A numerical model has been developed which simulates the three-dimensional stability and transition of a periodically forced free shear layer in an incompressible fluid. Unlike previous simulations of temporally evolving shear layers, the current simulations examine spatial stability. The spatial model accommodates features of free shear flow, observed in experiments, which in the temporal model are precluded by the assumption of streamwise periodicity; e.g., divergence of the mean flow and wave dispersion. The Navier-Stokes equations in vorticity-velocity form are integrated using a combination of numerical methods tailored to the physical problem. A spectral method is adopted in the spanwise dimension in which the flow variables, assumed to be periodic, are approximated by finite Fourier series. In complex Fourier space, the governing equations are spatially two-dimensional. Standard central finite differences are exploited in the remaining two spatial dimensions. For computational efficiency, time evolution is accomplished by a combination of implicit and explicit methods. Linear diffusion terms are advanced by an Alternating Direction Implicit/Crank-Nicolson scheme whereas the Adams-Bashforth method is applied to convection terms. Nonlinear terms are evaluated at each new time level by the pseudospectral (collocation) method. Solutions to the velocity equations, which are elliptic, are obtained iteratively by approximate factorization. The spatial model requires that inflow-outflow boundary conditions be prescribed. Inflow conditions are derived from a similarity solution for the mean inflow profile onto which periodic forcing is superimposed. Forcing functions are derived from inviscid linear stability theory. A numerical test case is selected which closely parallels a well-known physical experiment. Many of the aspects of forced shear layer behavior observed in the physical experiment are captured by the spatial simulation. These include initial linear growth of the fundamental, vorticity roll-up, fundamental saturation, eventual domination of the subharmonic, vortex pairing, emergence of streamwise vorticity, and temporary stabilization of the secondary instability. Moreover, the spatial simulation predicts the experimentally observed superlinear growth of harmonics at rates 1.5 times that of the fundamental. Superlinear growth rates suggest nonlinear resonances between fundamental and harmonic modes which are not captured by temporal simulations.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong,2004. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaf 205-214.

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Hot-wire measurements taken in the turbulent wake of a flat plate are presented. Symmetrical and antisymmetrical perturbations at various amplitudes and frequencies were introduced into the wake by small flap oscillations. As predicted by linear stability theory, the sinuous (antisymmetric) mode was observed to be more significant than the varicose (symmetric) mode. When the amplitude of the perturbation was low, the spatial development of the introduced coherent perturbation was predicted well by linear stability theory. At high forcing levels, the wake spreading showed dramatic deviations from the well known square-root behavior of the unforced case. Measured coherent Reynolds stresses changed sign in the neighborhood of the neutral point of the perturbation, as predicted by the linear theory. However, the linear theory failed to predict the disturbance amplitude and transverse shapes close to the neutral point. Some nonlinear aspects of the evolution of instabilities in the wake are discussed. Theoretical predictions of the mean flow distortion and the generation of the first harmonic are compared to experimental measurements. Given the unforced flow and the amplitude of the fundamental wave, the mean flow distortion and the amplitude of the first harmonic are predicted remarkably well.

This dissertation investigates spanwise periodic shear flow past two-dimensional bodies. The flow is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible. Using singular perturbation techniques, the solution is developed for ε = L/ℓ ≪ 1, where L represents body cross-sectional size, and ℓ the period of the oncoming flow U(z). The singular perturbation analysis involves three regions: the inner, wake and outer regions. The leading order solutions are developed in all regions, and in the inner region higher order terms are obtained. In the inner region near the body, the primary flow (U₀, V₀, P₀) corresponds to potential flow past the body with a local free stream value of U(z). The spanwise variation in U(z) produces a weak O(ε) secondary flow W₁ in the spanwise direction. As the vortex lines of the upstream flow are convected downstream, they wrap around the body, producing significant streamwise vorticity in a wake region of thickness O(L) directly behind the body. This streamwise vorticity induces a net volume flux into the wake. In the outer region far from the body, a nonlifting body appears as a distribution of three-dimensional dipoles, and the wake appears as a sheet of mass sinks. Both singularity structures must be included in describing the leading outer flow. For lifting bodies, the body appears as a lifting line, and the wake appears as a sheet of shed vorticity. The trailing vorticity is found to be equal to the spanwise derivative of the product of the circulation and the oncoming flow. For lifting bodies the first higher order correction to the inner flow is the response of the body to the downwash produced by the trailing vorticity. At large distances from the body, the flow takes on remarkably simple form.

Using a two-dimensional nonlinear numerical simulation of a (viscous) stratified shear layer, strong instabilities resulted from the resonant interaction of a long linearly neutrally stable wave and the corresponding fastest growing wave. This linearly fastest growing wave, with optimal initial conditions, grows initially at a rate five times that predicted by linear theory. With other initial conditions, the linearly fastest growing wave may actually decay. The possibility of this type of interaction is suggested by the weakly nonlinear theory (cf. Maslowe, 1977). This coupled system of fourth order nonl inear partial differential equations was solved using a modified pseudospectral scheme for the spatial variables, incorporating the use of fast Fourier transforms to calculate spatial derivatives, and a second order Adams-Bashforth scheme for the temporal derivatives . / Dans cette etude, en utilisant une simulation numerique nonlineaire a deux dimensions d'une couche stratifiee, decollee et visqueuse, on obtint des resultats interessants a partir des cas correspondant a l'interaction resonnante d'une onde longue a stabilite neutre et d'une onde courte qui croit la plus rapidement selon la theorie lineaire. En utilisant certaines conditions initiales, l'onde courte croit initialement a un taux cinq fois superieur a celui predit par la theorie lineaire. Avec d'autres conditions initiales l'onde courte decroit. La possibilite de ce genre d'interaction est predite par la theorie faiblement nonlineaire (voir Maslowe, 1977). Ce systeme couple aux equations nonlineaires du quatrieme ordre aux derivees partielles, est resolu par une methode pseudo-spectrale modifiee, pour les variables spatiales, et une methode Adams-Bashforth du second ordre pour les derivees temporelles. fr

Bibliography: leaves 117-126 / vii, 126 leaves : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied Mathematics, 1993

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In this dissertation large-eddy simulation(LES) is used to study the transitional and turbulent structures of vortices and free shear layers. The recently developed dynamic model and the basic Smagorinsky model are utilized to model the subgrid-scale(SGS) stress tensor. The dynamic model has many advantages over the existing SGS models. This model has the ability to vary in time and space depending on the local turbulence conditions. This eliminates the need to tune the model constants a priori to suit the flow field being simulated. Three different flow fields are considered. First, the evolution of large-scale turbulent structures in centrifugally unstable vortices is studied. It is found that these structures appear as counter rotating vortex rings encircling the vortex core. The interaction of these structures with the core results in the transfer of angular momentum between the core and the surroundings. The mean tangential velocity decays due to this exchange of angular momentum. Second, the generation and decay of turbulent structures in a vortex with an axial velocity deficit are studied. The presence of a destabilizing wake-like axial velocity field in an otherwise centrifugally stable vortex results in a very complex flow field. The inflectional instability mechanism of the axial velocity deficit amplifies the initial disturbances and results in the generation of large-scale turbulent structures. These structures appear as branches sprouting out of the vortex core. The breakdown of these structures leads to small-scale motions. But the stabilizing effects of the rotational flow field tend to quench the small-scale motions and the vortex returns to its initial laminar state. The mean axial velocity deficit is weakened, but the mean tangential velocity shows no significant decay. Third, a transitional mixing layer calculation is performed.The growth and breakdown to small scales of vortical structures are studied. Emphasis is given to the identification of late transition structures and their subsequent break down. Formation of streamwise vortices in place of the original Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices and the subsequent appearance of hair-pin vortices at the edges of the mixing layer mark the completion of transition. The basic Smagorinsky model is also used in the mixing layer simulations. The performance of the dynamic model is compared with the previous results obtained using the basic Smagorinsky model. As expected, the basic Smagorinsky model is found to be more dissipative. / Ph. D.

A half-equation model of turbulence has been developed to described the eddy viscosity distribution of two and three-dimensional turbulent free shear flows. The model is derived by integrating the parabolized transport equation for the turbulence kinetic energy over the cross section of the flow. The Prandtl-Kolmogrov hypothesis is used to obtain an ordinary differential equation for the eddy viscosity. The model is used in a general purpose finite element procedure using primitive variables. The penalty function method is used, in a generalized Galerkin weak formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, to enforce the conservation of mass. In this procedure the pressure does not explicitly appear, this significantly reducing the computation time when compared to the velocity-pressure approach. Numerical solution are obtained for four problems: a round jet issuing from a wall into still surroundings, a three-dimensional square jet issuing from a wall into still surroundings, a uniform flow past a free running propeller, and a shear flow past a free running propeller. An actuator disk with variable radial distribution of thrust and torque is used to model the propeller. The numerical solution in the far field of the round jet agrees very well with the analytical similar solution. Very good agreement between prediction and experiments is observed for the square jet problem. A simplified analysis of the flow past a propeller is used to provide the initial value of the eddy viscosity. Numerical experiments on the uniform flow past a thrusting disk confirmed the validity of the analysis and illustrated the effect of the initial value of the initial value of the eddy viscosity. For both propeller flows, agreement between predictions and experiments is excellent for both the axial and swirl velocity components at two stations located at x/D = 0.025 and 0.23. The quality of the swirl prediction is a major improvement over previous analyses. Pressure predictions are obtained for the first time, and are in reasonable agreement with the experiments. The radial velocity prediction is in fair agreement with the experiments at the station x/D = 0.025 .The discrepancy between the finite element solutions and the experiments at the station x/D = 0.23, for the pressure an the radial velocity are attributed to the presence of the body housing the propeller drive train. The body is not included in the present study. The complex three-dimensional nature of the shear flow past the propeller is very well captured in the simulation. / Doctor of Philosophy