Particles in turbulent separated flow over a bump: Effect of the Stokes number and lift force

Abstract

Particle-laden turbulent flow that separates due to a bump inside a channel is simulated to analyze the effects of the Stokes number and the lift force on the particle spatial distribution. The fluid friction Reynolds number is approximately 900 over the bump, the highest achieved for similar computational domains. The presence of the bump creates a complex background flow with a recirculating region and a strong shear layer. A range of particle Stokes numbers are considered, each simulated with and without the lift force in the particle dynamic equation. The effect of the lift force on the particle concentration is dominant in regions of high spanwise vorticity, particularly at the walls and in the shear layer. The concentration change is of the order of thousands when compared to cases where the lift force is omitted. At a low Stokes number, the particles segregate at both top and bottom walls and are present in the recirculating region. As the Stokes number increases, particles bypass the recirculating region and their redistribution is mostly affected by the strong shear layer. Particles segregate at the walls and particularly accumulate in secondary recirculating regions behind the bump. At higher Stokes numbers, the particles create reflection layers of high concentration due to their inertia as they are diverted by the bump. The fluid flow is less influential, and this enables the particles to enter the recirculating region by rebounding off walls and create a focused spot of high particle concentration.