Gravity currents propagating into shear

2015 ◽  
Vol 778 ◽  
pp. 552-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Nasr-Azadani ◽  
E. Meiburg
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Steady State ◽  
High Reynolds Number ◽  
Gravity Current ◽  
Gravity Currents ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Channel Height ◽  
High Reynolds ◽  
The Given

An analytical vorticity-based model is introduced for steady-state inviscid Boussinesq gravity currents in sheared ambients. The model enforces the conservation of mass and horizontal and vertical momentum, and it does not require any empirical closure assumptions. As a function of the given gravity current height, upstream ambient shear and upstream ambient layer thicknesses, the model predicts the current velocity as well as the downstream ambient layer thicknesses and velocities. In particular, it predicts the existence of gravity currents with a thickness greater than half the channel height, which is confirmed by direct numerical simulation (DNS) results and by an analysis of the energy loss in the flow. For high-Reynolds-number gravity currents exhibiting Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities along the current/ambient interface, the DNS simulations suggest that for a given shear magnitude, the current height adjusts itself such as to allow for maximum energy dissipation.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Flow Around Two Side-by-Side Circular Cylinders at High Reynolds Number

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Rahimi ◽  
Xiaonan Tang ◽  
Yaser Esmaeeli ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Alireza Pourbakhtiar
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
High Reynolds Number ◽  
Circular Cylinders ◽  
High Reynolds

scholarly journals Passive scalars in turbulent channel flow at high Reynolds number

2016 ◽  
Vol 788 ◽  
pp. 614-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Pirozzoli ◽  
Matteo Bernardini ◽  
Paolo Orlandi
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Channel Flow ◽  
High Reynolds Number ◽  
Correction Term ◽  
Scalar Dissipation ◽  
Channel Height ◽  
Passive Scalars ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Reynolds

We study passive scalars in turbulent plane channels at computationally high Reynolds number, thus allowing us to observe previously unnoticed effects. The mean scalar profiles are found to obey a generalized logarithmic law which includes a linear correction term in the whole lower half-channel, and they follow a universal parabolic defect profile in the core region. This is consistent with recent findings regarding the mean velocity profiles in channel flow. The scalar variances also exhibit a near universal parabolic distribution in the core flow and hints of a sizeable log layer, unlike the velocity variances. The energy spectra highlight the formation of large scalar-bearing eddies with size proportional to the channel height which are caused by a local production excess over dissipation, and which are clearly visible in the flow visualizations. Close correspondence of the momentum and scalar eddies is observed, with the main difference being that the latter tend to form sharper gradients, which translates into higher scalar dissipation. Another notable Reynolds number effect is the decreased correlation of the passive scalar field with the vertical velocity field, which is traced to the reduced effectiveness of ejection events.

Axisymmetric, constantly supplied gravity currents at high Reynolds number

2011 ◽  
Vol 675 ◽  
pp. 540-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANJA C. SLIM ◽  
HERBERT E. HUPPERT
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
High Reynolds Number ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Gravity Currents ◽  
Water Model ◽  
Closure Condition ◽  
Area Source ◽  
Radial Extent ◽  
Long Time ◽  
High Reynolds

We consider theoretically the long-time evolution of axisymmetric, high Reynolds number, Boussinesq gravity currents supplied by a constant, small-area source of mass and radial momentum in a deep, quiescent ambient. We describe the gravity currents using a shallow-water model with a Froude number closure condition to incorporate ambient form drag at the front and present numerical and asymptotic solutions. The predicted profile consists of an expanding, radially decaying, steady interior that connects via a shock to a deeper, self-similar frontal boundary layer. Controlled by the balance of interior momentum flux and frontal buoyancy across the shock, the front advances as (g′sQ/r1/4s)4/154/5, where g′s is the reduced gravity of the source fluid, Q is the total volume flux, rs is the source radius and is time. A radial momentum source has no effect on this solution below a non-zero threshold value. Above this value, the (virtual) radius over which the flow becomes critical can be used to collapse the solution onto the subthreshold one. We also use a simple parameterization to incorporate the effect of interfacial entrainment, and show that the profile can be substantially modified, although the buoyancy profile and radial extent are less significantly impacted. Our predicted profiles and extents are in reasonable agreement with existing experiments.

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