Maximum Turbulent Kinetic Energy Research Articles

Flow separation and shear stress over angle-of-repose bed forms: A numerical investigation

Large asymmetric bed forms commonly develop in rivers. The turbulence associated with flow separation that develops over their steep lee side is responsible for the form shear stress which can represent a substantial part of total shear stress in rivers. This paper uses the Delft3D modeling system to investigate the effects of bed form geometry and forcing conditions on flow separation length and associated turbulence, and bed form shear stress over angle-of-repose (30° lee side angle) bed forms. The model was validated with lab measurements that showed sufficient agreement to be used for a systematic analysis. The influence of flow velocity, bed roughness, relative height (bed form height/water depth), and aspect ratio (bed form height/length) on the variations of the normalized length of the flow separation zone, the extent of the wake region (where the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) was more than 70% of the maximum TKE), the average TKE within the wake region and the form shear stress were investigated. Form shear stress was found not to scale with the size of the flow separation zone but to be related to the product of the normalized extent of the wake region (extent of the wake region/extent of water body above the bed form) and the average TKE within the wake region. The results add to understanding of the hydrodynamics of bed forms and may be used for the development of better parameterizations of small-scale processes for application in large-scale studies.

Turbulence Anisotropy in the Near-Surface Atmosphere and the Evaluation of Multiple Outer Length Scales

Length scales determined by maximum turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), the integral scale, and two length scales based on Reynolds stress-tensor anisotropy are compared to the often stated outer length scales of boundary-layer depth and distance from the earth’s surface, \(z\). The scales are calculated using sonic anemometer data from two elevations, 5 and 50 m above the ground at the main tower site of the CASES-99 field campaign. In general, none of these scales agrees with the other, although the scale of maximum TKE is often similar to the boundary-layer depth during daytime hours, and the length scales derived from anisotropy characteristics are sometimes similar to \(\kappa \!z, z\), and \(2z\) depending on scale definition and thermal stability. Except for the scale with the strictest isotropy threshold, the turbulence is anisotropic for each of the various candidates for the outer scale. Length scales for maximum buoyancy flux and temperature variance are evaluated and the turbulence characteristics at these scales are almost always found to be anisotropic.

Determination of maximum turbulent energy dissipation rate generated by a rushton impeller through large eddy simulation

Large eddy simulation (LES) of a stirred tank equipped with a Rushton impeller and four cylindrical baffles was used to characterize the flow pattern and to assess the maximum turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate εmax. While the shorter baffle‐impeller distance significantly affects the radial velocity profile and the trailing vortices expansion, the flow field in the impeller vicinity is comparable to that of a standard setup with rectangular baffles connected to the wall. The phase‐resolved profile of εmax indicates its very strong variation from 10 · N3 D2 to 130 ± 13 · N3 D2. When using peak values of the corresponding hydrodynamic stress , the maximum stable aggregate size measured in the same stirred tank closely correlates with breakage data obtained under laminar conditions using the same initial aggregates. This indicates that the same mechanism was involved in the aggregate breakup under both conditions, allowing us to predict aggregates breakup under various conditions. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3642–3658, 2013

Measurement of Tidal Form Drag Using Seafloor Pressure Sensors

Abstract As currents flow over rough topography, the pressure difference between the up- and downstream sides results in form drag—a force that opposes the flow. Measuring form drag is valuable because it can be used to estimate the loss of energy from currents as they interact with topography. An array of bottom pressure sensors was used to measure the tidal form drag on a sloping ridge in 200 m of water that forms a 1-km headland at the surface in Puget Sound, Washington. The form drag per unit length of the ridge reached 1 × 104 N m−1 during peak flood tides. The tidally averaged power removed from the tidal currents by form drag was 0.2 W m−2, which is 30 times larger than power losses to friction. Form drag is best parameterized by a linear wave drag law as opposed to a bluff body drag law because the flow is stratified and both internal waves and eddies are generated on the sloping topography. Maximum turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates of 5 × 10−5 W kg−1 were measured with a microstructure profiler and are estimated to account for 25%–50% of energy lost from the tides. This study is among the first to measure form drag directly using bottom pressure sensors. The measurement and analysis techniques presented here are suitable for periodically reversing flows because they require the removal of a time-mean signal. The advantage of this technique is that it delivers a continuous record of form drag and is much less ship intensive compared to previous methods for estimation of the bottom pressure field.

Turbulence in transient channel flow

AbstractDirect numerical simulations (DNS) are performed of a transient channel flow following a rapid increase of flow rate from an initially turbulent flow. It is shown that a low-Reynolds-number turbulent flow can undergo a process of transition that resembles the laminar–turbulent transition. In response to the rapid increase of flow rate, the flow does not progressively evolve from the initial turbulent structure to a new one, but undergoes a process involving three distinct phases (pre-transition, transition and fully turbulent) that are equivalent to the three regions of the boundary layer bypass transition, namely, the buffeted laminar flow, the intermittent flow and the fully turbulent flow regions. This transient channel flow represents an alternative bypass transition scenario to the free-stream-turbulence (FST) induced transition, whereby the initial flow serving as the disturbance is a low-Reynolds-number turbulent wall shear flow with pre-existing streaky structures. The flow nevertheless undergoes a ‘receptivity’ process during which the initial structures are modulated by a time-developing boundary layer, forming streaks of apparently specific favourable spacing (of about double the new boundary layer thickness) which are elongated streamwise during the pre-transitional period. The structures are stable and the flow is laminar-like initially; but later in the transitional phase, localized turbulent spots are generated which grow spatially, merge with each other and eventually occupy the entire wall surfaces when the flow becomes fully turbulent. It appears that the presence of the initial turbulent structures does not promote early transition when compared with boundary layer transition of similar FST intensity. New turbulent structures first appear at high wavenumbers extending into a lower-wavenumber spectrum later as turbulent spots grow and join together. In line with the transient energy growth theory, the maximum turbulent kinetic energy in the pre-transitional phase grows linearly but only in terms of${u}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $, whilst${v}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $and${w}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $remain essentially unchanged. The energy production and dissipation rates are very low at this stage despite the high level of ${u}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $. The pressure–strain term remains unchanged at that time, but increases rapidly later during transition along with the generation of turbulent spots, hence providing an unambiguous measure for the onset of transition.

Turbulent Characteristic of Liquid Around a Chain of Bubbles in Non-Newtonian Fluid

The turbulence behavior of gas-liquid two-phase flow plays an important role in heat transfer and mass transfer in many chemical processes. In this work, a 2D particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to investigate the turbulent characteristic of fluid induced by a chain of bubbles rising in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The instantaneous flow field, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and TKE dissipation rate were measured. The results demonstrated that the TKE profiles were almost symmetrical along the column center and showed higher values in the central region of the column. The TKE was enhanced with the increase of gas flow and decrease of liquid viscosity. The maximum TKE dissipation rate appeared on both sides of the bubble chain, and increased with the increase of gas flow rate or liquid viscosity. These results provide an understanding for gas-liquid mass transfer in non-Newtonian fluids.

Effects of submerged flexible vegetation and solid structure bars on channel bed scour

The effects of different submerged obstacle longitudinal bars with different arrangement densities on the flow profile and morphology of a scour hole were investigated under clear water conditions. Acoustic Doppler velocimetry (ADV) data were applied to plot the vertical distributions of three-dimensional velocities and turbulent contours. The experimental results indicate that arrangement density (also can represent porosity), structural material (flexible or solid), and the sidewall effect are the main factors impacting turbulent kinetic energy and the morphology of scour holes. For flexible vegetation, the maximum turbulent kinetic energy near the bed surface increased with the arrangement density. For the same structure, the depth and the magnitude of the lateral expansion of the scour hole also increased with the arrangement density. The flexible vegetation reduced the depth of the scour hole because of deflection and arrangement density. The larger volumes of scour found in the upstream and middle sections of solid structures compare well to those in flexible vegetation. The deflection of porous flexible vegetation transported the turbulent kinetic energy downstream, reduced the turbulent kinetic energy near the sediment bed, and increased the stability of the bars. Flexible vegetation bars are able to protect the bank and the bed of a river under normal conditions, making them a good alternative design in the management and restoration of rivers.

Investigation of physiological pulsatile flow in a model arterial stenosis using large-eddy and direct numerical simulations

Physiological pulsatile flow in a 3D model of arterial stenosis is investigated by using large eddy simulation (LES) technique. The computational domain chosen is a simple channel with a biological type stenosis formed eccentrically on the top wall. The physiological pulsation is generated at the inlet using the first harmonic of the Fourier series of pressure pulse. In LES, the large scale flows are resolved fully while the unresolved subgrid scale (SGS) motions are modelled using a localized dynamic model. Due to the narrowing of artery the pulsatile flow becomes transition-to-turbulent in the downstream region of the stenosis, where a high level of turbulent fluctuations is achieved, and some detailed information about the nature of these fluctuations are revealed through the investigation of the turbulent energy spectra. Transition-to-turbulent of the pulsatile flow in the post stenosis is examined through the various numerical results such as velocity, streamlines, velocity vectors, vortices, wall pressure and shear stresses, turbulent kinetic energy, and pressure gradient. A comparison of the LES results with the coarse DNS are given for the Reynolds number of 2000 in terms of the mean pressure, wall shear stress as well as the turbulent characteristics. The results show that the shear stress at the upper wall is low just prior to the centre of the stenosis, while it is maximum in the throat of the stenosis. But, at the immediate post stenotic region, the wall shear stress takes the oscillating form which is quite harmful to the blood cells and vessels. In addition, the pressure drops at the throat of the stenosis where the re-circulated flow region is created due to the adverse pressure gradient. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy is located at the post stenosis with the presence of the inertial sub-range region of slope −5/3.

Use of PIV to measure turbulence modulation in a high throughput stirred vessel with the addition of high Stokes number particles for both up- and down-pumping configurations

A refractive index matching technique combined with particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure turbulent properties of solid–liquid suspensions in a small high throughput scale cylindrical vessel of 45 mm diameter agitated with a 45° pitched blade turbine (PBT) for up-pumping (U) and down-pumping (D) configurations. This study analyses the effect of large 1.5 mm diameter particles (Stokes number>1), on liquid mean velocities, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and energy dissipation ( ε) at particle concentrations of 0%, 1.5% and 5% by volume. Only small changes in the time-averaged liquid velocities were observed with increasing particle concentration. However, maximum TKE near the impeller decreased up to 40% with increasing particle concentration for both configurations. The Smagorinsky SGS method was used to estimate local energy dissipation rate near the impeller and the maximum value was found to decrease by 50% between 0% and 5% concentration for the (U) configuration. A lesser but still significant drop of 30% was observed for the (D) configuration. These data confirm that large Stokes number particles can suppress turbulence, in agreement with some previous experimental studies, but in contradiction with existing theories.

Boundary mixing by density overturns in an internal tidal beam

[1] A numerical study based on large eddy simulation (LES) is performed to investigate near-bottom mixing processes in an internal wave beam over a critical slope. Transition to turbulence from an initial laminar state is followed by mixing events that occur at specific phases. Maximum turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate are found just after the zero velocity point when flow reverses from downslope to upslope motion. At this phase, convective instability leads to density overturns that originate in the upper flank of the beam and span the beam width of 60 m. Turbulence originating at the bottom and with smaller vertical extent is also present during the phases of peak upslope and downslope flow when the boundary layer shear is large. The present numerical simulations identify and characterize a process, internal wave beam at a critical slope during generation or after propagation from a nearby generation site, that may lead to the high turbulence levels, modulated at the tidal frequency, that is observed near the bottom in oceanic sites with near-critical topography.

배열회수보일러(HRSG)의 입구유동 경계조건에 따른 유동특성 변화에 관한 연구

본 연구는 배열회수보일러(HRSG)에서의 유동특성을 유동수치해석을 통하여 분석하였다. HRSG 입구영역은 가스터빈 후류의 출구에 해당하고 가스터빈 후류는 강한 선회 및 난류 유동이다. 따라서 HRSG 입구 유동은 가스 터빈 출구 유동 특성이 고려되어야 한다. 본 연구에서는 HRSG 입구 유동 경계조건을 가스터빈 출구 유동 해석을 통하여 도출된 결과를 이용하였다. 가스터빈 출구 유동해석 결과를 보면 축방향 속도가 가장 크게 나타나는 곳이 원형 덕트의 벽면 측이고 난류운동에너지와 소산율이 크게 나타나는 곳이 속도 구배가 급격한 곳으로 축방향 속도가 최대가 되는 곳과 차이가 있다. 본 연구에서는 HRSG 입구영역에서의 난류 성분을 가스터빈 출구 유동을 계산 한 결과를 이용한 경우와 난류강도를 속도의 10%를 이용하고 원형 덕트의 직경을 특성 길이로 사용한 두 가지 경우에 대하여 유동해석을 통하여 유동 특성을 비교하였다. 본 연구를 통하여 HRSG 입구 유동 경계조건은 반드시 난류성분이 올바르게 적용되어야 HRSG 유동 특성 해석의 정확성을 기할 수 있음을 알았다. The present study has been carried out to analyze the flow characteristics of a heat recovery steam generator with the change of inlet flow conditions by using numerical flow analysis. The inlet of HRSG corresponds the outlet of gas turbine exit and the flow after gas turbine has strong swirl flow and turbulence. The inlet flow condition of HRSG should be included the exit flow characteristics of gas turbine. The present numerical analysis adopted the flow analysis result of gas turbine exit flow as a inlet flow condition of HRSG analysis. The computational flow analysis result of gas turbine exit shows that the maximum axial velocity appears near circular duct wall and the maximum turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate exist relatively higher gradient region of axial velocity. The comparison of flow analysis will be executed with change of inlet turbulent flow condition. The first case is using the inlet turbulent properties from the result of computational analysis of gas turbine exit flow, and the second case is using the assumed turbulent intensity with the magnitude proportional to the velocity magnitude and length scale. The computational results of flow characteristics for two cases show great difference especially in the velocity field and turbulent properties. The main conclusion of the present study is that the flow inlet condition of HRSG should be included the turbulent properties for the accurate computational result of flow analysis.

Experimental investigation of the decay from a ship’s propeller

In the present study, an experimental investigation of the decay of the maximum velocity and its turbulent characteristics behind a ship propeller, in “bollard pull” condition (zero speed of advance), is reported. Velocity measurements were performed in laboratory by use of a Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) measurement system. Earlier researchers described that the maximum axial velocity is constant at the initial stage of a ship’s propeller jet (Fuehrer and Romisch, 1977; Blaauw and van de Kaa, 1978; Berger et al., 1981; Verhey, 1983) as reported in a pure water jet (Albertson et al., 1950; Lee et al., 2002; Dai, 2005), but a number of researchers disagreed with the constant velocity assumption. The present study found that the maximum axial velocity decays in the zone of flow establishment and the zone of established flow with different rates. The investigation provides an insight into the decays of both the maximum velocity and the maximum turbulent fluctuation in axial, tangential and radial components and the decay of the maximum turbulent kinetic energy. Empirical equations are proposed to allow coastal engineers to estimate the jet characteristics from a ship’s propeller.

EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDIES ON WAVE PROPAGATION OVER COARSE GRAINED SLOPING BEACH

In this paper, the hydrodynamics and turbulence on wave propagation over coarse grained sloping beach is investigated by both experimental and numerical methods. The coarse grained sloping beach was conducted over a 1:5 smooth inclined bottom with two layers of spherical balls. A set of newly and rarely experimental data for the distribution and evolution of the wave and velocity field over porous sloping beach were measured in this study. The particle image velocimetry (PIV) and digital image process (DIP) techniques are employed to measure the flow field and free surface both inside and outside regions for a coarse grain porous sloping bed. Eleven fields of views (FOVs) were integrated to represent the global results converting the entire propagating waves from the outer to the inner surf zones and swash zones. In addition, a high-resolution CCD Camera was constructed to capture wave propagating images continuously. Subsequent digital image processing (DIP) techniques that including image enhancement, coordinate transformation, edge detection and sub-pixel concept for resolution advancement were developed to analysis the image and get the information of wave motions. In this experimental study, the PIV and DIP techniques offer a possibility for measuring full scale spatio-temporal information of the wave motions and velocity field within / without the porous sloping bed without instructive instrument. Furthermore, the FLOW-3D which based on the Navier-Stokes equations was adopted for CFD computations. The direct three-dimensional simulations were employed for simulating wave profile and velocity field for the sloping beach. Numerical results were favorably compared with experiments to examine the validity of the model. According to the comparison of the wave and velocity data of hydraulic physical model with computational results, the direct three-dimensional simulations method can offer results much agreement with the experimental data in the global regions. The results showed that direct three-dimensional simulations can resolve the wave and velocity profile more complete and reasonable descriptions from outer to the inner porous layer and it is true no matter in the surf zone, swash zone and within the porous layer. Moreover, according to the experimental analysis, the process of the turbulence characteristics of the maximum turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate and turbulence intensity occurred between the toe of breaker and surface of porous layer. In addition, general discussion of hydrodynamics and turbulence on wave propagation over coarse grained sloping beach and impermeable sloping bed were investigated with the results of direct three-dimensional simulations in this study. The results showed that wave propagation over coarse grained sloping beach effects the breaker types in the shallow water, i.e. the steepening and overturning of the front face due to plunging breaker over impermeable sloping beach becomes indistinctively and the breaker type transform into the collapsing type. Besides, the dissipation of wave energy due to the role of infiltration and friction are significant differences from surf zone to swash zone between the coarse grained and impermeable sloping beach.

Effect of Engine Speed on In-Cylinder Tumble Flows in a Motored Internal Combustion Engine An Experimental Investigation Using Particle Image Velocimetry

Now-a-days, the stratified and direct injection spark ignition engines are becoming very popular because of their low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. But, the challenges to them are the formation and control of the charge which is mainly dependent on the in-cylinder fluid flows. Today, an optical tool like particle image velocimetry (PIV) is extensively used for the in-cylinder fluid flow measurements. This paper deals with the experimental investigations of the in-cylinder fluid tumble flows in a motored internal combustion engine with a flat piston at different engine speeds during intake and compression strokes using PIV. The two-dimensional in-cylinder flow measurements and analysis of tumble flows have been carried out in the combustion space on a vertical plane at the cylinder axis. To analyze the fluid flows, ensemble average velocity vectors have been used. To characterize the tumble flow, tumble ratio has been estimated. From the results, it is found that the tumble ratio mainly varies with crank angle positions. At the end of compression stroke, maximum turbulent kinetic energy is more at higher engine speeds. Present study will be very useful in understanding the effect of engine speeds on the in-cylinder fluid tumble flows under real engine conditions.

Characterization of Flow through the Intake Valve of a Single Cylinder Engine Using Particle Image Velocimetry

This paper deals with the investigations of the in-cylinder flow pattern around the intake valve of a single-cylinder internal combustion engine using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) at different intake air flow rates. The intake air flow rates are corresponding to the three engine speeds of 1000, 2000 and 3000 rev/min., at all the static intake valve opening conditions. In this study, in-cylinder flow structure is characterized by the tumble ratio and maximum turbulent kinetic energy of the flow fields. In addition, at two specified lines of the combustion chamber, the radial and axial velocity profiles have been plotted. From the results, it is found that the overall airflow direction at the exit of the intake valve does not change significantly with the air flow rate and intake valve opening conditions. The tumble ratio increases with increase in intake valve opening and not much affected by the change in the air flow rates. It is also found that, the variations of the velocity profiles at the two specified lines are smooth at full intake valve opening irrespective of the air flow rate. Also, their magnitudes increase with increase in the intake valve openings at all the air flow rates. The in-cylinder flow analysis carried out in this study may be useful for optimizing the intake valve opening of an internal combustion engine with respect to it’s speed.

Numerical simulation of two-phase flow for sediment transport in the inner-surf and swash zones

A two-dimensional two-phase flow framework for fluid–sediment flow simulation in the surf and swash zones was described. Propagation, breaking, uprush and backwash of waves on sloping beaches were studied numerically with an emphasis on fluid hydrodynamics and sediment transport characteristics. The model includes interactive fluid–solid forces and intergranular stresses in the moving sediment layer. In the Euler–Euler approach adopted, two phases were defined using the Navier–Stokes equations with interphase coupling for momentum conservation. The k – ε closure model and volume of fluid approach were used to describe the turbulence and tracking of the free surface, respectively. Numerical simulations explored incident wave conditions, specifically spilling and plunging breakers, on both dissipative and intermediate beaches. It was found that the spatial variation of sediment concentration in the swash zone is asymmetric, while the temporal behavior is characterized by maximum sediment concentrations at the start and end of the swash cycle. The numerical results also indicated that the maximum turbulent kinetic energy and sediment flux occurs near the wave-breaking point. These predictions are in general agreement with previous observations, while the model describes the fluid and sediment phase characteristics in much more detail than existing measurements. With direct quantifications of velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, sediment concentration and flux, the model provides a useful approach to improve mechanistic understanding of hydrodynamic and sediment transport in the nearshore zone.

Large eddy simulation of a stratified boundary layer under an oscillatory current

A numerical study based on large eddy simulation is performed to investigate a bottom boundary layer under an oscillating tidal current. The focus is on the boundary layer response to an external stratification. The thermal field shows a mixed layer that is separated from the external stratified fluid by a thermocline. The mixed layer grows slowly in time with an oscillatory modulation by the tidal flow. Stratification strongly affects the mean velocity profiles, boundary layer thickness and turbulence levels in the outer region although the effect on the near-bottom unstratified fluid is relatively mild. The turbulence is asymmetric between the accelerating and decelerating stages. The asymmetry is more pronounced with increasing stratification. There is an overshoot of the mean velocity in the outer layer; this jet is linked to the phase asymmetry of the Reynolds shear stress gradient by using the simulation data to examine the mean momentum equation. Depending on the height above the bottom, there is a lag of the maximum turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation and production with respect to the peak external velocity and the value of the lag is found to be influenced by the stratification. Flow instabilities and turbulence in the bottom boundary layer excite internal gravity waves that propagate away into the ambient. Unlike the steady case, the phase lines of the internal waves change direction during the tidal cycle and also from near to far field. The frequency spectrum of the propagating wave field is analysed and found to span a narrow band of frequencies clustered around 45°.

Turbulence in coastal fronts near the mouths of Block Island and Long Island Sounds

Measurements of turbulence were performed in four frontal locations near the mouths of Block Island Sound (BIS) and Long Island Sound (LIS). These measurements extend from the offshore front associated with BIS and Mid-Atlantic Bight Shelf water, to the onshore fronts near the Montauk Point (MK) headland, and the Connecticut River plume front. The latter feature is closely associated with the major fresh water input to LIS. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rate, ε, was obtained using shear probes mounted on an autonomous underwater vehicle. Offshore, the BIS estuarine outflow front showed, during spring season and ebb tide, maximum TKE dissipation rate, ε, estimates of order 10 − 5 W/kg, with background values of order 10 − 6 to 10 − 9 W/kg. Edwards et al. [Edwards, C.A., Fake, T.A., and Bogden, P.S., 2004a. Spring–summer frontogenesis at the mouth of Block Island Sound: 1. A numerical investigation into tidal and buoyancy-forced motion. Journal of Geophysical Research 109 (C12021), doi:10.1029/2003JC002132.] model this front as the boundary of a tidally driven, baroclinically adjusted BIS flow around the MK headland eddy. At the entrance to BIS, near MK, two additional fronts are observed, one of which was over sand waves. For the headland site front east of MK, without sand waves, during ebb tide, ε estimates of 10 − 5 to 10 − 6 W/kg were observed. The model shows that this front is at the northern end of an anti-cyclonic headland eddy, and within a region of strong tidal mixing. For the headland site front further northeast over sand waves, maximum ε estimates were of order 10 − 4 W/kg within a background of order 10 − 7 –10 − 6 W/kg. From the model, this front is at the northeastern edge of the anti-cyclonic headland eddy and within the tidal mixing zone. For the Connecticut River plume front, a surface trapped plume, during ebb tide, maximum ε estimates of 10 − 5 W/kg were obtained, within a background of 10 − 6 to 10 − 8 W/kg. Of all four fronts, the river plume front has the largest finescale mean-square shear, S 2 ~ 0.15 s − 2 . All of the frontal locations had local values of the buoyancy Reynolds number indicating strong isotropic turbulence at the dissipation scales. Local values of the Froude number indicated shear instability in all of the fronts.

Double-averaging analysis and local flow characterization of near-bed turbulence in gravel-bed channel flows

This investigation focuses on the characteristics of near-bed turbulence in fully rough gravel-bed open-channel flows. The analysis combines results obtained with the double-averaging methodology and local flow characterization, using velocity measurements provided by a high-resolution three-axis Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler (ADVP). As a result of the flow heterogeneity induced by the bed topography, the flow is not locally uniform in the near-bed region, and a double-averaging methodology is applied over a length scale much greater than the gravel size. In smooth- and rough-bed flow conditions, without macro-roughness bed elements, maximum turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production occurs very close to z = 0, while in our case with fully rough flows with macro-roughness elements, maximum turbulence activity is found to occur at gravel crest levels zc (zc/h = 0.1). Turbulent diffusion also reaches a maximum at this elevation. The characteristics of the spatially averaged TKE budget are in good agreement with those obtained in flows over canopies. The hydrodynamic double-averaged properties have strong similarities with mixing layers and reattached mixing layers in flows over backward facing steps. Local time-averaged velocity profiles can be split into three typical classes, namely log, S-shaped and accelerated. It appears that the S-shaped class profiles, located in the wakes of the macro-roughness elements, exhibit an inflectional profile typical of mixing layers. They are of major importance in the double-averaged TKE budget, as they provide a local high contribution to the double-averaged TKE flux, TKE production and dissipation compared to the log class profiles. Consequently, double-averaged TKE production is roughly 75% greater than the dissipation rate at the point of maximal TKE production. Moreover the macro-roughness bed elements imply mixing-layer-type hydrodynamics that play a dominant role in the overall structure of mean near-bed turbulence of gravel-bed channel flows.

Turbulent separated convection flow adjacent to backward-facing step—effects of step height

Simulations of turbulent convection flow adjacent to a two-dimensional backward-facing step are presented to explore the effects of step height on turbulent separated flow and heat transfer. Reynolds number and duct’s height downstream from the step are kept constant at Re 0 = 28,000 and H = 0.19 m, respectively. Uniform and constant heat flux of q w = 270 W/m 2 is specified at the stepped wall downstream from the step, while other walls are treated as adiabatic. The selection of the values for these parameters is motivated by the fact that measurements are available for this geometry and they can be used to validate the flow and heat transfer simulation code. Two-equation low-Reynolds-number model is employed to achieve the turbulent Prandtl number. The primary and secondary recirculation regions increase in size as the step height increases. The bulk temperature increases more rapidly as the step height increases. Increasing the step height causes the magnitude of the maximum turbulent kinetic energy to increase. Near the step and below the step height, the turbulent kinetic energy becomes smaller as the step height increases. Inside the recirculation region, magnitude of the peak friction coefficient does not significantly change with the increase of step height. The friction coefficient becomes smaller in magnitude with the increase of the step height. The peak Stanton number becomes smaller as the step height increases.