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At least 721 records · Page 40

Numerical Study of Pressure Fluctuations due to High-Speed Turbulent Boundary Layers

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are used to examine the pressure fluctuations generated by fully developed turbulence in supersonic turbulent boundary layers with an emphasis on both pressure fluctuations at the wall and the acoustic fluctuations radiated into the freestream. The wall and freestream pressure fields are first analyzed for a zero pressure gradient boundary layer with Mach 2.5 and Reynolds number based on momentum thickness of approximately 2835. The single and multi-point statistics reported include the wall pressure fluctuation intensities, frequency spectra, space-time correlations, and convection velocities. Single and multi-point statistics of surface pressure fluctuations show good agreement with measured data and previously published simulations of turbulent boundary layers under similar flow conditions. Spectral analysis shows that the acoustic fluctuations outside the boundary layer region have much lower energy content within the high-frequency region. The space-time correlations reflect the convective nature of the pressure field both at the wall and in the freestream, which is characterized by the downstream propagation of pressure-carrying eddies. Relative to those at the wall, the pressure-carrying eddies associated with the freestream signal are larger and convect at a significantly lower speed. The preliminary DNS results of a Mach 6 boundary layer show that the pressure rms in the freestream region is significantly higher than that of the lower Mach number case.

Duan, Lian↗

Discrete-vortex simulation of pulsating flow on a turbulent leading-edge separation bubble

Studies are made of the turbulent separation bubble in a two-dimensional semi-infinite blunt plate aligned to a uniform free stream with a pulsating component. The discrete-vortex method is applied to simulate this flow situation because this approach is effective for representing the unsteady motions of the turbulent shear layer and the effect of viscosity near the solid surface. The numerical simulation provides reasonable predictions when compared with the experimental results. A particular frequency with a minimum reattachment is related to the drag reduction. The most effective frequency is dependent on the amplified shedding frequency. The turbulent flow structure is scrutinized. This includes the time-mean and fluctuations of the velocity and the surface pressure, together with correlations between the fluctuating components. A comparison between the pulsating flow and the non-pulsating flow at the particular frequency of the minimum reattachment length of the separation bubble suggests that the large-scale vortical structure is associated with the shedding frequency and the flow instabilities.

Sung, Hyung Jin↗

Comparison of scaled model data to full size energy efficient engine test results

Acoustic tests of a subscale fan and a subscale mixer nozzle were conducted in anechoic chambers over a variety of operating conditions. The subscale fan test was an investigation into the effects of vane/blade ratio and spacing on fan generated noise. A turbulence control structure (TCS) was used to simulate the 'turbulence-free' condition in flight. The subscale mixer nozzle test investigated the acoustic properties of several different forced mixer designs. A tertiary flow was utilized on the mixer model to simulate the forward velocity effects on the jet. The results were scaled up to full size conditions and compared with measured engine data. The comparisons showed good agreement between the component scaled model results and the full scale engine data.

Lavin, S. P.↗

Dynamic Turbulence Modelling in Large-eddy Simulations of the Cloud-topped Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The use of large eddy simulation, or LES, to study the atmospheric boundary layer dates back to the early 1970s when Deardor (1972) used a three-dimensional simulation to determine velocity and temperature scales in the convective boundary layer. In 1974 he applied LES to the problem of mixing layer entrainment (Deardor 1974) and in 1980 to the cloud-topped boundary layer (Deardor 1980b). Since that time the LES approach has been applied to atmospheric boundary layer problems by numerous authors. While LES has been shown to be relatively robust for simple cases such as a clear, convective boundary layer (Mason 1989), simulation of the cloud-topped boundary layer has proved more of a challenge. The combination of small length scales and anisotropic turbulence coupled with cloud microphysics and radiation effects places a heavy burden on the turbulence model, especially in the cloud-top region. Consequently, over the past few decades considerable effort has been devoted to developing turbulence models that are better able to parameterize these processes. Much of this work has involved taking parameterizations developed for neutral boundary layers and deriving corrections to account for buoyancy effects associated with the background stratification and local buoyancy sources due to radiative and latent heat transfer within the cloud (see Lilly 1962; Deardor 1980a; Mason 1989; MacVean & Mason 1990, for example). In this paper we hope to contribute to this effort by presenting a number of turbulence models in which the model coefficients are calculated dynamically during the simulation rather than being prescribed a priori.

Kirkpatrick, M. P.↗

Effects of shock strength on shock turbulence interaction

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and linear analysis (LIA) of isotropic turbulence interacting with a shock wave are performed for several upstream shock normal Mach numbers (M(sub 1)). Turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) is amplified across the shock wave, but this amplification tends to saturate beyond M(sub 1) = 3.0. TKE amplification and Reynolds stress anisotropy obtained in DNS are consistent with LIA predictions. Rapid evolution of TKE immediate downstream of the shock wave persists for all shock strengths and is attributed to the transfer between kinetic and potential modes of turbulence energy through acoustic fluctuations. Changes in energy spectra and various length scales across the shock wave are predicted by LIA, which is consistent with DNS results. Most turbulence length scales decrease across the shock. Dissipation length scale (rho-bar q(exp 3) / epsilon), however, increases slightly for shock waves with M(sub 1) less than 1.65. Fluctuations in thermodynamic variables behind the shock wave stay nearly isentropic for M(sub 1) less than 1.2 and deviate significantly from isentropy for the stronger shock waves due to large entropy fluctuation generated through the interaction.

Lee, Sangsan↗

Annual Research Briefs, 1989

This report contains the 1989 annual progress reports of the Research Fellows of the Center for Turbulence Research. It is intended as a year end report to NASA, Ames Research Center which supports this group through core funding and by making available physical and intellectual resources. The Center for Turbulence Research is devoted to the fundamental study of turbulent flows; its objectives are to simulate advances in the physical understanding of turbulence, in turbulence modeling and simulation, and in turbulence control. The reports appearing in the following pages are grouped in the general areas of modeling, experimental research, theory, simulation and numerical methods, and compressible and reacting flows.

Debra Spinks↗

Study of one-dimensional spectral dynamic equations of the Reynolds stresses in homogeneous anisotropic turbulence: Application to split-spectrum modeling

The CTR numerical data base generated by direct simulation of homogeneous anisotropic turbulence was used to calculate all of the terms in the spectral balance equations for the turbulent Reynolds stresses. The aim in not only to test the main closure assumptions used in the split-spectrum models, but also to try to devise improved hypotheses deduced from the statistical information. Numerical simulations of turbulent flows provide a large amount of data, a thought provoking wealth of information. The main advantage of this type of comparison is that a great variety of flows can be considered, and this is necessary to test closure hypotheses. Moreover various initial conditions can be introduced in the calculation, even if they are not experimentally feasible. All the terms in the spectral equations can be calculated. The limited Reynolds numbers of the simulations and the statistical noise caused by a small sample, particularly at the large scales, causes some difficulty in the interpretation of the results, but the method of approach proved to be a powerful tool for testing and improving spectral closures.

Schiestel, R.↗

Numerical Simulation of Pressure-induced Separation of Turbulent Flat-plate Boundary Layers: Definition and Overview of New Cases with Suction-only Transpiration and a Step in Reynolds Number

Results from two new direct numerical simulations (DNSs) are added to the database described in Coleman, Rumsey & Spalart (2018) (henceforth CRS18), and available at the NASA TMR website (https://turbmodels.larc.nasa.gov). The new flows, Cases D and E, are similar to the earlier ones (Cases A–C) in that a transpiration profile above a flat plate creates a prolonged adverse pressure gradient (APG) that drives a canonical turbulent zero-pressure-gradient (ZPG), flat-plate boundary layer towards separation; they differ in that for the new cases (1) the APG is not followed by a favorable gradient (FPG), since only suction transpiration is employed, and (2) the mean shear stress does not cross zero, so that the width of the mean bubble, strictly defined, is essentially zero. However, the probability of reversed skin friction exceeds 49%. The motivation was to produce a flow that is more akin to technological flows, including shock-boundary-layer interaction, with a gradual turbulence-controlled recovery. One of the new simulations is also at a significantly higher Reynolds number than the earlier flows.

Turbulence↗

Coherent Eigenmodes in Homogeneous MHD Turbulence

The statistical mechanics of Fourier models of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is discussed, along with their relevance for dissipative magnetofluids. Although statistical theory predicts that Fourier coefficients of fluid velocity and magnetic field are zero-mean random variables, numerical simulations clearly show that certain coefficients have a non-zero mean value that can be very large compared to the associated standard deviation, i.e., we have coherent structure. We use eigenanalysis of the modal covariance matrices in the probability density function to explain this phenomena in terms of `broken ergodicity', which is defined to occur when dynamical behavior does not match ensemble predictions on very long time-scales. We provide examples from 2-D and 3-D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of homogeneous turbulence, and show new results from long-time simulations of MHD turbulence with and without a mean magnetic field

Shebalin, John V.↗

Numerical Simulation of Event 191-6 of NASA's Flight Tests

In this viewgraph presentation, information is provided on the numerical simulation of a turbulence event encountered by NASA Langley's B-757 while conducting flight tests in areas at high risk for severe turbulence. Specific details on the Terminal Area Simulation System (TASS) show how the simulation is devised. The 100 m simulation was able to observe large-scale features.

Proctor, Fred H.↗

Time-Accurate Simulations and Acoustic Analysis of Slat Free-Shear-Layer

Unsteady computational simulations of a multi-element, high-lift configuration are performed. Emphasis is placed on accurate spatiotemporal resolution of the free shear layer in the slat-cove region. The excessive dissipative effects of the turbulence model, so prevalent in previous simulations, are circumvented by switching off the turbulence-production term in the slat cove region. The justifications and physical arguments for taking such a step are explained in detail. The removal of this excess damping allows the shear layer to amplify large-scale structures, to achieve a proper non-linear saturation state, and to permit vortex merging. The large-scale disturbances are self-excited, and unlike our prior fully turbulent simulations, no external forcing of the shear layer is required. To obtain the farfield acoustics, the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation is evaluated numerically using the simulated time-accurate flow data. The present comparison between the computed and measured farfield acoustic spectra shows much better agreement for the amplitude and frequency content than past calculations. The effect of the angle-of-attack on the slat's flow features radiated acoustic field are also simulated presented.

Khorrami, Mehdi R.↗

Numerical Simulation of Liquid Jet Atomization Including Turbulence Effects

This paper describes numerical implementation of a newly developed hybrid model, T-blob/T-TAB, into an existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program for primary and secondary breakup simulation of liquid jet atomization. This model extend two widely used models, the Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability of Reitz (blob model) and the Taylor-Analogy-Breakup (TAB) secondary droplet breakup by O'Rourke and Amsden to include turbulence effects. In the primary breakup model, the level of the turbulence effect on the liquid breakup depends on the characteristic scales and the initial flow conditions. For the secondary breakup, an additional turbulence force acted on parent drops is modeled and integrated into the TAB governing equation. Several assessment studies are presented and the results indicate that the existing KH and TAB models tend to under-predict the product drop size and spray angle, while the current model provides superior results when compared with the measured data.

Trinh, Huu P.↗

Large Eddy Simulation Of Gravitational Effects In Transitional And Turbulent Gas-Jet Diffusion Flames

The influence of gravity on the spatial and the compositional structures of transitional and turbulent hydrocarbon diffusion flames are studies via large eddy simulation (LES) and direct numerical simulation (DNS) of round and planar jets. The subgrid-scale (SGS) closures in LES are based on the filtered mass density function (FMDF) methodology. The FMDF represents the joint probability density function (PDF) of the SGS scalars, and is obtained by solving its transport equation. The fundamental advantage of LES/FMDF is that it accounts for the effects of chemical reaction and buoyancy exactly. The methodology is employed for capturing some of the fundamental influences of gravity in equilibrium flames via realistic chemical kinetic schemes. Some preliminary investigation of the gravity effects in non-equilibrium flames is also conducted, but with idealized chemical kinetics models.

Jaberi, Farhad A.↗

Computation of large-scale statistics in decaying isotropic turbulence

We have performed large-eddy simulations of decaying isotropic turbulence to test the prediction of self-similar decay of the energy spectrum and to compute the decay exponents of the kinetic energy. In general, good agreement between the simulation results and the assumption of self-similarity were obtained. However, the statistics of the simulations were insufficient to compute the value of gamma which corrects the decay exponent when the spectrum follows a k(exp 4) wave number behavior near k = 0. To obtain good statistics, it was found necessary to average over a large ensemble of turbulent flows.

Chasnov, Jeffrey R.↗

Numerical simulation of three-dimensional transonic turbulent projectile aerodynamics by TVD schemes

The two-dimensional symmetric TVD scheme proposed by Yee has been extended to and investigated for three-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes simulation of complex aerodynamic problems. An existing three-dimensional Navier-stokes code based on the beam and warming algorithm is modified to provide an option of using the TVD algorithm and the flow problem considered is a transonic turbulent flow past a projectile with sting at ten-degree angle of attack. Numerical experiments conducted for three flow cases, free-stream Mach numbers of 0.91, 0.96 and 1.20 show that the symmetric TVD algorithm can provide surface pressure distribution in excellent agreement with measured data; moreover, the rate of convergence to attain a steady state solution is about two times faster than the original beam and warming algorithm.

Shiau, Nae-Haur↗

Similarity of organized structures in turbulent shear flows

Recent analysis of databases generated by direct numerical simulations of homogeneous turbulent shear flows have revealed the presence of coherent structures similar to those in turbulent boundary layers. In this paper these findings and tentative conclusions on their significance are discussed.

Moin, Parviz↗

Aerodynamic heating to the gaps and surfaces of simulated reusable-surface-insulation tile arrays in turbulent flow at Mach 6.6

An experimental investigation was made on a simulated reusable-surface-insulation tile array in a turbulent boundary layer to determine aerodynamic-heating distributions representative of those expected on the surface of the shuttle orbiter during earth entry due to the presence of longitudinal and transverse surface gaps. The tests were conducted in an 8-foot high-temperature structures tunnel in a test medium of methane-air combustion products at a nominal Mach number of 6.6 and over a free-stream Reynolds number range from 2,000,000 to 4,900,000 per meter (600,000 to 1,500,000 per foot). The results were used to assess the aerodynamic heating effects produced by parameters that include gap width, boundary-layer displacement thickness, in-line and staggered tile arrangement, and tile protrusion.

Weinstein, I.↗

Analysis of subgrid-scale eddy viscosity with use of results from direct numerical simulations

Without resort to any modeling, subgrid-scale eddy viscosity is computed from the results of high-resolution (64 cubed and 128 cubed grid points) direct numerical simulations of three-dimensional homogeneous isotropic decaying turbulence. In these simulations the eddy viscosity peaks sharply at the cutoff wavenumber, in rough agreement with the results of Kraichnan (1976). In addition, in the low-wavenumber range the eddy viscosity may be negative, contrary to the generally accepted concept of subgrid-scale eddy viscosity. Some possible explanations of this behavior are discussed.

Domaradzki, J. Andrzej↗