Coherent Structure Model Research Articles

A comprehensive study of large eddy simulation models in capturing the dynamics of gas-particle turbulent suspensions

The particle phase attenuates the fluid fluctuations with an increase in volume fraction, and a sudden collapse in the turbulence is observed at a particular particle volume fraction, called critical particle volume loading (CPVL) [P. Muramulla et al. J. Fluid Mech. 889, A28 (2020)]. The present study reports the capability of two different classes of large eddy simulation (LES), viz. anisotropic and eddy viscosity-based, models to capture the turbulence modulation and the sudden disruption of the fluid fluctuations in the particle-laden vertical channel flows. The simulations are performed at two bulk Reynolds numbers of 3300 and 5600 based on the channel width and the bulk averaged fluid velocity. Our study on different LES models shows that approximate deconvolution (ADM) and scale similarity (SS) models accurately predict the critical loading for the Reynolds number of 3300. However, these models predict the critical loading qualitatively only for the Reynolds number of 5600 in the sense that they fail to predict the discontinuity as shown by the direct numerical simulation (DNS) study. The coherent structure model (CSM) predicts the critical loading with an 80% accuracy at both Reynolds numbers. The energy spectral density, production, and particle-induced dissipation spectra are plotted to analyze the distribution across wavenumbers. For all the LES models, a decrease in more than one order of magnitude is observed in the energy spectrum density at the critical loading compared to the unladen flow. The energy density decreases more in the channel center than in the near-wall region for the same particle volume loading. The mean component of particle-induced dissipation is almost two orders of magnitude larger than the particle dissipation spectra of fluctuating energy. The magnitude of streamwise and spanwise dissipation spectra of fluctuating components is higher in the near-wall region than the channel center. However, the magnitude of wall-normal dissipation spectra is higher in the channel center than near the wall region.

Impact of density stratification and azimuthal velocity on the growth of coherent structures in a convectively unstable swirl flame

Large-scale coherent structures resulting from hydrodynamic instabilities can interact with turbulent swirl flames and lead to combustion instabilities. The present work investigates the impact of density stratification and azimuthal velocity on the growth of coherent structures in a convectively unstable swirl flame. Flame structure and flow field are measured by simultaneous hydroxyl planar laser-induced fluorescence and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (S-PIV) at a repetition rate of 10 kHz and are analyzed by using the spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD) and spatial linear stability analysis (LSA). The SPOD reveals that the dominant symmetric and anti-symmetric modes are within the frequency range from 156 to 585 Hz, accounting for more than 25% of the turbulent kinetic energy. The spatial growths of these coherent structures are quantified by the LSA that predicts large growth rates near the nozzle exit with the corresponding frequency band matching well with the SPOD analysis. The LSA results show that both density stratification and azimuthal velocity have little effect on the instability frequencies of the most spatially unstable modes. However, the flame-induced density stratification suppresses the growth of the coherent structures by altering the pressure gradient and viscous diffusion, whereas the azimuthal velocity promotes flow instabilities through the changes in convection and production of the coherent perturbations. The results also suggest that the conventional PIV technique with two-component velocity measurement is inadequate for linear modeling of coherent structures, and the density stratification should also be taken into account in convectively unstable swirl flames.

Physical Model of Gusty Coherent Structure in Atmospheric Boundary Layer

AbstractCoherent structure is an important phenomenon in the fluid field, and also exists in atmospheric boundary layer. For example, after the passage of a cold front in spring in northern China, there is a rather regular gusty wind with a period of approximately 3 min superimposed on the basic strong wind, and the gusty wind possesses a coherent structure: the vertical velocity is upward when horizontal velocity is in the valley phase, but downward when horizontal velocity is in the peak phase. The coherence makes transport of momentum and matter more effective. It was later found that this gusty coherent structure is a phenomenon of mechanical turbulence, which occurs in weakly stable, neutral and unstable stratification. However, research on the physical mechanism of this coherent structure is still lacking. This paper shows that the gusty coherent structure can be explained by quasi‐streamwise vortex pairs and high and low speed streaks induced by quasi‐streamwise vortexes. The coherent structure can be obtained from the three‐dimensional Navier‒Stokes (N‒S) equations. The maximum intensities of vortices and streaks are located at 20.7% and 12.1% of the boundary layer heights respectively, which are consistent with the observed results at 200 and 120 m.

Large eddy simulation of magnetohydrodynamic turbulent flow in an electrically conducting circular pipe with V-shaped strips

Pressure drops and velocity distributions of liquid metal MHD flow in pipes are closely related to the geometry of the cross-section. Liquid metal flows in two types of electrically conducting circular pipes under a uniform magnetic field applied transversely to the flow are investigated numerically using large eddy simulation with a coherent structure model developed in the OpenFOAM environment. One pipe has a typical circular cross-section (N-pipe), whereas the other has four V-shaped strips at the wall parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field (F-pipe). The increasing transverse magnetic field causes a turbulent MHD flow evolves into a single-sided turbulent flow and a laminar flow in the N-pipe. The V-shaped strips on the Hartmann wall generate a low-velocity belt along the magnetic field direction in the center of the pipe and weak high-velocity jets near the V-shaped strips. Furthermore, the inflection points in the velocity profile improve instability and turbulence. The root mean square of the velocity fluctuation, in particular, the transverse components increase with the Hartmann number increasing along the magnetic field direction in the F-pipe. The V-shaped strips delay the MHD turbulent-laminar transition. However, the skin friction coefficient is slightly higher in the F-pipe than in the N-pipe, with the same dimensionless parameters. The research results can be applied to the turbulence promoter in the MHD pipe flow. Key words: Magnetohydrodynamic turbulent flow, large eddy simulation, pipe, V-shaped strips. Tables 5, Figs 9, Refs 23.

Structure of lead borate glasses by Raman, 11B MAS, and 207Pb NMR spectroscopies

A multi-spectroscopic investigation of glasses xPbO-(100-x)B2O3, where 30 ≤ x ≤ 80, was undertaken employing Raman, 207Pb static NMR, and 11B MAS NMR spectroscopies. The Raman results were quantified and combined with quantitative NMR results to produce a coherent structural model. The fraction of four-coordinated borons (N4) has a maximum near x = 50, in contrast with alkali modified borates where the maximum is near x = 35–40. In the range x = 30–50, both NMR and Raman spectroscopies indicate that lead ion behaves more ionically. From x = 50–65, the spectroscopic results indicate a change in the lead-oxygen bonding character from ionic to covalent. At similar compositions, the borate network becomes more ionic while remaining under-modified compared to alkali borates; consistent with lead-oxygen bonding being important to the structural evolution. When x > 65, the lead-oxygen bonding becomes significantly covalent.

The Two‐Energies Turbulence Scheme Coupled to the Assumed PDF Method

AbstractAn update of the two‐energy turbulence scheme is presented, the 2TE + APDF scheme. The original version of the two‐energy scheme is able to successfully model shallow convection without the need of an additional parameterization for non‐local fluxes. However, the performance of the two‐energy scheme is worse in stratocumulus cases, where it tends to overestimate the erosion of the stable layers. We have identified the causes: the non‐local stability parameter does not consider local stratification, the scheme lacks an internal parameter that could distinguish between a shallow convection regime and a stratocumulus regime, and it uses an inflexible turbulence length scale formulation. To alleviate this problem, we propose several modifications: an update of the stability parameter, a modified computation of the turbulence length scale, and the introduction of the entropy potential temperature to distinguish between a shallow convection and a stratocumulus regime. In addition, the two‐energy scheme is coupled to a simplified assumed probability density function method in order to achieve a more universal representation of the cloudy regimes. The updated turbulence scheme is evaluated for several idealized cases and one selected real case in the ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON) modeling framework. The results show that the updated scheme corrects the overmixing problem in the stratocumulus cases. The performance of the updated scheme is comparable to the operational setup, and can be thus used instead of the operational turbulence and shallow convection scheme in ICON. Additionally, the updated scheme improves the coupling with dynamics, which is beneficial for the modeling of coherent flow structures in the atmospheric boundary layer.

Efficient computation of global resolvent modes

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Optimal eddy viscosity for resolvent-based models of coherent structures in turbulent jets

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Topology-free immersed boundary method for incompressible turbulence flows: An aerodynamic simulation for “dirty” CAD geometry

To design a method to solve the issues of handling “dirty” and highly complex geometries, the topology-free method combined with the immersed boundary method is presented for viscous and incompressible flows at a high Reynolds number. The method simultaneously employs a ghost-cell technique and distributed forcing technique to impose the boundary conditions. An axis-projected interpolation scheme is used to avoid searching failures during fluid and solid identification. This method yields a topology-free immersed boundary, which particularly suits flow simulations of highly complex geometries. Difficulties generally arise when generating the calculation grid for these scenarios. This method allows dirty data to be handled without any preparatory treatment work to simplify or clean-up the geometry. This method is also applicable to the coherent structural turbulence model employed in this study. The verification cases, used in conjunction with the second-order central-difference scheme, resulted in first-order accuracy at finer resolution, although the coarser resolution retained second-order accuracy. This method is fully parallelized for distributed memory platforms. In this study, the accuracy and fidelity of this method were examined by simulating the flow around the bluff body, past a flat plate, and past dirty spheres. These simulations were compared with experimental data and other established results. Finally, results from the simulation of practical applications demonstrate the ability of the method to model highly complex, non-canonical three-dimensional flows. The countermeasure based on the accurate classification of geometric features has provided a robust and reasonable solution.

A deep investigation into the structure of carbon dots

Since their discovery, carbon dots (CDs) have been a promising nanomaterial in a variety of fields including nanomedicine. Despite their potential in this area, there are many obstacles to overcome for CDs to be approved for biomedical use. One major hindrance to CDs’ approval is related to their poorly defined structure. Herein a structural study of CDs is presented in order to rectify this shortcoming. The properties of three CDs which have significant promise in biomedical applications, black CDs (B-CDs), carbon nitride dots (CNDs), and yellow CDs (Y-CDs), are compared in order to develop a coherent structural model for each nanosystem. Absorption coefficients were measured for each system and this data gave insight on the level of disorder in each system. Furthermore, extensive structural characterization has been performed in order to derive structural information for each system. This data showed that B-CDs and CNDs are functionalized to a greater degree and are also more disordered and amorphous than Y-CDs. These techniques were used to develop a structural model consistent with the obtained data and what is known for carbonic nanostructures. These models can be used to analyze CD emission properties and to better understand the structure-property relationship in CDs.

Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition and resolvent analysis of near-wall coherent structures in turbulent pipe flows

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EN The wave model of secondary flows and coherent structures in pipes

In this article, a theoretical analysis of the flows arising in the cross sections of fluid and gas flows is performed. Such flows are subdivided into secondary flows and coherent structures. From experimental studies it is known that both types of flows are long-lived large-scale movements (LSM) stretched along the flow. The relative stability of the vortices is traditionally explained by the fact that the viscous friction forces that inhibit the rotation are compensated by the intensification of the swirl when moving slowly rotating peripheral layers to the center of the vortex due to longitudinal tension. An analysis of this mechanism made it possible to develop a relatively simple model of vortex structures in which the viscous friction forces and axial expansion are considered to be infinitesimal. Under these assumptions, one can use the equations of motion of an ideal fluid in the variables “stream function - vorticity”. It is shown that under certain assumptions these equations take the form of a wave equation, and the boundary conditions are the condition that the stream function on the solid walls of the flow equals zero. The obtained solutions of the wave equation describe the following special cases: Goertler’s vortices between rotating cylinders, secondary flows in a pipe with a square cross section, swirling flow in a round pipe, paired vortex after bend of the pipe. The physical sense of more complex solutions of the wave equation has become clear relatively recently. Very similar structures were found in experimental studies using orthogonal decomposition (POD) of a turbulent pulsations field. This may mean that the eigenfunctions in the POD correspond to coherent structures that really arise in the flow. The results obtained confirm the hypothesis that secondary flows and coherent structures have a common nature. The solutions obtained in this paper can be used in processing the experiment as eigenfunctions for the orthogonal decomposition method. In addition, they can be used in direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulent flows

Influence of Diesel Fuel Viscosity on Cavitating Throttle Flow Simulations under Erosive Operation Conditions.

This work investigates the effect of liquid fuel viscosity, as specific by the European Committee for Standardization 2009 (European Norm) for all automotive fuels, on the predicted cavitating flow in micro-orifice flows. The wide range of viscosities allowed leads to a significant variation in orifice nominal Reynolds numbers for the same pressure drop across the orifice. This in turn, is found to affect flow detachment and the formation of large-scale vortices and microscale turbulence. A pressure-based compressible solver is used on the filtered Navier–Stokes equations using the multifluid approach; separate velocity fields are solved for each phase, which share a common pressure. The rates of evaporation and condensation are evaluated with a simplified model based on the Rayleigh–Plesset equation; the coherent structure model is adopted for the subgrid scale modeling in the momentum conservation equation. The test case simulated is a well-reported benchmark throttled flow channel geometry, referred to as “I-channel”; this has allowed for easy optical access for which flow visualization and laser-induced fluorescence measurements allowed for validation of the developed methodology. Despite its simplicity, the I-channel geometry is found to reproduce the most characteristic flow features prevailing in high-speed flows realized in cavitating fuel injectors. Subsequently, the effect of liquid viscosity on integral mass flow, velocity profiles, vapor cavity distribution, and pressure peaks indicating locations prone to cavitation erosion is reported.

Assessment of performance of subgrid stress models for a LES technique for predicting suppression of turbulence and heat transfer in channel flows under the influence of body forces

The main purpose of this work was to assess the performance of subgrid stress models for large eddy simulation (LES) of the flow and heat transfer of a conductive liquid simulating a molten salt (Pr = 4.1) in a square duct under the influence of a transverse magnetic field and an upward flow of air in a vertical heated pipe under a strong influence of buoyancy. An analysis of these problems is important when choosing the most appropriate subgrid-scale LES model for calculating the flows of an electrically conductive liquid under the combined influence of a magnetic field and buoyancy forces. Four subgrid-scale (SGS) models were verified: the Smagorinsky model with damping function (SMP), a coherent structure model (CSM), a WALE model and a hybrid model based on the equation for turbulent kinetic energy (KDES). For magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow in the duct, computations were performed in a domain with periodic inlet-exit boundaries and in a domain corresponding to the entrance region of a duct with a transverse magnetic field. Mixed convection of the air in the vertical heated pipe was simulated only in the domain with periodic boundaries. The results are compared with available data of direct numerical simulations (DNS).For MHD flow in the duct, the best predictions of DNS data for the average and fluctuating velocity components at Ha=21.2 and Re=5602 were obtained with the CSM and WALE models. The skin-friction and heat transfer coefficients are well known to have a minimum as Ha increases due to turbulence suppression by the magnetic field. The SMP and KDES models predict a minimum at Hadip≈22, whereas the CSM and WALE models predict a minimum at Hadip≈30 for Re=5602. The DNS data marked these values as the lower and upper boundaries of the complete turbulence suppression region for the same Reynolds number.For mixed convection of the air upward flows in a circular heated pipe at Re=5300, the CSM and WALE models showed weaker suppression of turbulence due to buoyancy forces when compared to the DNS results. The results of calculations of skin-friction and heat transfer coefficients performed with the help of the SMP and KDES models are much more coincident with the DNS data.

Analysis of the Interconnections between Classic Vortex Models of Coherent Structures Based on DNS Data

Low- and high-speed streaks (ejection, Q2, and sweep, Q4, events in quadrant analysis) are significant features of coherent structures in turbulent flow. Streak formation is closely related to turbulent structures in several vortex models, such as attached eddy models, streamwise vortex analysis models, and hairpin vortex models, which are all standard models. Vortex models are complex, whereby the relationships among the different vortex models are unclear; thus, further studies are still needed to complete our understanding of vortices. In this study, 30 sets of direct numerical simulation (DNS) data were obtained to analyze the mechanics of the formation of coherent structures. Image processing techniques and statistical analysis were used to identify and quantify streak characteristics. We used a method of vortex recognition to extract spanwise vortices in the x–z plane. Analysis of the interactions among coherent structures showed that the three standard vortex models all gave reasonably close results. The attached eddy vortex model provides a good explanation of the linear dimensions of streaky structures with respect to the water depth and Q2 and Q4 events, whereby it can be augmented to form the quasi-streamwise vortex model. The legs of a hairpin vortex envelop low-speed streaky structures and so move in the streamwise direction; lower-velocity vortex legs also gradually accumulate into a streamwise vortex. Statistical analysis allowed us to combine our present results with some previous research results to propose a mechanism for the formation of streaky structures. This study provides a deeper understanding of the interrelationships among different vortex models.

Revisiting coherent structures in low-speed turbulent boundary layers

Coherent structures are essential for the momentum exchange and turbulence production in wall-bounded turbulent flows. Diversified coherent structures have been observed in turbulent boundary layers, and hairpin-based vortices dominate most of the relevant literature. However, there is no consensus yet on the origin and forming mechanism of hairpin vortices. Herein, five cornerstones pertaining to the framework of hairpin-based coherent structures are reviewed, and three different hairpin generation mechanisms are clarified. Next, the time-resolved tomographic particle image velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) is used in an early turbulent boundary layer (Reθ= 420) to investigate the origin of hairpin vortices. The timelines reveal a triangular bulge in the low-speed streak (LSS), and the initial roll-up occurs at two sides of it. Meanwhile, the material surfaces manifest as a three-dimensional (3D) wave structure in the LSS, which may support the model of a soliton-like coherent structure (SCS). Subsequently, the method of Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation is used to detect early vortices. We find that the 3D wave structure is flanked by two vortices, thus confirming the roll-up of timelines and demonstrating the advantage of the Lagrangian criteria in capturing structures in complex flows. These results suggest that various coherent structures may evolve from the metamorphosis of 3D wave structures and their later interaction. Finally, the limitations of traditional experimental and post-processing tools are discussed.

Structural elements of the southern Thomson Orogen (Australian Tasmanides): a tale of megafolds

Multi-scale, multi-method integration of geological constraints, with new interpretations of potential field data and seismic reflection data, has resulted in a comprehensive structural interpretation of the southern Thomson Orogen, eastern Australia. The interpretation reveals ∼50 major faults and shear zones, many of which can be traced for several hundred kilometres. The interpretation suggests that the southern Thomson Orogen can be subdivided into several structural domains that can be distinguished by differences in: (i) spatial orientation, (ii) geographic distribution, and (iii) partly the timing of major faults, but also to varying degrees by (iv) the evolution and spatial orientation of other structural elements, such as folds, minor faults and fractures, (v) broader lithological trends, (vi) stratigraphy, and (vii) structural style. The two largest domains are the Western Structural Domain that contains numerous faults and shear zones, and the fold-dominated Eastern Structural Domain, which is more strongly affected by late- to post-Devonian thrusting than the Western Structural Domain. Notwithstanding their differences, the domains can be integrated into a coherent structural model for the southern Thomson Orogen, which suggests that the area represents a set of megafolds or oroclines, which may have formed during the Bindian Orogeny.

High precision FRET studies reveal reversible transitions in nucleosomes between microseconds and minutes

Nucleosomes play a dual role in compacting the genome and regulating the access to DNA. To unravel the underlying mechanism, we study fluorescently labeled mononucleosomes by multi-parameter FRET measurements and characterize their structural and dynamic heterogeneity upon NaCl-induced destabilization. Species-selective fluorescence lifetime analysis and dynamic photon distribution analysis reveal intermediates during nucleosome opening and lead to a coherent structural and kinetic model. In dynamic octasomes and hexasomes the interface between the H2A-H2B dimers and the (H3-H4)2 tetramer opens asymmetrically by an angle of ≈20° on a 50 and 15 µs time scale, respectively. This is followed by a slower stepwise release of the dimers coupled with DNA unwrapping. A mutation (H2A-R81A) at the interface between H2A and H3 facilitates initial opening, confirming the central role of the dimer:tetramer interface for nucleosome stability. Partially opened states such as those described here might serve as convenient nucleation sites for DNA-recognizing proteins.

Large eddy simulation of geometry sensitivity of magneotohydrodynamic turbulent flow in a rectangular duct

Velocity distributions and pressure drops in liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) duct flows are closely associated with the shape of the duct cross-section. In order to investigate the effects of the cross-sectional shape on MHD turbulent flows, liquid metal flow in two kinds of rectangular duct with a uniform magnetic field applied transversely to the flow are simulated using large eddy simulation with the coherent structure model. One duct has a normal rectangular cross-section (N-duct), while the other rectangular duct has a triangular protrusion pointing into the flow domain at the middle of the walls parallel to the magnetic fields (P-duct). Both duct walls are electrically insulating, and the inlet and outlet of the computational domain are set to be periodic. The flow Reynolds number is kept constant in this study, while the Hartmann numbers vary from 10 to 42.4. The numerical results show that the protrusion at the parallel walls promotes flow turbulence and compensates the effect of turbulence suppression due to the magnetic field. As the Hartmann number increases, the turbulent MHD flow transits to a single-sided turbulent flow and finally to a laminar flow. The protrusion at the side wall promotes the turbulence and delays the MHD turbulent-laminar transition as the Hartmann number increases. However, the skin friction coefficient is higher in P-duct than that in N-duct when the flow is turbulent. The protrusion cannot reduce the pressure drop in rectangular duct with insulating walls.

LES of Internal Combustion Engine Flows Using Cartesian Overset Grids

Accurate computations of turbulent flows using the Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) technique with an appropriate SubFilter Scale (SFS) model require low artificial dissipation such that the physical energy cascade process is not perturbed by numerical artifacts. To realize this in practical simulations, energy-conserving numerical schemes and high-quality computational grids are needed. If unstructured meshes are used, the latter requirement often makes grid generation for complex geometries very difficult. Structured Cartesian grids offer the advantage that uncertainties in mesh quality are reduced to choosing appropriate resolution. However, two intrinsic challenges of the structured approach are local mesh refinement and representation of complex geometries. In this work, the effectiveness of numerical methods which can be expected to reduce both drawbacks is assessed in engine flows, using a multi-physics inhouse code. The overset grid approach is utilized to arbitrarily combine grid patches of different spacing to a flow domain of complex shape during mesh generation. Walls are handled by an Immersed Boundary (IB) method, which is combined with a wall function to treat underresolved boundary layers. A statistically stationary Spark Ignition (SI) engine port flow is simulated at Reynolds numbers typical for engine operation. Good agreement of computed and measured integral flow quantities like overall pressure loss and tumble number is found. A comparison of simulated velocity fields to Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurement data concludes the validation of the enhanced numerical framework for both mean velocity and turbulent fluctuations. The performance of two SFS models, the dynamic Smagorinsky model with Lagrangian averaging along pathlines and the coherent structure model, is tested on different grids. Sensitivity of pressure loss and tumble ratio to the wall treatment and mesh refinement is presented. It is shown that increased wall friction introduced by applying a wall model is overcompensated by some secondary effects, which lead to an overall reduction of pressure loss in the investigated engine geometry. Finally, dynamics of the statistically stationary valve jets are analyzed using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). Two distinct flow patterns are identified and the relevance for Cycle-to-Cycle Variations (CCV) is discussed.