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At least 325 records · Page 18

Development of an integrated BEM approach for hot fluid structure interaction

Significant progress was made toward the goal of developing a general purpose boundary element method for hot fluid-structure interaction. For the solid phase, a boundary-only formulation was developed and implemented for uncoupled transient thermoelasticity in two dimensions. The elimination of volume discretization not only drastically reduces required modeling effort, but also permits unconstrained variation of the through-the-thickness temperature distribution. Meanwhile, for the fluids, fundamental solutions were derived for transient incompressible and compressible flow in the absence of the convective terms. Boundary element formulations were developed and described. For the incompressible case, the necessary kernal functions, under transient and steady-state conditions, were derived and fully implemented into a general purpose, multi-region boundary element code. Several examples were examined to study the suitability and convergence characteristics of the various algorithms.

Dargush, Gary F.↗

Viscous flow computations using a second-order upwind differencing scheme

In the present computations of a wide range of fluid flow problems by means of the primitive variables-incorporating Navier-Stokes equations, a mixed second-order upwinding scheme approximates the convective terms of the transport equations and the scheme's accuracy is verified for convection-dominated high Re number flow problems. An adaptive dissipation scheme is used as a monotonic supersonic shock flow capture mechanism. Many benchmark fluid flow problems, including the compressible and incompressible, laminar and turbulent, over a wide range of M and Re numbers, are presently studied to verify the accuracy and robustness of this numerical method.

Chen, Y. S.↗

A Parallel Incompressible Navier-Stokes Solver with Multigrid Iterations

We developed a parallel, numerically accurate and stable, and computationally efficient finate-difference incompressible Navier-Stokes (N-S) fluid flow solver. The solver runs on both sequential and massively parallel computers. The numerical method used here is a second-order projection method on a staggered grid. The code is highly modular and it can be used either as a stand-alone flow solver and or a template code which can be adapted or expanded to a specific application. Numerical results and parallel performances of our code on Intel Delta and Paragon are reported.

Navier-Stokes solver↗

Broken Ergodicity in Ideal, Homogeneous, Incompressible Turbulence

We discuss the statistical mechanics of numerical models of ideal homogeneous, incompressible turbulence and their relevance for dissipative fluids and magnetofluids. These numerical models are based on Fourier series and the relevant statistical theory predicts that Fourier coefficients of fluid velocity and magnetic fields (if present) are zero-mean random variables. However, numerical simulations clearly show that certain coefficients have a non-zero mean value that can be very large compared to the associated standard deviation. We explain this phenomena in terms of broken ergodicity', which is defined to occur when dynamical behavior does not match ensemble predictions on very long time-scales. We review the theoretical basis of broken ergodicity, apply it to 2-D and 3-D fluid and magnetohydrodynamic simulations of homogeneous turbulence, and show new results from simulations using GPU (graphical processing unit) computers.

Morin, Lee↗

Free vibration analysis of coupled fluid-structure systems

An efficient numerical technique for the eigenvalue solution in the free vibration analysis of compressible fluid-structure coupled systems is presented. The fluid is assumed to be compressible in nature and the incompressible problem is only a special case of the present generalized algorithm. A natural frequency analysis of the structure in the absence of any fluid is achieved by a combined Sturm sequence and inverse iteration technique that computes only the required eigenvalues and vectors. A special inverse iteration scheme is then developed for the coupled system that uses the computed eigenvalues as starting iteration values for convergence. Numerical results obtained by solving a number of standard test cases indicate the pattern of root convergence corresponding to various simplifying assumptions.

Gupta, K. K.↗

Verification of 3D viscous/turbulent codes for internal flows

A computational fluid dynamics code is validated using data obtained through a nonintrusive laser Doppler velocimeter. A space marching technique and a parabolic marching technique are use to calculate the flow in a compressor using compressible and incompressible flow assumptions. In a viewgraph format, both computational fluid dynamics techniques and experimental data are compared to each other.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗

Effect of fluid compressibility on journal bearing performance

An analysis was undertaken to determine the effect of fluid film compressibility on the performance of fluid film bearings. A new version of the Reynolds equation was developed, using a polytropic expansion, for both steady-state and dynamic conditions. Polytropic exponents from 1 (isothermal) to 1000 (approaching an incompressible liquid) were evaluated for two bearing numbers, selected from a range of practical interest for cryogenic application, and without cavitation. Bearing loads were insensitive to fluid compressibility for low bearing numbers, as was expected. The effect of compressibility on attitude angle was significant, even when the bearing number was low. A small amount of fluid compressibility was enough to obtain stable running conditions. Incompressible liquid lacked stability at all conditions. Fluid compressibility can be used to control the bearing dynamic coefficients, thereby influencing the dynamic behavior of the rotor-bearing system.

Dimofte, Florin↗

Parasitic instabilities in magnetized, differentially rotating disks

Velikhov, Chandrasekhar, Balbus & Hawley have discovered a MHD instability of differentially rotating fluids that may explain the effective viscosity of accretion disks. If the unperturbed magnetic energy density is much less than the gas pressure, this `magnetorotational' instability (MRI) arises on small scales and is approximately incompressible. If the unperturbed field is suffiently, strong, the MRI is suppressed. We therefore ask whether the MRI mechanism can amplify even very weak initial fields until they reach equipartition with the gas pressure. We show that in the total incompressible limit, the MRI modes are exact solutions of the nonlinear fluid equations, even if the perturbed magnetic field is much larger than the unperturbed field. Also, we present a new exact solution in the opposite limit that the magnetic pressure is much larger than that of the gas. On the other hand, we show that the incompressible MRI modes are themselves subject to parasitic instabilities with instantaneous growth rates proportional to the MRI amplitude. Some of the parasitic instabilities are of the Kelvin-Helmholtz type, while others are less familiar. The eigenfunctions of the latter group suggest that they may promote rapid reconnection of the MRI field. Thus, parasitic modes may stop MRI growth at subequipartition amplitudes if it developes from a sufficiently weak initital field.

Goodman, Jeremy↗

Computational analyses of crystal growth

Two important aspects of Hg/Cd/Te crystal growth processes are discussed. First, the thermal field and second, the fluid movement in the melt zone. The thermal analysis includes numerical calculation of axisymmetric heat conduction within the sample. It also includes a three-dimensional radiation model to calculate the radiative heat exchange between the furnace and the crystal as determined by the complex geometry of the furnace and the adiabatic shield. The thermal analysis also includes a crystal conductivity which is dependent on temperature and composition. To tackle the fluid flow aspect of the problem, an attempt was made to use a newly developed incompressible flow code based on the slight compressibility, and hence the finite sound speed, of all real fluids.

Dakhoul, Youssef M.↗

Finite element simulation of temperature dependent free surface flows

The method of Engelman and Sani (1984) for a finite-element simulation of incompressible surface flows with a free and/or moving fluid interface, such as encountered in crystal growth and coating and polymer technology, is extended to temperature-dependent flows, including the effect of temperature-dependent surface tension. The basic algorithm of Saito and Scriven (1981) and Ruschak (1980) has been generalized and implemented in a robust and versatile finite-element code that can be employed with relative ease for the simulation of free-surface problems in complex geometries. As a result, the costly dependence on the Newton-Raphson algorithm has been eliminated by replacing it with a quasi-Newton iterative method, which nearly retains the superior convergence properties of the Newton-Raphson method.

Engelman, M. S.↗

Modeling of vortex-induced oscillations based on indicial response approach

The indicial response approach, a modeling approach originally used for studying nonlinear problems in flight dynamics is applied to the study of vortex-induced oscillations phenomena. The indicial response of the velocity field is derived for the problem studied with emphasis on physical postulates involved. A full account of fluid dynamics effects is taken by considering the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The theory is applied to the particular case of flow past a cylinder in periodically forced motion to derive some salient features. The indicial response approach is shown to be equivalent to a currently popular approach based on the use of the amplitude equation. Jump and hysteresis phenomena that experiments indicate occur within the lock-in regime (where the velocity field oscillates at the forcing frequency) are captured by the approach.

Truong, Khiem Van↗

An analytic study of nonsteady two-phase laminar boundary layer around an airfoil

Recently, NASA, FAA, and other organizations have focused their attention upon the possible effects of rain on airfoil performance. Rhode carried out early experiments and concluded that the rain impacting the aircraft increased the drag. Bergrum made numerical calculation for the rain effects on airfoils. Luers and Haines did an analytic investigation and found that heavy rain induces severe aerodynamic penalties including both a momentum penalty due to the impact of the rain and a drag and lift penalty due to rain roughening of the airfoil and fuselage. More recently, Hansman and Barsotti performed experiments and declared that performance degradation of an airfoil in heavy rain is due to the effective roughening of the surface by the water layer. Hansman and Craig did further experimental research at low Reynolds number. E. Dunham made a critical review for the potential influence of rain on airfoil performance. Dunham et al. carried out experiments for the transport type airfoil and concluded that there is a reduction of maximum lift capability with increase in drag. There is a scarcity of published literature in analytic research of two-phase boundary layer around an airfoil. Analytic research is being improved. The following assumptions are made: the fluid flow is non-steady, viscous, and incompressible; the airfoil is represented by a two-dimensional flat plate; and there is only a laminar boundary layer throughout the flow region. The boundary layer approximation is solved and discussed.

Hsu, Yu-Kao↗

State-of-the-art surveys on computational mechanics

Topics considered include advances in finite difference techniques for computational fluid dynamics, the spectral element methods for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, a review of recent developments in time integration, and advances and trends in element-by-element techniques. Also examined are the algebraic multigrid methods applied to problems in computational structural mechanics, grid generation for the solution of partial differential equations, advances in adaptive improvements, and new computing systems and their impact on computational mechanics.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

Study Of Disturbances In Rotating Plane Poisseuille Flow

Report describes computer-simulation of instability and transition to turbulence in plane Poisseuille flow in rotating channel. Motions of fluid governed by Navier-Stokes equations of incompressible flow, using periodic boundary conditions in streamwise and spanwise directions. Principal parameters affecting flow are Reynolds and rotation numbers.

Kim, John↗

Application of a Real-Fluid Turbomachinery Analysis to Rocket Turbopump Geometries

A three-dimensional flow solver has been developed for turbomachinery components utilizing real fluid properties. The code is applicable to both incompressible and compressible flow fields. In this study, the code has been applied to the analysis of inducer and impeller geometries representative of those used in rocket engine applications. The predicted results show good agreement with the available experimental data.

Dorney, Daniel J.↗

Development of an integrated BEM for hot fluid-structure interaction

A boundary element approach is developed for problems of hot fluid-structure interaction. The structure is idealized as a thermoelastic solid, and a time-domain, boundary-only integral formulation is described. Meanwhile, several approaches are discussed for the hot fluid. Integrals equations are developed for both compressible and incompressible thermoviscous flow. Due to the presence of nonlinear convective terms in the governing differential equations, domain discretization is generally required. However, with the introduction of reference velocities, volume modeling often can be confined to regions near obstacles and walls. All formulations are implemented for two-dimensional problems in GPO-BEST, a general purpose boundary element computer program. An overview of this numerical implementation is provided, along with several illustrative examples. The present fluid formulations are appropriate in the low to medium Reynolds number ranges; however, some enhancements required for higher speed simulations are noted.

Dargush, G. F.↗

An Experimental Investigation of Incompressible Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability

Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) instability occurs when two different density fluids are impulsively accelerated in the direction normal to their nearly planar interface. The instability causes small perturbations on the interface to grow and eventually become a turbulent flow. It is closely related to Rayleigh-Taylor instability, which is the instability of a planar interface undergoing constant acceleration, such as caused by the suspension of a heavy fluid over a lighter one in the earth's gravitational field. Like the well-known Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, RM instability is a fundamental hydrodynamic instability which exhibits many of the nonlinear complexities that transform simple initial conditions into a complex turbulent flow. Furthermore, the simplicity of RM instability (in that it requires very few defining parameters), and the fact that it can be generated in a closed container, makes it an excellent test bed to study nonlinear stability theory as well as turbulent transport in a heterogeneous system. However, the fact that RM instability involves fluids of unequal densities which experience negligible gravitational force, except during the impulsive acceleration, requires RM instability experiments to be carried out under conditions of microgravity. This experimental study investigates the instability of an interface between incompressible, miscible liquids with an initial sinusoidal perturbation. The impulsive acceleration is generated by bouncing a rectangular tank containing two different density liquids off a retractable vertical spring. The initial perturbation is produced prior to release by oscillating the tank in the horizontal direction to produce a standing wave. The instability evolves in microgravity as the tank travels up and then down the vertical rails of a drop tower until hitting a shock absorber at the bottom. Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) is employed to visualize the flow. PLIF images are captured by a video camera that travels with the tank. Figure 1 is as sequence of images showing the development of the instability from the initial sinusoidal disturbance far into the nonlinear regime which is characterized by the appearance of mushroom structures resulting from the coalescence of baroclinic vorticity produced by the impulsive acceleration. At later times in this sequence the vortex cores are observed to become unstable showing the beginnings of the transition to turbulence in this flow. The amplitude of the growing disturbance after the impulsive acceleration is measured and found to agree well with theoretical predictions. The effects of Reynolds number (based on circulation) on the development of the vortices and the transition to turbulence are also determined.

Jacobs, J. W.↗

Energy Spectrum in the Dissipation Range of Fluid Turbulence

High resolution, direct numerical simulations of the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are carried out to study the energy spectrum in the dissipation range. An energy spectrum of the form A(k/k( sub d))(sup alpha) exp[- betak/k(sub d) is confirmed. The possible values of the parameters alpha and beta, as well as their dependence on Revnolds numbers and length scales, are investigated, showing good agreement with recent theoretical predictions. A "bottleneck'-type effect is reported at k/k(sub d) approximately 4, exhibiting a possible transition from near-dissipation to far- dissipation.

Martinez, D. O.↗