Numerical Simulation of a Three-Dimensional Axisymmetric Hill: Performance Evaluation of Hybrid RANS-LES Models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tausif Jamal ◽  
Varun Chitta ◽  
Dibbon K. Walters
Keyword(s):  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Turbulence Modeling ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Wake Flow ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Rans Models

Abstract Computational fluid dynamics simulation of flow over a three-dimensional axisymmetric hill presents a unique set of challenges for turbulence modeling. The flow past the crest of the hill is characterized by boundary layer separation, complex vortical structures, and unsteady wake flow. As a result, traditional eddy-viscosity Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models have been found to perform poorly for this benchmark test case. Recent studies have focused on the use of large-eddy simulation (LES) and hybrid RANS-LES (HRL) methods to improve accuracy. In this study, several different HRL models are investigated and results from the different models are evaluated relative to each other, to an eddy-viscosity RANS model, and to previously documented high-fidelity large-eddy simulations and experimental data. Results obtained from the simulations in terms of mean flow statistics, surface pressure distribution, and turbulence characteristics are presented and discussed in detail. Results indicate that HRL models can significantly improve predictions over RANS models, but only when the development of turbulent velocity fluctuations in the separated shear layer and recirculation region are well resolved.

Numerical Study of Vortical Separation From a Three-Dimensional Hill Using Eddy-Viscosity Models

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun Chitta ◽  
Tausif Jamal ◽  
Keith Walters
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Transition ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
New Model ◽  
Streamline Curvature ◽  
Viscosity Models ◽  
Rans Models

Turbulent flow over an axisymmetric hill is highly three-dimensional (3D) due to the presence of both streamwise and spanwise pressure gradients. Complex vortical separations and reattachments of the turbulent boundary layer are observed on the lee side, accurate prediction of which presents a demanding task for linear eddy-viscosity models (EVMs) when compared to attached boundary layer flows. In this study, an axisymmetric hill is investigated using three Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models — fully turbulent model (SST k-ω), transition-sensitive model (k-kL-ω), and a new four-equation model (k-kL-ω-v2). The new model is designed to exhibit physically correct responses to flow transition, streamline curvature, and system rotation effects. The test case includes a hill mounted in a channel with hill height H = 2δ, where δ is the approach turbulent boundary layer thickness. The flow Reynolds number (Re) based on the hill height is ReH = 1.3 × 105. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results obtained using the new model are compared with the other two RANS models and with experimental data. Improved mean flow statistics are obtained using the new model that match well with the experiments. The results from this study highlight the need for a model that is able to resolve both flow transition and streamline curvature effects over blunt/curved bodies with reasonable engineering accuracy and computational cost.

scholarly journals Proper orthogonal decomposition analysis of coherent motions in a turbulent annular jet

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 1297-1310
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
M. Vanierschot
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Proper Orthogonal Decomposition ◽  
Turbulent Kinetic Energy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Orthogonal Decomposition ◽  
Wake Flow ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Annular Jet ◽  
Proper Orthogonal

AbstractA three-dimensional incompressible annular jet is simulated by the large eddy simulation (LES) method at a Reynolds number Re = 8 500. The time-averaged velocity field shows an asymmetric wake behind the central bluff-body although the flow geometry is symmetric. The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis of the velocity fluctuation vectors is conducted to study the flow dynamics of the wake flow. The distribution of turbulent kinetic energy across the three-dimensional POD modes shows that the first four eigenmodes each capture more than 1% of the turbulent kinetic energy, and hence their impact on the wake dynamics is studied. The results demonstrate that the asymmetric mean flow in the near-field of the annular jet is related to the first two POD modes which correspond to a radial shift of the stagnation point. The modes 3 and 4 involve the stretching or squeezing effects of the recirculation region in the radial direction. In addition, the spatial structure of these four POD eigenmodes also shows the counter-rotating vortices in the streamwise direction downstream of the flow reversal region.

scholarly journals Modeling the 3-d flow around a cylinder using the SAS hybrid model

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 901-918 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Turbulence Modeling ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Numerical Code ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Unstable Flow ◽  
Vortex Size

<div> <p>Three-dimensional calculations were performed to simulate the flow around a cylindrical vegetation element using the Scale Adaptive Simulation (SAS) model; commonly, this is the first step of the modeling of the flow through multiple vegetation elements. SAS solves the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations in stable flow regions, while in regions with unstable flow it goes unsteady producing a resolved turbulent spectrum after reducing eddy viscosity according to the locally resolved vortex size represented by the von Karman length scale. A finite volume numerical code was used for the spatial discretisation of the rectangular computational domain with stream-wise, cross-flow and vertical dimensions equal to 30D, 11D and 1D, respectively, which was resolved with unstructured grids. Calculations were compared with experiments and Large Eddy Simulations (LES). Predicted overall flow parameters and mean flow velocities exhibited a very satisfactory agreement with experiments and LES, while the agreement of predicted turbulent stresses was satisfactory. Calculations showed that SAS is an efficient and relatively fast turbulence modeling approach, especially in relevant practical problems, in which the very high accuracy that can be achieved by LES at the expense of large computational times is not required.</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p>

scholarly journals Three-Dimensional Turbulent Vortex Shedding From a Surface-Mounted Square Cylinder: Predictions With Large-Eddy Simulations and URANS

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Younis ◽  
A. Abrishamchi
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Turbulence Model ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Large Eddy Simulations ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Large Eddy

The paper reports on the prediction of the turbulent flow field around a three-dimensional, surface mounted, square-sectioned cylinder at Reynolds numbers in the range 104–105. The effects of turbulence are accounted for in two different ways: by performing large-eddy simulations (LES) with a Smagorinsky model for the subgrid-scale motions and by solving the unsteady form of the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (URANS) together with a turbulence model to determine the resulting Reynolds stresses. The turbulence model used is a two-equation, eddy-viscosity closure that incorporates a term designed to account for the interactions between the organized mean-flow periodicity and the random turbulent motions. Comparisons with experimental data show that the two approaches yield results that are generally comparable and in good accord with the experimental data. The main conclusion of this work is that the URANS approach, which is considerably less demanding in terms of computer resources than LES, can reliably be used for the prediction of unsteady separated flows provided that the effects of organized mean-flow unsteadiness on the turbulence are properly accounted for in the turbulence model.

scholarly journals Flow visualization using momentum and energy transport tubes and applications to turbulent flow in wind farms

2013 ◽  
Vol 715 ◽  
pp. 335-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Meyers ◽  
Charles Meneveau
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Flow Visualization ◽  
Energy Transport ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Large Wind

AbstractAs a generalization of the mass–flux based classical stream tube, the concept of momentum and energy transport tubes is discussed as a flow visualization tool. These transport tubes have the property that no fluxes of momentum or energy exist over their respective tube mantles. As an example application using data from large eddy simulation, such tubes are visualized for the mean-flow structure of turbulent flow in large wind farms, in fully developed wind-turbine-array boundary layers. The three-dimensional organization of energy transport tubes changes considerably when turbine spacings are varied, enabling the visualization of the path taken by the kinetic energy flux that is ultimately available at any given turbine within the array.

On the Effects of Turbulence Modeling on the Fluid-Structure Interaction of a Rigid Cylinder

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Feitosa Rosetti ◽  
Guilherme Vaz ◽  
André Luís Condino Fujarra
Keyword(s):  
Turbulence Modeling ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Turbulent Transition ◽  
Moving Cylinder ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cylinder Flow ◽  
Laminar Turbulent Transition

The cylinder flow is a canonical problem for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), as it can display several of the most relevant issues for a wide class of flows, such as boundary layer separation, vortex shedding, flow instabilities, laminar-turbulent transition and others. Several applications also display these features justifying the amount of energy invested in studying this problem in a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) equations combined with simplifying assumptions for turbulence have been shown inappropriate for the captive cylinder flow in an important range of Reynolds numbers. For that reason, recent improvements in turbulence modeling has been one of the most important lines of research within that issue, aiming at better prediction of flow and loads, mainly targeting the three-dimensional effects and laminar-turbulent transition, which are so important for blunt bodies. In contrast, a much smaller amount of work is observed concerning the investigation of turbulent effects when the cylinder moves with driven or free motions. Evidently, larger understanding of the contribution of turbulence in those situations can lead to more precise mathematical and numerical modeling of the flow around a moving cylinder. In this paper, we present CFD calculations in a range of moderate Reynolds numbers with different turbulence models and considering a cylinder in captive condition, in driven and in free motions. The results corroborate an intuitive notion that the inertial effects indeed play very important role in determining loads and motions. The flow also seems to adapt to the motions in such a way that vortices are more correlated and less influenced by turbulence effects. Due to good comparison of the numerical and experimental results for the moving-cylinder cases, it is observed that the choice of turbulence model for driven and free motions calculations is markedly less decisive than for the captive cylinder case.

scholarly journals Effects of Rear Angle on the Turbulent Wake Flow between Two in-Line Ahmed Bodies

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 328
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Essel ◽  
Subhadip Das ◽  
Ram Balachandar
Keyword(s):  
Wake Flow ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Wake Region ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Slant Angle ◽  
The Road ◽  
Rear Angle ◽  
Turbulent Statistics ◽  
The Mean

Understanding the wake characteristics between two in-line vehicles is essential for improving and developing new strategies for reducing in-cabin air pollution. In this study, Ahmed bodies are used to investigate the effects of the rear slant angle of a leading vehicle on the mean flow and turbulent statistics between two vehicles. The experiments were conducted with a particle image velocimetry at a fixed Reynolds number, R e H = 1.7 × 10 4 , and inter-vehicle spacing distance of 0.75 L , where H and L are the height and length of the model. The rear slant angles investigated were a reference square back, high-drag angle ( α = 25 ° ) and low-drag angle ( α = 35 ° ). The mean velocities, Reynolds stresses, production of turbulent kinetic energy and instantaneous swirling strength are used to provide physical insight into the wake dynamics between the two bodies. The results indicate that the recirculation region behind the square back Ahmed body increases while those behind the slant rear-end bodies decreases in the presence of a follower. For the square back models, the dominant motion in the wake region is a strong upwash of jet-like flow away from the road but increasing the rear slant angle induces a stronger downwash flow that suppresses the upwash and dominates the wake region.

Differential Equation Specification of Integral Turbulence Length Scales

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Jefferson-Loveday ◽  
Paul Tucker ◽  
V. Nagabhushana Rao ◽  
John Northall
Keyword(s):  
Differential Equation ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Dirichlet Boundary Conditions ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Length Scales ◽  
Measured Velocity ◽  
Drag Coefficients ◽  
Rans Models ◽  
Turbulence Length

A Hamilton-Jacobi differential equation is used to naturally and smoothly (via Dirichlet boundary conditions) set turbulence length scales in separated flow regions based on traditional expected length scales. Such zones occur for example in rim-seals. The approach is investigated using two test cases, flow over a cylinder at a Reynolds number of 140,000 and flow over a rectangular cavity at a Reynolds number of 50,000. The Nee-Kovasznay turbulence model is investigated using this approach. Predicted drag coefficients for the cylinder test-case show significant (15%) improvement over standard steady RANS and are comparable with URANS results. The mean flow-field also shows a significant improvement over URANS. The error in reattachment length is improved by 180% compared with the steady RANS k–ω model. The wake velocity profile at a location downstream shows improvement and the URANS profile is inaccurate in comparison. For the cavity case the HJ-NK approach is generally comparable with the other RANS models for measured velocity profiles. Predicted drag coefficients are compared with large eddy simulation. The new approach shows a 20–30% improvement in predicted drag coefficients compared with standard one and two equation RANS models. The shape of the recirculation region within the cavity is also much improved.

Three-dimensional study of separated flow over a square cylinder by large eddy simulation

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Farhadi ◽  
M Rahnama
Keyword(s):  
Large Eddy Simulation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Separated Flow ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Square Cylinder ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Central Difference ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Flow Parameters ◽  
Large Eddy

Large eddy simulation of flow over a square cylinder in a channel is performed at Reynolds numbers of 22 000 and 21 400. The selective structure function (SSF) modelling of the subgrid-scale stress terms is used and the convective terms are discretized using quadratic upstream interpolation for convective kinematics (QUICK) and central difference (CD) schemes. A series of time-averaged velocities, turbulent stresses, and some global flow parameters such as lift and drag coefficients and their fluctuations are computed and compared with experimental data. The suitability of SSF model has been shown by comparing the computed mean flow velocities and turbulent quantities with experiments. Results show negligible variation in the flow parameters for the two Reynolds numbers used in the present computations. It was observed that both QUICK and CD schemes are capable of obtaining results close to those of the experiments with some minor differences.

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