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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Transport of passive scalars in a turbulent channel flow

A direct numerical simulation of a turbulent channel flow with three passive scalars at different molecular Prandtl numbers is performed. Computed statistics including the turbulent Prandtl numbers are compared with existing experimental data. The computed fields are also examined to investigate the spatial structure of the scalar fields. The scalar fields are highly correlated with the streamwise velocity; the correlation coefficient between the temperature and the streamwise velocity is as high as 0.95 in the wall region. The joint probability distributions between the temperature and velocity fluctuations are also examined; they suggest that it might be possible to model the scalar fluxes in the wall region in a manner similar to the Reynolds stresses.

Kim, John↗
NASA NTRS1986

Finite analytic numerical solution of two-dimensional channel flow over a backward-facing step

Laminar channel flow over a backward-facing step is investigated. The finite analytic (FA) method is used to obtain the numerical solution. The FA solutions predict the recirculation zone lengths and the recirculated mass flow rates for Reynolds numbers, Re, of 25, 50, 73, 125, 191 and 229 which correlate well with experimental measurements. The general flow patterns of the recirculation region flows for the Reynolds numbers considered in this study are similar to each other.

Ho, K.-S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Transport of passive scalars in a turbulent channel flow

A direct numerical simulation of a turbulent channel flow with three passive scalars at different molecular Prandtl numbers is performed. Computed statistics including the turbulent Prandtl numbers are compared with existing experimental data. The computed fields are also examined to investigate the spatial structure of the scalar fields. The scalar fields are highly correlated with the streamwise velocity; the correlation coefficient between the temperature and the streamwise velocity is as high as 0.95 in the wall region. The joint probability distributions between the temperature and velocity fluctuations are also examined; they suggest that it might be possible to model the scalar fluxes in the wall region in a manner similar to the Reynolds stresses.

Kim, John↗
NASA NTRS2003

Grid-Independent Large-Eddy Simulation in Turbulent Channel Flow using Three-Dimensional Explicit Filtering

In this paper, turbulence-closure models are evaluated using the 'true' LES approach in turbulent channel flow. The study is an extension of the work presented by Gullbrand (2001), where fourth-order commutative filter functions are applied in three dimensions in a fourth-order finite-difference code. The true LES solution is the grid-independent solution to the filtered governing equations. The solution is obtained by keeping the filter width constant while the computational grid is refined. As the grid is refined, the solution converges towards the true LES solution. The true LES solution will depend on the filter width used, but will be independent of the grid resolution. In traditional LES, because the filter is implicit and directly connected to the grid spacing, the solution converges towards a direct numerical simulation (DNS) as the grid is refined, and not towards the solution of the filtered Navier-Stokes equations. The effect of turbulence-closure models is therefore difficult to determine in traditional LES because, as the grid is refined, more turbulence length scales are resolved and less influence from the models is expected. In contrast, in the true LES formulation, the explicit filter eliminates all scales that are smaller than the filter cutoff, regardless of the grid resolution. This ensures that the resolved length-scales do not vary as the grid resolution is changed. In true LES, the cell size must be smaller than or equal to the cutoff length scale of the filter function. The turbulence-closure models investigated are the dynamic Smagorinsky model (DSM), the dynamic mixed model (DMM), and the dynamic reconstruction model (DRM). These turbulence models were previously studied using two-dimensional explicit filtering in turbulent channel flow by Gullbrand & Chow (2002). The DSM by Germano et al. (1991) is used as the USFS model in all the simulations. This enables evaluation of different reconstruction models for the RSFS stresses. The DMM consists of the scale-similarity model (SSM) by Bardina et al. (1983), which is an RSFS model, in linear combination with the DSM. In the DRM, the RSFS stresses are modeled by using an estimate of the unfiltered velocity in the unclosed term, while the USFS stresses are modeled by the DSM. The DSM and the DMM are two commonly used turbulence-closure models, while the DRM is a more recent model.

Gullbrand, Jessica↗
NASA NTRS1986

Structure parameters in rotating Couette-Poiseuille channel flow

It is well-known that a number of steady state problems in fluid mechanics involving systems of nonlinear partial differential equations can be reduced to the problem of solving a single operator equation of the form: v + lambda Av + lambda B(v) = 0, v is the summation of H, lambda is the summation of one-dimensional Euclid space, where H is an appropriate (real or complex) Hilbert space. Here lambda is a typical load parameter, e.g., the Reynolds number, A is a linear operator, and B is a quadratic operator generated by a bilinear form. In this setting many bifurcation and stability results for problems were obtained. A rotating Couette-Poiseuille channel flow was studied, and it showed that, in general, the superposition of a Poiseuille flow on a rotating Couette channel flow is destabilizing.

Knightly, George H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical simulation of channel flow transition, resolution requirements and structure of the hairpin vortex

Three-dimensional, nonlinear numerical simulations are presented for the K-type and H-type transitions for channel flow. There are two objectives. The first is to establish firmly the resolution requirements for the various stages in the transition process. Comparisons between calculations on various grids suggest a set of guidelines for maintaining a physically meaningful calculation. The second objective is to map out the structure of the hairpin vortices which arise in K-type and H-type transitions in channel flow, to the latest stage currently feasible. Flow field details are presented for both a subcritical Reynolds number of 1500 and a supercritical Reynolds number of 8000. The diagnostics include illustrations of the vertical shear, streamwise and spanwise vorticity, helicity, vortex stretching, and vortex diffusion fields.

Krist, Steven E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Vortex breakdown in channel flow transition

The time-dependent three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are used to study the mechanisms and developing structures comprising the later stages of the transition to turbulence in plane channel flow. Computer animated flow visualizatons are employed using three-dimensional vortex lines and other graphical representations. The flow visualizations clearly show the development of organized structures such as vortex loops, horse-show vortices, and vortex rings. It is noted that the development of these structures is similar to the bursting process found in turbulent channel flow.

Biringen, S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The structure of turbulent channel flow with passive scalar transport

The simulation of turbulent channel flow, with various passive markers, was examined to investigate the local mechanisms of passive scalar transport. We found significant differences between the local transport of heat and momentum, even when the molecular and turbulent Prandtl numbers are of order one. These discrepancies can be attributed to the role of the pressure. We also found that the heat is a poor marker of the vorticity field outside of the near wall region and that scalar transport over significant distances results from the aggregate effect of many turbulent eddies.

Guezennec, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Computation of turbulent rotating channel flow with an algebraic Reynolds stress model

An Algebraic Reynolds Stress Model has been implemented to modify the Kolmogorov-Prandtl eddy viscosity relation to produce an anisotropic turbulence model. The eddy viscosity relation becomes a function of the local turbulent production to dissipation ratio and local turbulence/rotation parameters. The model is used to predict fully-developed rotating channel flow over a diverse range of rotation numbers. In addition, predictions are obtained for a developing channel flow with high rotation. The predictions are compared with the experimental data available. Good predictions are achieved for mean velocity and wall shear stress over most of the rotation speeds tested. There is some prediction breakdown at high rotation (rotation number greater than .10) where the effects of the rotation on turbulence become quite complex. At high rotation and low Reynolds number, the laminarization on the trailing side represents a complex effect of rotation which is difficult to predict with the described models.

Warfield, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Large eddy interactions in a turbulent channel flow

The dynamic processes of large eddies in a turbulent channel flow have been examined by utilizing an orthogonal expansion of the velocity fluctuation, known in the literature as the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Theorem. The mathematical form of these functions is unknown in contrast to the Fourier analysis. Attention is focused on the nonlinear, turbulence-turbulence interaction process in the dynamical equation for large eddies (the first term in the expansion). The nonlinear interactions of the components of the first mode are treated exactly, but influences of higher modes are modeled. This requires adjustment of both the skewness and the effective Reynolds number so that the energy equilibrium of the large eddies is ensured when the mean velocity distribution is assumed known for experiments. Computational results show that the first mode contributes significantly to turbulent intensities and possesses a structural and statistical character similar to that of the entire flow.

Hong, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Transport Of Passive Scalars In A Turbulent Channel Flow

Computer simulation of transport of passive scalars in turbulent channel flow described in report. Shows flow structures and statistical properties. As used here, "passive scalars" means scalar quantities like fluctuations in temperature or concentrations of contaminants that do not disturb flow appreciably. Examples include transport of heat in heat exchangers, gas turbines, and nuclear reactors and dispersal of pollution in atmosphere.

Kim, John↗
NASA NTRS1993

Propagation velocity of perturbations in turbulent channel flow

A database obtained from direct numerical simulation of a turbulent channel flow is analyzed to extract the streamwise component of the propagation velocity V of velocity, vorticity, and pressure fluctuations from their space-time correlations. A surprising result is that V is approximately the same as the local mean velocity for most of the channel, except for the near-wall region. For y(+) less than 15, V is virtually constant, implying that perturbations of all flow variables propagate like waves near the wall. In this region V is 55 percent of the centerline velocity Uc for velocity and vorticity perturbations and 75 percent of U sub c for pressure perturbations. This is equal to U at y(+) = 15 for velocity and vorticity perturbations, and equal to U at y(+) = 20 for pressure perturbations, indicating that the dynamics of the nearwall turbulence is controlled by turbulence structures present near y(+) about 15-20. Scale dependence of V is also examined by analyzing the bandpass-filtered flow fields. This paper contains comprehensive documentation on the propagation velocities, which should prove useful in the evaluation of Taylor's hypothesis.

Kim, John↗
NASA NTRS1992

Propagation velocity and space-time correlation of perturbations in turbulent channel flow

A database obtained from direct numerical simulation of a turbulent channel flow is analyzed to extract the propagation velocity V of velocity, vorticity, and pressure fluctuations from their space-time correlations. A surprising result is that V is approximately the same as the local mean velocity for most of the channel, except for the near-wall region. For y(+) is less than or equal to 15, V is virtually constant, implying that perturbations of all flow variables propagate like waves near the wall. In this region V is 55 percent of the centerline velocity U(sub c) for velocity and vorticity perturbations and 75 percent of U(sub c) for pressure perturbations. Scale-dependence of V is also examined by analyzing the bandpass filtered flow fields. Comprehensive documentation of the propagation velocities and space-time correlation data, which should prove useful in the evaluation of Taylor's hypothesis is presented. An attempt was made to explain some of the data in terms of our current understanding of organized structures, although not all of the data can be explained this way.

Kim, John↗
NASA NTRS1991

Dynamical eigenfunction decomposition of turbulent channel flow

The results of an analysis of low-Reynolds-number turbulent channel flow based on the Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) expansion are presented. The turbulent flow field is generated by a direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations at a Reynolds number Re(tau) = 80 (based on the wall shear velocity and channel half-width). The K-L procedure is then applied to determine the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for this flow. The random coefficients of the K-L expansion are subsequently found by projecting the numerical flow field onto these eigenfunctions. The resulting expansion captures 90 percent of the turbulent energy with significantly fewer modes than the original trigonometric expansion. The eigenfunctions, which appear either as rolls or shearing motions, possess viscous boundary layers at the walls and are much richer in harmonics than the original basis functions.

Ball, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Nonlinear cellular motions in Poiseuille channel flow

In a number of nonlinear solutions to the equations of channel flow the velocity is decomposed into a mean part plus a nonlinear disturbance. The idea that nonlinear effects place a limitation on the amplitudes of the disturbance flow is considered. In the reported investigation the disturbance flow is represented by drastically limited Fourier expansions in the downstream coordinate. The resulting equations are solved numerically with high accuracy to obtain a good representation of the cross-stream structure of the solution. The results of the investigation show that indeed the nonlinear terms always limit the amplitude of the disturbance flow in this approximation.

Zahn, J.-P.↗