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At least 109 records · Page 6

Development of turbulence models for shear flows by a double expansion technique

Turbulence models are developed by supplementing the renormalization group (RNG) approach of Yakhot and Orszag with scale expansions for the Reynolds stress and production of dissipation terms. The additional expansion parameter (eta) is the ratio of the turbulent to mean strain time scale. While low-order expansions appear to provide an adequate description of the Reynolds stress, no finite truncation of the expansion for the production of dissipation term in powers of eta suffices - terms of all orders must be retained. Based on these ideas, a new two-equation model and Reynolds stress transport model are developed for turbulent shear flows. The models are tested for homogeneous shear flow and flow over a backward facing step. Comparisons between the model predictions and experimental data are excellent.

Yakhot, V.↗

Development of turbulence models for shear flows by a double expansion technique

Turbulence models are developed by supplementing the renormalization group (RNG) approach of Yakhot and Orszag with scale expansions for the Reynolds stress and production of dissipation terms. The additional expansion parameter (eta) is the ratio of the turbulent to mean strain time scale. While low-order expansions appear to provide an adequate description of the Reynolds stress, no finite truncation of the expansion for the production of dissipation term in powers of eta suffices - terms of all orders must be retained. Based on these ideas, a new two-equation model and Reynolds stress transport model are developed for turbulent shear flows. The models are tested for homogeneous shear flow and flow over a backward facing step. Comparisons between the model predictions and experimental data are excellent.

Yakhot, V.↗

Observations on the nature and mechanism of the bounded turbulent shear flow structure

A physical model of the bounded turbulent shear flow structure based on the viscous diffusion of vortex lines at the wall and their stretching by the strain rate field is presented. Evidence from the literature supporting the model is briefly reviewed, and new flow visualization evidence is presented. Progress toward quantifying the structure's characteristics with a multi-sensor hot-wire vorticity probe is described.

Wallace, J. M.↗

Investigation of the dilatational dissipation in compressible homogeneous shear flow

The dilatational dissipation rate within compressible homogeneous turbulent shear flow is studied using data from direct numerical simulations. It is found that the dilatational dissipation rate is mainly associated with large scale acoustic waves. Eddy shocklets are observed; however, they have little contribution to the average dissipation rate. A mechanism for the generation of eddy shocklets is shown to be the focusing of acoustic waves. Turbulence models for the dilatational dissipation rate are compared with data from the simulations. It is found that the formulation of Zeman used by Viegas & Rubesin to calculate a compressible mixing layer agrees well with the numerical simulation results for turbulent Mach numbers less than 0.3. However, it is also found that, for the Mach number range occurring in mixing layers, the model does not accurately represent the theory upon which it is based.

Blaisdell, G. A.↗

Long nonlinear waves in stratified shear flows

The propagation of finite-amplitude internal waves in a shear flow is considered for wavelengths that are long compared to the shear-layer thickness. Both singular and regular modes are investigated, and the equation governing the amplitude evolution is derived. The theory is generalized to allow for a radiation condition when the region outside the stratified shear layer is unbounded and weakly stratified. In this case, the evolution equation contains a damping term describing energy loss by radiation which can be used to estimate the persistence of solitary waves or nonlinear wave packets in realistic environments. A continuous three-layer model is studied in detail and closed-form expressions are obtained for the phase speed and the coefficients of the nonlinear and dispersive terms in the amplitude equation as a function of Richardson number.

Maslowe, S. A.↗

Control of shear flows by artificial excitation

Investigations involving artificial excitation of various shear flows are reviewed. Potential applications of excitation in flow control, e.g., in enhancing mixing, and in delaying transition and separation are discussed. An account is given of the current activities at NASA Lewis Research Center in this regard.

Rice, E. J.↗

Control of shear flows by artificial excitation

Investigations involving artificial excitation of various shear flows are reviewed. Potential applications of excitation in flow control, e.g., in enhancing mixing, and in delaying transition and separation are discussed. An account is given of the current activities at NASA Lewis Research Center in this regard.

Rice, E. J.↗

The structure of pressure fluctuations in turbulent shear flows

Pressure fluctuations in a turbulent channel and a homogeneous shear flows are investigated by analyzing databases obtained from direct numerical simulations. Detailed statistics associated with the pressure fluctuations in both flows are discussed. Characteristics associated with the rapid (linear) and slow (nonlinear) pressure are examined. The global dependence of the pressure fluctuations and pressure-strain correlations are also examined by evaluating the integral associated with Green's function representations of them.

Kim, John↗

Bounded energy states in homogeneous turbulent shear flow - An alternative view

The equilibrium structure of homogeneous turbulent shear flow is investigated from a theoretical standpoint. Existing turbulence models, in apparent agreement with physical and numerical experiments, predict an unbounded exponential time growth of the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate; only the anisotropy tensor and turbulent time scale reach a structural equilibrium. It is shown that if a residual vortex stretching term is maintained in the dissipation rate transport equation, then there can exist equilibrium solutions, with bounded energy states, where the turbulence production is balanced by its dissipation. Illustrative calculations are presented for a k-epsilon model modified to account for net vortex stretching.

Bernard, P. S.↗

A rational approach to the use of Prandtl's mixing length model in free turbulent shear flow calculations

Prandtl's basic mixing length model was used to compute 22 test cases on free turbulent shear flows. The calculations employed appropriate algebraic length scale equations and single values of mixing length constant for planar and axisymmetric flows, respectively. Good agreement with data was obtained except for flows, such as supersonic free shear layers, where large sustained sensitivity changes occur. The inability to predict the more gradual mixing in these flows is tentatively ascribed to the presence of a significant turbulence-induced transverse static pressure gradient which is neglected in conventional solution procedures. Some type of an equation for length scale development was found to be necessary for successful computation of highly nonsimilar flow regions such as jet or wake development from thick wall flows.

Rudy, D. H.↗

Renormalization group analysis of anisotropic diffusion in turbulent shear flows

The renormalization group is applied to compute anisotropic corrections to the scalar eddy diffusivity representation of turbulent diffusion of a passive scalar. The corrections are linear in the mean velocity gradients. All model constants are computed theoretically. A form of the theory valid at arbitrary Reynolds number is derived. The theory applies only when convection of the velocity-scalar correlation can be neglected. A ratio of diffusivity components, found experimentally to have a nearly constant value in a variety of shear flows, is computed theoretically for flows in a certain state of equilibrium. The theoretical value is well within the fairly narrow range of experimentally observed values. Theoretical predictions of this diffusivity ratio are also compared with data from experiments and direct numerical simulations of homogeneous shear flows with constant velocity and scalar gradients.

Rubinstein, Robert↗

Plotting shear-flow forces

Structural analysts can use computer program to study shear-flow and in-plane forces characteristic of quadrilateral panels subjected to different loading conditions. Digital outputs are presented for engineers and management, with various options to allow bulk of data to be analyzed quickly.

Furuike, T.↗