Canonical Shear Flows Research Articles

Stationary Structures Near the Kolmogorov and Poiseuille Flows in the 2d Euler Equations

We study the behavior of solutions to the incompressible 2d Euler equations near two canonical shear flows with critical points, the Kolmogorov and Poiseuille flows, with consequences for the associated Navier–Stokes problems. We exhibit a large family of new, non-trivial stationary states that are arbitrarily close to the Kolmogorov flow on the square torus mathbb {T}^2 in analytic regularity. This situation contrasts strongly with the setting of some monotone shear flows, such as the Couette flow: there the linearized problem exhibits an “inviscid damping” mechanism that leads to relaxation of perturbations of the base flows back to nearby shear flows. Our results show that such a simple description of the long-time behavior is not possible for solutions near the Kolmogorov flow on mathbb {T}^2. Our construction of the new stationary states builds on a degeneracy in the global structure of the Kolmogorov flow on mathbb {T}^2, and we also show a lack of correspondence between the linearized description of the set of steady states and its true nonlinear structure. Both the Kolmogorov flow on a rectangular torus and the Poiseuille flow in a channel are very different. We show that the only stationary states near them must indeed be shears, even in relatively low regularity. In addition, we show that this behavior is mirrored closely in the related Navier–Stokes settings: the linearized problems near the Poiseuille and Kolmogorov flows both exhibit an enhanced rate of dissipation. Previous work by us and others shows that this effect survives in the full, nonlinear problem near the Poiseuille flow and near the Kolmogorov flow on rectangular tori, provided that the perturbations lie below a certain threshold. However, we show here that the corresponding result cannot hold near the Kolmogorov flow on {mathbb T}^2.

Dynamics-based machine learning of transitions in Couette flow

We derive low-dimensional, data-driven models for transitions among exact coherent states (ECSs) in one of the most studied canonical shear flows, the plane Couette flow. These one- or two-dimensional nonlinear models represent the leading-order reduced dynamics on attracting spectral submanifolds (SSMs), which we construct using the recently developed SSMLearn algorithm from a small number of simulated transitions. We find that the energy input and output rates provide efficient parametrizations for the most important SSMs. By restricting the dynamics to these SSMs, we obtain reduced-order models that also reliably predict nearby, off-SSM transitions that were not used in their training.

A probabilistic protocol for the assessment of transition and control

Transition to turbulence dramatically alters the properties of fluid flows. In most canonical shear flows, the laminar flow is linearly stable and a finite-amplitude perturbation is necessary to trigger transition. Controlling transition to turbulence is achieved via the broadening or narrowing of the basin of attraction of the laminar flow. In this paper, a novel methodology to assess the robustness of the laminar flow and the efficiency of control strategies is introduced. It relies on the statistical sampling of the phase space neighborhood around the laminar flow in order to assess the transition probability of perturbations as a function of their energy. This approach is applied to a canonical flow (plane Couette flow) and provides invaluable insight: in the presence of the chosen control, transition is significantly suppressed whereas plausible scalar indicators of the nonlinear stability of the flow, such as the edge state energy, do not provide conclusive predictions. The methodology presented here in the context of transition to turbulence is applicable to any nonlinear system displaying finite-amplitude instability.

High-Resolution RANS Simulations of Flow Past a Surface-Mounted Cube Using Eddy-Viscosity Closure Models

AbstractWhile Reynolds-averaged simulations have found success in the evaluation of many canonical shear flows and moderately separated flows, their application to highly separated flows have shown notable deficiencies. This study aimed to investigate these deficiencies in the eddy-viscosity formulation of four commonly used turbulence models under separated flow in an attempt to aid in the improved formulation of such models. Analyses are performed on the flow field around a wall-mounted cube (WMC) at a Reynolds number of 40,000 based on the cube height, h, and freestream velocity, U0. While a common occurrence in industrial applications, this type of flow constitutes a complex structure exhibiting a large separated wake region, high anisotropy, and multiple vortex structures. As well, interactions between vortices developed off of different faces of the cube significantly alter the overall flow characteristics, posing a significant challenge for the commonly used industrial turbulence models. Comparison of mean flow characteristics show remarkable agreement between experimental values and turbulence models which are capable of predicting transitional flow. Evaluation of turbulence parameters show the general underestimation of Reynolds stress for transitional models, while fully turbulent models show this value to be overestimated, resulting in completely disparate representations of mean flow structures between the two classes of models (transitional and fully turbulent).

Stability of flow through deformable channels and tubes: implications of consistent formulation

The present study is aimed at assessing the existing results concerning the stability of canonical shear flows in channels and tubes with deformable walls, in light of consistent formulations of the nonlinear solid constitutive model and linearised interface conditions at the fluid–solid interface. We show that a class of unstable shear-wave modes at low Reynolds number, predicted by previous studies for pressure-driven flows through neo-Hookean tubes and channels, is absent upon use of consistent interfacial conditions. Furthermore, we analyse the consequences of the change in solid model on the stability of the canonical shear flows by using both neo-Hookean and Mooney–Rivlin models. We show that the salient features of the stability of the system are adequately captured by a consistent formulation of the neo-Hookean solid model, thus precluding the need to employ more detailed solid models. The stability analysis of planar flows past a neo-Hookean solid subjected to three-dimensional disturbances showed that two-dimensional disturbances are more unstable than the corresponding three-dimensional disturbances within the consistent formulations. We show that prior inconsistent formulations of the solid constitutive equation predict a physically spurious spanwise instability in disagreement with experiments thereby demonstrating their inapplicability to predict instabilities in flow past deformable solid surfaces. Using the consistent formulation, the present work provides an accurate picture, over a range of Reynolds numbers, of the stability of canonical shear flows through deformable channels and tubes. Importantly, it is shown how inconsistencies in either the bulk constitutive relation or in the linearisation of the interface conditions can separately lead to physically spurious instabilities. The predictions of this work are relevant to experimental studies in flow through deformable tubes and channels in the low and moderate Reynolds number regime.

Streamwise localization of traveling wave solutions in channel flow.

Channel flow of an incompressible fluid at Reynolds numbers above 2400 possesses a number of different spatially localized solutions that approach laminar flow far upstream and downstream. We use one such relative time-periodic solution, which corresponds to a spatially localized version of a Tollmien-Schlichting wave, to illustrate how the upstream and downstream asymptotics can be computed analytically. In particular, we show that for these spanwise uniform states the asymptotics predict the exponential localization that has been observed for numerically computed solutions of several canonical shear flows but never properly understood theoretically.

On new stability modes of plane canonical shear flows using symmetry classification

In the work of Nold and Oberlack [Phys. Fluids 25, 104101 (2013)], it was shown that three different instability modes of the linear stability analysis perturbing a linear shear flow can be derived in the common framework of Lie symmetry methods. These modes include the normal-mode, the Kelvin mode, and a new mode not reported before. As this was limited to linear shear, we now present a full symmetry classification for the linearised Navier-Stokes equations which are employed to study the stability of an arbitrary plane shear flow. If viscous effects for the perturbations are neglected, then we obtain additional symmetries and new Ansatz functions for a linear, an algebraic, an exponential, and a logarithmic base shear flow. If viscous effects are included in the formulation, then the linear and a quotient-type base flow allow for additional symmetries. The symmetry invariant solutions derived from the new and classical generic symmetries for all different flow types naturally lead to algebraic growth and decay for all cases except for two linear base flow cases. In turn this leads to the formulation of a novel eigenvalue problem in the analysis of the transition to turbulence for the respective flows, all of which are very distinct from the classical Orr-Sommerfeld eigenvalue problems.

Synthetic Turbulence Generators for RANS-LES Interfaces in Zonal Simulations of Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Problems

The paper presents the detailed formulation and validation results of simple and robust procedures for the generation of synthetic turbulence aimed at providing artificial turbulent content at the RANS-to-LES interface within a zonal Wall Modelled LES of attached and mildly separated wall-bounded flows. There are two versions of the procedure. The aerodynamic version amounts to a minor modification of a synthetic turbulence generator developed by the authors previously, but the acoustically adapted version is new and includes an internal damping layer, where the pressure field is computed by “weighting” of the instantaneous pressure fields from LES and RANS. This is motivated by the need to avoid creating spurious noise as part of the turbulence generation. In terms of pure aerodynamics, the validation includes canonical shear flows (developed channel flow, zero pressure gradient boundary layer, and plane mixing layer), as well as a more complex flow over the wall-mounted hump with non-fixed separation and reattachment, with emphasis on a rapid conversion from modeled to resolved Reynolds stresses. The aeroacoustic applications include the flow past a trailing edge and over a two-element airfoil configuration. In all cases the methodology ensures a very acceptable accuracy for the mean flow, turbulent statistics and, also, the near- and far-field noise.

Modal and non-modal stability of particle-laden channel flow

Modal and non-modal linear stability analysis of channel flow with a dilute particle suspension is presented where particles are assumed to be solid, spherical, and heavy. The two-way coupling between particle and fluid flow is therefore modeled by the Stokes drag only. The results are presented as function of the particle relaxation time and mass fraction. First, we consider exponentially growing perturbations and extend previous findings showing the potential for a significant increase of the critical Reynolds number. The largest stabilization is observed when the ratio between the particle relaxation time and the oscillation period of the wave is of order one. By examining the energy budget, we show that this stabilization is due to the increase of the dissipation caused by the Stokes drag. The observed stabilization has led to the hypothesis that dusty flows can be more stable. However, transition to turbulence is most often subcritical in canonical shear flows where non-modal growth mechanisms are responsible for the initial growth of external disturbances. The non-modal analysis of the particle-laden flow, presented here for the first time, reveals that the transient energy growth is, surprisingly, increased by the presence of particles, in proportion to the particle mass fraction. The generation of streamwise streaks via the lift-up mechanism is still the dominant disturbance-growth mechanism in the particle laden flow; the length scales of the most dangerous disturbances are unaffected, while the initial disturbance growth can be delayed. These results are explained in terms of a dimensionless parameter relating the particle relaxation time to the time scale of the instability. The presence of a dilute solid phase therefore may not always work as a flow-control strategy for maintaining the flow as laminar. Despite the stabilizing effect on modal instabilities, non-modal mechanisms are still strong in internal flows seeded with heavy particles. Our results indicate that the initial stages of transition in dilute suspensions of small particles are similar to the stages in a single phase flow.

Direct numerical simulation of a plane turbulent wall-jet including scalar mixing

Direct numerical simulation is used to study a turbulent plane wall-jet including the mixing of a passive scalar. The Reynolds and Mach numbers at the inlet are Re=2000 and M=0.5, respectively, and a constant coflow of 10% of the inlet jet velocity is used. The passive scalar is added at the inlet enabling an investigation of the wall-jet mixing. The self-similarity of the inner and outer shear layers is studied by applying inner and outer scaling. The characteristics of the wall-jet are compared to what is reported for other canonical shear flows. In the inner part, the wall-jet is found to closely resemble a zero pressure gradient boundary layer, and the outer layer is found to resemble a free plane jet. The downstream growth rate of the scalar is approximately equal to that of the streamwise velocity in terms of the growth rate of the half-widths. The scalar fluxes in the streamwise and wall-normal direction are found to be of comparable magnitude. The scalar mixing situation is further studied by evaluating the scalar dissipation rate and the mechanical to mixing time scale ratio.

Direct numerical simulation of stagnation region flow and heat transfer with free-stream turbulence

A direct numerical simulation is performed for stagnation-region flow with free-stream turbulence. A fully implicit second-order time-advancement scheme with fourth-order finite differences and an optimized scheme are employed. The optimized scheme is developed to save computational cost. The free-stream turbulence is a precomputed field of isotropic turbulence. The present DNS results in the “damping” and “attached amplifying” regimes are found to be similar to those of the organized inflow disturbances. Emphasis is placed on the flow and temperature fields in the “detached amplifying” regime. The contours of instantaneous flow field illustrate that streamwise vortices are stretched in the streamwise direction by mean strain rate. The temperature field is also stretched in the streamwise direction near the wall. The surface contours reveal that the temperature field is influenced significantly by streamwise vorticity. Due to the dominance of the mean strain, the log-law region is not observed for ū and T̃, the inner scaling fails, but the outer scaling works. The single-point turbulence statistics and the turbulent statistics budgets are obtained. The flow statistics reflect the typical characteristics of stagnation-region flow which are generically different from those of other canonical shear flows. One of the typical features of the budgets is that the velocity pressure correlation and the turbulent transport play significant roles in the stagnation-region flow. Finally, the present simulation data are compared with experimental results. It is found that the effect of large-scale eddies on the enhancement of wall heat transfer is substantial in the turbulent stagnation-region heat transfer.