Direct numerical simulation of backward-facing step flow at Ret = 395 and expansion ratio 2

Backward-facing step (BFS) constitutes a canonical configuration to study wallbounded flows subject to massive expansions produced by abrupt changes in geometry. Recirculation flow regions are common in this type of flow, driving the separated flow to its downstream reattachment. Consequently, strong adv...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pont Vilchez, Arnau|||0000-0001-9068-3076, Trias Miquel, Francesc Xavier|||0000-0002-5966-0703, Gorobets, Andrei, Oliva Llena, Asensio|||0000-0002-2805-4794
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/128915
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/128915
https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2018.1000
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Turbulence--Simulation methods
Shear layer turbulence
Turbulence simulation
Turbulent convection
Turbulència -- Simulació numèrica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria mecànica::Mecànica de fluids
Descripción
Sumario:Backward-facing step (BFS) constitutes a canonical configuration to study wallbounded flows subject to massive expansions produced by abrupt changes in geometry. Recirculation flow regions are common in this type of flow, driving the separated flow to its downstream reattachment. Consequently, strong adverse pressure gradients arise through this process, feeding flow instabilities. Therefore, both phenomena are strongly correlated as the recirculation bubble shape defines how the flow is expanded, and how the pressure rises. In an incompressible flow, this shape depends on the Reynolds value and the expansion ratio. The influence of these two variables on the bubble length is widely studied, presenting an asymptotic behaviour when both parameters are beyond a certain threshold. This is the usual operating point of many practical applications, such as in aeronautical and environmental engineering. Several numerical and experimental studies have been carried out regarding this topic. The existing simulations considering cases beyond the above-mentioned threshold have only been achieved through turbulence modelling, whereas direct numerical simulations (DNS) have been performed only at low Reynolds numbers. Hence, despite the great importance of achieving this threshold, there is a lack of reliable numerical data to assess the accuracy of turbulence models. In this context, a DNS of an incompressible flow over a BFS is presented in this paper, considering a friction Reynolds number (Reτ) of 395 at the inflow and an expansion ratio 2. Finally, the elongation of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities along the shear layer is also studied.