<p>Turbulent mixing layers have been researched for many years. Currently, research is focused on studying compressible mixing layers because of their widespread applications in high-speed flight systems. While the effect of compressibility on the shear layer growth rate is well established, there is a lack of consensus over its effect on the turbulent stresses and hence warrants additional research in this area. Computational studies on compressible shear layers could provide a deep cognizance of the dynamics of fluid structures present in these flow fields which in turn would be viable for understanding the effects of compressibility on such flows. However, performing a Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of a highly compressible shear layer with experimental flow conditions is extremely expensive, especially when resolving the boundary layers that lead into the mixing section. The attractive alternative is to use Large Eddy Simulation (LES), as it possesses the potential to resolve the flow physics at a reasonable computational cost. Therefore the current work deals with developing a methodology to perform LES of a compressible mixing layer with experimental flow conditions, with resolving the boundary layers that lead into the mixing section through a wall model. The wall model approach, as opposed to a wall resolved simulation, greatly reduces the computational cost associated with the boundary layer regions, especially when using an explicit time-stepping scheme. An in house LES solver which has been used previously for performing simulations of jets, has been chosen for this purpose. The solver is first verified and validated for mixing layer flows by performing simulations of laminar and incompressible turbulent mixing layer flows and comparing the results with the literature. Following this, LES of a compressible mixing layer at a convective Mach number of 0.53 is performed. The inflow profiles for the LES are taken from a precursor RANS solution based on the k-ε and RSM turbulence models. The results of the LES present good agreement with the reference experiment for the upstream boundary layer properties, the mean velocity profile of the shear layer and the shear layer growth rate. The turbulent stresses, however, have been found to be underpredicted. The anisotropy of the normal Reynolds stresses have been found to be in good agreement with the literature. Based on the present results, suggestions for future work are also discussed.</p>

As aplicações aeroespaciais estão frequentemente associadas a escoamentos compressíveis com altíssimos números de Reynolds. No entanto, existem no contexto aeroespacial importantes aplicações que envolvem escoamentos compressíveis a Reynolds relativamente baixos. Entre eles se destacam o escoamento em pás de turbina a gás e ao redor de dispositivos de alta sustentação como eslates e flapes em grandes ângulos de ataque. Pode-se destacar também o processo de combustão supersônica que está intimamente ligado e é fortemente beneficiado pelo presente estudo. Nas aplicações aerodinâmicas em baixos números de Reynolds frequentemente uma parcela significativa do escoamento se apresenta no regime de transição para turbulência, ou nos estágios iniciais do escoamento turbulento. O objetivo do presente projeto é a simulação numérica direta de escoamentos compressíveis transicionais com desenvolvimento de um código para simulação em três dimensões de escoamentos alto subsônicos. O escoamento a ser estudado no projeto é a evolução linear e não linear de trens de onda e pacotes de onda em uma camada de mistura compressível. A solução das equações de Navier-Stokes é obtida através do método das diferenças finitas. As derivadas espaciais são resolvidas através de um método compacto de sexta ordem, enquanto que as derivadas temporais são resolvidas através do método de Runge-Kutta de quarta ordem. Os métodos de aproximação foram modificados para trabalhar com malhas não uniformes visando refinar a malha em pontos em que o fenômeno ocorre e, consequentemente, reduzir o custo computacional. A investigação numérica inicia-se com a análise da taxa de amplificação dos trens de ondas fortemente modulados em regime linear. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados favoravelmente com a teoria linear. Os testes foram estendidos para a análise não linear, e consequentemente, foi possível reproduzir os fenômenos clássicos de instabilidade hidrodinâmica através da evolução dos trens de ondas oblíquos. / Aerospace applications are frequently associated with compressible flows at relatively high Reynolds number. Nevertheless important applications involve compressible flows at relatively low Reynolds number in the aerospace context. Among them, the flow on gas turbine blades and high lift devices such as slats and flaps at high angle of attack are particulary important. Besides, progress in aeroespace research is dependent on developing more efficient propulsion systems. In aerodynamic applications at low Reynolds number, often a substancial portion of the flow is in the transition regime, or in the initial stages of a turbulent flow. The objective of the present study is the Direct Numerical Simulation of three-dimensional transition of compressible flows in a mixing layer. Inspired on the worked devoted to modulated waves, the current work investigates the linear and nonlinear temporal evolution of wavetrains in this phenomenon. The Navier-Stokes equations were solved with a sixth-order compact finite-difference schemes. The time integration was performed by a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme. Moreover, the methods to solve the spatial derivatives were modified to work with non-uniform grids. This technique was implemented with the objective to improve the resolution of the grid where the phenomenon occurs and to reduce the computational cost. The numerical investigation starts with an analysis of the growth rate of the wavetrains in linear regime to verify the numerical code. The results compared favourably with linear theory. Tests were also performed in the nonlinear regime to simulate the oblique wavetrains and it was possible to reproduce the classical hydrodynamic instability phenomena.

As aplicações aeroespaciais estão frequentemente associadas a escoamentos compressíveis com altíssimos números de Reynolds. No entanto, existem no contexto aeroespacial importantes aplicações que envolvem escoamentos compressíveis a Reynolds relativamente baixos. Entre eles se destacam o escoamento em pás de turbina a gás e ao redor de dispositivos de alta sustentação como eslates e flapes em grandes ângulos de ataque. Pode-se destacar também o processo de combustão supersônica que está intimamente ligado e é fortemente beneficiado pelo presente estudo. Nas aplicações aerodinâmicas em baixos números de Reynolds frequentemente uma parcela significativa do escoamento se apresenta no regime de transição para turbulência, ou nos estágios iniciais do escoamento turbulento. O objetivo do presente projeto é a simulação numérica direta de escoamentos compressíveis transicionais com desenvolvimento de um código para simulação em três dimensões de escoamentos alto subsônicos. O escoamento a ser estudado no projeto é a evolução linear e não linear de trens de onda e pacotes de onda em uma camada de mistura compressível. A solução das equações de Navier-Stokes é obtida através do método das diferenças finitas. As derivadas espaciais são resolvidas através de um método compacto de sexta ordem, enquanto que as derivadas temporais são resolvidas através do método de Runge-Kutta de quarta ordem. Os métodos de aproximação foram modificados para trabalhar com malhas não uniformes visando refinar a malha em pontos em que o fenômeno ocorre e, consequentemente, reduzir o custo computacional. A investigação numérica inicia-se com a análise da taxa de amplificação dos trens de ondas fortemente modulados em regime linear. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados favoravelmente com a teoria linear. Os testes foram estendidos para a análise não linear, e consequentemente, foi possível reproduzir os fenômenos clássicos de instabilidade hidrodinâmica através da evolução dos trens de ondas oblíquos. / Aerospace applications are frequently associated with compressible flows at relatively high Reynolds number. Nevertheless important applications involve compressible flows at relatively low Reynolds number in the aerospace context. Among them, the flow on gas turbine blades and high lift devices such as slats and flaps at high angle of attack are particulary important. Besides, progress in aeroespace research is dependent on developing more efficient propulsion systems. In aerodynamic applications at low Reynolds number, often a substancial portion of the flow is in the transition regime, or in the initial stages of a turbulent flow. The objective of the present study is the Direct Numerical Simulation of three-dimensional transition of compressible flows in a mixing layer. Inspired on the worked devoted to modulated waves, the current work investigates the linear and nonlinear temporal evolution of wavetrains in this phenomenon. The Navier-Stokes equations were solved with a sixth-order compact finite-difference schemes. The time integration was performed by a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme. Moreover, the methods to solve the spatial derivatives were modified to work with non-uniform grids. This technique was implemented with the objective to improve the resolution of the grid where the phenomenon occurs and to reduce the computational cost. The numerical investigation starts with an analysis of the growth rate of the wavetrains in linear regime to verify the numerical code. The results compared favourably with linear theory. Tests were also performed in the nonlinear regime to simulate the oblique wavetrains and it was possible to reproduce the classical hydrodynamic instability phenomena.

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This thesis is concerned with the study of parallel mixing of two dissimilar gases under compressible conditions in the confined environment. A number of numerical studies are reported in the literature for the compressible mixing of two streams of gases where (1) both the streams are of similar gases at the same temperatures, (2) both the streams are at different temperatures with similar gases, and (3) dissimilar gases are with nearly equal temperatures. The combination of dissimilar gases at large temperature difference, mixing under compressible conditions, as in the case of scramjet propulsion, has not been adequately addressed numerically. Also many of the earlier studies have used two dimensional numerical simulation and showed good match with the experimental results on mixing layers that are inherently three dimensional in nature. In the present study, both two-dimensional (2-d) and three dimensional (3-d) studies are reported and in particular the effect of side wall on the three dimensionality of the flow field is analyzed, and the reasons of the good match of two dimensional simulations with experimental results have been discussed. Both two dimensional and three dimensional model free simulations have been conducted for a flow configuration on which experimental results are available. In this flow configuration, the mixing duct has a rectangular cross section with height to width ratio of 0.5. In the upper part of the duct hydrogen gas at a temperature of 103 K is injected through a single manifold of two Ludweig tubes and in the lower part of the duct nitrogen gas at a temperature of 2436 K is supplied through an expansion tube, both the gases are at Mach numbers of 3.1 and 4.0 respectively. Measurements in the experiment are limited to wall pressures and heat flux. The choice of this experimental condition gives an opportunity to study the effect of large temperature difference on the mixing of two dissimilar gases with large molecular weights under compressible conditions. Both two dimensional and three dimensional model free simulations are carried out using higher order numerical scheme (4th order spatial and 2nd order temporal) to understand the structure and evolution of supersonic confined mixing layer of similar and dissimilar gases. Two dimensional simulations are carried out by both SPARK (finite difference method) and OpenFOAM (finite volume method based open source software that was specially picked out and put together), while 3D model free simulations are carried out by OpenFOAM. A fine grid structure with higher grid resolution near the walls and shear layer is chosen. The effect of forcing of fluctuations on the inlet velocity shows no appreciable change in the fully developed turbulent region of the flow. The flow variables are averaged after the attainment of statistical steady state established through monitoring the concentration of inert species introduced in the initial guess. The effect of side wall on the flow structure on the mixing layer is studied by comparing the simulation results with and without side wall. Two dimensional simulations show a good match for the growth rate of shear layer and experimental wall pressures. Three dimensional simulations without side wall shows 14% higher growth rate of shear layer than that of two dimensional simulations. The wall pressures predicted by these three dimensional simulations are also lower than that predicted using two dimensional simulations (6%) and experimental (9%) results in the downstream direction of the mixing duct. Three dimensionality of the flow is thought of as a cause for these differences. Simulations with the presence of side wall show that there is no remarkable difference of three dimensionality of the flow in terms of the variables and turbulence statistics compared to the case without side walls. However, the growth rate of shear layer and wall surface pressures matches well with that predicted using two dimensional simulations. It has been argued that this good match in shear layer growth rate occurs due to formation of oblique disturbances in presence of side walls that are considered responsible for the decrease in growth rate in 3-d mixing layers. The wall pressure match is argued to be good because of hindrance from side wall in the distribution of momentum in third direction results in higher wall pressure. The effect of dissimilar gases at large temperature difference on the growth rate reduction in compressible conditions is studied. Taking experimental conditions as baseline case, simulations are carried out for a range of convective Mach numbers. Simulations are also carried out for the same range of convective Mach numbers considering the mixing of similar gases at the same temperature. The normalized growth rates with incompressible counterpart for both the cases show that the dissimilar gas combination with large temperature difference shows higher growth rate. This result confirms earlier stability analysis that predicts increased growth rate for such cases. The growth rate reduction of a compressible mixing layer is argued to occur due to reduced pressure strain term in the Reynolds stress equation. This reduction also requires the pressure and density fluctuation correlation to be very near to unity. This holds good for a mixing layer formed between two similar gases at same temperature. For dissimilar gases at different temperatures this assumption does not hold well, and pressure-density correlation coefficient shows departure from unity. Further analysis of temperature density correlation factor, and temperature fluctuations shows that the changes in density occur predominantly due to temperature effects, than due to pressure effects. The mechanism of density variations is found to be different for similar and dissimilar gases, while for similar gases the density variations are due to pressure variations. For dissimilar gases density variation is also affected by temperature variations in addition to pressure variations. It has been observed that the traditional k-ε turbulence model within the RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) framework fails to capture the growth rate reduction for compressible shear layers. The performance of k-ε turbulence model is tested for the mixing of dissimilar gases at large temperature difference. For the experimental test case the shear layer growth rate and wall pressures show good match with other model free simulations. Simulations are further carried out for a range of convective Mach numbers keeping the mixing gases and their temperatures same. It has been observed that a drop in the growth rate is well predicted by RANS simulations. Further, the compressibility option has been removed and it has been observed that for the density and temperature difference, even for incompressible case, the drop in growth rate exists. This behaviour shows that the decrease in growth rate is mainly due to the interaction of temperature and species mass fraction on density. Also it can be inferred that RANS with k-ε turbulence model is able to capture the compressible shear layer growth rate for dissimilar gases at high temperature difference. The mixing of heat and species is governed by the values of turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers respectively. These numbers have been observed to vary for different flow conditions, while affecting the flow field considerable in the form of temperature and species distribution. Model free simulations are carried out on an incompressible convective Mach number mixing layer, and the results are compared with that of a compressible mixing layer to study the effect of compressibility on the values of turbulent Prandtl / Schmidt numbers. It has been observed that both turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers show an almost constant value in the mixing layer region for incompressible case. While, for a compressible case, both turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers show a continuous variation within the mixing layer. However, the turbulent Lewis number is observed to be near unity for both incompressible and compressible cases. The thesis is composed of 8 chapters. An introduction of the subject with critical and relevant literature survey is presented in chapter 1. Chapter 2 describes the mathematical formulation and assumptions along with solution methodology needed for the simulations. Chapter 3 deals with the two and three dimensional model free simulations of the non reacting mixing layer. The effect of the presence of side wall is studied in chapter 4. Chapter 5 deals with the effect of compressibility on the mixing of two dissimilar gases at largely different temperatures. The performance of k-ε turbulence model is checked for dissimilar gases in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 is concerned with the effect of compressibility on turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers. Finally concluding remarks are presented in chapter 8. The main aim of this thesis is the exploration of parallel mixing of dissimilar gases under compressible conditions for both two and three dimensional cases. The outcome of the thesis is (a) a finding that the presence of sidewall in a mixing duct does not make flow field two dimensional, instead it causes the formation of oblique disturbances and the shear layer growth rate is reduced, (b) that it has been shown that the growth rates of dissimilar gases are affected far more by large temperature difference than by compressibility as in case of similar gases, (c) that the growth rates of compressible shear layers formed between dissimilar gases are better predicted using k-εturbulence model and (d) that for compressible mixing conditions the turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers vary continuously in the mixing layer region necessitating the use of some kind of model instead of assuming constant values.