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At least 469 records · Page 26

Modeling Volumetric Energy Deposition-driven Rayleigh-Taylor Instability

The goal of this work is to simulate a volumetric energy deposition (VED) driven Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI). Efforts will focus on simulating effects observed in two-fluid VED-driven RTI experiments. The VED triggers the RTI by changing the density of the fluids through time, hence a variable Atwood number is achieved. While initially stable (heavier fluid on the bottom), the microwave heating creates a density inversion and leads to a RTI. We hope to explore the mechanisms in VED-driven RTI and see how initial perturbations change the dynamics of growth. This work will primarily focus on early-time behavior but will also include steps towards simulating late-time nonlinear behavior.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Liquid rocket engine combustion stabilization devices

Combustion instability, which results from a coupling of the combustion process and the fluid dynamics of the engine system, was investigated. The design of devices which reduce coupling (combustion chamber baffles) and devices which increase damping (acoustic absorbers) are described. Included in the discussion are design criteria and recommended practices, structural and mechanical design, thermal control, baffle geometry, baffle/engine interactions, acoustic damping analysis, and absorber configurations.

Source record↗

Homogeneous vortex model for liquid slosh in spinning spherical tanks

The problem of forced fluid sloshing in a partially filled spinning spherical tank is solved numerically using the finite element method. The governing equations include Coriolis acceleration, empirical fluid damping and spatially homogeneous vorticity first introduced by Pfeiffer. An exponential instability similar to flutter is detected in the present simulation for fill ratios below 50 percent. This instability appears in the model as a result of the homogeneous vortex assumption since the free slosh equations are neutrally stable in the Liapunov sense.

El-Raheb, M.↗

Geophysical fluid flow cell experiment

The primary purpose of the geophysical flow experiments is to simulate large-scale baroclinic (density-stratified) flows which occur naturally in the atmospheres of rotating planets and stars and to gain insights and obtain answers to crucial questions concerning the large-scale nonlinear mechanics of the global geophysical flows. Those external conditions related to fluid viscosity, rotation, gravity are identified, which allow qualitatively different modes of instability or waves in the model.

Hart, J. E.↗

Effect of Rayleigh accelerations applied to an initially moving fluid

The General Interpolant Method computer code was used to analyze two-dimensional unsteady thermal convection in circular cylinders under variable low-g conditions associated with space flight. When an acceleration vector was applied parallel to the thermal gradient, in the case of a fluid at rest, no convection resulted for the stable direction, and an instability led to Rayleigh convection for the opposite direction. However, when the acceleration had a component orthogonal to the gradient, convection resulted at any Rayleigh number. The effect on convection of both types of acceleration, applied concurrently or sequentially, was investigated, including the case when the resultant vector varied in direction with time. An analysis of experimental results shows that for space flight conditions, the Rayleigh accelerations induce significant, but not dominating, changes in the established convection even when the Rayleigh number is less than critical.

Dressler, R. F.↗

On the Lagrangian turbulence in continua

Lagrangian turbulence in continua is introduced as a failure of Euclidian metric of a material system of coordinates, and it is shown that the Ricci tensor of such a system of coordinates may be used as a measure of L-turbulence. The conditions which are sufficient, though not necessary, for instability of an initially infinitesimal disturbance of this tensor are determined for fluid, elastic, and viscoelastic bodies. The results are obtained from the linearized equations, and therefore the growth of unstable solutions may be bounded.

Zak, M.↗

On the generation of mean flows by the interaction of Goertler vortices and Tollmien-Schlichting waves in curved channel flows

There are many fluid flows where the onset of transition can be caused by different instability mechanisms which compete in the nonlinear regime. The interaction of a centrifugal instability mechanism with the viscous mechanism which causes Tollmein-Schlichting waves is discussed. The interaction between these modes can be strong enough to drive the mean state; the interaction is investigated in the context of curved channel flows so as to avoid difficulties associated with boundary layer growth. Essentially it was found that the mean state adjusts itself so that any modes present are neutrally stable even at finite amplitude. In the first instance, the mean state driven by a vortex of short wavelength in the absence of Tollmein-Schlichting waves is considered. It is shown that for a given channel curvature and vortex wavelength, there is an upper limit to the mass flow rate which the channel can support as the pressure gradient is increased. When the Tollmein-Schlichting waves are present, then the nonlinear differential equation to determine the mean state is modified.

Bassom, Andrew P.↗

On the interaction of stationary crossflow vortices and Tollmien-Schlichting waves in the boundary layer on a rotating disc

There are many fluid flows where the onset of transition can be caused by different instability mechanisms which compete among themselves. The interaction is considered of two types of instability mode (at an asymptotically large Reynolds number) which can occur in the flow above a rotating disc. In particular, the interaction is examined between lower branch Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and the upper branch, stationary, inviscid crossflow vortex whose asymptotic structure has been described by Hall (1986). This problem is studied in the context of investigating the effect of the vortex on the stability characteristics of a small TS wave. Essentially, it is found that the primary effect is felt through the modification to the mean flow induced by the presence of the vortex. Initially, the TS wave is taken to be linear in character and it is shown (for the cases of both a linear and a nonlinear stationary vortex) that the vortex can exhibit both stabilizing and destabilizing effects on the TS wave and the nature of this influence is wholly dependent upon the orientation of this latter instability. Further, the problem is examined with a larger TS wave, whose size is chosen so as to ensure that this mode is nonlinear in its own right. An amplitude equation for the evolution of the TS wave is derived which admits solutions corresponding to finite amplitude, stable, traveling waves.

Bassom, Andrew P.↗

On the interaction of stationary crossflow vortices and Tollmien-Schlichting waves in the boundary layer on a rotating disc

There are many fluid flows where the onset of transition can be caused by different instability mechanisms which compete among themselves. The interaction is considered of two types of instability mode (at an asymptotically large Reynolds number) which can occur in the flow above a rotating disc. In particular, the interaction is examined between lower branch Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and the upper branch, stationary, inviscid crossflow vortex whose asymptotic structure has been described by Hall (1986). This problem is studied in the context of investigating the effect of the vortex on the stability characteristics of a small TS wave. Essentially, it is found that the primary effect is felt through the modification to the mean flow induced by the presence of the vortex. Initially, the TS wave is taken to be linear in character and it is shown (for the cases of both a linear and a nonlinear stationary vortex) that the vortex can exhibit both stabilizing and destabilizing effects on the TS wave and the nature of this influence is wholly dependent upon the orientation of this latter instability. Further, the problem is examined with a larger TS wave, whose size is chosen so as to ensure that this mode is nonlinear in its own right. An amplitude equation for the evolution of the TS wave is derived which admits solutions corresponding to finite amplitude, stable, traveling waves.

Bassom, Andrew P.↗

Structural Stability and gamma-Transitions

In this work, we review some new discoveries and physical interpretations that concern the secular and dynamical instabilities and the associated structural changes in rotating, self-gravitating, incompressible fluids. For such fluids, we have been able to examine in depth and to understand physically a variety of classic results. Here we discuss the structural stability and the lambda-transitions of astrophysical fluids. We conclude with a summary of all the different types of lambda-transitions found in the course of our investigation and with a discussion of the implications of our results for superfluids, catastrophes, thermodynamical phase transitions, and the breaking of symmetry and topology.

Christodoulou, Dimitris M.↗

Optimal Disturbances in Boundary Layers Subject to Streamwise Pressure Gradient

Laminar-turbulent transition in shear flows is still an enigma in the area of fluid mechanics. The conventional explanation of the phenomenon is based on the instability of the shear flow with respect to infinitesimal disturbances. The conventional hydrodynamic stability theory deals with the analysis of normal modes that might be unstable. The latter circumstance is accompanied by an exponential growth of the disturbances that might lead to laminar-turbulent transition. Nevertheless, in many cases, the transition scenario bypasses the exponential growth stage associated with the normal modes. This type of transition is called bypass transition. An understanding of the phenomenon has eluded us to this day. One possibility is that bypass transition is associated with so-called algebraic (non-modal) growth of disturbances in shear flows. In the present work, an analysis of the optimal disturbances/streamwise vortices associated with the transient growth mechanism is performed for boundary layers in the presence of a streamwise pressure gradient. The theory will provide the optimal spacing of the control elements in the spanwise direction and their placement in the streamwise direction.

Tumin, Anatoli↗

Predicting Transition from Laminar to Turbulent Flow over a Surface

A prediction of whether a point on a computer-generated surface is adjacent to laminar or turbulent flow is made using a transition prediction technique. A plurality of boundary-layer properties at the point are obtained from a steady-state solution of a fluid flow in a region adjacent to the point. A plurality of instability modes are obtained, each defined by one or more mode parameters. A vector of regressor weights is obtained for the known instability growth rates in a training dataset. For each instability mode in the plurality of instability modes, a covariance vector is determined, which is the covariance of a predicted local growth rate with the known instability growth rates. Each covariance vector is used with the vector of regressor weights to determine a predicted local growth rate at the point. Based on the predicted local growth rates, an n-factor envelope at the point is determined.

Rajnarayan, Dev↗

Numerical Study of Magnetic Damping During Unidirectional Solidification

A fully 3-D numerical model is developed to represent magnetic damping of complex fluid flow, heat transfer and electromagnetic field distributions in a melt cavity. The model is developed based on our in-house finite element code for the fluid flow, heat transfer and electromagnetic field calculations. The computer code has been tested against benchmark test problems that are solved by other commercial codes as well as analytical solutions whenever available. The numerical model is tested against numerical and experimental results for water reported in literature. With the model so tested, various numerical simulations are carried out for the Sn-35.5% Pb melt convection and temperature distribution in a cylindrical cavity with and without the presence of a transverse magnetic field. Numerical results show that magnetic damping can be effectively applied to reduce turbulence and flow levels in the melt undergoing solidification and over a certain threshold value a higher magnetic field resulted in a higher velocity reduction. It is found also that for a fully 3-D representation of the magnetic damping effects, the electric field induced in the melt by the applied DC magnetic field does not vanish, as some researchers suggested, and must be included even for molten metal and semiconductors. Also, for the study of the melt flow instability, a long enough time has to be applied to ensure the final fluid flow recirculation pattern. Moreover, our numerical results suggested that there seems to exist a threshold value of applied magnetic field, above which magnetic damping becomes possible and below which the convection in the melt is actually enhanced. Because of the limited financial resource allocated for the project, we are unable to carry out extensive study on this effect, which should warrant further theoretical and experimental study. In that endeavor, the developed numerical model should be very useful; and the model should serve as a useful tool for exploring necessary design parameters for planning magnetic damping experiments and interpreting the experimental results.

Li, Ben Q.↗

Additive Manufacturing Interface Profiles for Jet Studies on the Vertical Shock Tube

Understanding the mixing between two fluids of disparate densities (i.e., variable density mixing) is important for the lab's mission. Experiments are required to validate our codes, such as RAGE, FLAG, and the BHR mix model. The role initial conditions (ICs) have on instability growth and the transition to turbulence is not completely understood and comparisons with experiments are needed. The Extreme Fluids team focuses on experiments at Los Alamos that utilize gases and low shock velocities (Mach <2 in air). These experiments have the advantage of high fidelity diagnostics capable of temporally and spatially resolved velocity and density measurements. One main difficulty is setting up a specific interface profile between the two gases. While attempts have been made to do so without the aid of a solid structure (i.e., a membrane), the results are limited in the range of possible shapes and reproducibility. Membranes provide the best way to provide a deterministic initial condition. However, fragments from the membrane can interfere with the flow and instability growth, as well as the diagnostics. In this project, we focused on exploring the materials and techniques available via modern additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) to test if they could address some of the shortcomings of prior membrane designs. Our goal was to find a material that would have minimal impact on our experiment while also providing us with a means to produce complex initial conditions. This report details our work to explore the range of additive manufacturing capabilities and the jet-like structures we were able to generate using three-dimensional initial conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Secondary nondestructive instability in medium size liquid fuel rocket engines

Linearized mathematical models of feed-system-coupled combustion instability are summarized and discussed. Following the derivation of sufficient conditions for stability from the simplest bipropellant model, the complications that are imposed on the model by compressible fluids in the feed system, nonrigid feed system structures, and time-varying combustion processes are considered. A specific case of an instability associated with a nonrigid injector is described; it is shown that the instability was eliminated by the method predicted by the model to be most effective for control. A bibliography lists papers dealing with these kinds of stabilities.

R J Fontaine↗

Fluid hydrogen at high density - Pressure ionization

The Helmholtz-free-energy model for nonideal mixtures of hydrogen atoms and molecules by Saumon and Chabrier (1991) is extended to describe dissociation and ionization in similar mixtures in chemical equilibrium. A free-energy model is given that describes partial ionization in the pressure and temperature ionization region. The plasma-phase transition predicted by the model is described for hydrogen mixtures including such components as H2, H, H(+), and e(-). The plasma-phase transition has a critical point at Tc = 15,300 K and Pc = 0.614 Mbar, and thermodynamic instability is noted in the pressure-ionization regime. The pressure dissociation and ionization of fluid hydrogen are described well with the model yielding information on the nature of the plasma-phase transition. The model is shown to be valuable for studying dissociation and ionization in astrophysical objects and in high-pressure studies where pressure and temperature effects are significant.

Saumon, Didier↗