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At least 19 records

Analysis of the effect of initial conditions on the initial development of a turbulent jet

The effect of the initial condition at the jet exit on the downstream evolution, particularly within the potential core length, were numerically investigated as well as with available experimental data. In order to select the most dependable computational model for the present numerical experiment, a comparative study has been performed with different turbulence models at k-epsilon level, and it was found that the k-epsilon-gammma model yields superior prediction accuracy over other conventional models. The calculated results show that the potential core length and the spreading rate the initial mixing layer are dependent on the initial length scale as well as the turbulent kinetic energy at the jet exit. Such effect of the initial length scale increases with higher initial turbulence level. An empirical parameter has been devised to collapse the calculated data of the potential core length and the spreading rate with various initial conditions onto a single curve.

Kim, Soong KI↗

Initial conditions and quantum cosmology

A theory of initial conditions is necessary for a complete explanation of the presently observed large scale structural features of the universe, and a quantum theory of cosmology is probably needed for its formulation. The kinematics of quantum cosmology are reviewed, and some candidates for a law of initial conditions are discussed. The proposal that the quantum state of a closed universe is the natural analog of the ground state for closed cosmologies and is specified by a Euclidean sum over histories is sketched. When implemented in simple models, this proposal is consistent with the most important large-scale observations.

Hartle, James B.↗

Sensitivity of the structure of untripped mixing layers to small changes in initial conditions

An experimental study was conducted concerning the influence of small changes in initial conditions on the near- and far-field evolution of the three-dimensional structure of a plan mixing layer. A two-stream mixing layer with a velocity ratio of 0.6 was generated with the initial boundary layers on the splitter plate laminar and was nominally two-dimensional. The initial conditions were changed slightly by interchanging the high- and low-speed sides of the wind tunnel, while maintaining the same velocities, and hence velocity ratio. This resulted in small changes in the initial boundary layer properties, and the perturbations present in the boundary layers were interchanged between the high- and low-speed sides for the two cases. The results indicate that, even with this relatively minor change in initial conditions, the near-field regions of the two cases differ significantly. The peak Reynolds stress levels in the near-field differ by up to 100 percent, and this is attributed to a difference in the location of the initial spanwise vortex roll-up. In addition, the positions and shapes of the individual streamwise vortical structures differ for the two cases, although the overall structures differ for the two cases, although the overall qualitative description of these structures is comparable. The subsequent reorganization and decay of the streamwise vortical structures is very similar for the two cases. As a result, in the far field, both mixing layers achieve similar structure, yielding comparable growth rates, Reynolds stress, distribution, and spectral content.

Plesniak, M. W.↗

Effects of eddy initial conditions on nonlinear forcing of planetary scale waves by amplifying baroclinic eddies

The previous study of Young and Villere concerning growth of planetary scale waves forced by wave-wave interactions of amplifying intermediate scale baroclinic eddies is extended to investigate effects of different eddy initial conditions. A global, spectral, primitive equation model is used for the calculations. For every set of eddy initial conditions considered, growth rates of planetary modes are considerably greater than growth rates computed from linear instability theory for a fixed zonally independent basic state. However, values of growth rates ranged over a factor of 3 depending on the particular set of eddy initial conditions used. Nonlinear forcing of planetary modes via wave-wave coupling becomes more important than baroclinic growth on the basic state at small values of the intermediate-scale modal amplitudes. The relative importance of direct transfer of kinetic energy from intermediate scales of motion to a planetary mode, compared to baroclinic conversion of available potential energy to kinetic energy within that planetary mode, depends on the individual case. In all cases, however, the transfer of either kinetic or available potential energy to the planetary modes was accomplished principally by wave-wave transfer from intermediate scale eddies, rather than from the zonally averaged state. The zonal wavenumber 2 planetary mode was prominent in all solutions, even in those for which eddy initial conditions were such that a different planetary mode was selectively forced at the start. General characteristics of the structural evolution of the planetary wave components of total heat and momentum flux, and modal structures themselves, were relatively insensitive to variations in eddy initial conditions, even though quantitative details varied from case to case.

Young, Richard E.↗

Collapses of stellar protogalaxies from aspheric initial conditions

Numerical experimens are presented which were intended to verify the independence of bar formation in rotating galaxy models from special initial conditions. Three-dimensional n-body programs were run starting from aspherical initial conditions characterized by particle rotational and peculiar velocities and offsets from sphericity for a set of 100,000 particles. All the initial configurations examined are observed to collapse to a thin form, overshoot, collapse again and again overshoot, with diameters and central densities similar to those observed under spheric initial conditions. Every aspheric collapse is also found to result in bar formation within two rotation periods, which is even sooner than in initially spherical conditions. In the intermediate stages of collapse, transient sheet patterns are found to be destroyed at asymmetries of 2-3%, while transient rings survived asymmetries of 6-7% but not 15-18%. It is noted that the results may be applicable to galaxy formation in the early universe, and possible mechanisms for the arresting of protogalactic collapse are indicated.

Miller, R. H.↗

Protostellar formation in rotating interstellar clouds. VI - Nonuniform initial conditions

The collapse and fragmentation of rotating protostellar clouds is explored, starting from nonuniform density and nonuniform rotation initial conditions. Whether binary fragmentation occurs during the first dynamic collapse phase depends strongly on the initial density profile. Exponential clouds are only somewhat more resistant to fragmentation than uniform-density clouds, but power-law clouds do not undergo fragmentation for likely values of a relevant parameter. Because binary fragments start from profiles intermediate between uniform density and exponential clouds, minimum protostellar mass for population I stars should be increased to approximately 0.02 solar mass. The axisymmetric Terey et al. (1984) model should be stable with respect to nonaxisymmetric perturbations. Considering the observed binary frequency, collapse from power-law initial conditions appears to be less common than collapse from more uniform initial conditions.

Boss, Alan P.↗

Initial condition effect on pressure waves in an axisymmetric jet

A pair of microphones (separated axially by 5.08 cm and laterally by 1.3 cm) are placed on either side of the jet centerline to investigate coherent pressure fluctuations in an axisymmetric jet at Strouhal numbers less than unity. Auto-spectra, transfer-function, and coherence measurements are made for a tripped and untripped boundary layer initial condition. It was found that coherent acoustic pressure waves originating in the upstream plenum chamber propagate a greater distance downstream for the tripped initial condition than for the untripped initial condition. In addition, for the untripped initial condition the development of the coherent hydrodynamic pressure waves shifts downstream.

Miles, Jeffrey H.↗

Initial conditional effect on pressure waves in an axisymmetric jet

A pair of microphones (separated axially by 5.08 cm and laterally by 1.3 cm) are placed on either side of the jet centerline to investigate coherent pressure fluctuations in an axisymmetric jet at Strouhal numbers less than unity. Auto-spectra, transfer-function, and coherence measurements are made for a tripped and untripped boundary layer initial condition. It was found that coherent acoustic pressure waves originating in the upstream plenum chamber propagate a greater distance downstream for the tripped initial condition than for the untripped initial condition. In addition, for the untripped initial condition the developmet of the coherent hydrodynamic pressure waves shifts downstream.

Miles, Jeffrey H.↗

Effects of small changes in initial conditions on mixing layer three-dimensionality

The effects of relatively small changes in the initial conditions of the development of the 3D structure of a plane mixing layer originating from laminar boundary layers were experimentally studied. It is found that, while the exact shapes and positions of the streamwise vortex structures are not the same for the two initial conditions, their overall distribution, reorganization, and decay are very similar. The results likely that while some of the specific details of the streamwise vortex structure may be facility-dependent, a relatively strong structure which produces significant three-dimensionality should form in all mixing layers originating from laminar boundary layers. After some initial readjustments, the structure will appear in the form of counterrotating pairs of streamwise vortices which in the mean, grow with the mixing layer and decay in strength. The results also serve to warn that small changes in initial conditions may significantly affect the Reynolds stress distributions in the near field.

Plesniak, M. W.↗

Initial conditions and Korteweg-de Vries solitons

The effects of rectangular initial data on the evolution of solitons governed by the Korteweg-de Vries equation is studied. Both isolated and separated disturbances are considered, providing some general insight into how the nature of the initial condition influences the appearance of solitons in the asymptotic state. The analytic approach is based on the inverse scattering transform which relates the initial condition to Schroedinger's equation. The results are used to model the initial shallow-water disturbances, and the results can be summarized by stating that the number of evolved solitons depends on the strength of each rectangular disturbance, the relative amplitudes of the rectangular disturbances, and the relative proximity of the disturbances.

Weidman, P. D.↗

Controlling Chaos Via Knowledge of Initial Condition for a Curved Structure

Nonlinear response of a flexible curved panel exhibiting bifurcation to fully developed chaos is demonstrated along with the sensitivity to small perturbation from the initial conditions. The response is determined from the measured time series at two fixed points. The panel is forced by an external nonharmonic multifrequency and monofrequency sound field. Using a low power time-continuous feedback control, carefully tuned at each initial condition, produces large long-term effects on the dynamics toward taming chaos. Without the knowledge of the initial conditions, control may be achieved by destructive interference. In this case, the control power is proportional to the loading power. Calculation of the correlation dimension and the estimation of positive Lyapunov exponents, in practice, are the proof of chaotic response.

Maestrello, L.↗

Consistent Initial Conditions for the DNS of Compressible Turbulence

Relationships between diverse thermodynamic quantities appropriate to weakly compressible turbulence are derived. It is shown that for turbulence of a finite turbulent Mach number there is a finite element of compressibility. A methodology for generating initial conditions for the fluctuating pressure, density and dilatational velocity is given which is consistent with finite Mach number effects. Use of these initial conditions gives rise to a smooth development of the flow, in contrast to cases in which these fields are specified arbitrarily or set to zero. Comparisons of the effect of different types of initial conditions are made using direct numerical simulation of decaying isotropic turbulence.

Ristorcelli, J. R.↗

A Comparison of Perturbed Initial Conditions and Multiphysics Ensembles in a Severe Weather Episode in Spain

Ensembles of numerical model forecasts are of interest to operational early warning forecasters as the spread of the ensemble provides an indication of the uncertainty of the alerts, and the mean value is deemed to outperform the forecasts of the individual models. This paper explores two ensembles on a severe weather episode in Spain, aiming to ascertain the relative usefulness of each one. One ensemble uses sensible choices of physical parameterizations (precipitation microphysics, land surface physics, and cumulus physics) while the other follows a perturbed initial conditions approach. The results show that, depending on the parameterizations, large differences can be expected in terms of storm location, spatial structure of the precipitation field, and rain intensity. It is also found that the spread of the perturbed initial conditions ensemble is smaller than the dispersion due to physical parameterizations. This confirms that in severe weather situations operational forecasts should address moist physics deficiencies to realize the full benefits of the ensemble approach, in addition to optimizing initial conditions. The results also provide insights into differences in simulations arising from ensembles of weather models using several combinations of different physical parameterizations.

severe weather↗

Initial conditions implied by t exp 1/2 solidification of a sphere with capillarity and interfacial kinetics

The paper explores the initial conditions implied by t exp 1/2 growth of a spherical crystal solidifying from a pure, undercooled melt, including the effects of both capillarity and interface kinetics, and relates the findings to initial conditions that would be expected on the basis of classical nucleation theory. For crystal sizes near the nucleation radius, the calculated temperature profiles show a cold region ahead of the advancing interface that is even more undercooled than the undercooled bath. This cold region acts as a local heat sink that compensates for the reduced growth speed that would otherwise result from capillarity and kinetics, leading to precisely the same t exp 1/2 growth law that would have been obtained had both capillarity and kinetics been neglected.

Sekerka, R. F.↗

The effect of initial conditions on the development of temporally evolving planar three dimensional incompressible wakes

A set of direct numerical simulations of temporally evolving incompressible plane wakes started from a variety of initial conditions have been performed. The intent is to explore the effect of initial conditions on the development of three dimensionality. It was found that the existence of an oblique disturbance at a streamwise wavelength equal to the two-dimensional subharmonic wavelength plays a very important role in the development of the wake. The Reynolds number and the presence or absence of longer wavelength disturbances were also found to be important at late times in the development of the flow. Disturbance phase was found to have an effect on the details of the structure of the wake, but has relatively little effect on the wake growth.

Sondergaard, Rolf↗

The Effect of Spray Initial Conditions on Heat Release and Emissions in LDI CFD Calculations

The mass and velocity distribution of liquid spray has a primary effect on the combustion heat release process. This heat release process then affects emissions like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). Computational Fluid Dynamics gives the engineer insight into these processes, but various setup options exist (number of droplet groups, and initial droplet temperature) for spray initial conditions. This paper studies these spray initial condition options using the National Combustion Code (NCC) on a single swirler lean direct injection (LDI) flame tube. Using laminar finite rate chemistry, comparisons are made against experimental data for velocity measurements, temperature, and emissions (NOx, CO).

Iannetti, Anthony C.↗