Flow Structure Research Articles

Estimation of Turbulent Mixing Factor and Study of Turbulent Flow Structures in PWR Sub Channel by DNS

Estimation of Turbulent Mixing Factor and Study of Turbulent Flow Structures in PWR Sub Channel by DNS

Numerical investigation of flow boiling characteristics in narrow rectangular channels using two-fluid Eulerian CFD model covering a wide range of pressures

Narrow channel heat exchange technology is one of the key technologies for the development of integrated small modular reactors (SMR). The ‘wall heat flux partitioning’ (WHFP) model in conjunction with an Eulerian–Eulerian Multiphase Flow (EEMF) method is found to be an important tool for two-phase hydrothermal analysis. In this paper, the accuracy of the EEMF-WHFP method with various sub-models is systemically evaluated over a large database of boiling flows in narrow rectangular channels. Prediction results using a total of 9 model combinations, are compared with data from 22 experimental conditions covering a range of the mass flux of 134.2 to 2200 kgm-2s-1, the inlet fluid subcooling of 7.2 to 74.2 K, the pressure of 0.1 to 14 MPa and the heat flux of 9.54 to 1700 kWm-2 in narrow rectangular channels with gaps of 1.0 to 3.0 mm. The evolution of distributions of void fraction, wall temperature and the net vapor generation (NVG) point along the flow channel is simulated and compared with experimental data. It is found that due to the limitation of the range of applicability of sub-models, certain models produced better prediction results under different pressure ranges than others, and the recommended combinations are given according to the quantitative assessments. In addition, the ability of the model combinations to predict the NVG point, as well as the flow structure and boiling process in narrow channels is investigated. The critical local void fraction near the wall at the NVG point is quantitatively estimated based on numerical results. The research conclusions in this paper can be used in thermal–hydraulic calculations in a wide range of operating pressures covering the applications of compact heat exchangers, flat plate fuels, climbing/falling film plate evaporators and the cooling of microelectronics, among other applications.

Information transfer between tip leakage vortex and blade aerodynamic force of a compressor cascade

The compressor blade exhibits intricate flow patterns near stall conditions, with the tip leakage vortex and the main flow shedding vortex from the blade's trailing edge identified as factors influencing the blade's aerodynamic force oscillation. The tip leakage vortex is recognized as the primary contributor to flow structures during non-synchronous vibration (NSV), although existing compressor NSV reduced order models often attribute the fluid oscillation to the passage flow shedding vortex. A tool capable of distinguishing between flow structures and blade aerodynamic force is crucial for resolving this discrepancy. Detached eddy simulations (DES) in a compressor cascade form the basis for gathering data on vortex structures and blade aerodynamic force. This study employs an information thesis method to elucidate the cause-and-effect relationship between the tip leakage vortex and blade aerodynamic force. Through a series of unsteady single passage simulations and experimental validation, the mechanisms leading to variations in blade aerodynamic force are demonstrated. Notably, this research utilizes Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) mode time coefficients in span and axial directions to represent dynamic information on vortex structures. Additionally, transfer entropy is introduced as a metric to evaluate the causal interaction between turbulent flow of the tip leakage and the blade's aerodynamic force, marking a significant advancement. The analysis of information transfer entropy aids in identifying the vortex structure with a stronger relationship to aerodynamic force, a critical finding. By applying this approach, the study examines tip leakage vortex structures in various tip clearance sizes concerning aerodynamic force. The Tip3C and Tip5C tip geometries exhibit tip leakage vortex features with radial vortex characteristics and backflow, akin to structures associated with non-synchronous vibration. These tip vortex structures in the Tip3C and Tip5C tip geometry cascades demonstrate substantial correlations with aerodynamic force oscillation on the blade surface. Conversely, the Tip1C tip geometry cascade displays distinct tip leakage vortex features compared to Tip3C and Tip5C, with weaker ties to blade aerodynamic force oscillation. As simulation models progress, consideration of vortex structures in the passage and leakage vortex at the leading edge is imperative for accurate predictions of aerodynamic force oscillation response.

The effects of flow extremes on native and non‐native stream fishes in Puerto Rico

Abstract Globally, freshwater fishes are among the taxa most vulnerable to climate change but are generally understudied in tropical island ecosystems where climate change is predicted to alter the intensity, frequency and duration of extreme flow events. These changes may impact stream ecosystems and native and non‐native biota in complex ways. We compiled an extensive dataset of fish assemblages collected at 119 sites across the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2015. We coupled these data with stream flow indices and dam height to understand associations between flow and fish assemblage structure. Sixteen percent of sites contained exclusively non‐native species, 34% contained exclusively native species, and 50% contained native and non‐native species. We built generalised linear models and conducted all subsets model selection to identify extreme flow variables explaining variation in native and non‐native species richness and biomass. We also built models to determine the combined effects of extreme flows and the presence of non‐native species on native species richness and biomass. Extreme flows and dam height were important in explaining variations in native and non‐native species richness and biomass. Model averages showed native biomass decreased by 0.42 kg/ha with a 1‐m increase in dam height, by 0.05 kg/ha with 1 cm/s increase in maximum mean daily high flow and by 3.45 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum high flow duration, and increased by 2.06 kg/ha with each additional day increase in mean high flow duration. Model averages predicted that non‐native biomass increased by 1.32 kg/ha with a 1‐m increase in dam height and by 0.01 kg/ha with each additional day increase in mean high flow duration, and decreased by 0.36 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum high flow duration. Model averages also predicted an increase in native and non‐native biomass of 0.71 gage and 0.06 kg/ha, respectively, with each additional day increase in maximum low flow duration. The combined effects of non‐native species presence and extreme flows changed the relationship between maximum high and low flow durations and native biomass. Model averages showed that native biomass increased by 1.83 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum high flow duration and decreased by 2.52 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum low flow duration when non‐native species were present. Native fishes may be able to better cope with longer maximum durations of low flows than expected when non‐native fishes are absent. In mixed fish assemblages, extended maximum durations of high flows may act as a control of non‐native species and dampen their negative effect on native species, but longer maximum durations of low flows may heighten the negative effects of non‐native fishes. Our results are informative for tropical island ecosystems globally and can guide the management and conservation of native fishes, particularly when faced with the dual threats of climate change and non‐native species. Managers may consider increasing efforts to conserve native fishes in Caribbean rivers by maintaining connectivity and habitat complexity while preventing non‐native species introductions.

A Numerical Approach and Study of the Shock-Wave Structure of Supersonic Jet Flow in a Nozzle

A Numerical Approach and Study of the Shock-Wave Structure of Supersonic Jet Flow in a Nozzle

A genuinely three-dimensional Riemann solver based on self-similar variables in curvilinear coordinates

A genuinely three-dimensional Riemann solver named MuSIC-3DC (Multidimensional, Self-similar, strongly-Interacting, Consistent, Three-dimensional, Curvilinear coordinates) in curvilinear coordinates is proposed to simulate three-dimensional complex engineering problems. Following Balsara's idea, a three-dimensional Riemann problem at each grid vertex is studied. In order to accurately capture contact discontinuities, the linear variations are assumed in the strongly-interacting zone. Also, the self-similar variables are adopted to simplify the derivation according to the self-similar evolution of the Riemann problem, and the strongly-interacting state could be determined by combining the contributions of all the two-dimensional Riemann problems at the surfaces bounded the strongly-interacting state. Besides, the one-dimensional Riemann problem at the center of each cell interface is solved by the one-dimensional HLLE scheme. After these, the numerical flux at each cell interface is obtained by assembling the three-dimensional fluxes at the vertices and the one-dimensional flux at the center of the cell interface. Several numerical test cases are simulated to validate the proposed solver. The spherical blast wave and three-dimensional Riemann problems indicate that the MuSIC-3DC scheme is capable of capturing three-dimensional self-similar flow structures accurately and suppressing the mesh imprinting phenomenon effectively. The transonic case demonstrates the MuSIC-3DC scheme's high resolution in capturing shock waves. In the hypersonic cases, the MuSIC-3DC scheme is more accurate in predicting stagnation and reattachment heating loads. Moreover, the MuSIC-3DC scheme is capable of obtaining more physical surface heating distribution by considering the information traveling both normal and transverse to the cell interfaces.

Study of the Dynamic Reaction Mechanism of the Cable-Stayed Tube Bridge under Earthquake Action

In order to explore the failure mode of the cable-stayed pipe bridge under earthquake action, taking the structural system of an oil and gas pipeline–cable-stayed pipe bridge as the research object, the full-scale finite element calculation model of the cable-stayed pipe bridge–oil and gas pipeline structural system as well as the finite element calculation model considering the additional mass of the oil and gas medium and the fluid–structure interaction effect were established by using ANSYS Workbench finite element software. The stress and displacement of the cable under the earthquake action were analyzed in the time history, as were the response characteristics of the cable when subjected to both methods. The calculation results show that the overall failure of the pipeline is basically the same under the two methods. Compared with the additional mass method, the solution for the fluid–structure coupling method can be derived through a comprehensive analysis of the flow field and structure, respectively, avoiding the sudden change caused by model simplification or calculation error so that the analysis results can better simulate the actual situation. In summary, the fluid–structure interaction method enables a more precise prediction of the dynamic response of the structure, and the findings of this research can provide a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for optimizing the seismic performance of cable-stayed pipe bridges.

A Computational Analysis of Turbocharger Compressor Flow Field with a Focus on Impeller Stall

Understanding the flow instabilities encountered by the turbocharger compressor is an important step toward improving its overall design for performance and efficiency. While an experimental study using Particle Image Velocimetry was previously conducted to examine the flow field at the inlet of the turbocharger compressor, the present work complements that effort by analyzing the flow structures leading to stall instability within the same impeller. Experimentally validated three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics predictions are carried out at three discrete mass flow rates, including 77 g/s (stable, maximum flow condition), 57 g/s (near peak efficiency), and 30 g/s (with strong reverse flow from the impeller) at a fixed rotational speed of 80,000 rpm. Large stationary stall cells were observed deep within the impeller at 30 g/s, occupying a significant portion of the blade passage near the shroud between the suction surface of the main blades and the pressure surface of the splitter blades. These stall cells are mainly created when a substantial portion of the inlet core flow is unable to follow the impeller’s axial to radial bend against the adverse pressure gradient and becomes entrained by the reverse flow and the tip leakage flow, giving rise to a region of low-momentum fluid in its wake. This phenomenon was observed to a lesser extent at 57 g/s and was completely absent at 77 g/s. On the other hand, the inducer rotating stall was found to be most dominant at 57 g/s. The entrainment of the tip leakage flow by the core flow moving into the impeller, leading to the generation of an unstable, wavy shear layer at the inducer plane, was instrumental in the generation of rotating stall. The present analyses provide a detailed characterization of both stationary and rotating stall cells and demonstrate the physics behind their formation, as well as their effect on compressor efficiency. The study also characterizes the entropy generation within the impeller under different operating conditions. While at 77 g/s, the entropy generation is mostly concentrated near the shroud of the impeller with the core flow being almost isentropic, at 30 g/s, there is a significant increase in the area within the blade passage that shows elevated entropy production. The tip leakage flow, its interaction with the blades and the core forward flow, and the reverse flow within the impeller are found to be the major sources of irreversibilities.

Characterization of Maximum Wall Shear Stress Points in Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms Using Four-dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Maximum wall shear stress (maxWSS) points of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) may cause wall remodeling leading to rupture. We characterized maxWSS points and their inherent intra-aneurysmal flow structures in asizable cohort of saccular UCAs using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After contrast administration, 50saccular UCAs were subjected to 4D flow MRI using a1.5 T MRI scanner. Post-processing of obtained data was performed using commercially available software. The maxWSS points and maxWSS values were evaluated. The maxWSS values were statistically compared between aneurysm groups. The maxWSS point was located on the aneurysm apex in9 (18.0%), body in2 (4.0%), and neck in 39 (78.0%) UCAs. The inherent intra-aneurysmal flow structure of the maxWSS point was an inflow zone in 34 (68.0%) UCAs, an inflow jet in 8 (16.0%), and an impingement zone in 8 (16.0%). The maxWSS point on the neck had significantly higher maxWSS values than those points on the other wall areas (P = 0.008). The maxWSS values of the maxWSS points on the apex and on the impingement zone were not significantly different compared with those of the other maxWSS points. The maxWSS points existed preferentially on the aneurysmal neck adjacent to the inflow zone with higher maxWSS values. The maxWSS points existed occasionally on the aneurysmal apex adjacent to the impingement zone. 4D flow MRI may be helpful to discriminate saccular UCAs with higher-risk maxWSS points that can cause wall remodeling leading to rupture.

Numerical simulation and field study on predicting wind-blown sand accumulation in sand mitigation measures of the Ganquan railway

The accumulation of sand induced by wind poses a significant challenge to the safety and maintenance of railways in arid and desert regions. Accurate calculation and prediction of sand accumulation are crucial for ensuring continuous railway operation. This research is centered on the region significantly impacted by sand accumulation along the Ganquan Railway. Wind speed, wind direction, and sand carrying capacity data near this section were monitored. Using the collected wind speed, wind direction, and wind-sand flow density data, numerical simulations were conducted using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to predict the amount of sand accumulation within the sand mitigation measures of the Ganquan Railway. Monitoring results indicate that the dominant wind direction in spring and summer is due west, while in autumn and winter it is southwest, with an average wind speed of 12 m/s. A positive correlation was observed between wind-sand flow density and wind speed. The wind-sand flow density above 2 m was nearly zero, indicating that the wind-sand flow structure is concentrated within 2 m from the ground, with an average wind-sand flow density of 3.50×10−5 kg/m3. Through numerical simulation, the characteristics of the wind field and sand accumulation distribution within the calculation domain were determined. A relationship equation between sand accumulation mass and width over time was derived. Initially, the sand accumulation width increases uniformly and then stabilizes, while the sand accumulation mass rises uniformly to a plateau before in-creasing rapidly. From these findings, the optimal period for sand removal was identified as between 350 and 450 days after the sand mitigation measures are put into operation.

Enhancing Aerodynamic Performance of a Non-Axisymmetric Endwall Contoured Cascade Through Section Profiling Method

Abstract Endwall contouring and 3D blade configurations are effective techniques for enhancing turbomachinery performance. The integration of these technologies is an important area of investigation. To continue the numerical and experimental validations of the non-axisymmetric endwall contoured cascade (Du et al., 2024, “Endwall Contouring for Improving Aerodynamic Performance in a High-Pressure Turbine Cascade,” ASME J. Turbomach., 146(10), p. 101001), the present study redesigns the cascade via section profiling using optimization methods to maximize performance gains. To improve the control effect of endwall contouring, blade section parameters are strategically adjusted during optimization. The experimental flow field traverses at cascade exits demonstrate the control of the cascade flow field by the optimized design. The redesigned cascade exhibits decreased overturning near the shroud and reduced underturning near the hub, as well as reduced profile loss in the mainstream, compared to the endwall contoured cascade. The modification of section parameters enhances the control of losses and the secondary flow intensity. Computational fluid dynamics is used to provide a detailed analysis of the flow field, providing insights into how flow structures vary when the blade profile is modified. The numerical results further elucidate the effect of blade section profiling on both the performance characteristics of the cascade and the configuration of the secondary flows.

What is the physical origin of the gradient flow structure of variational fracture models?

We investigate a physical characterization of the gradient flow structure of variational fracture models for brittle materials: a Griffith-type fracture model and an irreversible fracture phase field model. We derive the Griffith-type fracture model by assuming that the fracture energy in Griffith's theory is an increasing function of the crack tip velocity. Such a velocity dependence of the fracture energy is typically observed in polymers. We also prove an energy dissipation identity of the Griffith-type fracture model, in other words, its gradient flow structure. On the other hand, the irreversible fracture phase field model is derived as a unidirectional gradient flow of a regularized total energy. We have considered the time relaxation parameter a mathematical approximation parameter, which we should choose as small as possible. In this research, however, we reveal the physical origin of the gradient flow structure of the fracture phase field model (F-PFM) and show that the small time relaxation parameter is characterized as the rate of velocity dependence of the fracture energy. It is verified by comparing the energy dissipation properties of those two models and by analysing a travelling wave solution of the irreversible F-PFM. This article is part of the theme issue 'Non-smooth variational problems with applications in mechanics'.

A comparative study for ferro particles cloaking and wetting characteristics

Ferro hydrophobic particles possess essential properties for controlling the behavior of suspended substances in water. By adjusting the concentration of these particles, the magnetic force within the fluid carrier can be modified, leading to the emergence of distinct flow structures and patterns on the water's surface. This study examines the cloaking phenomenon exhibited by different ferroparticle conditions, employing both experimental and numerical approaches. Under the magnetic influence, hydrophilic particles can attain cloaking velocities of up to 35 mm/s, while hydrophobic particles remain unaffected by the magnetic force, remaining suspended on the water's surface. Hydrophobization of ferroparticles not only decreases their water-cloaking ability but also alters their magnetic properties. The inherent hydrophobic nature of these particles enhances water surface stability, rendering them valuable in various applications, including biomedical and self-cleaning technologies. This research holds particular significance for manipulating suspended particles in water, particularly in biomedical applications like drug delivery and tissue engineering, as well as for advancing self-cleaning technologies.

Detailed 3D URANS analysis of two-phase flow in an airlift pump

An airlift pump is a vertical tube that utilizes the buoyant effects of a gas to lift a liquid. Unlike a standard mechanical pump, the liquid flow rate through the airlift pump is not directly controlled; rather, it depends on the supplied gas flow rate, the tube length and diameter, and the relative height of the liquid supply free surface (submergence ratio). The present study uses the commercial CFD code ANSYS CFX to model the isothermal, 3D, transient flow in an airlift pump using water and air. The model applies pressure boundary conditions at both ends of the tube and specifies the mass flow rate of air through multiple openings in the side of the tube. The bottom of the tube is an inlet of water only and the outlet is a two-phase flow opening. A time-dependent, homogeneous, VOF two-phase RANS CFD modelling approach is used with the air treated as an ideal gas. This work found that a complete 3D domain was necessary for consistent prediction of the airlift performance and physically realistic two-phase flow structures. Statistical analysis of the two-phase flow structures was applied to characterize airlift pump instability and better understand the physics of the airlift pump.

The impact of mesh size, turbulence parameterization, and land‐surface‐exchange scheme on simulations of the mountain boundary layer in the hectometric range

AbstractThe horizontal grid spacing of numerical weather prediction models keeps decreasing towards the hectometric range. We perform limited‐area simulations with the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON) model across horizontal grid spacings (1 km, 500 m, 250 m, 125 m) in the Inn Valley, Austria, and evaluate the model with observations from the Cross‐Valley Flow in the Inn Valley Investigated by Dual‐Doppler LIDAR Measurements (CROSSINN) measurement campaign. This allows us to investigate whether increasing the horizontal resolution automatically improves the representation of the flow structure, surface exchange, and common meteorological variables. Increasing the horizontal resolution results in an improved simulation of the thermally induced circulation. However, the model still faces challenges with scale interactions and the evening transition of the up‐valley flow. Differences between two turbulence schemes (1D turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) and 3D Smagorinsky) emerge due to their different surface transfer formulations, yielding a delayed evening transition in the 3D Smagorinsky scheme. Generally speaking, the correct simulation of the mountain boundary layer depends mostly on the representation of model topography and surface exchange, and the choice of turbulence parameterization is secondary.

Characteristics of the jet shear layer of a round elevated jet in crossflow

The present research aims at an experimental study to investigate the effect of velocity ratio (R) on the evolution of elevated round jet issued from a stack having an aspect ratio (AR) of 9.0 in a uniform crossflow at a Reynolds number of 2000. The experiments are conducted in a low-speed, recirculating water tunnel. Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) is employed to characterize the water tunnel. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used to measure the flow field, and the dye visualization technique is utilized to capture the accompanying instantaneous flow structures. Depending on the velocity ratio (R = 0.16 - 1.5), distinct jet shear layer (JSL) structures are observed in the symmetric plane (XY), confirmed by both the flow visualization and PIV data. These structures include clockwise vortices, anticlockwise vortices, swing-induced mushroom vortices, and jet-like vortices. For R<0.5, entrainment of a substantial amount of jet fluid into the stack-wake region (downwash) has been observed. At R=0.5, the streak image captured in the wall parallel plane reveals the ring-like vortices that appear to wrap around the jet core while upright vortices are detected downstream on the lee side of the jet. Additionally, variations in average velocity and turbulent fluctuations in the near field, contingent on different velocity ratios, are discussed.

Analytical and numerical study of thermo-solutal convection in pulsating flows between two coaxial cylinders

This research reports an analytical and numerical study of thermo-solutal convection in pulsating flows between two coaxial cylinders under a pressure gradient and subject to Dirichlet-type boundary conditions for temperature and concentration along the vertical walls of the annulus. The numerical procedure used in this work is mainly based on the solution of the momentum equations and coupled with the energy and concentration equations. The finite difference method is adopted to solve governing equations using the implicit Crank-Nicolson time marching scheme in the fluid domain and the alternating direction implicit method inside the inner cylinder. The effect of the various parameters such as the fluid-solid conductivity ratio, thermal diffusivity ratio, buoyancy ratio, Lewis number, Richardson number, aspect ratio, and radius ratio on the heat and mass transfer characteristics and the flow structure is presented and discussed. The governing equations are solved analytically after separating into a steady case and an oscillatory case, where an analytical solution for velocity profile, temperature, and concentration distributions is obtained in terms of Bessel’s functions, while the analytical solutions of temperature and concentration profiles are keeping symmetry with the increase of the radius ratio. The results show that the analytical profile can reproduce the three fields obtained numerically and thus for the whole range of parameters.

Terrestrial Heat Flow and Lithospheric Thermal Structure of the Hubao Basin, North Central China

Terrestrial Heat Flow and Lithospheric Thermal Structure of the Hubao Basin, North Central China

Chronic metal contamination shapes the size structure of Gammarus fossarum populations in French headwater rivers.

Assessing the effects of multigenerational exposure of aquatic animal populations to chemical contamination is essential for ecological risk assessment. However, beyond rare examples reporting the sporadic emergence of a toxicological tolerance within populations that persist in contaminated environments, conclusive results are even more limited from field studies when it comes to the alteration of life-history traits. Here, we investigated whether long-term exposure to cadmium (Cd) influences size-related life-history traits (i.e., size at puberty, median adult size, maximum size) in Gammarus fossarum, a keystone species of European stream ecosystems. We studied 13 field populations of G. fossarum (cryptic lineage B) living in headwater rivers located in natural areas scattered at a large geographical scale and exposed to contrasted bioavailable Cd contamination levels due to different local geochemical backgrounds. We achieved a detailed description of the physical and physicochemical conditions of the river reaches investigated. Land-use parameters, hydrological characteristics (flow, slope, river width, flow structure, mosaic of substrates), and physicochemical conditions (temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen) were measured. Metallic bioavailable contamination was assessed using a standardized active biomonitoring procedure (Gammarus caging). Based on the field demographic census of the 13 populations, our results demonstrated that chronic Cd contamination significantly influences life-history in the G. fossarum species, with a significant reduction in all size traits of populations (size at puberty, median adult size, maximum size). In addition, we confirmed Cd-tolerance in contaminated populations during exposure tests in the laboratory. Various hypotheses can be then put forward to explain the modification of size-related life-history traits: a direct toxic effect of Cd, a cost of Cd-tolerance, or an adaptive evolution of life-history exposed to toxic pressure.

Evolution and influential factors of inbound tourist flow network in China: a two-mode network perspective

ABSTRACT Different from existing studies focusing on tourist flow networks at the destination level, this study adopts a two-mode network analysis to identify the network structure, market groupings, and evolution of inbound tourist flows from 13 major origin countries to 31 destination provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) in China. Furthermore, the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) method is applied to analyse the influential factors of the formation of market groupings in the network. The results show that: (1) The connections within the destination-destination network and the origin-origin country network show a fluctuating increase trend. (2) Eastern provincial destinations occupy important positions in the network, and central and western destinations have played increasingly important roles in recent years. (3) Japan, South Korea, and the United States are the most important origin countries, and markets in Europe and Oceania have great potential. (4) Two market groupings led by Russia and Asian countries are relatively stable, while other origin countries have no specific regional preference. (5) Geographical distance exerts the most significant impact on the formation of market groupings, followed by tourism resources, economic development, and traffic accessibility.