scholarly journals Unsteady flow in a rotating torus after a sudden change in rotation rate

2011 ◽  
Vol 688 ◽  
pp. 88-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Hewitt ◽  
A. L. Hazel ◽  
R. J. Clarke ◽  
J. P. Denier

AbstractWe consider the temporal evolution of a viscous incompressible fluid in a torus of finite curvature; a problem first investigated by Madden & Mullin (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 265, 1994, pp. 265–217). The system is initially in a state of rigid-body rotation (about the axis of rotational symmetry) and the container’s rotation rate is then changed impulsively. We describe the transient flow that is induced at small values of the Ekman number, over a time scale that is comparable to one complete rotation of the container. We show that (rotationally symmetric) eruptive singularities (of the boundary layer) occur at the inner or outer bend of the pipe for a decrease or an increase in rotation rate respectively. Moreover, on allowing for a change in direction of rotation, there is a (negative) ratio of initial-to-final rotation frequencies for which eruptive singularities can occur at both the inner and outer bend simultaneously. We also demonstrate that the flow is susceptible to a combination of axisymmetric centrifugal and non-axisymmetric inflectional instabilities. The inflectional instability arises as a consequence of the developing eruption and is shown to be in qualitative agreement with the experimental observations of Madden & Mullin (1994). Throughout our work, detailed quantitative comparisons are made between asymptotic predictions and finite- (but small-) Ekman-number Navier–Stokes computations using a finite-element method. We find that the boundary-layer results correctly capture the (finite-Ekman-number) rotationally symmetric flow and its global stability to linearised perturbations.

Author(s):  
Talat Rafiq ◽  
M Mustafa ◽  
Junaid Ahmad Khan

This research features one parameter family of solutions representing rotationally symmetric flow of non-Newtonian fluid obeying Reiner-Rivlin model. Such flows take place over a revolving plane permeable surface through origin such that fluid at infinity also undergoes uniform rotation about the vertical axis. Heat transfer accompanied with viscous heating effect is also analyzed. A similarity solution is proposed that results into a coupled non-linear system with four unknowns. Boundary layer structure is characterized by a parameter [Formula: see text] that compares angular velocity of external flow with that of the rotating surface. Solutions are developed by a well-known package bvp4c of MATLAB for full range of [Formula: see text]. Flow pattern for different choices of [Formula: see text] is scrutinized by computing both 2 D and 3 D streamlines. It is further noted that value of suction velocity is important with regards to the sign of axial velocity component. Boundary layer suppresses considerably whenever the surface is permeable. For sufficiently high suction velocity with [Formula: see text], entire fluid undergoes rigid body rotation. In no suction case, axially upward flow accelerates for increasing values of parameter [Formula: see text] in the range [Formula: see text], whereas opposite trend is apparent in the case [Formula: see text]. Results for normalized wall shear and Nusselt number are scrutinized for various choices of embedded parameters.


1991 ◽  
Vol 230 ◽  
pp. 505-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gilham ◽  
P. C. Ivey ◽  
J. M. Owen ◽  
J. R. Pincombe

When a tube, sealed at one end and open to a quiescent environment at the other, is rotated about its axis, fluid flows from the open end along the axis towards the sealed end and returns in an annular boundary layer on the cylindrical wall. This paper describes the first known study to be made of this self-induced flow. Numerical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations are shown to be in mainly good agreement with experimental results obtained using flow visualization and laser–Doppler anemometry in a rotating glass tube.The self-induced flow in the tube can be described in terms of the length-to-radius ratio, G, and the Ekman number, E. However, for large values of G (G [ges ] 20), the flow outside the boundary layer on the endwall of the tube can be characterized by a single, modified, Ekman number, E*, where E* = GE. Although most of the fluid entering the open end of the tube is entrained into the annular (Stewartson-type) boundary layer, for small values of E* (E* < 0.2) some flow reaches the sealed end. For this so-called 'short-tube case’, the flow in the boundary layer on the endwall is shown to be similar to that associated with a disk rotating in a quiescent environment: the free disk. The self-induced flow for the short-tube case is believed to be responsible for the ’ hot-poker effect’ used, on some jet engines, to provide ice protection for the nose bullet.


2015 ◽  
Vol 772 ◽  
pp. 246-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Munro ◽  
R. E. Hewitt ◽  
M. R. Foster

We present experimental and theoretical results for the adjustment of a fluid (homogeneous or linearly stratified), which is initially rotating as a solid body with angular frequency ${\it\Omega}-{\rm\Delta}{\it\Omega}$, to a nonlinear increase ${\rm\Delta}{\it\Omega}$ in the angular frequency of all bounding surfaces. The fluid is contained in a cylinder of square cross-section which is aligned centrally along the rotation axis, and we focus on the $O(\mathit{Ro}^{-1}{\it\Omega}^{-1})$ time scale, where $\mathit{Ro}={\rm\Delta}{\it\Omega}/{\it\Omega}$ is the Rossby number. The flow development is shown to be dominated by unsteady separation of a viscous sidewall layer, leading to an eruption of vorticity that becomes trapped in the four vertical corners of the container. The longer-time evolution on the standard ‘spin-up’ time scale, $E^{-1/2}{\it\Omega}^{-1}$ (where $E$ is the associated Ekman number), has been described in detail for this geometry by Foster & Munro (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 712, 2012, pp. 7–40), but only for small changes in the container’s rotation rate (i.e. $\mathit{Ro}\ll 1$). In the linear case, for $\mathit{Ro}\ll E^{1/2}\ll 1$, there is no sidewall separation. In the present investigation we focus on the fully nonlinear problem, $\mathit{Ro}=O(1)$, for which the sidewall viscous layers are Prandtl boundary layers and (somewhat unusually) periodic around the container’s circumference. Some care is required in the corners of the container, but we show that the sidewall boundary layer breaks down (separates) shortly after an impulsive change in rotation rate. These theoretical boundary-layer results are compared with two-dimensional Navier–Stokes results which capture the eruption of vorticity, and these are in turn compared to laboratory observations and data. The experiments show that when the Burger number, $S=(N/{\it\Omega})^{2}$ (where $N$ is the buoyancy frequency), is relatively large – corresponding to a strongly stratified fluid – the flow remains (horizontally) two-dimensional on the $O(\mathit{Ro}^{-1}{\it\Omega}^{-1})$ time scale, and good quantitative predictions can be made by a two-dimensional theory. As $S$ was reduced in the experiments, three-dimensional effects were observed to become important in the core of each corner vortex, on this time scale, but only after the breakdown of the sidewall layers.


1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 789-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Borghesani

The Navier-Stokes equations for the fluid motion induced by a disk rotating inside a cylindrical cavity have been integrated for several values of the boundary layer thickness d. The equivalence of such a device to a rotating disk immersed in an infinite medium has been shown in the limit as d → 0. From that solution and taking into account edge effect corrections an equation for the viscous torque acting on the disk has been derived, which depends only on d. Moreover, these results justify the use of a rotating disk to perform accurate viscosity measurements.


1998 ◽  
Vol 371 ◽  
pp. 207-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. VITTORI ◽  
R. VERZICCO

Numerical simulations of Navier–Stokes equations are performed to study the flow originated by an oscillating pressure gradient close to a wall characterized by small imperfections. The scenario of transition from the laminar to the turbulent regime is investigated and the results are interpreted in the light of existing analytical theories. The ‘disturbed-laminar’ and the ‘intermittently turbulent’ regimes detected experimentally are reproduced by the present simulations. Moreover it is found that imperfections of the wall are of fundamental importance in causing the growth of two-dimensional disturbances which in turn trigger turbulence in the Stokes boundary layer. Finally, in the intermittently turbulent regime, a description is given of the temporal development of turbulence characteristics.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 794-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Luo ◽  
B. Lakshminarayana

The boundary layer development and convective heat transfer on transonic turbine nozzle vanes are investigated using a compressible Navier–Stokes code with three low-Reynolds-number k–ε models. The mean-flow and turbulence transport equations are integrated by a four-stage Runge–Kutta scheme. Numerical predictions are compared with the experimental data acquired at Allison Engine Company. An assessment of the performance of various turbulence models is carried out. The two modes of transition, bypass transition and separation-induced transition, are studied comparatively. Effects of blade surface pressure gradients, free-stream turbulence level, and Reynolds number on the blade boundary layer development, particularly transition onset, are examined. Predictions from a parabolic boundary layer code are included for comparison with those from the elliptic Navier–Stokes code. The present study indicates that the turbine external heat transfer, under real engine conditions, can be predicted well by the Navier–Stokes procedure with the low-Reynolds-number k–ε models employed.


1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Jang ◽  
J. A. Ekaterinaris ◽  
M. F. Platzer ◽  
T. Cebeci

Two methods are described for calculating pressure distributions and boundary layers on blades subjected to low Reynolds numbers and ramp-type motion. The first is based on an interactive scheme in which the inviscid flow is computed by a panel method and the boundary layer flow by an inverse method that makes use of the Hilbert integral to couple the solutions of the inviscid and viscous flow equations. The second method is based on the solution of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations with an embedded grid technique that permits accurate calculation of boundary layer flows. Studies for the Eppler-387 and NACA-0012 airfoils indicate that both methods can be used to calculate the behavior of unsteady blade boundary layers at low Reynolds numbers provided that the location of transition is computed with the en method and the transitional region is modeled properly.


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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document