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Towards Understanding the Mixing Characteristics of Turbulent Buoyant Flows

Citation

Carroll, Phares Lynn (2014) Towards Understanding the Mixing Characteristics of Turbulent Buoyant Flows. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/RDHJ-3X60. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05212014-101703985

Abstract

This work proposes a new simulation methodology in which variable density turbulent flows can be studied in the context of a mixing layer with or without the presence of gravity. Specifically, this methodology is developed to probe the nature of non-buoyantly-driven (i.e. isotropically-driven) or buoyantly-driven mixing deep inside a mixing layer. Numerical forcing methods are incorporated into both the velocity and scalar fields, which extends the length of time over which mixing physics can be studied. The simulation framework is designed to allow for independent variation of four non-dimensional parameters, including the Reynolds, Richardson, Atwood, and Schmidt numbers. Additionally, the governing equations are integrated in such a way to allow for the relative magnitude of buoyant energy production and non-buoyant energy production to be varied.

The computational requirements needed to implement the proposed configuration are presented. They are justified in terms of grid resolution, order of accuracy, and transport scheme. Canonical features of turbulent buoyant flows are reproduced as validation of the proposed methodology. These features include the recovery of isotropic Kolmogorov scales under buoyant and non-buoyant conditions, the recovery of anisotropic one-dimensional energy spectra under buoyant conditions, and the preservation of known statistical distributions in the scalar field, as found in other DNS studies.

This simulation methodology is used to perform a parametric study of turbulent buoyant flows to discern the effects of varying the Reynolds, Richardson, and Atwood numbers on the resulting state of mixing. The effects of the Reynolds and Atwood numbers are isolated by looking at two energy dissipation rate conditions under non-buoyant (variable density) and constant density conditions. The effects of Richardson number are isolated by varying the ratio of buoyant energy production to total energy production from zero (non-buoyant) to one (entirely buoyant) under constant Atwood number, Schmidt number, and energy dissipation rate conditions. It is found that the major differences between non-buoyant and buoyant turbulent flows are contained in the transfer spectrum and longitudinal structure functions, while all other metrics are largely similar (e.g. energy spectra, alignment characteristics of the strain-rate tensor). Also, despite the differences noted between fully buoyant and non-buoyant turbulent fields, the scalar field, in all cases, is unchanged by these. The mixing dynamics in the scalar field are found to be insensitive to the source of turbulent kinetic energy production (non-buoyant vs. buoyant).

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:turbulence, turbulent mixing, buoyant mixing, direct numerical simulation, variable density turbulence, numerical forcing methods
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Mechanical Engineering
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Blanquart, Guillaume
Thesis Committee:
  • Colonius, Tim (chair)
  • Pullin, Dale Ian
  • McKeon, Beverley J.
  • Blanquart, Guillaume
Defense Date:29 April 2014
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
National Science Foundation1056142
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05212014-101703985
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05212014-101703985
DOI:10.7907/RDHJ-3X60
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14685248.2014.911876DOIArticle adapted for ch. 2
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4826315DOIArticle adapted for ch. 3
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4819782DOIArticle adapted for ch. 4
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:8253
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Phares Carroll
Deposited On:28 May 2014 23:52
Last Modified:25 Oct 2023 21:11

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