flow and slightly inclined with respect to the streamwise direction. The vorticity thus generated is larger than in the nonrotating case. The Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices have been suppressed. The background velocity profile exhibits a long range of nearly constant shear whose vorticity exactly compensates the solid-body rotation vorticity. This is in agreement with the phenomenological theory proposed by Lesieur, Yanase & Métais (1991). As expected, the stretching is more efficient in the LES than in the DNS.A rotating wake has one side cyclonic and the other anticyclonic. For |Ro(i)| ≤ 1, the effect of rotation is to make the wake more two-dimensional. At moderate rotation rates (|Ro(i)| > 1), the cyclonic side is composed of Kármán vortices without longitudinal hairpin vortices. Karman vortices have disappeared from the anticyclonic side, which behaves like the mixing layer, with intense longitudinal absolute hairpin vortices. Thus, a moderate rotation has produced a dramatic symmetry breaking in the wake topology. Maximum destabilization is still observed for |Ro(i)| ≈ 2.5, as in the linear theory.The paper also analyses the effect of rotation on the energy transfers between the mean flow and the two-dimensional and three-dimensional components of the field.

Secondary instability of a temporally growing mixing layer

1987 ◽  
Vol 184 ◽  
pp. 207-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph W. Metcalfe ◽  
Steven A. Orszag ◽  
Marc E. Brachet ◽  
Suresh Menon ◽  
James J. Riley
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mixing Layers ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Direct Numerical Integration

The three-dimensional stability of two-dimensional vortical states of planar mixing layers is studied by direct numerical integration of the Navier-Stokes equations. Small-scale instabilities are shown to exist for spanwise scales at which classical linear modes are stable. These modes grow on convective timescales, extract their energy from the mean flow and exist at moderately low Reynolds numbers. Their growth rates are comparable with the most rapidly growing inviscid instability and with the growth rates of two-dimensional subharmonic (pairing) modes. At high amplitudes, they can evolve into pairs of counter-rotating, streamwise vortices, connecting the primary spanwise vortices, which are very similar to the structures observed in laboratory experiments. The three-dimensional modes do not appear to saturate in quasi-steady states as do the purely two-dimensional fundamental and subharmonic modes in the absence of pairing. The subsequent evolution of the flow depends on the relative amplitudes of the pairing modes. Persistent pairings can inhibit three-dimensional instability and, hence, keep the flow predominantly two-dimensional. Conversely, suppression of the pairing process can drive the three-dimensional modes to more chaotic, turbulent-like states. An analysis of high-resolution simulations of fully turbulent mixing layers confirms the existence of rib-like structures and that their coherence depends strongly on the presence of the two-dimensional pairing modes.

On triadic resonance as an instability mechanism in precessing cylinder flow

2018 ◽  
Vol 841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Albrecht ◽  
Hugh M. Blackburn ◽  
Juan M. Lopez ◽  
Richard Manasseh ◽  
Patrice Meunier
Keyword(s):  
Solid Body ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Dynamic Mode Decomposition ◽  
Dynamic Mode ◽  
Instability Mechanism ◽  
Body Rotation ◽  
Solid Body Rotation ◽  
Successful Model ◽  
Basic States

Contained rotating flows subject to precessional forcing are well known to exhibit rapid and energetic transitions to disorder. Triadic resonance of inertial modes has been previously proposed as an instability mechanism in such flows, and that idea was developed into a successful model for predicting instability in a cylindrical container when departures from solid-body rotation are sufficiently small. Using direct numerical simulation and dynamic mode decomposition, we analyse instabilities of precessing cylinder flows whose three-dimensional basic states, steady in the gimbal frame of reference, may depart substantially from solid-body rotation. In the gimbal frame, the instability can be interpreted as resulting from a supercritical Hopf bifurcation that results in a limit-cycle flow. In the cylinder frame of reference, the basic state is a rotating wave with azimuthal wavenumber $m=1$, and the instability satisfies triadic-resonance conditions with the instability mode maintaining a fixed orientation with respect to the basic state. Thus, we are able to demonstrate the existence of two alternative but congruent explanations for the instability. Additionally, we show that basic states may depart substantially from solid-body rotation even with modest cylinder tilt angles, and growth rates for instabilities may be sufficiently large that nonlinear saturation to disordered states can occur within approximately ten cylinder revolutions, in agreement with experimental observations.

Three-dimensional instabilities and inertial waves in a rapidly rotating split-cylinder flow

2016 ◽  
Vol 800 ◽  
pp. 666-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan M. Lopez ◽  
Paloma Gutierrez-Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Solid Body ◽  
Differential Rotation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Side Wall ◽  
Wall Layer ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Body Rotation ◽  
Rotating Waves ◽  
Solid Body Rotation ◽  
Inertial Wave

The nonlinear dynamics of the flow in a differentially rotating split cylinder is investigated numerically. The differential rotation, with the top half of the cylinder rotating faster than the bottom half, establishes a basic state consisting of a bulk flow that is essentially in solid-body rotation at the mean rotation rate of the cylinder and boundary layers where the bulk flow adjusts to the differential rotation of the cylinder halves, which drives a strong meridional flow. There are Ekman-like layers on the top and bottom end walls, and a Stewartson-like side wall layer with a strong downward axial flow component. The complicated bottom corner region, where the downward flow in the side wall layer decelerates and negotiates the corner, is the epicentre of a variety of instabilities associated with the local shear and curvature of the flow, both of which are very non-uniform. Families of both high and low azimuthal wavenumber rotating waves bifurcate from the basic state in Eckhaus bands, but the most prominent states found near onset are quasiperiodic states corresponding to mixed modes of the high and low azimuthal wavenumber rotating waves. The frequencies associated with most of these unsteady three-dimensional states are such that spiral inertial wave beams are emitted from the bottom corner region into the bulk, along cones at angles that are well predicted by the inertial wave dispersion relation, driving the bulk flow away from solid-body rotation.

Inviscid spatial stability of a three-dimensional compressible mixing layer

1991 ◽  
Vol 231 ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Grosch ◽  
T. L. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Dimensional Stability ◽  
Stability Problem ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Compressible Mixing Layer ◽  
Spatial Stability ◽  
Family Of Curves ◽  
The Stability

We present the results of a study of the inviscid spatial stability of a parallel three-dimensional compressible mixing layer. The parameters of this study are the Mach number of the fast stream, the ratio of the speed of the slow stream to that of the fast stream, the ratio of the temperature of the slow stream to that of the fast stream, the direction of the crossflow in the fast stream, the frequency, and the direction of propagation of the disturbance wave. Stability characteristics of the flow as a function of these parameters are given. Certain theoretical results are presented which show the interrelations between these parameters and their effects on the stability characteristics. In particular, the three-dimensional stability problem for a three-dimensional mixing layer at Mach zero can be transformed to a two-dimensional stability problem for an equivalent two-dimensional mean flow. There exists a one-parameter family of curves such that for any given direction of mean flow and of wave propagation one can apply this transformation and obtain the growth rate from the universal curves. For supersonic couvective Mach numbers, certain combinations of crossflow angle and propagation angle of the disturbance can increase the growth rates by a factor of about two. and thus enhance mixing.

The Tidal Problem for Simple Circulations

1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 223-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlev Müller
Keyword(s):  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Solid Body ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Body Rotation ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Tropical Ocean ◽  
Solid Body Rotation ◽  
Tidal Theory ◽  
Low Frequency Waves

Simple wave-circulation systems on the rotating spherical surface are considered in the framework of Laplace's tidal theory. For solid body rotation of the shallow 1-layer system the comparison of tidal theory and β-plane concepts shows that Matsuno's approach provides a consistent approximation for divergent low-frequency waves, while the midlatitude β-plane captures fewer aspects of the system. Tidal theory suggests an alternative formalism for extratropical low-frequency waves. The geography of wave activity depends on internal physics of the circulation: on a mean flow with constant layer thickness low-frequency waves populate an equatorial belt, while a hydrostatically driven eastward mean flow with varying layer thickness confines divergence-free Rossby waves to the extratropics. Effects of stratification and vertical shear are considered for solid body rotation of bishallow water with constant layer thickness. Rotation and mean flow stabilize against Kelvin–Helmholtz instability and the equatorial Kelvin wave is the most unstable mode of this flow. However, observed vertical shears in the tropical ocean remain well below the instability threshold. Baroclinic instability does not occur. Wave geography and stability characteristics of this system capture major features of the oceanic large-scale circulation.

Oval Flow Mode Between Two Corotating Disks With Stationary Shroud

2014 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching Min Hsu ◽  
Jia-Kun Chen ◽  
Min Kai Hsieh ◽  
Rong Fung Huang
Keyword(s):  
Flow Structure ◽  
Solid Body ◽  
Circumferential Velocity ◽  
Body Rotation ◽  
Flow Core ◽  
Core Flow ◽  
Node Point ◽  
Solid Body Rotation ◽  
Characteristic Flow ◽  
Buffer Region

The characteristic flow behavior, time-averaged velocity distributions, phase-resolved ensemble-averaged velocity profiles, and turbulence properties of the flow in the interdisk midplane between shrouded two corotating disks at the interdisk spacing to disk radius aspect ratio 0.2 and rotation Reynolds number 3.01 × 105 were experimentally studied by flow visualization method and particle image velocimetry (PIV). An oval core flow structure rotating at a frequency 60% of the disks rotating frequency was observed. Based on the analysis of relative velocities, the flow in the region outside the oval core flow structure consisted of two large vortex rings, which move circumferentially with the rotation motion of the oval flow core. Four characteristic flow regions—solid-body-rotation-like region, buffer region, vortex region, and shroud-influenced region—were identified in the flow field. The solid-body-rotation-like region, which was featured by its linear distribution of circumferential velocity and negligibly small radial velocity, was located within the inscribing radius of the oval flow core. The vortex region was located outside the circumscribing radius of the oval flow core. The buffer region existed between the solid-body-rotation-like region and the vortex region. In the buffer region, there existed a “node” point that the propagating circumferential velocity waves diminished. The circumferential random fluctuation intensity presented minimum values at the node point and high values in the solid-body-rotation-like region and shroud-influenced region due to the shear effect induced by the wall.

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