Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “WALL FLOW”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Some observations concerning "laminarization" in heated vertical tubes

For low "turbulent" Reynolds numbers in strongly-heated vertical gas flow, fundamental results of existing direct numerical simulation (DNS) databases have been examined to deduce differences between cases which "revert" to turbulent and those that yield integral parameters which correspond to laminar flow (henceforth laminarizing or laminarized). The objectives of this paper are (1) to examine the streamwise evolution of near-wall flow structures and (2) to determine which, if any, proposed laminarization parameters could be used to discriminate between turbulent and laminarizing flows resulting. Views of streamlines in r-θ cross sections showed evidence of a ring of irregular-shaped streamwise vortices near the wall at all locations. The transverse advection of these vortices is hypothesized to provide a path of least resistance to the transport of streamwise momentum in the wall-normal direction. It is demonstrated that a steady streamwise laminar vortex can provide apparent turbulent momentum transport (as a consequence of the Reynolds decomposition) such that a reasonable mean velocity profile is predicted near the wall. For the present cases, the values of the non-dimensional radius (y c,w + = Re τ,w ) and of the modified wall Reynolds number did discriminate whether turbulent or laminarizing flow resulted.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Vortex motion in wall-bounded viscous flow

A factor of general interest in a broad class of wall-bounded flows is the dynamic evolution of vortical structures through the flow. The structures are three-dimensional, and an overall mathematical description of such entities has not yet been formulated. One of the objectives of the present investigation is concerned with the establishment of a framework, based on first principles, which may form a basis for more detailed analytical studies. Another aim is related to the establishment of boundary and initial conditions in numerical experiments. The mathematical framework employed involves the method of matched asymptotic expansions, and an inner solution field is constructed which consists of a two-dimensional vortical structure. The outer solution field is taken to be an otherwise undisturbed laminar two-dimensional parallel or self-similar viscous flowfield.

Gatski, T. B.↗

Evolution and dynamics of shear-layer structures in near-wall turbulence

Near-wall flow structures in turbulent shear flows are analyzed, with particular emphasis on the study of their space-time evolution and connection to turbulence production. The results are obtained from investigation of a database generated from direct numerical simulation of turbulent channel flow at a Reynolds number of 180 based on half-channel width and friction velocity. New light is shed on problems associated with conditional sampling techniques, together with methods to improve these techniques, for use both in physical and numerical experiments. The results clearly indicate that earlier conceptual models of the processes associated with near-wall turbulence production, based on flow visualization and probe measurements need to be modified. For instance, the development of asymmetry in the spanwise direction seems to be an important element in the evolution of near-wall structures in general, and for shear layers in particular. The inhibition of spanwise motion of the near-wall streaky pattern may be the primary reason for the ability of small longitudinal riblets to reduce turbulent skin friction below the value for a flat surface.

Johansson, Arne V.↗

Development in UK of a method for calculating tunnel wall corrections from flow measurements

Classical methods for calculation of wall corrections which are not satisfactory for a number of flows of interest are discussed. To meet these objections, a number of methods were developed which use measurements of the low at or close to the tunnel walls as an outer boundary condition to define wall interference. The development, assessment and application of one such method is summarized.

P. R. Ashill↗

Computation of flows in a turn-around duct and a turbine cascade using advanced turbulence models

Numerical investigation has been carried out to evaluate the capability of the Algebraic Reynolds Stress Model (ARSM) and the Nonlinear Stress Model (NLSM) to predict strongly curved turbulent flow in a turn-around duct (TAD). The ARSM includes the near-wall damping term of pressure-strain correlation phi(sub ij,w), which enables accurate prediction of individual Reynolds stress components in wall flows. The TAD mean flow quantities are reasonably well predicted by various turbulence models. The ARSM yields better predictions for both the mean flow and the turbulence quantities than the NLSM and the k-epsilon (k = turbulent kinetic energy, epsilon = dissipation rate of k) model. The NLSM also shows slight improvement over the k-epsilon model. However, all the models fail to capture the recovery of the flow from strong curvature effects. The formulation for phi(sub ij,w) appears to be incorrect near the concave surface. The hybrid k-epsilon/ARSM, Chien's k-epsilon model, and Coakley's q-omega (q = the square root of k, omega = epsilon/k) model have also been employed to compute the aerodynamics and heat transfer of a transonic turbine cascade. The surface pressure distributions and the wake profiles are predicted well by all the models. The k-epsilon model and the k-epsilon/ARSM model provide better predictions of heat transfer than the q-omega model. The k-epsilon/ARSM solutions show significant differences in the predicted skin friction coefficients, heat transfer rates and the cascade performance parameters, as compared to the k-epsilon model. The k-epsilon/ARSM model appears to capture, qualitatively, the anisotropy associated with by-pass transition.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗

An embedded function approach for turbulent flow prediction

In conventional prediction methods for turbulent flow influence on surface properties, very small mesh sizes and considerable computational effort is required to adequately resolve the intense velocity and temperature profile variations that occur in the wall-layer region. In this study, an approach is described wherein an outer region numerical solution is smoothly matched to a set of embedded analytic profile functions in the near-wall region; these wall-layer profile functions having been derived through consideration of the coherent structure of the time-dependent near-wall flow provide analytic expressions for the mean velocity and enthalpy profiles in the wall layer. The concept is demonstrated through example applications to turbulent boundary-layer flows in two dimensions. The technique is shown to be very efficient and it is demonstrated that a reduction of approximately half the mesh points across the 2-D layer may be realized (as compared to conventional methods) with no degradation in accuracy.

Walker, J. D. A.↗

A numerical study of the temporal eigenvalue spectrum of the Blasius boundary layer

A numerical study is made of the temporal eigenvalue spectrum of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation for the Blasius boundary layer. Unlike channel flows, there is no mathematical proof that this flow has an infinite spectrum of discrete eigenvalues. The Orr-Sommerfeld equation is integrated numerically, and the eigenvalues located by tracing out the contour lines in the complex wave velocity plane on which the real and imaginary parts of the secular determinant are zero. The spectrum of plane Poiseuille flow is used as a guide to study the spectrum of an artificial two-wall flow which consists of two Blasius boundary layers. As the upper boundary of this flow moves to infinity, it is found that the portion of the spectrum with an infinite number of eigenvalues moves towards phase velocity equal to unity and the spacing between eigenvalues goes to zero. The original few eigenvalues found are the only discrete eigenvalues that exist for Blasius flow.

Mack, L. M.↗

Applications of a new wall function to turbulent flow computations

A new wall function approach is developed based on a wall law suitable for incompressible turbulent boundary layers under strong adverse pressure gradients. This wall law was derived from a one-dimensional analysis of the turbulent kinetic energy equation with gradient diffusion concept employed in modeling the near-wall shear stress gradient. Numerical testing cases for the present wall functions include turbulent separating flows around an airfoil and turbulent recirculating flows in several confined regions. Improvements on the predictions using the present wall functions are illustrated. For cases of internal recirculating flows, one modification factor for improving the performance of the k-epsilon turbulence model in the flow recirculation regions is also included.

Chen, Y. S.↗

Calculations of Supersonic and Hypersonic Flows using Compressible Wall Functions

The present paper presents a numerical procedure to calculate supersonic and hypersonic flows using the compressible law of the wall. The turbulence models under consideration include the Launder-Reece-Rodi-Gibson Reynolds-stress model and the k-epsilon model. The models coupled with the proposed wall function technique have been tested in both separated and unseparated flows. The flows include (1) an insulated flat plate flow over a range of Mach numbers, (2) a Mach 5 flat plate flow with cold wall conditions, (3) a two dimensional supersonic compression corner flow, (4) a hypersonic flow over an axisymmetric flare, and (5) a hypersonic flow over a 2-D compression corner. Results indicate that the wall function technique gives improved predictions of skin friction and heat transfer in separated flows compared with models using wall dampers. Predictions of the extent of separation are not improved over the wall damper models except with the Reynolds-stress model for the supersonic compression corner flow case.

Huang, P. G.↗

Turbulent kinetic energy equation and free mixing

Calculation of free shear flows was carried out to investigate the usefulness of several concepts which were previously successfully applied to wall flows. The method belongs to the class of differential approaches. The turbulence is taken into account by the introduction of one additional partial differential equation, the transport equation for the turbulent shear stress. The structure of turbulence is modeled after Bradshaw et al. This model was used successfully in boundary layers and its applicability to other flows is demonstrated. The work reported differs substantially from that of an earlier attempt to use this approach for calculation of free flows. The most important difference is that the region around the center line is treated by invoking the interaction hypothesis (concerning the structure of turbulence in the regions separated by the velocity extrema). The compressibility effects on shear layer spreading at low and moderate Mach numbers were investigated. In the absence of detailed experiments in free flows, the evidence from boundary layers that at low Mach numbers the structure of turbulence is unaffected by the compressibility was relied on. The present model was tested over a range of self-preserving and developing flows including pressure gradients using identical empirical input. The dependence of the structure of turbulence on the spreading rate of the shear layer was established.

Morel, T.↗

Development of buried wire gages for measurement of wall shear stress in Blastane experiments

Buried Wire Gages operated from a Constant Temperature Anemometer System are among the special types of instrumentation to be used in the Boundary Layer Apparatus for Subsonic and Transonic flow Affected by Noise Environment (BLASTANE). These Gages are of a new type and need to be adapted for specific applications. Methods were developed to fabricate Gage inserts and mount those in the BLASTANE Instrumentation Plugs. A large number of Gages were prepared and operated from a Constant Temperature Anemometer System to derive some of the calibration constants for application to fluid-flow wall shear-stress measurements. The final stage of the calibration was defined, but could not be accomplished because of non-availability of a suitable flow simulating apparatus. This report provides a description of the Buried Wire Gage technique, an explanation of the method evolved for making proper Gages and the calibration constants, namely Temperature Coefficient of Resistance and Conduction Loss Factor.

Murthy, S. V.↗

Mitigation of Autoignition Due to Premixing in a Hypervelocity Flow Using Active Wall Cooling

Preinjection of fuel on the forebody of an airbreathing vehicle is a proposed method to gain access to hypervelocity flight Mach numbers. However, this creates the possibility of autoignition either near the wall or in the core of the flow, thereby consuming fuel prematurely as well as increasing the amount of pressure drag on the vehicle. The computational fluid dynamics code VULCAN was used to conduct three dimensional simulations of the reacting flow in the vicinity of hydrogen injectors on a flat plate at conditions relevant to a Mach 12 notional flight vehicle forebody to determine the location where autoignition occurs. Active wall cooling strategies were formulated and simulated in response to regions of autoignition. It was found that tangential film cooling using hydrogen or helium were both able to nearly or completely eliminate wall autoignition in the flow domain of interest.

Axdahl, Erik↗

A Parametric Study of a Plug Nozzle, Using the Liquid Propellant Program (LPP) Code

The Liquid Propellant Program (LPP) computer code is a super-set of the industry standard Two Dimensional Kinetics (TDK) computer code. The TDK code uses a two dimensional method of characteristics solution with fully coupled finite rate kinetics for axially symmetric nozzles. The chemical reactions are modeled with a generalized reaction package that include three dimensional body efficiencies and four reaction rate forms. The code performs optional solutions for frozen or equilibrium flow. TDK evaluates discrete shocks, both attached or induced. The Transonic module models variable mixture ratio profiles from the combustion chamber injector. The Mass Addition Boundary Layer module (MABL) calculates the boundary parameters with the same chemistry options, and includes transpiration or tangential slot injection of gas at the wall. The LPP upgrades include: planar nozzle, scarfed nozzles, plug nozzles, and scramjet nozzle configurations. The code evaluates both upper and lower wall flow simulation, and includes the interaction with the external flow. The MABL module evaluates equilibrium radiation heat transfer for both upper and lower walls. In addition, LPP code models combustion effects due to injector inefficiencies with the Spray Combustion Analysis Program (SCAP) module. The LPP package provides extensive post plotting capabilities for flow visualization. The LPP is sufficiently fast and robust to provide performance predictions for extensive parametric studies and sufficiently accurate to provide flow field and performance solutions for detailed studies.

Dunn, Stuart S.↗

DNS/LES Study of Representative Wall-Bounded Turbulent Flows using SIERRA/Fuego

This report summarizes a series of SIERRA/Fuego validation efforts of turbulent flow models on canonical wall-bounded configurations. In particular, direct numerical simulations (DNS) and large eddy simulations (LES) turbulence models are tested on a periodic channel, a periodic pipe, and an open jet for which results are compared to the velocity profiles obtained theoretically or experimentally. Velocity inlet conditions for channel and pipe flows are developed for application to practical simulations. To show this capability, LES is performed over complex terrain in the form of two natural hills and the results are compared with other flow solvers. The practical purpose of the report is to document the creation of inflow boundary conditions of fully developed turbulent flows for other LES calculations where the role of inflow turbulence is critical.

42 ENGINEERING↗