Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “incompressible flow”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 829 records · Page 46
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Improved vortex methods for three-dimensional flows

Robust numerical methods are developed for three-dimensional incompressible vortical flows, using Lagrangian vortex elements. A successful scheme must be able to handle regions of intense vortex stretching and vortex reconnection with reasonable accuracy (without diverging). Here, consideration is given to vortex particles, also commonly called vortons or vortex sticks. The following issues are discussed: (1) use of delta-function elements and weak solutions of the vorticity equation; (2) use of smoothed elements and the choice of the smoothing function; (3) representation of viscous effects and the redistribution of element strength; and (4) conservation laws (are they satisfied?). The various proposed schemes have been tested on flows involving a strong interaction between two vortex rings.

Winckelmans, G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the instability of flow in a streamwise corner

The linear stability of an incompressible laminar flow in the blending boundary layer between the boundary layer in a 90 deg streamwise corner and a Blasius boundary layer well away from the corner is examined using a locally parallel flow approximation. It is shown that the influence of the outer boundary conditions associated with oblique modes of disturbances which are anti-symmetric about the bisector plane have a profound effect on the stability of the flow. As a result, in good agreement with observation, the critical streamwise Reynolds number, associated with a spanwise location is significantly reduced as the corner is approached, being R(sub Cr) = 60 approximately for spanwise distance of z* = 6x*R(sup -1) from the corner compared with R(sub Cr) = 322 approximately for z* = 20x*R(sup -1), where x* measures downstream distance from the leading edges. At R = 600, the growth rate of the most amplified mode of disturbance at the former location is over six times greater than that at the latter; the corresponding wave angle at the two locations is respectively 44 deg and 5 deg, approximately.

Dhanak, Manhar R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A computational model for three-dimensional incompressible wall jets with large cross flow

A computational model for the flow field of three dimensional incompressible wall jets prototypic of thrust augmenting ejectors with large cross flow is presented. The formulation employs boundary layer equations in an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system. Simulation of laminar as well as turbulen wall jets is reported. Quantification of jet spreading, jet growth, nominal separation, and jet shrink effects due to corss flow are discussed.

Murphy, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A finite difference treatment of Stokes-type flows: Preliminary report

The equations Laplacian operator omega = 0, (1.1a) and omega = Laplacian operator Chi, (1.1b) describe, in suitable units, 2-D Stokes flow of an incompressible fluid occupying a domain D in which omega is the vorticity and Chi is the stream function. The flow is uniquely determined by specifying the velocity on the boundary B of D, a condition which leads to specifying the stream function Chi and its normal derivative Chi sub n on B. A mathematically similar problem arises in describing the equilibrium of a flat plate in structural mechanics where a related 1-D problem by finite difference or finite element methods is to introduce effective methods for imposing the boundary conditions through which (1.1a) is coupled to (1.1b). These models thus provide a simple starting point for examining the general treatment of boundary conditions for more general time dependent Navier-Stokes incompressible flows. For the purpose of discussion it is assumed that D is a square domain. A standard finite difference method to solve (1.1) is to introduce a uniform grid and then use standard five point finite difference operators to express each equation in (1.1). At any point on the boundary B a value of Chi is specified by the boundary conditions but a value of omega at the same boundary mesh point will also be required to complete the computation. Methods are discussed which overcome the difficulty in solving these problems.

Rose, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Unsteady three-dimensional flow separation

A concise mathematical framework is constructed to study the topology of steady 3-D separated flows of an incompressible, or a compressible viscous fluid. Flow separation is defined by the existence of a stream surface which intersects with the body surface. The line of separation is itself a skin-friction line. Flow separation is classified as being either regular or singular, depending respectively on whether the line of separation contains only a finite number of singular points or is a singular line of the skin-friction field. The special cases of 2-D and axisymmetric flow separation are shown to be of singular type. In regular separation it is shown that a line of separation originates from a saddle point of separation of the skin-friction field and ends at nodal points of separation. Unsteady flow separation is defined relative to a coordinate system fixed to the body surface. It is shown that separation of an unsteady 3-D incompressible viscous flow at time t, when viewed from such a frame of reference, is topologically the same as that of the fictitious steady flow obtained by freezing the unsteady flow at the instant t. Examples are given showing effects of various forms of flow unsteadiness on flow separation.

Hui, W. H.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Optimal renormalization of multiscale systems

While model order reduction is a promising approach in dealing with multi-scale time-dependent systems that are too large or too expensive to simulate for long times, the resulting reduced order models can suffer from instabilities. We have recently developed a time-dependent renormalization approach to stabilize such reduced models. In the current work, we extend this framework by introducing a parameter that controls the time-decay of the memory of such models and optimally selecting this parameter based on limited fully resolved simulations. First, we demonstrate our framework on the inviscid Burgers equation whose solution develops a finite-time singularity. Our renormalized reduced order models are stable and accurate for long times while using for their calibration only data from a full order simulation before the occurrence of the singularity. Furthermore, we apply this framework to the 3D Euler equations of incompressible fluid flow, where the problem of finite-time singularity formation is still open and where brute force simulation is only feasible for short times. Our approach allows us to obtain for the first time a perturbatively renormalizable model which is stable for long times and includes all the complex effects present in the 3D Euler dynamics. We find that, in each application, the renormalization coefficients display algebraic decay with increasing resolution, and that the parameter which controls the time-decay of the memory is problem-dependent.

Price, Jacob↗
NASA NTRS1983

Computation of turbulent flows over backward-facing step

A numerical method for computing incompressible turbulent flows is presented. The method is tested by calculating laminar recirculating flows and is applied in conjunction with a modified Kappa-epsilon model to compute the flow over a backward-facing step. In the laminar regime, the computational results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The turbulent flow study shows that the reattachment length is underpredicted by the standard Kappa-epsilon model. The addition of a term to the standard model that accounts for the effects of rotation on turbulent flow improves the results in the recirculation region and increases the computed reattachment length.

Mansour, N. N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A Navier-Stokes flow simulation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Hot Gas Manifold

Incompressible viscous flow inside the turnaround duct, the fuel bowl, the transfer duct and the racetrack of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Hot Gas Manifold (HGM) has been computed using the method of pseudo-compressibility together with an implicit, approximate-factorization algorithm. A multiple-zone method is used to make solution of flows in complex geometries easy. A model which predicts the pressure loading for the shield and the injector post arrangement without solving the complex flow field in the main injector region is proposed. The computed results show good qualitative agreement with experimental data.

Yang, Ruey-Jen↗
NASA NTRS1944

On the plane potential flow past a lattice of arbitrary airfoils

The two-dimensional, incompressible potential flow past a lattice of airfoils of arbitrary shape is investigated theoretically. The problem is treated by usual methods of conformal mapping in several stages, one stage corresponding to the mapping of the framework of the arbitrary line lattice and another significant stage corresponding to the Theodorsen method for the mapping of the arbitrary single wing profile into a circle. A particular feature in the theoretical treatment is the special handling of the regions at an infinite distance in front of and behind the lattice. Expressions are given for evaluation of the velocity and pressure distribution at the airfoil boundary. An illustrative numerical example is included.

Garrick, I E↗
NASA NTRS1996

Multigrid Computations of 3-D Incompressible Internal and External Viscous Rotating Flows

This report presents multigrid methods for solving the 3-D incompressible viscous rotating flows in a NASA low-speed centrifugal compressor and a marine propeller 4119. Numerical formulations are given in both the rotating reference frame and the absolute frame. Comparisons are made for the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness between the steady-state scheme and the time-accurate scheme for simulating viscous rotating flows for complex internal and external flow applications. Prospects for further increase in efficiency and accuracy of unsteady time-accurate computations are discussed.

Sheng, Chunhua↗
NASA NTRS1976

Steady incompressible variable thickness shear layer aerodynamics

A shear flow aerodynamic theory for steady incompressible flows is presented for both the lifting and non lifting problems. The slow variation of the boundary layer thickness is considered. The slowly varying behavior is treated by using multitime scales. The analysis begins with the elementary wavy wall problem and, through Fourier superpositions over the wave number space, the shear flow equivalents to the aerodynamic transfer functions of classical potential flow are obtained. The aerodynamic transfer functions provide integral equations which relate the wall pressure and the upwash. Computational results are presented for the pressure distribution, the lift coefficient, and the center of pressure travel along a two dimensional flat plate in a shear flow. The aerodynamic load is decreased by the shear layer, compared to the potential flow. The variable thickness shear layer decreases it less than the uniform thickness shear layer based upon equal maximum shear layer thicknesses.

Chi, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The computation of incompressible, three-dimensional flows in containers with extensible walls

The theoretical study of flow in biological vascular systems is made very difficult in connection with local and temporal changes of the cross section. Experimental investigations with the aid of model tests are, however, not enough for a solution of the problems, and numerical solutions are more and more employed for a description of such flows. A description is presented of a difference procedure for the solution of the complete Navier-Stokes equations with curvilinear coordinates for three-dimensional flows in containers. The integration of the Navier-Stokes equations for flows in containers with rigid and moving walls is considered.

Liu, N. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The influence of free-stream turbulence on separation of turbulent boundary layers in incompressible, two-dimensional flow

Experiments were conducted to determine if free-stream turbulence scale affects separation of turbulent boundary layers. In consideration of possible interrelation between scale and intensity of turbulence, the latter characteristic also was varied and its role was evaluated. Flow over a 2-dimensional airfoil in a subsonic wind tunnel was studied with the aid of hot-wire anemometry, liquid-film flow visualization, a Preston tube, and static pressure measurements. Profiles of velocity, relative turbulence intensity, and integral scale in the boundary layer were measured. Detachment boundary was determined for various angles of attack and free-stream turbulence. The free-stream turbulence intensity and scale were found to spread into the entire turbulent boundary layer, but the effect decreased as the airfoil surface was approached. When the changes in stream turbulence were such that the boundary layer velocity profiles were unchanged, detachment location was not significantly affected by the variations of intensity and scale. Pressure distribution remained the key factor in determining detachment location.

Potter, J. Leith↗