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At least 217 records · Page 12

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NASA NTRS1977

A critical evaluation of invariant second-order closure models for subsonic boundary layers

Computations based on several second-order turbulence models, including full Reynolds stress and two-equation models, are compared with a number of boundary-layer experiments. In general, the models represent the data reasonably well, with skin friction tending to be somewhat overpredicted in the far downstream region of the adverse pressure gradient experiments. A discussion of the behavior of the ARAP full Reynolds stress model in predicting the components of the Reynolds stress tensor is given. It is concluded that compatibility at the wall may necessitate the use of more than one length scale.

Rubesin, M. W.↗

NASA NTRS1977

A length-scale model for developing turbulent flow in a rectangular duct

A three-dimensional mixing length model is proposed for modeling local Reynolds stress behavior in rectangular ducts of arbitrary aspect ratio. The model is applicable to both developing and fully-developed flows, and can be applied to other 90-degree corner flows with mild streamwise pressure gradients. Comparisons between theory and experiment show that all components of the Reynolds stress tensor are modeled reasonably well, both in the vicinity of a corner and in two-dimensional regions away from the corner.

Gessner, F. B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Sound production due to large-scale coherent structures

The acoustic pressure fluctuations due to large-scale finite amplitude disturbances in a free turbulent shear flow are calculated. The flow is decomposed into three component scales; the mean motion, the large-scale wave-like disturbance, and the small-scale random turbulence. The effect of the large-scale structure on the flow is isolated by applying both a spatial and phase average on the governing differential equations and by initially taking the small-scale turbulence to be in energetic equilibrium with the mean flow. The subsequent temporal evolution of the flow is computed from global energetic rate equations for the different component scales. Lighthill's theory is then applied to the region with the flowfield as the source and an observer located outside the flowfield in a region of uniform velocity. Since the time history of all flow variables is known, a minimum of simplifying assumptions for the Lighthill stress tensor is required, including no far-field approximations. A phase average is used to isolate the pressure fluctuations due to the large-scale structure, and also to isolate the dynamic process responsible. Variation of mean square pressure with distance from the source is computed to determine the acoustic far-field location and decay rate, and, in addition, spectra at various acoustic field locations are computed and analyzed. Also included are the effects of varying the growth and decay of the large-scale disturbance on the sound produced.

Gatski, T. B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Theory of the large-amplitude plane magnetoacoustic wave propagating transverse to the magnetic field in a hot collisionless plasma

An exact solution of the kinetic and electromagnetic equations for a large-amplitude plane magnetoacoustic wave propagating transverse to the magnetic field in a hot collisionless plasma is presented. The solution gives simple relations among the magnetic-field strength, density, stress tensor, and plasma velocity, all of which are measurable in the interplanetary plasma. These relations are independent of the electron and ion velocity distributions, subject to certain restrictions on 'high-velocity tails.' The magnetic field of the wave is linearly polarized. The wave steepens to form a shock much as the analogous waves of MHD theory do.

Barnes, A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Progress in turbulence modeling for complex flow fields including effects of compressibility

Two second-order-closure turbulence models were devised that are suitable for predicting properties of complex turbulent flow fields in both incompressible and compressible fluids. One model is of the "two-equation" variety in which closure is accomplished by introducing an eddy viscosity which depends on both a turbulent mixing energy and a dissipation rate per unit energy, that is, a specific dissipation rate. The other model is a "Reynolds stress equation" (RSE) formulation in which all components of the Reynolds stress tensor and turbulent heat-flux vector are computed directly and are scaled by the specific dissipation rate. Computations based on these models are compared with measurements for the following flow fields: (a) low speed, high Reynolds number channel flows with plane strain or uniform shear; (b) equilibrium turbulent boundary layers with and without pressure gradients or effects of compressibility; and (c) flow over a convex surface with and without a pressure gradient.

Wilcox, D. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

High-resolution LDA measurements of Reynolds stress in boundary layers and wakes

The turbulent character of the boundary layer and wake associated with an airfoil has been studied at a Reynolds number of 1,000,000 and a Mach number of 0.1. To accomplish these measurements, a unique laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) has been developed that is capable of sensing two velocity components from a remote distance of 2.13 m. Using special simultaneity logic and counter-type signal processors, the geometrical features of the LDA have been exploited to provide variable spatial resolution as low as 0.2 mm. By combining the LDA with an on-line computerized data acquisition and display system, it has been possible to measure mean velocity and Reynolds stress tensor distribution at several locations along the upper surface of a 0.9-m-chord, flapped airfoil installed in the Ames 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel.

Orloff, K. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Determination of efficiencies, loss mechanisms, and performance degradation factors in chopper controlled dc vehical motors. Section 2: The time dependent finite element modeling of the electromagnetic field in electrical machines: Methods and applications

The time dependent solution of the magnetic field is introduced as a method for accounting for the variation, in time, of the machine parameters in predicting and analyzing the performance of the electrical machines. The method of time dependent finite element was used in combination with an also time dependent construction of a grid for the air gap region. The Maxwell stress tensor was used to calculate the airgap torque from the magnetic vector potential distribution. Incremental inductances were defined and calculated as functions of time, depending on eddy currents and saturation. The currents in all the machine circuits were calculated in the time domain based on these inductances, which were continuously updated. The method was applied to a chopper controlled DC series motor used for electric vehicle drive, and to a salient pole sychronous motor with damper bars. Simulation results were compared to experimentally obtained ones.

Hamilton, H. B.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A new look at numerical analyses of free-edge stresses in composite laminates

The edge stress problem for a + or - 45 deg graphite/epoxy laminate was examined. The reliability of the displacement formulated finite element method in analyzing the edge stress problem was investigated. Analyses of two well known elasticity problems, one involving a stress discontinuity and one a singularity, showed that the finite element analysis yields accurate stress distributions everywhere except in two elements closest to the stress discontinuity of singularity. Stress distributions for a + or - 45 deg laminate showed the same behavior near the singularity found in the well known problems with exact solutions. The displacement formulated finite element method appears to be a highly accurate technique for calculating interlaminar stress in composite laminates. The disagreement among the numerical methods was attributed to the unsymmetric stress tensor at the singularity.

Raju, I. S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Electron temperature anisotropy in the polar wind

The steady state flow of a fully ionized H(+)-O(+)-electron plasma along geomagnetic field lines in the high-latitude topside ionosphere is investigated theoretically, with emphasis on the electron temperature anisotropy and heat flow in the polar wind. The 13-moment system of transport equations developed by Schunk (1975, 1977), which contains a continuity, momentum, internal energy, stress tensor and heat flow equation for each species, is employed to represent the electrons, with a simplified set of transport equations used for the ions, and the transport equations are solved at altitudes from 1500 to 12,000 km for both subsonic and supersonic H(+) outflows. For subsonic H(+) outflows, the electron gas is found to remain collision dominated to high altitudes. For supersonic H(+) outflows, the electron gas is also found to be collision dominated at altitudes below 2500 km, with an anisotropy in electron temperature distribution developing such that the temperature of the perpendicular electrons is greater than that of the parallel electrons at higher altitudes. In addition, the magnitude of downward electron heat flux at 1500 km is shown to have a dramatic effect on the individual parallel and perpendicular electron temperatures.

Schunk, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Numerical simulation of axisymmetric turbulent jet flow

The transport equations for the turbulent Reynolds stresses and energy dissipation rate in conjunction with the governing equations for the vorticity and stream function are numerically solved for in the case of an axisymmetric jet into stagnant surroundings. The time dependence of the equations is retained allowing for any transient results to be interpreted in terms of conditionally averaged flow quantities. The general form of the governing differential equations is presented as well as the numerical procedure used in the solution. Comments concerning the inherent limitations in solving the time-dependent set of equations are made and the versatility of the approach examined. Comparisons of the various components of the stationary Reynolds stress tensor are made with experimental results.

Gatski, T. B.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Reliability of the finite element method for calculating free edge stresses in composite laminates

The interlaminar normal stress distributions along the interface between the +45 deg and -45 deg plies of a graphite/epoxy laminate, obtained by various investigators, were found to disagree in both magnitude and sign. The reliability of the displacement-formulated finite element method in analyzing the edge-stress problem of a composite laminate is investigated. The history of the edge-stress problem is reviewed, and two well-known elasticity problems, one involving a stress discontinuity and one a singularity, are analyzed. The finite element analysis in these problems yields accurate stress distributions everywhere except in two elements closest to the stress discontinuity or singularity. Stress distributions for a + or -45 deg ply laminate near the singularity were similar to those of the two elasticity problems, demonstrating the methods, accuracy for calculating interlaminar stresses in composite laminates. The disagreement between the numerical methods was attributed to the unsymmetric stress tensor at singularity.

Whitcomb, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes computations of transonic flows The-state-of-the-art

The state of the art in computer simulations for transonic flowfields requiring solutions for the Navier-Stokes equations is assessed. It is noted that current simulations of transonic flowfields require comparisons with experimental results because the simulations are not free from discretization errors. Cases of turbulence are treated with weighted variables in a time-averaged scheme to yield Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The turbulence is modeled in a first-order approach with a Reynolds stress tensor or a second-order approach where the tensor is obtained from the Navier-Stokes equations. The choice of coordinate systems and dependent variables for simulating the flow around airfoils is discussed, with particular attention to curvilinear coordinates. The determinations of boundary conditions is examined, along with numerical methods related to physical phenomena

Mehta, U.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Single-wire swirl flow turbulence measurements

A six-orientation, single wire hot wire technique is used to investigate nonswirling and swirling nonreacting flow in an axisymmetric test section with expansion ratio (test section/inlet nozzle diameter) = 2, which may be equipped with a strong contraction nozzle of area ratio 4 at a contraction nozzle downstream distance/test section diameter value = 2. The flowfield contains corner and central recirculation zones typical of gas turbine and ramjet combustion chambers. Swirl may be imparted to the incoming flow by means of a variable angle vane swirler. The effect of swirl on time mean velocities and complete Reynolds stress tensor is investigated, and extensive results are given for swirl vane angles of zero (swirler removed), 38, 45, 60 and 70 deg. The data are being used to aid in the evolution of turbulence models for these complex flow situations. A directional sensitivity analysis is included, which determines the relative accuracy of the measurement technique to approach velocity orientation.

Lilley, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

On the large-scale dynamics of rapidly rotating convection zones

The fact that the values of the eight basic waves present in turbulent flows in the presence of rotation prohibit a tilt of eddy towards the axis of rotation is incorporated into a formalism for rapidly rotating convection zones. Equations for turbulent velocities are defined in a rotating coordinate system, assuming that gravity and grad delta T act in a radial direction. An expression is derived for the lifetime of a basic wave and then for the average velocity vector. A real convective eddy is formulated and the wave vectors are calculated. The velocity amplitude and the stress tensor amplitude are integrated over the eddy domain. Applied to the solar convective zone, it is found that the convective cells are aligned along the axis of rotation at the poles and at the equator, a model that conflicts with nonrotating mixng length theory predictions.

Durney, B. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Scalar/Vector potential formulation for compressible viscous unsteady flows

A scalar/vector potential formulation for unsteady viscous compressible flows is presented. The scalar/vector potential formulation is based on the classical Helmholtz decomposition of any vector field into the sum of an irrotational and a solenoidal field. The formulation is derived from fundamental principles of mechanics and thermodynamics. The governing equations for the scalar potential and vector potential are obtained, without restrictive assumptions on either the equation of state or the constitutive relations or the stress tensor and the heat flux vector.

Morino, L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Viscosity in a magnetized plasma - Physical interpretation

The viscosity of a fully ionized H plasma in a magnetic field is investigated theoretically, revising the derivation proposed by Braginskii (1965) for the viscous-stress-tensor viscosity coefficient eta(0). It is shown that eta(0) terms can be attributed to the tendency of the plasma to produce small thermal anisotropies during its evolution, and hence that they are fully incorporated in the gyrotropic diagonal pressure tensor, neglecting the off-diagonal terms. The role of collisions in preventing anisotropy production (and thus causing irreversible heating) is explored, and the implications of the eta(0) terms for the physics of 1000-10,000-km-scale structures in the solar corona are indicated.

Hollweg, J. V.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Toward the large-eddy simulations of compressible turbulent flows

New subgrid-scale models for the large-eddy simulation of compressible turbulent flows are developed based on the Favre-filtered equations of motion for an ideal gas. A compressible generalization of the linear combination of the Smagorinsky model and scale-similarity model (in terms of Favre-filtered fields) is obtained for the subgrid-scale stress tensor. An analogous thermal linear combination model is also developed for the subgrid-scale heat flux vector. The three dimensionless constants associated with these subgrid-scale models are obtained by correlating with the results of direct numerical simulations of compressible isotropic turbulence performed on a 96 to the third power grid using Fourier collocation methods. Extensive comparisons between the direct and modeled subgrid-scale fields are provided in order to validate the models. Future applications of these compressible subgrid-scale models to the large-eddy simulation of supersonic aerodynamic flows are discussed briefly.

Erlebacher, G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Protostellar disks and the primitive solar nebula

The objective is to obtain quantitative information on the turbulent transport of mass, angular momentum, and energy under the conditions that characterize the solar nebula, by direct numerical calculations. These calculations were made possible by research conducted on supercomputers (Cray XMP and Cray 2) by the Ames Computational Fluid Dynamics Branch. Techniques were developed that permitted the accurate representation of turbulent flows over the full range of important eddy sizes. So far, these techniques were applied (and verified) primarily in mundane laboratory situations, but they have a strong potential for astrophysical applications. A sequence of numerical experiments were conducted to evaluate the Reynold's stress tensor, turbulent heat transfer rate, turbulent dissipation rate, and turbulent kinetic energy spectrum, as functions of position, for conditions relevant to the solar nebula. Emphasis is placed on the variation of these properties with appropriate nondimensional quantities, so that relations can be derived that will be useful for disk modeling under a variety of hypotheses and initial conditions.

Cassen, P. M.↗