scholarly journals Coherent structures in statistically stationary homogeneous shear turbulence

2017 ◽  
Vol 816 ◽  
pp. 167-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siwei Dong ◽  
Adrián Lozano-Durán ◽  
Atsushi Sekimoto ◽  
Javier Jiménez

The three-dimensional vortex clusters, and the structures based on the quadrant classification of the intense tangential Reynolds stress (Qs), are studied in direct numerical simulations of statistically stationary homogeneous shear turbulence (HST) at Taylor microscale Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}\approx 50{-}250$, with emphasis on comparisons with turbulent channels (CHs). The Qs and vortex clusters in HST are found to be versions of the corresponding detached (in the sense of del Álamo et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 561 (2006), pp. 329–358)) structures in CHs, although statistically symmetrised with respect to the substitution of sweeps by ejections and vice versa. In turn, these are more symmetric versions of the corresponding attached Qs and clusters. In both flows, only co-gradient sweeps and ejections larger than the local Corrsin scale are found to couple with the shear. They are oriented anisotropically, and are responsible for carrying most of the total Reynolds stress. Most large eddies in CHs are attached to the wall, but it is shown that this is probably a geometric consequence of their size, rather than the reason for their dynamical significance. Most small Q structures associated with different quadrants are far from each other in comparison to their size, but those that are close to each other tend to form quasi-streamwise trains of groups of a sweep and an ejection paired side by side in the spanwise direction, with a vortex cluster in between, generalising to three dimensions the corresponding arrangement of attached eddies in CHs. These pairs are organised around an inclined large-scale conditional vortex ‘roller’, and it is shown that the composite structure tends to be located at the interface between high- and low-velocity streaks, as well as in strong ‘co-gradient’ shear layers that separate streaks of either sign in which velocity is more uniform. It is further found that the conditional rollers are terminated by ‘hooks’ reminiscent of hairpins, both upright and inverted. The inverted hook weakens as the structures approach the wall, while the upright one changes little. At the same time, the inclination of the roller with respect to the mean velocity decreases from $45^{\circ }$ in HST to quasi-streamwise for wall-attached eddies. Many of these observations are generalised to intense Reynolds stresses formed with different pairs of velocity components, and it is shown that most properties of the small structures can be traced to their definitions, rather than to their dynamics. It is concluded that the larger Reynolds-stress structures are associated with shear turbulence, rather than with the presence of a wall, while the smaller ones are generic to turbulence in general, whether sheared or not.

Author(s):  
M. A. R. Sharif ◽  
M. A. Gadalla

Abstract Isothermal turbulent mixing of an axisymmetric primary air jet with a low velocity annular secondary air stream inside a constant diameter cylindrical enclosure is predicted. The flow domain from the inlet to the fully developed downstream locations is considered. The predicted flow field properties include the mean velocity and pressure and the Reynolds stresses. Different velocity and diameter ratios between the primary and the secondary jets have been investigated to characterize the flow in terms of these parameters. A bounded stream-wise differencing scheme is used to minimize numerical diffusion and oscillation errors. Predictions are compared with available experimental data to back up numerical findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 863 ◽  
pp. 1190-1203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabarish B. Vadarevu ◽  
Sean Symon ◽  
Simon J. Illingworth ◽  
Ivan Marusic

We study the evolution of velocity fluctuations due to an isolated spatio-temporal impulse using the linearized Navier–Stokes equations. The impulse is introduced as an external body force in incompressible channel flow at $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}=10\,000$. Velocity fluctuations are defined about the turbulent mean velocity profile. A turbulent eddy viscosity is added to the equations to fix the mean velocity as an exact solution, which also serves to model the dissipative effects of the background turbulence on large-scale fluctuations. An impulsive body force produces flow fields that evolve into coherent structures containing long streamwise velocity streaks that are flanked by quasi-streamwise vortices; some of these impulses produce hairpin vortices. As these vortex–streak structures evolve, they grow in size to be nominally self-similar geometrically with an aspect ratio (streamwise to wall-normal) of approximately 10, while their kinetic energy density decays monotonically. The topology of the vortex–streak structures is not sensitive to the location of the impulse, but is dependent on the direction of the impulsive body force. All of these vortex–streak structures are attached to the wall, and their Reynolds stresses collapse when scaled by distance from the wall, consistent with Townsend’s attached-eddy hypothesis.


2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (8) ◽  
pp. 984-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Piirto ◽  
Aku Karvinen ◽  
Hannu Ahlstedt ◽  
Pentti Saarenrinne ◽  
Reijo Karvinen

Measurements with both two-dimensional (2D) two-component and three-component stereo particle image velocimetry (PIV) and computation in 2D and three-dimensional (3D) using Reynolds stress turbulence model with commercial code are carried out in a square duct backward-facing step (BFS) in a turbulent water flow at three Reynolds numbers of about 12,000, 21,000, and 55,000 based on the step height h and the inlet streamwise maximum mean velocity U0. The reattachment locations measured at a distance of Δy=0.0322h from the wall are 5.3h, 5.6h, and 5.7h, respectively. The inlet flow condition is fully developed duct flow before the step change with the expansion ratio of 1.2. PIV results show that the mean velocity, root mean square (rms) velocity profiles, and Reynolds shear stress profiles in all the experimental flow cases are almost identical in the separated shear-layer region when they are nondimensionalized by U0. The sidewall effect of the square BFS flow is analyzed by comparing the experimental statistics with direct numerical simulation (DNS) and Reynolds stress model (RSM) data. For this purpose, the simulation is carried out for both 2D BFS and for square BFS having the same geometry in the 3D case as the experimental case at the lowest Reynolds number. A clear difference is observed in rms and Reynolds shear stress profiles between square BFS experimental results and DNS results in 2D channel in the spanwise direction. The spanwise rms velocity difference is about 30%, with experimental tests showing higher values than DNS, while in contrast, turbulence intensities in streamwise and vertical directions show slightly lower values than DNS. However, with the modeling, the turbulence statistical differences between 2D and 3D RSM cases are very modest. The square BFS indicates 0.5h–1.5h smaller reattachment distances than the reattachment lengths of 2D flow cases.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kjo¨rk ◽  
L. Lo¨fdahl

Measurements of the three mean velocity components and five of the Reynolds stresses have been carried out in the blade passage of a centrifugal fan impeller. The impeller was of ordinary design, with nine backward curved blades, and all measurements were carried out at the design flow rate. The mean velocity measurements show that the flow can be characterized as an attached flow with almost linearly distributed velocity profiles. However, in a region near the suction side close to the shroud a low velocity region is created. From the turbulence measurements it can be concluded that relatively low values of the turbulent stresses are predominating in the center region of the channel. Closer to the walls higher values of the normal as well as shear stresses are noted.


2002 ◽  
Vol 451 ◽  
pp. 383-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID K. BISSET ◽  
JULIAN C. R. HUNT ◽  
MICHAEL M. ROGERS

The velocity fields of a turbulent wake behind a flat plate obtained from the direct numerical simulations of Moser et al. (1998) are used to study the structure of the flow in the intermittent zone where there are, alternately, regions of fully turbulent flow and non-turbulent velocity fluctuations on either side of a thin randomly moving interface. Comparisons are made with a wake that is ‘forced’ by amplifying initial velocity fluctuations. A temperature field T, with constant values of 1.0 and 0 above and below the wake, is transported across the wake as a passive scalar. The value of the Reynolds number based on the centreplane mean velocity defect and half-width b of the wake is Re ≈ 2000.The thickness of the continuous interface is about 0.07b, whereas the amplitude of fluctuations of the instantaneous interface displacement yI(t) is an order of magnitude larger, being about 0.5b. This explains why the mean statistics of vorticity in the intermittent zone can be calculated in terms of the probability distribution of yI and the instantaneous discontinuity in vorticity across the interface. When plotted as functions of y−yI the conditional mean velocity 〈U〉 and temperature 〈T〉 profiles show sharp jumps at the interface adjacent to a thick zone where 〈U〉 and 〈T〉 vary much more slowly.Statistics for the conditional vorticity and velocity variances, available in such detail only from DNS data, show how streamwise and spanwise components of vorticity are generated by vortex stretching in the bulges of the interface. While mean Reynolds stresses (in the fixed reference frame) decrease gradually in the intermittent zone, conditional stresses are roughly constant and then decrease sharply towards zero at the interface. Flow fields around the interface, analysed in terms of the local streamline pattern, confirm and explain previous results that the advancement of the vortical interface into the irrotational flow is driven by large-scale eddy motion.Terms used in one-point turbulence models are evaluated both conventionally and conditionally in the interface region, and the current practice in statistical models of approximating entrainment by a diffusion process is assessed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. 191-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCO SIMIANO ◽  
D. LAKEHAL ◽  
M. LANCE ◽  
G. YADIGAROGLU

The detailed investigation of an unstable meandering bubble plume created in a 2-m-diameter vessel with a water depth of 1.5 m is reported for void fractions up to 4% and bubble size of the order of 2.5 mm. Simultaneous particle image velocity (PIV) measurements of bubble and liquid velocities and video recordings of the projection of the plume on two vertical perpendicular planes were produced in order to characterize the state of the plume by the location of its centreline and its equivalent diameter. The data were conditionally ensemble averaged using only PIV sets corresponding to plume states in a range as narrow as possible, separating the small-scale fluctuations of the flow from the large-scale motions, namely plume meandering and instantaneous cross-sectional area fluctuations. Meandering produces an apparent spreading of the average plume velocity and void fraction profiles that were shown to remain self-similar in the instantaneous plume cross-section. Differences between the true local time-average relative velocities and the difference of the averaged phase velocities were measured; the complex variation of the relative velocity was explained by the effects of passing vortices and by the fact that the bubbles do not reach an equilibrium velocity as they migrate radially, producing momentum exchanges between high- and low-velocity regions. Local entrainment effects decrease with larger plume diameters, contradicting the classical dependence of entrainment on the time-averaged plume diameter. Small plume diameters tend to trigger ‘entrainment eddies’ that promote the inward-flow motion. The global turbulent kinetic energy was found to be dominated by the vertical stresses. Conditional averages according to the plume diameter showed that the large-scale motions did not affect the instantaneous turbulent kinetic energy distribution in the plume, suggesting that large scales and small scales are not correlated. With conditional averaging, meandering was a minor effect on the global kinetic energy and the Reynolds stresses. In contrast, plume diameter fluctuations produce a substantial effect on these quantities.


1985 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 405-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Watmuff ◽  
H. T. Witt ◽  
P. N. Joubert

Measurements are presented for low-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layers developing in a zero pressure gradient on the sidewall of a duct. The effect of rotation on these layers is examined. The mean-velocity profiles affected by rotation are described in terms of a common universal sublayer and modified logarithmic and wake regions.The turbulence quantities follow an inner and outer scaling independent of rotation. The effect appears to be similar to that, of increased or decreased layer development. Streamwise-energy spectra indicate that, for a given non-dimensional wall distance, it is the low-wavenumber spectral components alone that are affected by rotation.Large spatially periodic spanwise variations of skin friction are observed in the destabilized layers. Mean-velocity vectors in the cross-stream plane clearly show an array of vortex-like structures which correlate strongly with the skin-friction pattern. Interesting properties of these mean-flow structures are shown and their effect on Reynolds stresses is revealed. Near the duct centreline, where we have measured detailed profiles, the variations are small and there is a reasonable momentum balance.Large-scale secondary circulations are also observed but the strength of the pattern is weak and it appears to be confined to the top and bottom regions of the duct. The evidence suggests that it has minimally affected the flow near the duct centreline where detailed profiles were measured.


Author(s):  
Shinsuke Mochizuki ◽  
Seiji Yamada ◽  
Hideo Osaka

Six Reynolds stress components were studied experimentally to understand evolution of streamwise vortex and a plane wall jet. It is seen that periodic perturbation are able to modify non-isotropic Reynolds stress field involved in the transport equation for streamwise vorticity. Modified Reynolds stress field accelerates development of vortex radius in spanwise direction. Interaction between streamwise vortex and spanwise eddies in the outer layer of the plane wall jet strengthen both velocity and length scales of large-scale eddies and increase streamwise momentum flux in enhancement of entrainment process.


Author(s):  
Rau´l Bayoa´n Cal ◽  
Brian Brzek ◽  
Gunnar Johansson ◽  
Luciano Castillo

Laser-Doppler anemometry (LDA) measurements of the mean velocity and Reynolds stresses are carried out on a rough surface favorable pressure gradient (FPG) turbulent boundary layer. These data is compared with smooth FPG turbulent boundary layer data possessing with the same strength of pressure gradient and also with rough zero pressure gradient (ZPG) data. The scales for the mean velocity deficit and Reynolds stresses are obtained through means of equilibrium similarity analysis of the RANS equations [1]. The mean velocity deficit profiles collapse, but to different curves when normalized using the free-stream velocity. The effects of the pressure gradient and roughness are clearly distinguished and separated. However, these effects are removed from the outer flow when the profiles are normalized using the Zagarola and Smits [2] scaling. It is also found that there is a clear effect of the roughness and pressure gradient on the Reynolds stresses. The Reynolds stress profiles augment due to the rough surface. Furthermore, the strength of the pressure gradient imposed of the flow changes the shape of the Reynolds stress profiles especially on the < v2 > and < uv > components. The rough surface influence is mostly noticed on the < u2 > component of the Reynolds stress, where the shape of the profiles change entirely. The boundary layer parameter δ*/δ shows the effects of the roughness and a dependence on the Reynolds number for the smooth FPG case. The pressure parameter, A, describes a development of the turbulent boundary layer and no influence of the roughness is linked with the parameter, k+. The boundary layers grow differently and depict the influence of the studied effects in their development. These measurements are the first of their nature due to the extensive number in downstream locations (12) and the combination of the studied external conditions (i.e., the strength of the pressure gradient and the surface roughness).


1997 ◽  
Vol 338 ◽  
pp. 363-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAG ARONSON ◽  
ARNE V. JOHANSSON ◽  
LENNART LÖFDAHL

The mean shear has a major influence on near-wall turbulence but there are also other important physical processes at work in the turbulence/wall interaction. In order to isolate these, a shear-free boundary layer was studied experimentally. The desired flow conditions were realized by generating decaying grid turbulence with a uniform mean velocity and passing it over a wall moving with the stream speed. It is shown that the initial response of the turbulence field can be well described by the theory of Hunt & Graham (1978). Later, where this theory ceases to give an accurate description, terms of the Reynolds stress transport (RST) equations were measured or estimated by balancing the equations. An important finding is that two different length scales are associated with the near-wall damping of the Reynolds stresses. The wall-normal velocity component is damped over a region extending roughly one macroscale out from the wall. The pressure–strain redistribution that normally would result from the Reynolds stress anisotropy in this region was found to be completely inhibited by the near-wall influence. In a thin region close to the wall the pressure–reflection effects were found to give a pressure–strain that has an effect opposite to the normally expected isotropization. This behaviour is not captured by current models.


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