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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Direct numerical simulations of a reacting mixing layer with chemical heat release

In order to study the coupling between chemical heat release and fluid dynamics, direct numerical simulations of a chemically reacting mixing layer with heat release are performed. The fully compressible equations as well as an approximate set of equations that is asymptotically valid for low-Mach-number flows are treated. These latter equations have the computational advantage that high-frequency acoustic waves have been filtered out, allowing much larger time steps to be taken in the numerical solution procedure. A detailed derivation of these equations along with an outline of the numerical solution technique is given. Simulation results indicate that the rate of chemical product formed, the thickness of the mixing layer, and the amount of mass entrained into the layer all decrease with increasing rates of heat release.

Mcmurtry, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Low order dynamical models for mixing layers

The goal of this project was to investigate the feasibility of developing useful low order dynamical systems to allow one to determine cheaply the effect of various initial conditions on the evolution of mixing layers. A mathematically rigorous approach for a time evolving base flow as found in a mixing layer seems to be the singular value decomposition of the linear operator transforming some initial perturbations into the solution at a given later time. Unfortunately, this is very costly, if at all feasible, and only deals with the linear evolution of a disturbance. A different approach based on weakly nonlinear analysis was attempted, but numerous difficulties were encountered. Several formulations were proposed which may be ill-posed. The reasons for this possible failure of the attempted approach is related to the fundamental limitations of weakly nonlinear analysis. The clarification of these issues is attempted in this report.

Riahi, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Perturbation Effects on a Supercritical C7H16/N2 Mixing Layer

A computational-simulation study has been presented of effects of perturbation wavelengths and initial Reynolds numbers on the transition to turbulence of a heptane/nitrogen mixing layer at supercritical pressure. The governing equations for the simulations were the same as those of related prior studies reported in NASA Tech Briefs. Two-dimensional (2D) simulations were performed with initially im posed span wise perturbations whereas three-dimensional (3D) simulations had both streamwise and spanwise initial perturbations. The 2D simulations were undertaken to ascertain whether perturbations having the shortest unstable wavelength obtained from a linear stability analysis for inviscid flow are unstable in viscous nonlinear flows. The goal of the 3D simulations was to ascertain whether perturbing the mixing layer at different wavelengths affects the transition to turbulence. It was found that transitions to turbulence can be obtained at different perturbation wavelengths, provided that they are longer than the shortest unstable wavelength as determined by 2D linear stability analysis for the inviscid case and that the initial Reynolds number is proportionally increased as the wavelength is decreased. The transitional states thus obtained display different dynamic and mixture characteristics, departing strongly from the behaviors of perfect gases and ideal mixtures.

Okongo'o, Nora↗
NASA NTRS1984

A perspective view of the plane mixing layer

A three-dimensional model of the plane mixing layer is constructed by applying digital image processing and computer graphic techniques to laser fluorescent motion pictures of its transversal sections. A system of streamwise vortex pairs is shown to exist on top of the classical spanwise eddies. Its influence on mixing is examined.

Jimenez, J.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) of a Compressible Mixing Layer and the Significance of Inflow Turbulence

In the context of Large Eddy Simulations (LES), the effects of inflow turbulence are investigated through the Synthetic Eddy Method (SEM). The growth rate of a turbulent compressible mixing layer corresponding to operating conditions of GeobelDutton Case 2 is investigated herein. The effects of spanwise width on the growth rate of the mixing layer is investigated such that spanwise width independence is reached. The error in neglecting inflow turbulence effects is quantified by comparing two methodologies: (1) Hybrid-RANS-LES methodology and (2) SEM-LES methodology. Best practices learned from Case 2 are developed herein and then applied to a higher convective mach number corresponding to Case 4 experiments of GeobelDutton.

les↗
NASA NTRS1988

Effect of heat release on the spatial stability of a supersonic reacting mixing layer

A numerical study of the stability of compressible mixing layers in which a diffusion flame is embedded is described. The mean velocity profile has been approximated by a hyperbolic tangent profile and the limit of infinite activation energy taken, which reduces the diffusion flame to a flame sheet. The addition of combustion in the form of a flame sheet was found to have important, and complex, effects on the flow stability.

Jackson, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Subharmonic resonance in a mixing layer

The subharmonic resonance phenomenon in a spatially evolving mixing layer is studied using direct simulations of the 2-D Navier-Stokes equations. The computational domain extends to + or - infinity in the cross-stream direction with U(1) = 1.25 and U(2) = 0.25 imposed at + infinity and - infinity respectively. The domain is finite in the streamwise direction with inflow and outflow boundary conditions imposed at x/delta sub omega = 0 and 100, respectively. A hyperbolic-tangent mean velocity profile is assumed at the inlet and the Reynolds number based on the inlet vorticity thickness and velocity difference is Re = 600. It is observed that the phase angle between the fundamental and its subharmonic plays a key role in the spatial development of these modes. Contour plots of vorticity show that varying the phase will have a dramatic effect on the dynamics of the vortices. Pairing or shredding is observed depending on the phase. Fourier decomposition of the time traces show that the fundamental grows, saturates and decays with the downstream distance. The subharmonic has a similar behavior. However, the level at which the modes will saturate is affected by the phase. At 0 deg phase, it was found that as the fundamental saturates, the growth rate of the subharmonic is enhanced. At 90 deg phase, it was found that as the fundamental saturates, the growth rate of the subharmonic is inhibited. In the later case, the growth rate of the subharmonic recovers after saturation of the fundamental. These results are in qualitative agreement with experimental data.

Mansour, N. N.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Mixing layer simulation by an improved three-dimensional vortex-in-cell algorithm

An extension is presented of the three-dimensional vortex-in-cell (VIC) method that allows for the simulation of incompressible turbulent flows such as plane mixing layers and wakes with exact boundary conditions in the normal direction. The vorticity is assumed to be confined between two parallel planes and the turbulence is assumed to be homogeneous in the two directions parallel to the planes. As an application, an analysis is presented of the evolution of the plane mixing layer subjected to random two- and three-dimensional initial disturbances.

Couet, B.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Nonlinear interaction between a pair of oblique modes in a supersonic mixing layer: Long-wave limit

The nonlinear interaction between a pair of symmetric, oblique, and spatial instability modes is studied in the long-wave limit using asymptotic methods. The base flow is taken to be a supersonic mixing layer whose Mach number is such that the corresponding vortex sheet is marginally stable according to Miles' criterion. It is shown that the amplitude of the mode obeys a nonlinear integro-differential equation. Numerical solutions of this equation show that, when the obliqueness angle is less than pi/4, the effect of the nonlinearity is to enhance the growth rate of the instability. The solution terminates in a singularity at a finite streamwise location. This result is reminiscent of that obtained in the vicinity of the neutral point by other authors in several different types of flows. On the other hand, when the obliqueness angle is more than pi/4, the streamwise development of the amplitude is characterized by a series of modulations. This arises from the fact that the nonlinear term in the amplitude equation may be either stabilizing or destabilizing, depending on the value of the streamwise coordinate. However, even in this case the amplitude of the disturbance increases, though not as rapidly as in the case for which the angle is less than pi/4. Quite generally then, the nonlinear interaction between two oblique modes in a supersonic mixing layer enhances the growth of the disturbance.

Balsa, Thomas F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Mixing layer control for tangential slot injection in turbulent flows

Tangential injection into turbulent flows is one of the most promising methods of minimizing skin friction and providing thermal protection. The technique also has application to laser hardening. The effectiveness of the injected material can be increased if the spreading rate of the resulting mixing region can be reduced. Various techniques which have been shown to be effective in manipulating the rate of growth of mixing layers under certain conditions have been applied to a slot configuration having a thick external turbulent boundary layer. These include geometry modifications to the slot lip trailing edge and acoustic excitation of the slot exit plane over a wide range of frequencies. Neither of these approaches produced any noticeable effect on the downstream evolution of the mixing layer. This lack of effectiveness is attributed to the dominating influence of the well-developed incoming turbulent boundary layer. The placement of large-eddy breakup devices in this boundary layer upstream of the injection point did produce significantly lower velocities in the near-wall region of the flow downstream of the slot exit.

Mcinville, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Mixed Layers and Satellite Retrievals

As part of the process to determine whether it is possible to retrieve boundary layer structure with the current sounding techniques, temperature retievals were performed for radiosonde profiles that showed temperature inversions. It was found that when temperature inversions exceed 8 to 10 C a retrieval will indeed show a temperature increase with height over a limited vertical distance. For weaker inversions retrieved temperatures are generally smoothly decreasing with height. It is, however, impossible to determine the actual mixed layer height from the retrievals. Whether the water vapor channels could be used in observing mixed layer structure was investigated. Temperature inversions are accompanied by significant drops in relative humidity. While this effect is very pronounced in parts of the trade wind regimes with relative humidity drops of up to 60%, it is widespread in other areas of the ocean as well. A simulation experiment was performed in which brightness temperatures were computed for smooth temperature and humidity profiles and compared with those computed from inversion profiles.

Boers, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Direct simulations of chemically reacting turbulent mixing layers

The results of direct numerical simulations of chemically reacting mixing layers are presented. The reaction considered is a binary, irreversible reaction with no heat release, so that only the effect of the turbulence on the chemical reaction is investigated. The simulation results are shown to be consistent with similarity theory, and are found to be in approximate agreement with laboratory data, even though there are no adjustable constants in the method.

Riley, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Direct simulation of high-speed mixing layers

A computational study of a nonreacting high-speed mixing layer is performed. A higher order algorithm with sufficient grid points is used to resolve all relevant scales. In all cases, a temporal free-stream disturbance is introduced. The resulting flow is time-sampled to generate a statistical cross section of the flow properties. The studies are conducted at two convective Mach numbers, three free-stream turbulence intensities, three Reynolds numbers, and two types of initial profiles-hyperbolic tangent (tanh) and boundary layer. The boundary-layer profile leads to more realistic predictions of the transition processes. The predicted transition Reynolds number of 0.18 x 10(exp 6) compares well with experimental data. Normalized vortex spacings for the boundary-layer case are about 3.5 and compare favorably with the 1.5 to 2.5 found in experimental measurements. The tanh profile produces spacings of about 10. The growth rate of the layer is shown to be moderately affected by the initial disturbance field, but comparison with experimental data shows moderate agreement. For the boundary-layer case, it is shown that noise at the Strouhal number of 0.007 is selectively amplified and shows little Reynolds number dependence.

Mukunda, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

An assumed pdf approach for the calculation of supersonic mixing layers

In an effort to predict the effect that turbulent mixing has on the extent of combustion, a one-equation turbulence model is added to an existing Navier-Stokes solver with finite-rate chemistry. To average the chemical-source terms appearing in the species-continuity equations, an assumed pdf approach is also used. This code was used to analyze the mixing and combustion caused by the mixing layer formed by supersonic coaxial H2-air streams. The chemistry model employed allows for the formation of H2O2 and HO2. Comparisons are made with recent measurements using laser Raman diagnostics. Comparisons include temperature and its rms, and concentrations of H2, O2, N2, H2O, and OH. In general, good agreement with experiment was noted.

Baurle, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Effect of chemical heat release in a temporally evolving mixing layer

Two-dimensional numerical simulations of a temporally evolving mixing layer with an exothermic infinitely fast diffusion flame between two unmixed reactants have been carried out in the limit of zero Mach number to study the effect of the heat release on the early stages of the evolution of the flow. Attention has been directed to relatively large values of the oxidizer-to-fuel mass stoichiometric ratio typical of hydrocarbon flames, and initial vorticity distributions thicker than the temperature and species distributions have been chosen to mimic the situation at the outlet of a jet. The results show that, during the stages of the evolution covered by the present simulations, enhancement of combustion occurs by local stretching of the flame without much augmentation of its area. The rate of product generation depends strongly on the initial conditions, which suggests the possibility of controlling the combustion by acting on the flow. Rollup and vortex amalgamation still occur in these reacting flows but are very much affected by the production of new vorticity by baroclinic torques. These torques lead to counter rotating vortex pairs around the flame and, more importantly, in thin layers of light fluid that leave the vicinity of the flame when the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability begins to develop. Propelled by the vortex pairs, these layers wind around, split on reaching high pressure regions, and originate new vortex pairs in a process that ends up building large-scale vortices with a vorticity distribution more complex than for a constant density fluid.

Higuera, F. J.↗