Simulation and Modeling of the Elliptic Streamline Flow

Abstract

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) was used to study homogeneous turbulence with a mean flow having elliptic streamlines. This flow combines the effects of rotation and strain on the turbulence. There are many important reasons for studying the elliptic streamline flow. This flow contains the effects of both rotation and strain and is therefore similar to the mean flow in a vortex strained in the plane perpendicular to its axis. Such flows provide insight into the fundamental vortical interactions within turbulence. A strained vortex also occurs in airplane wakes, in which each wingtip vortex induces a strain field on the other. The strain field can affect the stability of these vortices and thereby their turbulent structure downstream. The ability to understand and predict the turbulent structure of the vortices is important to the wake hazard problem which is of major concern for the safety of commercial aircraft.