Engineering topics

Criminale, W. O.

Publications and source records attributed to Criminale, W. O..

5 records

NASA NTRS1999

Towards Understanding the Mechanism of Receptivity and Bypass Dynamics in Laminar Boundary Layers

Three problems concerning laminar-turbulent transition are addressed by solving a series of initial value problems. The first problem is the calculation of resonance within the continuous spectrum of the Blasius boundary layer. The second is calculation of the growth of Tollmien-Schlichting waves that are a direct result of disturbances that only lie outside of the boundary layer. And, the third problem is the calculation of non-parallel effects. Together, these problems represent a unified approach to the study of freestream disturbance effects that could lead to transition. Solutions to the temporal, initial-value problem with an inhomogeneous forcing term imposed upon the flow is sought. By solving a series of problems, it is shown that: A transient disturbance lying completely outside of the boundary layer can lead to the growth of an unstable Tollmien-Schlichting wave. A resonance with the continuous spectrum leads to strong amplification that may provide a mechanism for bypass transition once nonlinear effects are considered. A disturbance with a very weak unstable Tollmien-Schlichting wave can lead to a much stronger Tollmien-Schlichting wave downstream, if the original disturbance has a significant portion of its energy in the continuum modes.

Lasseigne, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Receptivity and Bypass Dynamics

Problems concerning laminar-turbulent transition are addressed by solving a series of initial value problems. Solutions to the temporal, initial-value problem .with an inhomogeneous forcing term imposed upon the flow are sought. It is shown that: (1) A transient disturbance lying located outside of the boundary layer can lead to the growth of an unstable Tollmein-Schlicting wave; (2) A resonance with the continuous spectrum may provide a mechanism for bypass transition; and (3) The continuum modes of a disturbance feed directly into the Tollmein-Schlicting wave downstream through non-parallel effects.

Lasseigne, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Vortex perturbation dynamics

An initial value approach is used to examine the dynamics of perturbations introduced into a vortex under strain. Both the basic vortex considered and the perturbations are taken as fully three-dimensional. An explicit solution for the time evolution of the vorticity perturbations is given for arbitrary initial vorticity. Analytical solutions for the resulting velocity components are found when the initial vorticity is assumed to be localized. For more general initial vorticity distributions, the velocity components are determined numerically. It is found that the variation in the radial direction of the initial vorticity disturbance is the most important factor influencing the qualitative behavior of the solutions. Transient growth in the magnitude of the velocity components is found to be directly attributable to the compactness of the initial vorticity.

Criminale, W. O.↗

NASA NTRS1995

The initial-value problem for viscous channel flows

Plane viscous channel flows are perturbed and the ensuing initial-value problems are investigated in detail. Unlike traditional methods where traveling wave normal modes are assumed for solution, this works offers a means whereby completely arbitrary initial input can be specified without having to resort to eigenfunction expansions. The full temporal behavior, including both early time transients and the long time asymptotics, can be determined for any initial disturbance. Effects of three-dimensionality can be assessed. The bases for the analysis are: (a) linearization of the governing equations; (b) Fourier decomposition in the spanwise and streamwise directions of the flow; and (c) direct numerical integration of the resulting partial differential equations. All of the stability data that are known for such flows can be reproduced. Also, the optimal initial condition can be determined in a straight forward manner and such optimal conditions clearly reflect transient growth data that is easily determined by a rational choice of a basis for the initial conditions. Although there can be significant transient growth for subcritical values of the Reynolds number using this approach it does not appear possible that arbitrary initial conditions will lead to the exceptionally large transient amplitudes that have been determined by optimization of normal modes. The approach is general and can be applied to other classes of problems where only a finite discrete spectrum exists, such as the boundary layer for example.

Criminale, W. O.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Towards enhancing and delaying disturbances in free shear flows

The family of shear flows comprising the jet, wake, and the mixing layer are subjected to perturbations in an inviscid incompressible fluid. By modeling the basic mean flows as parallel with piecewise linear variations for the velocities, complete and general solutions to the linearized equations of motion can be obtained in closed form as functions of all space variables and time when posed as an initial value problem. The results show that there is a continuous as well as the discrete spectrum that is more familiar in stability theory and therefore there can be both algebraic and exponential growth of disturbances in time. These bases make it feasible to consider control of such flows. To this end, the possibility of enhancing the disturbances in the mixing layer and delaying the onset in the jet and wake is investigated. It is found that growth of perturbations can be delayed to a considerable degree for the jet and the wake but, by comparison, cannot be enhanced in the mixing layer. By using moving coordinates, a method for demonstrating the predominant early and long time behavior of disturbances in these flows is given for continuous velocity profiles. It is shown that the early time transients are always algebraic whereas the asymptotic limit is that of an exponential normal mode. Numerical treatment of the new governing equations confirm the conclusions reached by use of the piecewise linear basic models. Although not pursued here, feedback mechanisms designed for control of the flow could be devised using the results of this work.

Criminale, W. O.↗