The interaction of vortices passing near free and solid surfaces has been examined using direct numerical simulation (DNS). A computer code was developed which solves the unsteady, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow. A critical element of the numerical scheme is the efficient solution of Poisson's equation. A state of the art solver based on multigrid techniques was developed which gives excellent convergence rates. The result is a tool capable of modeling complex three-dimensional flows in a variety of configurations.
Three different flow fields have been examined in order to determine some of the complex interactions involved between a vortex and a surface. The first concerns the two-dimensional interaction between a boundary layer and a convecting vortex. The size and height above the wall of the vortex are the same order of magnitude as the boundary layer thickness. A strong primary vortex creates a secondary vortex which causes the rebound of the primary, a response observed in many previous studies. However, weaker vortices as well do not follow the inviscid trajectory despite the absence of a secondary vortex. Rather than creating vorticity at the wall, a weaker vortex mainly redistributes the vorticity of the boundary layer. The redistributed vorticity alters the path of the vortex in ways not seen for vortex/wall interactions. / Ph. D.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/39631 |
| Date | 05 October 2007 |
| Creators | Luton, J. Alan |
| Contributors | Engineering Mechanics, Ragab, Saad A., Telionis, Demetri P., Mook, Dean T., Nayfeh, Ali H., Devenport, William J. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation, Text |
| Format | xiv, 178 leaves, BTD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | OCLC# 35838395, LD5655.V856_1996.L886.pdf |
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