The present thesis studies transition to turbulence in a spatially developing bound-ary layer for subcritical Reynolds numbers. A fully nonlinear iterative direct-adjoint optimisation technique is employed to identify finite amplitude perturbations triggering transition in an energy efficient way. The study explores two approaches to find the Reynolds number scaling of the subcritical transition energy threshold Ec(Re) and the corresponding nonlinear optimum which is the minimal seed for subcritical transition to turbulence. The first approach focuses on shortened optimisation time horizons T compared to a reference case with T = 400. It is shown that the transition energy threshold Ec increases for T = 200/300 when compared to the reference value Ec,T =400. This is linked to the existence of local optima which maximise the objective functional for short transient times. These local optima are fully localised and feature the Orr and liftup energy growth mechanisms as observed for the reference case. However, their long-time evolution is suboptimal since it leads to a stable streak configuration which is found to relaminarise also for initial amplitudes of E0 > Ec,T =400. The second approach of using an inflow Reynolds number increased by factor 3/2 but non-shortened T is shown to be suitable to identify the scaling Ec(Re). Exploratory optimisation runs suggest a decrease in the transition energy threshold of at leastEc(3/2 · Re)/Ec(Re) < 0.47. / Denna avhandling studerar turbulensöverång i ett rumsligt-utvecklande gränsskikt vid subkritiska Reynolds tal. En icke-linjär iterativ direkt-adjoint optimeringsteknik implimenteras för att indentifiera perturbationer med ändlig amplitud som leder till övergång på ett energieffektivt sätt. Studien utforskar två metoder för att hitta skalningen av Reynolds numret till den subkritiska energytröskeln Ec(Re) för övergång och det tillhörande icke-linjära optimum minimal seed som leder till subkritisk turbulensövergång. Den första metoden fokuserar på förkortade optimeringstidshorisonter T jämfört med referensfallet med T = 400. Det visar sig att energitröskeln Ec ökar för T = 200/300 jämfört med referensvärdet Ec,T =400. Detta är kopplat till förekomsten av lokala optima som maximerar the objective functional för korta transienta tidsho-risonter. Dessa lokala optima är helt lokala i rummet och uppvisar samma Orr och liftup energitillväxtmekanismer som referensfallet. Utvärderingen på lång sikt visar sig dock vara suboptimal då den leder till en stabil streak konfiguration som återför även initiella perturbationsamplituder E0 > Ec,T =400 till ett laminärt tillstånd. Den andra metoden, som använder sig av Reynolds tal ökade med en faktor 3/2 men icke-förkortade tidshorisonter T , visar sig lämplig för att identifiera skalningen Ec(Re). Utforskande optimering antyder att en minskning i energitröskeln för övergång medminst Ec(3/2 · Re)/Ec(Re) < 0.47.

L'étude théorique de la transition vers la turbulence d'écoulements en tuyau de fluides non newtoniens rhéofluidifiants (fluides de Carreau) est menée, avec l'approche consistant à calculer des «~structures très cohérentes~» sous la forme d'«~ondes non linéaires~». Pour cela un code pseudo-spectral de type Petrov-Galerkin, permettant de suivre des solutions ondes non linéaires tridimensionnelles dans l'espace des paramètres par continuation, est développé. Ce code est validé par comparaison à des résultats existants en fluide newtonien, et grâce à un test de consistance en fluide non newtonien. Une convergence spectrale exponentielle est obtenue dans tous les cas. Ce code est utilisé pour chercher (guidé par des résultats expérimentaux récents) de nouvelles solutions de nombre d'onde azimutal fondamental égal à 1, sans succès pour l'instant. Par contre des solutions de nombre d'onde azimutal fondamental égal à 2 ou 3 sont obtenues par continuation à partir du cas newtonien. La rhéofluidification induit, en termes de nombres de Reynolds critiques, un retard à l'apparition de ces ondes par rapport au cas newtonien. Ce retard est caractérisé, et le parallèle est fait avec divers résultats expérimentaux qui montrent un retard à l'apparition de bouffées turbulentes en fluides non newtoniens / The transition to turbulence in pipe flows of shear-thinning fluids is studied theoretically. The method used is the computation of `exact coherent structures' that are tridimensional nonlinear waves. For this purpose a pseudo-spectral Petrov-Galerkin code is developped, which also allows to follow solution branches in the parameter space with continuation methods. This code is validated by recovering already published results in the Newtonian case, and by a consistency test in the non-Newtonian case. A spectral exponential convergence is obtained in all cases. This code is used to seek (guided by recent experimental results) new solutions of fundamental azimuthal wavenumber equal to 1,without success at the time being. On the contrary solutions with a fundamental azimuthal wavenumber equal to 2 and 3 are obtained by continuation from the Newtonian case. The shear-thinning effects induce, in terms of critical Reynolds numbers, a delay for the onset of these waves, as compared with the Newtonian case. This delay is characterized. An analogy is made with various experimental results that show a delay in the transition to turbulence, more precisely, in the onset of `puffs', in non-Newtonian fluids

Ce travail numérique porte sur le comportement de la lutocline (interface entre l'eau et la vase fluide) en écoulement cisaillé et vise à une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de remise en suspension de sédiments cohésifs. La crème de vase, ou vase partiellement solidifiée, est modélisée par un fluide homogène équivalent miscible dans l'eau, de rhéologie newtonienne ou viscoplastique. Une étude de l'hydrodynamique de cet écoulement stratifié en densité ainsi qu'en viscosité est ensuite proposée. Considérant une crème de vase initialement non-turbulente, l'étude se focalise sur le développement des instabilités au niveau de la lutocline et de la transition vers une couche de mélange turbulente. La particularité de cet écoulement réside dans la forte viscosité de vase et son seuil de mise en mouvement lorsqu'elle présente un caractère viscoplastique. Une étude de stabilité linéaire permet d'évaluer l'influence des différents paramètres de l'écoulement, notamment les stratifications en densité et en viscosité. La stratification en viscosité augmente sensiblement le taux de croissance de l'instabilité pour des nombres de Reynolds intermédiaires. L'évolution non-linéaire de l'écoulement est ensuite étudiée en utilisant des simulations numériques directes, la stratification en viscosité entrainant un épaississement de la couche de mélange finale. Enfin, des simulations numériques directes basées sur un modèle de fluide de Bingham régularisé permettent d'étudier l'influence de la contrainte seuil sur le développement de l'instabilité. / This numerical study focuses on the behavior of the lutocline in a shear flow and aims to better understand the mechanism of resuspension of cohesive sediment. Mud flow, or mud partially consolidated, is modeled by an equivalent homogenous fluid miscible in water, with newtonian or viscoplastic rheology. A study of the hydrodynamics of this shear flow, stratified both in density and viscosity, is presented. Considering an initially laminar mud flow, the focus of the study is on the development of instabilities on the lutocline and the transition to a turbulent mixing layer. The specificity of this flow lies on the large viscosity of the mud and its threshold to be put in motion, when it presents a viscoplastic feature. A linear stability study assesses the influence of the various parameters of the flow, especially of density and viscosity stratification. The viscosity stratification slightly increases the growth rate of the instability for intermediate Reynolds numbers. Then, the non linear evolution of the flow is studied by using direct numerical simulations, viscous stratification leading to a thicker mixing layer. At last, direct numerical simulations based on a Bingham regularized model, permits to study the influence of the critical strain on the development of the instability.

In this work, a DNS code was developed to investigate problems on transition in subsonic compressible boundary layer on a flat plate. Code validation tests were performed for linear and nonlinear stages of transition, on incompressible and compressible regimes. The focus of the present work is to investigate natural transition in subsonic boundary layers modeled by wave packets; and perform a preliminary study of transition induced by white noise. Three main problems were considered, namely, a DNS simulation and analysis of the ex- periment (MEDEIROS; GASTER, 1999b) of wave packet evolution on incompressible boundary layer, the influence of compressibility on wave packet evolution at subsonic Mach numbers and finally, a preliminary study of the evolution of a white noise perturbation in the boundary layer at Mach 0.2 and Mach 0.9. Comparisons between numerical and experimental results show remarkably good agreement in the linear and nonlinear stages, in both, spatial and Fourier spaces. A numerical simulation of this experiment and the analysis carried out is not available in the literature for wave packets in the incompressible boundary layer. The nonlinear modal analysis performed established the existence of tuned fundamental and subharmonic resonance of H-type and K-type in the packet. Influence of compressibility in the wave packet evolution was here investigated in boundary layers at Mach 0.7 and Mach 0.9. There are no works reported in the literature on wave packets in compressible subsonic boundary layer. In the linear regime, the oblique modes were the most unstable for Mach > 0.7, as expected by the results of the literature. In the nonlinear regime, strong streaks were observed, associated with low frequency modes that eventually decay downstream. An isolated wave packet at Mach 0.9 showed nonlinear amplification only in the subharmonic band, which may be associated to H-type or detuned resonance. However this packet has a relatively stable character. On the other hand, at Mach 0.9 spanwise interaction of wave packet pairs were more unstable than the isolated case, because stable modes for the isolated packet evolution becomes unstable in the wave packet interaction. This scenario evidenced the presence of oblique transition. Finally, the nonlinear evolution of the same white noise disturbance at Mach 0.2 and Mach 0.9 were observed to be completely different. In the incompressible boundary layer localized lambda vortex structures were observed, that could be associated to the local presence of H-type and/or K-type resonance. In the compressible regime, longitudinal vortex structures distributed across the entire domain seemed to be linked to oblique transition. In the white noise evolution, compressibility seems to have a stronger effect than in the wave packet evolution. In the conditions considered, the wave packet interaction appear to be a better representation of white noise compressible transition scenario. / No presente trabalho, um código DNS (Direct Numerical Simulation) foi desenvolvido para abordar problemas de transição para turbulência em camada limite subsônica compressível em uma placa plana. Foram realizados testes de validação de código , nos regimes linear e não linear do processo de transição, nos regimes incompressível e compressível. O foco do presente trabalho é estudar transição natural modelada por meio de pacotes de onda em camada limite compressível subsônica, e realizar uma análise preliminar da transição induzida por ruído branco. Três assuntos principais foram considerados: uma simulação DNS e uma análise comparativa com o experimento (MEDEIROS; GASTER, 1999b) sobre a evolução de um pacote de ondas em camada limite incompressível, a influência da compressibilidade na evolução de pacotes de ondas no regime subsônico, e por último, um estudo preliminar da transição induzida por ruído branco em Mach 0.2 e Mach 0.9. As comparações realizadas entre a solução numérica e os dados experimentais mostram uma boa concordância, nos regimes linear e não linear, tanto no espaço físico quanto no espaço de Fourier. A simulação numérica deste experimento e a análise realizada neste trabalho, não são encontradas na literatura para o regime incompressível. A análise modal não linear aplicada aos resultados, permitiu identificar a presença das ressonâncias tipo H e tipo K no pacote de ondas. A influência da compressibilidade na evolução dos pacotes de onda foi estudada em Mach 0.7 e Mach 0.9. Na literatura não há trabalhos sobre pacotes de ondas no regime sub- sônico. No regime linear da transição, os modos oblíquos resultam ser os mais instáveis para Mach > 0.7, como era de esperar, de acordo com os resultados da literatura. No regime não linear, foram observadas estrias de moderada amplitude, associadas com modos de baixa frequência que acabam decaindo. O pacote de ondas em Mach 0.9 apresentou amplificação não linear somente na banda subharmônica, que pode ser associada com transição tipo H ou ressonância dessintonizada. No entanto, o comportamento geral neste regime é estabilizante. Por sua vez, a interação entre pacotes de ondas em Mach 0.9 mostrou um comportamento desestabilizante, pois a interação acaba gerando amplificação não linear em modos que decaem no pacote isolado. Os modos amplificados sugerem a presença do mecanismo de transição oblíqua. Finalmente, a evolução da mesma perturbação constituída por ruído branco em Mach 0.2 e Mach 0.9, resultaram ser completamente diferentes. Na camada limite incompressível foram observados vórtices tipo lambda, que poderiam ser gerados pela presença localizada das ressonâncias tipo H e/ou tipo K. No regime compressível foram observados vórtices distribuidos em todo o domínio, o que sugere a presença da transição oblíqua. Na transição gerada por ruído branco a compressibilidade teve uma influência maior que no pacote de ondas. Nas condições estudadas, a interação entre pacotes de ondas parece ser uma melhor representação do ruído branco no regime compressível.

In this study, which is numerical in nature, direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the pipe flow is performed. For the DNS a solenoidal spectral method is employed, this involves the expansion of the velocity using divergence free functions which also satisfy the prescribed boundary conditions, and a subsequent projection of the N-S equations onto the corresponding dual space. The solenoidal functions are formulated in Legendre polynomial space, which results in more favorable forms for the inner product integrals arising from the Petrov-Galerkin scheme employed. The developed numerical scheme is also used to investigate the effects of spanwise oscillations and phase randomization on turbulence statistics, and drag, in turbulent incompressible pipe flow for low to moderate Reynolds numbers (i.e. $mathrm{Re} sim 5000$) ).

Recently, a new kind of turbulence has been discovered in the flow of concentrated polymer melts and solutions. These flows, known as purely elastic flows, become unstable when the elastic forces are stronger than the viscous forces. This contrasts with Newtonian turbulence, a more familiar regime where the fluid inertia dominates. While there is little understanding of purely elastic turbulence, there is a well-established dynamical systems approach to the transition from laminar flow to Newtonian turbulence. In this project, I apply this approach to purely elastic flows. Laminar flows are characterised by ordered, locally-parallel streamlines of fluid, with only diffusive mixing perpendicular to the flow direction. In contrast, turbulent flows are in a state of continuous instability: tiny differences in the location of fluid elements upstream make a large difference to their later locations downstream. The emerging understanding of the transition from a laminar to turbulent flow is in terms of exact coherent structures (ECS) — patterns of the flow that occur near to the transition to turbulence. The problem I address in this thesis is how to predict when a purely elastic flow will become unstable and when it will transition to turbulence. I consider a variety of flows and examine the purely elastic instabilities that arise. This prepares the ground for the identification of a three-dimensional steady state solution to the equations, corresponding to an exact coherent structure. I have organised my research primarily around obtaining a purely elastic exact coherent structure, however, solving this problem requires a very accurate prediction of the exact solution to the equations of motion. In Chapter 2 I start from a Newtonian ECS (travelling wave solutions in two-dimensional flow) and attempt to connect it to the purely elastic regime. Although I found no such connection, the results corroborate other evidence on the effect of elasticity on travelling waves in Poiseuille flow. The Newtonian plane Couette ECS is sustained by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. I discover a purely elastic counterpart of this mechanism in Chapter 3, and explore the non-linear evolution of this instability in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5 I turn to a slightly different problem, a (previously unexplained) instability in a purely elastic oscillatory shear flow. My numerical analysis supports the experimental evidence for instability of this flow, and relates it to the instability described in Chapter 3. In Chapter 6 I discover a self-sustaining flow, and discuss how it may lead to a purely elastic 3D exact coherent structure.

In this work, a DNS code was developed to investigate problems on transition in subsonic compressible boundary layer on a flat plate. Code validation tests were performed for linear and nonlinear stages of transition, on incompressible and compressible regimes. The focus of the present work is to investigate natural transition in subsonic boundary layers modeled by wave packets; and perform a preliminary study of transition induced by white noise. Three main problems were considered, namely, a DNS simulation and analysis of the ex- periment (MEDEIROS; GASTER, 1999b) of wave packet evolution on incompressible boundary layer, the influence of compressibility on wave packet evolution at subsonic Mach numbers and finally, a preliminary study of the evolution of a white noise perturbation in the boundary layer at Mach 0.2 and Mach 0.9. Comparisons between numerical and experimental results show remarkably good agreement in the linear and nonlinear stages, in both, spatial and Fourier spaces. A numerical simulation of this experiment and the analysis carried out is not available in the literature for wave packets in the incompressible boundary layer. The nonlinear modal analysis performed established the existence of tuned fundamental and subharmonic resonance of H-type and K-type in the packet. Influence of compressibility in the wave packet evolution was here investigated in boundary layers at Mach 0.7 and Mach 0.9. There are no works reported in the literature on wave packets in compressible subsonic boundary layer. In the linear regime, the oblique modes were the most unstable for Mach > 0.7, as expected by the results of the literature. In the nonlinear regime, strong streaks were observed, associated with low frequency modes that eventually decay downstream. An isolated wave packet at Mach 0.9 showed nonlinear amplification only in the subharmonic band, which may be associated to H-type or detuned resonance. However this packet has a relatively stable character. On the other hand, at Mach 0.9 spanwise interaction of wave packet pairs were more unstable than the isolated case, because stable modes for the isolated packet evolution becomes unstable in the wave packet interaction. This scenario evidenced the presence of oblique transition. Finally, the nonlinear evolution of the same white noise disturbance at Mach 0.2 and Mach 0.9 were observed to be completely different. In the incompressible boundary layer localized lambda vortex structures were observed, that could be associated to the local presence of H-type and/or K-type resonance. In the compressible regime, longitudinal vortex structures distributed across the entire domain seemed to be linked to oblique transition. In the white noise evolution, compressibility seems to have a stronger effect than in the wave packet evolution. In the conditions considered, the wave packet interaction appear to be a better representation of white noise compressible transition scenario. / No presente trabalho, um código DNS (Direct Numerical Simulation) foi desenvolvido para abordar problemas de transição para turbulência em camada limite subsônica compressível em uma placa plana. Foram realizados testes de validação de código , nos regimes linear e não linear do processo de transição, nos regimes incompressível e compressível. O foco do presente trabalho é estudar transição natural modelada por meio de pacotes de onda em camada limite compressível subsônica, e realizar uma análise preliminar da transição induzida por ruído branco. Três assuntos principais foram considerados: uma simulação DNS e uma análise comparativa com o experimento (MEDEIROS; GASTER, 1999b) sobre a evolução de um pacote de ondas em camada limite incompressível, a influência da compressibilidade na evolução de pacotes de ondas no regime subsônico, e por último, um estudo preliminar da transição induzida por ruído branco em Mach 0.2 e Mach 0.9. As comparações realizadas entre a solução numérica e os dados experimentais mostram uma boa concordância, nos regimes linear e não linear, tanto no espaço físico quanto no espaço de Fourier. A simulação numérica deste experimento e a análise realizada neste trabalho, não são encontradas na literatura para o regime incompressível. A análise modal não linear aplicada aos resultados, permitiu identificar a presença das ressonâncias tipo H e tipo K no pacote de ondas. A influência da compressibilidade na evolução dos pacotes de onda foi estudada em Mach 0.7 e Mach 0.9. Na literatura não há trabalhos sobre pacotes de ondas no regime sub- sônico. No regime linear da transição, os modos oblíquos resultam ser os mais instáveis para Mach > 0.7, como era de esperar, de acordo com os resultados da literatura. No regime não linear, foram observadas estrias de moderada amplitude, associadas com modos de baixa frequência que acabam decaindo. O pacote de ondas em Mach 0.9 apresentou amplificação não linear somente na banda subharmônica, que pode ser associada com transição tipo H ou ressonância dessintonizada. No entanto, o comportamento geral neste regime é estabilizante. Por sua vez, a interação entre pacotes de ondas em Mach 0.9 mostrou um comportamento desestabilizante, pois a interação acaba gerando amplificação não linear em modos que decaem no pacote isolado. Os modos amplificados sugerem a presença do mecanismo de transição oblíqua. Finalmente, a evolução da mesma perturbação constituída por ruído branco em Mach 0.2 e Mach 0.9, resultaram ser completamente diferentes. Na camada limite incompressível foram observados vórtices tipo lambda, que poderiam ser gerados pela presença localizada das ressonâncias tipo H e/ou tipo K. No regime compressível foram observados vórtices distribuidos em todo o domínio, o que sugere a presença da transição oblíqua. Na transição gerada por ruído branco a compressibilidade teve uma influência maior que no pacote de ondas. Nas condições estudadas, a interação entre pacotes de ondas parece ser uma melhor representação do ruído branco no regime compressível.

This thesis considers the stability and transition of incompressible boundary layers. In particular, the Falkner–Skan–Cooke boundary layer subject to a cylindrical surface roughness, and the Blasius boundary layer with applied localized suction are investigated. These flows are of great importance within the aviation industry, feature complex transition scenarios, and are strongly three-dimensional in nature. Consequently, no assumptions regarding homogeneity in any of the spatial directions are possible, and the stability of the flow is governed by an extensive three-dimensional eigenvalue problem. The stability of these flows is addressed by high-order direct numerical simulations using the spectral element method, in combination with a Krylov subspace projection method. Such techniques target the long-term behavior of the flow and can provide lower limits beyond which transition is unavoidable. The origin of the instabilities, as well as the mechanisms leading to transition in the aforementioned cases are studied and the findings are reported. Additionally, a novel method for computing the optimal forcing of a dynamical system is developed. This type of analysis provides valuable information about the frequencies and structures that cause the largest energy amplification in the system. The method is based on the inverse power method, and is discussed in the context of the one-dimensional Ginzburg–Landau equation and a two-dimensional flow case governed by the Navier–Stokes equations. / <p>QC 20151015</p>