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At least 775 records · Page 43

Applications of variational principles in computing rotational flows

Ecer and Akay (1983) have developed a variational formulation of rotational flow for Euler equations. The present paper provides a summary of these developments. The considered variational formulation provides a transformation of a type considered by Clebsch (1859). In this transformation, a new set of variables replaces the more commonly used primitive variables u(i), rho and p. Here, u(i) denotes the velocity components, while rho is the density, and p the pressure. The employed transformation produces a natural uncoupling of the equations when written in a quasi-linear form. After obtaining the governing equations in terms of the 'Clebsch variables', a solution scheme developed for calculating steady flows is discussed. Attention is given to numerical solutions of Euler equations based on the derived variational principles, and a study of inviscid, separated flows is conducted.

Ecer, A.↗

Numerical study of the effect of tangential leading edge blowing on delta wing vortical flow

A numerical simulation of tangential blowing along the leading edge of a delta wing is analyzed as a means of controlling the position and strength of the leading-edge vortices. The computation is done by numerical solutions of the three-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical results are shown to compare favorably with experimental measurements. It is found that the use of tangential leading-edge blowing at low to moderate angles of attack tends to reduce the pressure peaks associated with leading-edge vortices and to increase the suction peak around the leading edge, such that the integrated value of the surface pressure remains about the same.

Yeh, David T.↗

Application of a new adaptive grid for aerodynamic analysis of shock containing single jets

A fast and robust solution-adaptive grid generation method has been developed for the three-dimensional numerical analysis of shock containing supersonic jets. The adaptive grid algorithm, which is based on the equidistribution principle and the alternate direction method, has been fully integrated with the space marching scheme developed by Abdol-Hamid (1989). The capability of the approach proposed here is illustrated by numerical solutions for circular, square, and elliptic jet plumes.

Pao, S. Paul↗

A spectral collocation method for compressible, non-similar boundary layers

An efficient and highly accurate algorithm based on a spectral collocation method is developed for numerical solution of the compressible, two-dimensional and axisymmetric boundary layer equations. The numerical method incorporates a fifth-order, fully implicit marching scheme in the streamwise (timelike) dimension and a spectral collocation method based on Chebyshev polynomial expansions in the wall-normal (spacelike) dimension. The spectral collocation algorithm is used to derive the nonsimilar mean velocity and temperature profiles in the boundary layer of a 'fuselage' (cylinder) in a high-speed (Mach 5) flow parallel to its axis. The stability of the flow is shown to be sensitive to the gradual streamwise evolution of the mean flow and it is concluded that the effects of transverse curvature on stability should not be ignored routinely.

Pruett, C. D.↗

Mechanical behaviors of ceramic matrix composites with matrix cracking and fiber debonding

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the current research of the authors on the mechanical behaviors of ceramic matrix composites, including (1) the stress distributions in a composite with matrix cracking and interfacial debonding, (2) the critical strain for matrix cracking, and (3) the effects of fiber/matrix debonding and thermal residual stresses on the critical strain. The stress fields in both bonded and debonded regions are evaluated by taking into account thermal effects. An energy balance approach is followed to determine the critical strain for matrix cracking. From the general equation of the critical strain for matrix cracking, close form solutions have been obtained for two limiting cases: perfect bonding and complete debonding. Numerical solutions are given for the cases of partial fiber debonding and nonzero debonding energy. It is found that thermal residual stresses and the debonding energy have significant effects on the critical strain.

Kuo, Wen-Shyong↗

Predictions of the critical strain for matrix cracking of ceramic matrix composites

The critical strain for matrix cracking of ceramic matrix composites has been studied; emphasis is placed on the effects of the fiber/matrix debonding length and interfacial debonding energy. Based on a modified shear-lag model, stresses in the fiber and matrix have been found for both the bonded and debonded regions. An energy-balance approach, based upon the stress field, is then adopted to evaluate the critical strain for matrix cracking. From the general equation for the critical strain, close form solutions have been deduced for two limiting cases: complete debonding and perfect bonding. Numerical solutions are given for the cases of nonzero debonding energy and partial fiber debonding. The results show that the interfacial debonding energy, which has been ignored by most of the investigators, is an important factor in determining both the critical strain and the debonding length.

Kuo, Wen-Shyong↗

The oscillations of superfluid neutron stars

The effects of superfluid hydrodynamics on the oscillations of neutron stars are investigated. The equations describing the small-amplitude pulsations of a neutron star's neutron-proton superfluid mixture are reduced to a system of three second-order equations for three scalar potentials. A variational principle is developed from which the frequencies of the modes of these superfluid oscillations may be estimated. These pulsations are studied by finding analytical solutions to the equations for simple uniform models of nonrotating neutron stars and numerical solutions for realistic models (including rotation). These solutions reveal that the lowest frequency modes are almost indistinguishable from those based on ordinary-fluid hydrodynamics. The analytical solutions also reveal the existence of a new set of modes having no ordinary-fluid counterpart.

Lindblom, Lee↗

A Tower-based Prototype VHF/UHF Radar for Subsurface Sensing: System Description and Data Inversion Results

Knowledge of subsurface characteristics such as permittivity variations and layering structure could provide a breakthrough in many terrestrial and planetary science disciplines. For Earth science, knowledge of subsurface and subcanopy soil moisture layers can enable the estimation of vertical flow in the soil column linking surface hydrologic processes with that in the subsurface. For planetary science, determining the existence of subsurface water and ice is regarded as one of the most critical information needs for the study of the origins of the solar system. The subsurface in general can be described as several near-parallel layers with rough interfaces. Each homogenous rough layer can be defined by its average thickness, permittivity, and rms interface roughness assuming a known surface spectral distribution. As the number and depth of layers increase, the number of measurements needed to invert for the layer unknowns also increases, and deeper penetration capability would be required. To nondestructively calculate the characteristics of the rough layers, a multifrequency polarimetric radar backscattering approach can be used. One such system is that we have developed for data prototyping of the Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (MOSS) mission concept. A tower-mounted radar makes backscattering measurements at VHF, UHF, and L-band frequencies. The radar is a pulsed CW system, which uses the same wideband antenna to transmit and receive the signals at all three frequencies. To focus the beam at various incidence angles within the beamwidth of the antenna, the tower is moved vertically and measurements made at each position. The signals are coherently summed to achieve focusing and image formation in the subsurface. This requires an estimate of wave velocity profiles. To solve the inverse scattering problem for subsurface velocity profile simultaneously with radar focusing, we use an iterative technique based on a forward numerical solution of the layered rough surface problem. The layers are each defined in terms of a small number of unknown distributions as given above. An a priori estimate of the solution is first assumed, based on which the forward problem is solved for the backscattered measurements. This is compared with the measured data and using iterative techniques an update to the solution for the unknowns is calculated. The process continues until convergence is achieved. Numerical results will be shown using actual radar data acquired with the MOSS tower radar system in Arizona in Fall 2003, and compared with in-situ measurements.

Moghaddam, Mahta↗

A FETI approach to domain decomposition for meshfree discretizations of nonlocal problems

We propose a domain decomposition method for the efficient simulation of nonlocal problems. Our approach is based on a multi-domain formulation of a nonlocal diffusion problem where the subdomains share “nonlocal” interfaces of the size of the nonlocal horizon. This system of nonlocal equations is first rewritten in terms of minimization of a nonlocal energy, then discretized with a meshfree approximation and finally solved via a Lagrange multiplier approach in a way that resembles the finite element tearing and interconnect method. Specifically, we propose a distributed projected gradient algorithm for the solution of the Lagrange multiplier system, whose unknowns determine the nonlocal interface conditions between subdomains. Several two-dimensional numerical tests on problems as large as 191 million unknowns illustrate the strong and the weak scalability of our algorithm, which outperforms the standard approach to the distributed numerical solution of the problem. Finally, this work is the first rigorous numerical study in a two-dimensional multi-domain setting for nonlocal operators with finite horizon and, as such, it is a fundamental step towards increasing the use of nonlocal models in large scale simulations.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Solving the problem of overdetermination of quasisymmetric equilibrium solutions by near-axis expansions. II. Circular axis stellarator solutions

Here we apply the near-axis expansion method for quasisymmetric magnetic fields with anisotropic pressure to construct numerical solutions to circular axis stellarators. The solutions are found to second order in the distance from the axis, not possible in the standard Garren–Boozer construction, which assumes magnetostatic equilibria with isotropic pressure. In the limit of zero anisotropy, it is shown that a subset of coefficients can be chosen to avoid the overdetermination problem.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Comparison of solutions of the Navier-Stokes and interacting boundary layer equations for separated turbulent flow

Comparisons are presented between numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes and interacting boundary-layer equations for the subsonic separated turbulent flow over an axisymmetric boattail configuration for which experimental data was available. Comparisons were made using a standard algebraic turbulence model and its modification using a streamwise relaxation model. Grid size studies were performed to provide an approximate assessment of the sensitivity of each method to mesh size. In general, good agreement was observed between the solutions of the Navier-Stokes and interacting boundary-layer equations; however, the interaction approach responded more strongly to the modified turbulence model thereby giving better agreement with experimental data.

Vatsa, V. N.↗

Global collocation methods for approximation and the solution of partial differential equations

Polynomial interpolation methods are applied both to the approximation of functions and to the numerical solutions of hyperbolic and elliptic partial differential equations. The derivative matrix for a general sequence of the collocation points is constructed. The approximate derivative is then found by a matrix times vector multiply. The effects of several factors on the performance of these methods including the effect of different collocation points are then explored. The resolution of the schemes for both smooth functions and functions with steep gradients or discontinuities in some derivative are also studied. The accuracy when the gradients occur both near the center of the region and in the vicinity of the boundary is investigated. The importance of the aliasing limit on the resolution of the approximation is investigated in detail. Also examined is the effect of boundary treatment on the stability and accuracy of the scheme.

Solomonoff, A.↗

Application of Runge Kutta time marching scheme for the computation of transonic flows in turbomachines

Numerical solutions of the unsteady Euler equations are obtained using the classical fourth order Runge Kutta time marching scheme. This method is fully explicit and is applied to the governing equations in the finite volume, conservation law form. In order to determine the efficiency of this scheme for solving turbomachinery flows, steady blade-to-blade solutions are obtained for compressor and turbine cascades under subsonic and transonic flow conditions. Computed results are compared with other numerical methods and wind tunnel measurements. The present study also focuses on other important numerical aspects influencing the performance of the algorithm and the solution accuracy such as grid types, boundary conditions, and artificial viscosity. For this purpose, H, O, and C type computational grids as well as characteristic and extrapolation type boundary conditions are included in the solution procedure.

Subramanian, S. V.↗

Application of Runge Kutta time marching scheme for the computation of transonic flows in turbomachines

Numerical solutions of the unsteady Euler equations are obtained using the classical fourth order Runge Kutta time marching scheme. This method is fully explicit and is applied to the governing equations in the finite volume, conservation law form. In order to determine the efficiency of this scheme for solving turbomachinery flows, steady blade-to-blade solutions are obtained for compressor and turbine cascades under subsonic and transonic flow conditions. Computed results are compared with other numerical methods and wind tunnel measurements. The study also focuses on other important numerical aspects influencing the performance of the algorithm and the solution accuracy such as grid types, boundary conditions and artificial viscosity. For this purpose, H, O, and C type computational grids as well as characteristic and extrapolation type boundary conditions are included in solution procedures.

Subramanian, S. V.↗

Relaxation solutions for inviscid axisymmetric transonic flow over blunt or pointed bodies.

A finite-difference relaxation method is presented for numerical solution of the full potential equation and exact boundary conditions for general axisymmetric bodies is inviscid, steady transonic flow. Body-normal coordinates are used in the nose region and sheared cylindrical coordinates are used on the afterbody to accommodate corners such as boattails and flares. An improved difference scheme is used which does not require that the flow be nearly alined with a coordinate direction in supersonic regions, and which treats either subsonic or supersonic free streams. Numerical results are illustrated for some simple classical shapes such as spheres and ellipsoids, and for more practical shapes like tangent-ogives with boattails. Special attention is given to bodies which have been studied for area-rule applications. Agreement with available experimental results is good in cases where viscous effects and wind-tunnel wall interference are not important.

South, J. C., Jr.↗

Arbitrary Order Virtual Element Methods for High‐Order Phase‐Field Modeling of Dynamic Fracture

ABSTRACT Accurate modeling of fracture nucleation and propagation in brittle and ductile materials subjected to dynamic loading is important in predicting material damage and failure under extreme conditions. Phase‐field fracture models have garnered a lot of attention in recent years due to their success in representing damage and fracture processes in a wide class of materials and under a variety of loading conditions. Second‐order phase‐field fracture models are by far the most popular among researchers (and increasingly, among practitioners), but fourth‐order models have started to gain broader acceptance since their more recent introduction. The exact solution corresponding to these high‐order phase‐field fracture models has higher regularity. Thus, numerical solutions of the model equations can achieve improved accuracy and higher spatial convergence rates. In this work, we develop a virtual element framework for the high‐order phase‐field model of dynamic fracture. The virtual element method (VEM) can be regarded as a generalization of the classical finite element method. In addition to many other desirable characteristics, the VEM allows computing on polytopal meshes. Here, we use ‐conforming virtual elements and the generalized‐ time integration method for the momentum balance equation, and adopt ‐conforming virtual elements for the high‐order phase‐field equation. We verify our virtual element framework using classical quasi‐static benchmark problems and demonstrate its capabilities with the aid of numerical simulations of dynamic fracture in brittle materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Numerical study of a delta planform with multiple jets in ground effect

The flow past a 60-deg delta wing equipped with two thrust-reverser jets near the inboard trailing edge has been analyzed by numerical solution of the 3D thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. An implicit, partially flux-split, approximately-factored Navier-Stokes solver coupled with a multiple grid embedding scheme has been adapted to this problem. Studies of the impact of numerical parameters (e.g., grid refinement and dissipation levels), and flow-field parameters such as the height of the delta wing above the ground plane and the jet size on the solution, were performed. Results of these numerical studies indicate some challenges in the accurate resolution of complex 3D free shear layers and jets. Nevertheless, flow features such as jet deformation and ground vortex formation observed in experimental flow visualizations are captured. Further, comparisons with experimental data confirm the ability to simulate the loss of wing-borne lift, commonly referred to 'suckdown, as the delta planform flies at slow speeds in close proximity to the ground. Detailed analysis of the numerical results has also given additional insight into the structure of the ground vortex and the mechanisms of lift loss.

Chawla, K.↗