Search Results (25)

Investigating the creation of bed forms due to sediment transport and flow structure in the presence of bed forms in alluvial channels is a constant challenge for engineers and researchers, because of its complex nature. In this research, turbulent flow structure and turbulence anisotropy in the presence of two- and three-dimensional laboratory dunes were investigated. The results showed that, at the reattachment point, the turbulence anisotropy at the centerline of a three-dimensional dune was the largest. On the stoss slope, the turbulence anisotropy for two-dimensional dunes was at its highest at the bed form’s trough and below the crest. The results also demonstrated a tendency at the crest line toward the plane–strain limit for two-dimensional dunes and the centerline of three-dimensional dunes. However, at a 20 cm distance, turbulence anisotropy at the crest line tended toward asymmetric contraction to an oblate spheroid. Full article

The interrelation between Reynolds stresses and their dissipation rate tensors for different Karlovitz number values was analysed using a direct numerical simulation (DNS) database of turbulent statistically planar premixed H₂-air flames with an equivalence ratio of 0.7. It was found that a significant enhancement of Reynolds stresses and dissipation rates takes place as a result of turbulence generation due to thermal expansion for small and moderate Karlovitz number values. However, both Reynolds stresses and dissipation rates decrease monotonically within the flame brush for large Karlovitz number values, as the flame-generated turbulence becomes overridden by the strong isotropic turbulence. Although there are similarities between the anisotropies of Reynolds stress and its dissipation rate tensors within the flame brush, the anisotropy tensors of these quantities are found to be non-linearly related. The predictions of three different models for the dissipation rate tensor were compared to the results computed from DNS data. It was found that the model relying upon isotropy and a linear dependence between the Reynolds stress and its dissipation rates does not correctly capture the turbulence characteristics within the flame brush for small and moderate Karlovitz number values. In contrast, the models that incorporate the dependence of the invariants of the anisotropy tensor of Reynolds stresses were found to capture the components of dissipation rate tensor for all Karlovitz number conditions. Full article

The CFD simulation of cyclone separators has remarkably evolved over the past decades. Nowadays, computational models are essential for designing, analyzing, and optimizing these devices. Due to the intrinsic anisotropy of the flow inside these separators, the Reynolds stress model (RSM) has been mostly employed. However, RSM models fail to solve most time and space scales, including those relevant to particle behavior. Consequently, the prediction of the grade collection efficiency may be hindered, particularly for low-Stokes-number particles. For example, the precessing vortex core phenomenon (PVC), a well-known phenomenon that is relevant for particle motion, is not usually captured in Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations. Alternatively, the large-eddy simulation (LES) has been proven to be a superior approach since it captures many time and space scales that would have been otherwise dissipated, allowing for more accurate predictions of particle collection. However, this accuracy comes at a considerable computational cost. To combine the advantages of these two models, the main objective of this research was to evaluate a new hybrid RSM-LES model applied to the cyclone’s flow. The results were compared to experimental data and with RSM model results. It showed that, compared to a RANS model given by the RSM closure model, the grade collection efficiency curve obtained by the hybrid model is closer to the experimental one, even for the coarser mesh. Beyond that, the results showed that while the improvement in results was not proportional to mesh refinement for RANS modeling, the hybrid model showed significant improvement with mesh refinement. Full article

This paper presents a holistic Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence modeling framework for the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of complex wall-bounded turbulent flows. Based on the elliptic relaxation idea, the deployed eddy viscosity turbulence model reconstructs the near-wall stress anisotropy and nonviscous effects. The appropriate selection of the turbulent quantities that are being solved for, together with the zero value wall boundary condition for the related turbulent quantities, renders the model less sensitive to the near-wall grid nonuniformities and resolution. The unified near-wall velocity profile, obtained based on the boundary layer theory, is used to devise the compound near-wall treatment that ensures the robustness of the numerical simulation. The proposed turbulence modeling framework is implemented into the general-purpose open-source CFD code and validated against the generic test cases with satisfactory agreement. Full article

Large-eddy simulations (LES) were performed to study the turbulent flow in a channel of height H with a staggered array of pin fins with diameter D = H/2 as a function of heating loads that are relevant to the cooling of turbine blades and vanes. The following three heating loads were investigated—wall-to-coolant temperatures of T_w/T_c = 1.01, 2.0, and 4.0—where the Reynolds number at the channel inlet was 10,000 and the back pressure at the channel outlet was 1 bar. For the LES, two different subgrid-scale models—the dynamic kinetic energy model (DKEM) and the wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity model (WALE)—were examined and compared. This study was validated by comparing with data from direct numerical simulation and experimental measurements. The results obtained show high heating loads to create wall jets next to all heated surfaces that significantly alter the structure of the turbulent flow. Results generated on effects of heat loads on the mean and fluctuating components of velocity and temperature, turbulent kinetic energy, the anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses, and velocity-temperature correlations can be used to improve existing RANS models. Full article

This paper discusses accuracy improvements to Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) modeling of supersonic flow by assessing a wide range of factors for physics capture. Numerical simulations reveal complex flow behavior resulting from shock and expansion waves and so, a supersonic jet emanating from rectangular nozzle is considered. PIV based experimental data for the jet is available from literature and is used for validation purposes. Effect of various boundary conditions and turbulence modeling approaches is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Of particular interest are the inlet conditions considering the turbulence intensity and the effect of upstream air supply duct, the effect of nozzle wall surface roughness on nozzle internal flow and downstream, wall y+ sensitivity for boundary layer resolution and laminar to turbulent transition modeling. In addition to mesh sensitivity, domain dependency is conducted to evaluate the appropriate domain size to capture the kinetic energy dissipation downstream of the nozzle. To further improve the flow characteristics, accounting for the anisotropy of Reynolds stresses is also one of the focuses. Therefore, non-linear eddy viscosity-based two-equation model and Reynolds stress transport model are also investigated. Additionally, the results of baseline linear (Boussinesq) RANS are compared. Corresponding comparisons with high-fidelity LES are presented. Jet self-similar behavior resulting from all simulation fidelities is assessed and it appears that turbulent flow in LES becomes self-similar, but not in RANS. Finally, various factors such as the nozzle geometry and numerical modeling choices influencing the anisotropy in jet turbulence are discussed. Full article

Considering the increasing frequency of geological disasters related to groundwater activities, it is important to study the relationship between geological dislocation and groundwater flow for the safety assessment of engineering rock mass stability. To elucidate the non-linear seepage characteristics at rock discontinuities during shearing, a custom-made device was used to conduct seepage tests at discontinuities that exhibit varying undulation angles and different shear displacements. The results show that as the shear displacement increases, the shear stress at a structural plane involving different undulation angles fluctuates with an increasing trend. Based on an identical shear displacement condition, the shear strengths of the structural planes increase as the undulation angle increases, and this enhances the shear expansion. Concerning an identical fluctuation angle and hydraulic gradient, the seepage flow at a structural plane increases as the shear displacement increases. By contrast, both the linear term coefficient a and non-linear term coefficient b in the Forchheimer fitting equation decrease as the shear displacement increases. In addition, the critical Reynolds number initially increases, followed by stabilisation as the shear displacement increases, and this number varies between 9.65 and 1758.52. The shear fracture morphology of the structural plane exhibits obvious anisotropy. During shearing, the roughness coefficient decreases in all but the vertical direction. The dominant seepage channel is perpendicular to the shear direction. The findings can provide a valuable reference for the stability research and analysis of rock slopes with structural planes. Full article

The turbulence of a realistic dilute solution of DNA macromolecules is investigated through a hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian approach that directly solves the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation alongside the evolution of ${10}^8$ polymers, modelled as finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) dumbbells. At a friction Reynolds number of 320 and a Weissenberg number of $2\times {10}^4$, the drag reduction is equal to 26%, which is similar to the one obtained at the lower Reynolds number of 180. The polymers induce an increase in the flow rate and the turbulent kinetic energy, whose axial contribution is predominantly augmented. The stress balance is analysed to investigate the causes of the drag reduction and eventually the effect of the friction Reynolds number on the probability distribution of the polymer configuration. Near the wall, the majority of the polymers are fully stretched and aligned along the streamwise direction, inducing an increase in the turbulence anisotropy. Full article

Liquid fuel nuclear reactors offer innovative possibilities in terms of nuclear reactor designs and passive safety systems. Molten Salts Reactors (MSRs) with a fast spectrum are a particular type of these reactors using liquid fuel. MSFRs often involve large open cavities in their core in which the liquid fuel circulates at a high speed to transport the heat generated by the nuclear reactions into the heat exchangers. This high-speed flow yields a turbulent field with large Reynolds numbers in the reactor core. Since the nuclear power, the neutron precursor’s transport and the thermal exchanges are strongly coupled in the MSFR’s core cavity, having accurate turbulent models for the liquid fuel flow is necessary to avoid introducing significant errors in the numerical simulations of these reactors. Nonetheless, high-accuracy simulations of the turbulent flow field in the reactor cavity of these reactors are usually prohibitively expensive in terms of computational resources, especially when performing multiphysics numerical calculations. Therefore, in this work, we propose a novel method using a modified genetic algorithm to optimize the calculation of the Reynolds Shear Stress Tensor (RST) used for turbulence modeling. The proposed optimization methodology is particularly suitable for advanced liquid fuel reactors such as the MSFRs since it allows the development of high-accuracy but still low-computational-cost turbulence models for the liquid fuel. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach by developing high accuracy Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models (averaged flow error less than 5%) for a low and a large aspect ratio in a Backward-Facing Step (BFS) section particularly challenging for RANS models. The newly developed turbulence models better capture the flow field after the boundary layer tipping, over the extent of the recirculation bubble, and near the boundary layer reattachment region in both BFS configurations. The main reason for these improvements is that the developed models better capture the flow field turbulent anisotropy in the bulk region of the BFS. Then, we illustrate the interest in using this turbulence modeling approach for the case of an MSFR by quantifying the impact of the turbulence modeling on the reactor key parameters. Full article

The scope of this paper is to perform a detailed experimental investigation of the shape error effect on the turbulence evolution behind NACA 64-618 airfoil. This airfoil is 3D-printed with predefined typical shape inaccuracies. A high-precision optical 3D scanner was used to assess the shape and surface quality of the manufactured models. The turbulent flow was studied using hot-wire anemometry. The developed force balance device was provided to measure the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil. Experimental studies were carried out for three angles of attack, $+{10}^{\circ }$, $0^{\circ }$, $-{10}^{\circ }$, and different chord-based Reynolds numbers from $5.3\times {10}^4$ to $2.1\times {10}^5$. The obtained results show that the blunt trailing edge and rough surface decline the aerodynamic performance of the blades. In addition, the experimental results revealed a strong sensitivity of the Taylor microscale Reynolds number to the type of shape inaccuracy, especially at $Re\approx 1.7\times {10}^5$. We also discuss the evolution of the Reynolds stress components, the degree of flow anisotropy, and the power spectrum distributions depending on the airfoil inaccuracies. Full article

The characterisation of small-scale turbulence has been an active area of research for decades and this includes, particularly, the analysis of small-scale isotropy, as postulated by Kolmogorov. In particular, the question if the dissipation tensor is isotropic or not, and how it is related to the anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses is of particular interest for modelling purposes. While this subject has been extensively studied in the context of isothermal flows, the situation is more complicated in turbulent reacting flows because of heat release. Furthermore, the landscape of Computational Fluid Dynamics is characterised by a multitude of methods ranging from Reynolds-averaged to Large Eddy Simulation techniques, and they address different ranges of scales of the turbulence kinetic energy spectrum. Therefore, a multiscale analysis of the anisotropies of Reynolds stress, dissipation and sub-grid scale tensor has been performed by using a DNS database of statistically planar turbulent premixed flames. Results show that the coupling between dissipation tensor and Reynolds stress tensor is weaker compared to isothermal turbulent boundary layer flows. In particular, for low and moderate turbulence intensities, heat release induces pronounced anisotropies which affect not only fluctuation strengths but also the characteristic size of structures associated with different velocity components. Full article

This work experimentally investigates the turbulent flow characteristics of developing and fully-developed flows over a rough bed channel that is subjected to downward seepage. Instantaneous 3D velocities were collected using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) in the developing and fully-developed flow regions, along the channel centerline, to analyze different turbulent statistics. Observations revealed that the streamwise and vertical velocities were higher in developing flows, whereas the Reynolds shear stresses, and turbulence intensities, were smaller. The downward seepage would affect the velocity distributions and flow depth in both the developing and fully-developed regions. Therefore, new equations to represent the distribution of the turbulence intensities were proposed, and a comparison with the current literature is provided. The investigation of the Reynolds stress anisotropy tensors concludes that the degree of anisotropy in fully-developed flows is lower than for developing flows. Full article

Due to their interesting thermal properties, liquid metals are widely studied for heat transfer applications where large heat fluxes occur. In the framework of the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach, the Simple Gradient Diffusion Hypothesis (SGDH) and the Reynolds Analogy are almost universally invoked for the closure of the turbulent heat flux. Even though these assumptions can represent a reasonable compromise in a wide range of applications, they are not reliable when considering low Prandtl number fluids and/or buoyant flows. More advanced closure models for the turbulent heat flux are required to improve the accuracy of the RANS models dealing with low Prandtl number fluids. In this work, we propose an anisotropic four-parameter turbulence model. The closure of the Reynolds stress tensor and turbulent heat flux is gained through nonlinear models. Particular attention is given to the modeling of dynamical and thermal time scales. Numerical simulations of low Prandtl number fluids have been performed over the plane channel and backward-facing step configurations. Full article

Reynolds stress anisotropy is estimated from the stress spheroids, based on 20 Hz ultrasonic anemometer measurements, performed in the coastal area of northern France, over a 1.5-year long period. Size and shape variation (i.e., prolate, oblate, disk, rod, etc.) of stress spheroids are used for the characterization of energy redistribution by turbulent eddies. The sea-breeze (SB) events were identified using a change in wind direction from seaward (SWD) to landward (LWD) during the day time. We found that the LWD wind creates more turbulent anisotropic states than SWD wind. The prolate-shaped stress spheroids correspond to small-scale turbulence observed during LWD wind, while oblate spheroids are found during SWD winds. Moreover, it was found that during LWD winds, large turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) in the flow field produces large stress spheroids. On the contrary, during SWD winds, a smaller level of TKE is responsible for small-size stress spheroid formation. The average volume of the corresponding Reynolds stress spheroids during the LWD is 13% larger than that of during SWD wind. Full article

In the present experimental study, the effect of vegetation on flow structure and scour profile around a bridge abutment has been investigated. The vegetation in the channel bed significantly impacted the turbulent statistics and turbulence anisotropy. Interestingly, compared to the channel without vegetation, the presence of vegetation in the channel bed dramatically reduced the primary vortex, but less impacts the wake vortex. Moreover, the tangential and radial velocities decreased with the vegetation in the channel bed, while the vertical velocity (azimuthal angle > 90°) had large positive values near the scour hole bed. Results showed that the presence of the vegetation in the channel bed caused a noticeable decrease in the Reynolds shear stress. Analysis of the Reynolds stress anisotropy indicated that the flow had more tendency to be isotropic for the vegetated bed. Results have shown that the anisotropy profile changes from pancake-shaped to cigar-shaped in the un-vegetated channel. In contrast, it had the opposite reaction for the vegetated bed. Full article