Engineering topics

Spalart, Philippe R.

Publications and source records attributed to Spalart, Philippe R..

31 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1988

Vortex methods for separated flows

The numerical solution of the Euler or Navier-Stokes equations by Lagrangian vortex methods is discussed. The mathematical background is presented and includes the relationship with traditional point-vortex studies, convergence to smooth solutions of the Euler equations, and the essential differences between two and three-dimensional cases. The difficulties in extending the method to viscous or compressible flows are explained. Two-dimensional flows around bluff bodies are emphasized. Robustness of the method and the assessment of accuracy, vortex-core profiles, time-marching schemes, numerical dissipation, and efficient programming are treated. Operation counts for unbounded and periodic flows are given, and two algorithms designed to speed up the calculations are described.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Numerical simulation of transition in a decelerating boundary layer

Transition in a decelerating flat-plate boundary layer is numerically simulated up to the beginning of three-dimensional breakdown, and the results are compared with an experiment. The adverse pressure gradient induced by deceleration increases the growth rate of disturbances and allows transition at lower Reynolds numbers. The primary instability is characterized by a wave packet, which undergoes three-dimensional distortion. Lambda vortices are locally observed, but they are not aligned with respect to the flow direction.

Yang, Kyung Soo↗

NASA NTRS1987

The simulation of coherent structures in a laminar boundary layer

Coherent structures in turbulent shear flows were studied extensively by several techniques, including the VITA technique which selects rapidly accelerating or decelerating regions in the flow. The evolution of a localized disturbance in a laminar boundary layer shows strong similarity to the evolution of coherent structures in a turbulent-wall bounded flow. Starting from a liftup-sweep motion, a strong shear layer develops which shares many of the features seen in conditionally-sampled turbulent velocity fields. The structure of the shear layer, Reynolds stress distribution, and wall pressure footprint are qualitatively the same, indicating that the dynamics responsible for the structure's evolution are simple mechanisms dependent only on the presence of a high mean shear and a wall and independent of the effects of local random fluctuations and outer flow effects. As the disturbance progressed, the development of streak-like-high- and low-speed regions associated with the three-dimensionality.

Breuer, Kenny↗

NASA NTRS1987

Inflectional instabilities in the wall region of bounded turbulent shear flows

The primary thrust of this research was to identify one or more mechanisms responsible for strong turbulence production events in the wall region of bounded turbulent shear flows. Based upon previous work in a transitional boundary layer, it seemed highly probable that the production events were preceded by an inflectional velocity profile which formed on the interface between the low-speed streak and the surrounding fluid. In bounded transitional flows, this unstable profile developed velocity fluctuations in the streamwise direction and in the direction perpendicular to the sheared surface. The rapid growth of these instabilities leads to a breakdown and production of turbulence. Since bounded turbulent flows have many of the same characteristics, they may also experience a similar type of breakdown and turbulence production mechanism.

Swearingen, Jerry D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Scaling of the bursting frequency in turbulent boundary layers at low Reynolds numbers

The frequency of occurrence of the bursting process near a wall was studied by investigating turbulent velocity fields obtained from numerical simulation of a flat-plate boundary layer with zero pressure gradient. Computations were carried out for three different Reynolds numbers based on the momentum thickness: 300, 670, and 1410. It is shown that the frequency scaled by the inner variables is essentially independent of the Reynolds number.

Kim, John↗

NASA NTRS1987

Contributions of numerical simulation data bases to the physics, modeling and measurement of turbulence

The use of simulation data bases for the examination of turbulent flows is an effective research tool. Studies of the structure of turbulence have been hampered by the limited number of probes and the impossibility of measuring all desired quantities. Also, flow visualization is confined to the observation of passive markers with limited field of view and contamination caused by time-history effects. Computer flow fields are a new resource for turbulence research, providing all the instantaneous flow variables in three-dimensional space. Simulation data bases also provide much-needed information for phenomenological turbulence modeling. Three dimensional velocity and pressure fields from direct simulations can be used to compute all the terms in the transport equations for the Reynolds stresses and the dissipation rate. However, only a few, geometrically simple flows have been computed by direct numerical simulation, and the inventory of simulation does not fully address the current modeling needs in complex turbulent flows. The availability of three-dimensional flow fields also poses challenges in developing new techniques for their analysis, techniques based on experimental methods, some of which are used here for the analysis of direct-simulation data bases in studies of the mechanics of turbulent flows.

Moin, Parviz↗

NASA NTRS1987

Local intermodal energy transfer of the secondary instability in a plane channel

A mathematical technique for analyzing local energy-transfer rates among wave-vector triads is developed and applied to the data generated by direct numerical simulations of waves with various types of initial conditions. Starting the simulation with a primary two-dimensional wave and random noise produced structures very similar to those which evolved from three-dimensional center modes. The local transfer rates determined in this case help to explain the eventual deformation of the primary two-dimensional wave which was observed in wind-tunnel experiments. Including weak streamwise vortices in the initial flow field results in large amounts of energy being transferred to the K-type modes early in the simulation. The later development of the waves (and hence the energy-transfer rates) is similar to the previous case.

Singer, Bart A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Direct simulation of a turbulent oscillating boundary layer

The turbulent boundary layer driven by a freestream velocity that varies sinusoidally in time around a zero mean is considered. The flow has a rich behavior including strong pressure gradients, inflection points, and reversal. A theory for the velocity and stress profiles at high Reynolds number is formulated. Well-resolved direct Navier-Stokes simulations are conducted over a narrow range of Reynolds numbers, and the results are compared with the theoretical predictions. The flow is also computed over a wide range of Reynolds numbers using a new algebraic turbulence model; the results are compared with the direct simulations and the theory.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Numerical study of ribbon-induced transition in Blasius flow

The early three-dimensional stages of transition in the Blasius boundary layer are studied by numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. A finite-amplitude two-dimensional wave and low-amplitude three-dimensional random disturbances are introduced. Rapid amplification of the three-dimensional components is observed and leads to transition. For intermediate amplitudes of the two-dimensional wave the breakdown is of subharmonic type, and the dominant spanwise wavenumber increases with the amplitude. For high amplitudes the energy of the fundamental mode is comparable to the energy of the subharmonic mode, but never dominates it; the breakdown is of mixed type. Visualizations, energy histories, and spectra are presented. The sensitivity of the results to various physical and numerical parameters is studied. The agreement with experimental and theoretical results is discussed.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Direct simulation of a turbulent oscillating boundary layer

Spalart, Philippe R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Direct simulation of a turbulent boundary layer up to R(sub)(theta)= 1410

The turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate, with zero pressure gradient, is simulated numerically at four stations between R sub theta = 225 and R sub theta = 1410. The three-dimensional time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a spectra method with up to about 10 to the 7th power grid points. Periodic spanwise and stream-wise conditions are applied, and a multiple-scale procedure is applied to approximate the slow streamwise growth of the boundary layer. The flow is studied, primarily, from a statistical point of view. The solutions are compared with experimental results. The scaling of the mean and turbulent quantities with Reynolds number is examined and compared with accepted laws, and the significant deviations are documented. The turbulence at the highest Reynolds number is studied in detail. The spectra are compared with various theoretical models. Reynolds-stress budget data are provided for turbulence-model testing.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Numerical study of sink-flow boundary layers

Direct numerical simulations of sink-flow boundary layers, with acceleration parameters K between 1.5 x 10 to the -6th and 3.0 x 10 to the -6th, are presented. The three-dimensional, time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically, using a spectral method, with about one million degrees of freedom. The flow is assumed to be statistically steady, and self-similar. A multiple-scale approximation and periodic conditions are applied to the fluctuations. The turbulence is studied using instantaneous and statistical results. Good agreement with the experiments of Jones and Launder (1972) is observed. The two effects of the favorable pressure gradient are to extend the logarithmic layer, and to alter the energy balance of the turbulence near the edge of the boundary layer. At low Reynolds number the logarithmic layer is shortened and slightly displaced, but wall-layer streaks are present even at the lowest values of R(theta) for which turbulence can be sustained. Large quiescent patches appear in the flow. Relaminarization occurs at K = 3.0 x 10 to the -6th, corresponding to a Reynolds number R(theta) of about 330.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Numerical simulation of boundary layers. Part 3: Turbulence and relaminarization in sink flows

Direct numerical simulations of sink-flow boundary layers, with acceleration parameters K between 1.5 and 3.0 x 10 to the -6 power, are presented. The three-dimensional, time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically using a spectral method, with about 10 to the -6 degrees of freedom. The flow is assumed to be statistically steady, and self-similar. A multiple-scale approximation and periodic conditions are applied to the fluctuations. The turbulence is studied using instantaneous and statistical results. Good agreement with the experiments of Jones and Launder is observed. Two effects of the favorable pressure gradient are to extend the logarithmic layer, and to alter the energy balance of the turbulence near the edge of the boundary layer. At very low Reynolds number the logarithmic layer is shortened and slightly displaced, but wall-layer streaks are present even at the lowest values of the Reynolds number for which turbulence can be sustained. Large quiescent patches appear in the flow. Relaminarization occurs at K = 3.0 x 10 to the -6 power, corresponding to a Reynolds number, based on momentum thickness, of about 330.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗