scholarly journals A Numerical Study of the Influence of Channel-Scale Secondary Circulation on Mixing Processes Downstream of River Junctions

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2969
Author(s):  
Tatyana P. Lyubimova ◽  
Anatoly P. Lepikhin ◽  
Yanina N. Parshakova ◽  
Vadim Y. Kolchanov ◽  
Carlo Gualtieri ◽  
...  

A rapid downstream weakening of the processes that drive the intensity of transverse mixing at the confluence of large rivers has been identified in the literature and attributed to the progressive reduction in channel scale secondary circulation and shear-driven mixing with distance downstream from the junction. These processes are investigated in this paper using a three-dimensional computation of the Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes equations combined with a Reynolds stress turbulence model for the confluence of the Kama and Vishera rivers in the Russian Urals. Simulations were carried out for three different configurations: an idealized planform with a rectangular cross-section (R), the natural planform with a rectangular cross-section (P), and the natural planform with the measured bathymetry (N), each one for three different discharge ratios. Results show that in the idealized configuration (R), the initial vortices that form due to channel-scale pressure gradients decline rapidly with distance downstream. Mixing is slow and incomplete at more than 10 multiples of channel width downstream from the junction corner. However, when the natural planform and bathymetry are introduced (N), rates of mixing increase dramatically at the junction corner and are maintained with distance downstream. Comparison with the P case suggests that it is the bathymetry that drives the most rapid mixing and notably when the discharge ratio is such that a single channel-scale vortex develops aided by curvature in the post junction channel. This effect is strongest when the discharge of the tributary that has the same direction of curvature as the post junction channel is greatest. A comprehensive set of field data are required to test this conclusion. If it holds, theoretical models of mixing processes in rivers will need to take into account the effects of bathymetry upon the interaction between river discharge ratio, secondary circulation development, and mixing rates.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana Lyubimova ◽  
Anatoly Lepikhin ◽  
Yanina Parshakova ◽  
Carlo Gualtieri ◽  
Bernard Roux ◽  
...  

<p>Confluences are common components of all riverine systems, and are characterized by converging flow streamlines and mixing of separate flows, which can take some significant distance to be complete. Whilst turbulent diffusion and Taylor dispersion are expected to affect mixing in any open channel flow, the analysis of mixing at river confluences should also consider some peculiar processes, which could be divided between near-field processes and far-field processes. The former, which have been well studied, are those operating at the junction itself and lead to rapid mixing only if some form of asymmetry (geometry, discordance, momentum, density difference) between the tributaries exists. The latter are advective processes, such as secondary circulation, that can enhance mixing to degrees greater than those associated with turbulent diffusion or Taylor dispersion combined. These processes, which have received less attention, were investigated using a three-dimensional computation of the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations combined with a Reynolds stress turbulence model for the confluence of the Kama river and Vishera rivers in the Russian Urals. To test the hypothesis that far-field mixing can be both enhanced and reduced by the type of secondary circulation that develops, numerical simulations on an idealized configuration (rectangular channel with no curvature) and on the real configuration with the natural planform and/or bathymetry were carried out to isolate the relative impacts of real planform and bathymetry on secondary circulation and mixing for different combinations of momentum/discharge ratio. Results show that if the rivers are represented as an idealized junction, the initial vortices that form due to channel-scale pressure gradients decline rapidly with distance downstream. Mixing is slow and incomplete at more than 10 multiples of channel width downstream from the junction corner. On the other side, if the real configuration is introduced, rates of mixing increase dramatically. This is related to both increase intensity of secondary circulation at the junction and the formation of a single channel-scale vortex downstream of the junction. The latter appears to be aided by curvature of the post-junction channel. This effect is strongest when the discharge of the tributary that has the same direction of curvature as the post junction channel is greatest.</p><p>The study was performed under financial support of the Government of Perm Krai (grant C 26/788) and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant 19-41-590013).</p>


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Fellouah ◽  
C. Castelain ◽  
A. Ould El Moctar ◽  
H. Peerhossaini

We present a numerical study of Dean instability for non-Newtonian fluids in a laminar 180deg curved-channel flow of rectangular cross section. A methodology based on the Papanastasiou model (Papanastasiou, T. C., 1987, J. Rheol., 31(5), pp. 385–404) was developed to take into account the Bingham-type rheological behavior. After validation of the numerical methodology, simulations were carried out (using FLUENT CFD code) for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in curved channels of square or rectangular cross section and for a large aspect and curvature ratios. A criterion based on the axial velocity gradient was defined to detect the instability threshold. This criterion was used to optimize the grid geometry. The effects of curvature and aspect ratio on the Dean instability are studied for all fluids, Newtonian and non-Newtonian. In particular, we show that the critical value of the Dean number decreases with increasing curvature ratio. The variation of the critical Dean number with aspect ratio is less regular. The results are compared to those for Newtonian fluids to emphasize the effect of the power-law index and the Bingham number. The onset of Dean instability is delayed with increasing power-law index. The same delay is observed in Bingham fluids when the Bingham number is increased.


2012 ◽  
Vol 229-231 ◽  
pp. 1120-1124
Author(s):  
Sajjad Dehghanpour ◽  
Sobhan Dehghanpour

Impact is one of very important subjects which always have been considered in mechanical science. Nature of impact is such that which makes its control a hard task. Therefore it is required to present the transfer of impact to other vulnerable part of a structure, when it is necessary, one of the best method of absorbing energy of impact , is by using Thin-walled tubes these tubes collapses under impact and with absorption of energy, it prevents the damage to other parts. Purpose of recent study is to survey the deformation and energy absorption of tubes with different type of cross section (rectangular or square) and with similar volumes, height, mean cross section, and material under loading. Lateral loading of tubes are quasi-static type and beside as numerical analysis, also experimental experiences has been performed to evaluate the accuracy of the results. Results from the surveys is indicates that in a same conditions which mentioned above, samples with square cross section ,absorb more energy compare to rectangular cross section, and also by increscent in thickness, energy absorption would be more.


1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Yee ◽  
R. Chilukuri ◽  
J. A. C. Humphrey

A numerical study of heat transfer in 90 deg, constant cross section curved duct, steady, laminar, flow is presented. The work is aimed primarily at characterizing the effects on heat transfer of duct geometry and entrance conditions of velocity and temperature by considering, especially, the role of secondary motions during the developing period of the flow. Calculations are based on fully elliptic forms of the transport equations governing the flow. They are of engineering value and are limited in accuracy only by the degree of computational mesh refinement. A comparison with calculations based on parabolic equations shows how the latter can lead to erroneous results for strongly curved flows. Buoyant effects are excluded from the present study so that, strictly, the results apply to heat transfer flows in the absence of gravitational forces such as arise in spacecraft.


2002 ◽  
Vol 470 ◽  
pp. 91-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW L. HAZEL ◽  
MATTHIAS HEIL

This paper investigates the propagation of an air finger into a fluid-filled, axially uniform tube of elliptical or rectangular cross-section with transverse length scale a and aspect ratio α. Gravity is assumed to act parallel to the tube's axis. The problem is studied numerically by a finite-element-based direct solution of the free-surface Stokes equations.In rectangular tubes, our results for the pressure drop across the bubble tip, Δp, are in good agreement with the asymptotic predictions of Wong et al. (1995b) at low values of the capillary number, Ca (ratio of viscous to surface-tension forces). At larger Ca, Wong et al.'s (1995b) predictions are found to underestimate Δp. In both elliptical and rectangular tubes, the ratio Δp(α)/Δp(α = 1) is approximately independent of Ca and thus equal to the ratio of the static meniscus curvatures.In non-axisymmetric tubes, the air-liquid interface develops a noticeable asymmetry near the bubble tip at all values of the capillary number. The tip asymmetry decays with increasing distance from the bubble tip, but the decay rate becomes very small as Ca increases. For example, in a rectangular tube with α = 1.5, when Ca = 10, the maximum and minimum finger radii still differ by more than 10% at a distance 100a behind the finger tip. At large Ca the air finger ultimately becomes axisymmetric with radius r∞. In this regime, we find that r∞ in elliptical and rectangular tubes is related to r∞ in circular and square tubes, respectively, by a simple, empirical scaling law. The scaling has the physical interpretation that for rectangular and elliptical tubes of a given cross-sectional area, the propagation speed of an air finger, which is driven by the injection of air at a constant volumetric rate, is independent of the tube's aspect ratio.For smaller Ca (Ca < Ca), the air finger is always non-axisymmetric and the persisting draining flows in the thin film regions far behind the bubble tip ultimately lead to dry regions on the tube wall. Ca increases with increasing α and for α > αˆ dry spots will develop on the tube walls at all values of Ca.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document