Direct numerical simulation of turbulent duct flow with inclined or V-shaped ribs mounted on one wall

Abstract

In this research, highly disturbed turbulent flow of distinct three-dimensional characteristics in a square duct with inclined or V-shaped ribs mounted on one wall is investigated using direct numerical simulation. The turbulence field is highly sensitive to not only the rib geometry but also the boundary layers developed over the side and top walls. In a cross-stream plane secondary flows appear as large longitudinal vortices in both inclined and V-shaped rib cases due to the confinement of four sidewalls of the square duct. However, owing to the difference in the pattern of cross-stream secondary flow motions, the flow physics is significantly different in these two ribbed duct cases. It is observed that the mean flow structures in the cross-stream directions are asymmetrical in the inclined rib case but symmetrical in the V-shaped rib case, causing substantial differences in the momentum transfer across the spanwise direction. The impacts of rib geometry on near-wall turbulence structures are investigated using vortex identifiers, joint probability density functions between the streamwise and vertical velocity fluctuations, statistical moments of different orders, spatial two-point autocorrelations and velocity spectra. It is found that near the leeward and windward rib faces, the mean inclination angle of turbulence structures in the V-shaped rib case is greater than that of the inclined rib case, which subsequently enhances momentum transport between the ribbed bottom wall and the smooth top wall.