Numerical Analysis of Flows of Stratified and Homogeneous Fluids near Horizontal and Inclined Plates

Abstract

The structure and dynamics of flows near a horizontal and inclined plates in stratified and homogeneous fluids in a transient vortex regime are studied for various angles of inclination of the plate to the horizon and various geometrical modifications of its front and rear edges. This study is based on high-precision numerical modeling of the fundamental system of equations, which allows calculations of both stratified and homogeneous viscous liquids in a unified formulation. Instantaneous patterns of the vorticity fields, pressure gradient, and density, as well as the values of forces and moments acting on the surface of the plate are analyzed at different inclination angles, curvature radii of the front edge of the plate, and sharpness coefficients of the rear part. The pressure field consists of multi-scale spotted structures with a negative values of pressure, corresponding to the positions of vortical elements of the flow, whose spatial and time scales, geometric features, manifestation level, and dissipation rate essentially depend on the angle of inclination of the plate to the horizon, geometrical modification of its edges, and the type of the fluid. Special attention is paid to the fine structure of the flow near the front edge of the plate, which is the area with the most diverse scales of the flow, in which both large-scale and small-scale vertical structures form and actively interact.