arXiv subjects

J. C. R. Hunt

Publications and source records attributed to J. C. R. Hunt.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Electroactive morphing effects on the aerodynamic performance through wobulation around an A320 wing with vibrating trailing edge at high Reynolds number

This study aims to investigate the effects of electroactive morphing on a 70cm chord A320 wing by means of near trailing edge slight deformation and vibration. Wing morphing is performed by Macro Fiber Composites (MFC) mini-piezoelectric actuators distributed along the span of the ''Reduced Scale'' (RS) A320 prototype of the H2020 No 723402 European research project SMS, ''Smart Morphing and Sensing for aeronautical configurations'', (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/723402 and www.smartwing.org/SMS/EU). The configuration studied corresponds to a low-subsonic regime (Mach number 0.063) with a 10 degree incidence and a Reynolds number of 1 Million. The numerical simulations are carried out with the Navier-Stokes Multi-Block (NSMB) solver, which takes into account the deformation of the rear part of the wing implemented experimentally with the piezoelectric actuators. A detailed physical analysis of the morphing effects on the wake dynamics and on the aerodynamic performance is conducted with a constant amplitude of 0.7cm over a wide range of actuation frequencies [10-600]Hz. Optimal vibration ranges of [180-192]Hz and [205-215]Hz were found to respectively provide a 1% drag reduction and a 2% lift-to-drag ratio increase compared to the non-morphing (static) configuration. The natural frequencies associated with the shear layer Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) vortices and the Von-Karman (VK) vortex shedding were found to play a central role in the modification of the wake dynamics by morphing as well as in the increase of the aerodynamic performance. Actuating at (or close to) the upper shear layer (USL) natural frequency (~185Hz) provides an order of 1% drag reduction and 1% lift-to-drag ratio increase, while actuating at (or close to) the lower shear layer (LSL) natural frequency (~208Hz) provides an order of 8% lift increase and 2% lift-to-drag increase. Furthermore, the linear variation of the actuation frequency over time, called wobulation, was shown to have significant effects. This approach demonstrated, through an appropriate mapping, the ability to quickly and efficiently detect optimal constant actuation frequency ranges providing aerodynamic performance increase and simultaneously reducing the amplitude of the main instability modes.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2023

Non-local dispersion and the reassessment of Richardson's t3-scaling law

The Richardson scaling law states that the mean square separation of a fluid particle pair grows according to t3 within the inertial range and at intermediate times. The theories predicting this scaling regime assume that the pair separation is within the inertial range and that the dispersion is local, meaning that only eddies at the scale of the separation contribute. These assumptions ignore the structural organization of the turbulent flow into large-scale shear layers, where the intense small-scale motions are bounded by the large-scale energetic motions. Therefore, the large scales contribute to the velocity difference across the small-scale structures. It is shown that, indeed, the pair dispersion inside these layers is highly non-local and approaches Taylor dispersion in a way that is fundamentally different from the Richardson scaling law. Also, the layer's contribution to the overall mean square separation remains significant as the Reynolds number increases. This calls into question the validity of the theoretical assumptions. Moreover, a literature survey reveals that, so far, t3 scaling is not observed for initial separations within the inertial range. We propose that the intermediate pair dispersion regime is a transition region that connects the initial Batchelor- with the final Taylor-dispersion regime. Such a simple interpretation is shown to be consistent with observations, and is able to explain why t3 scaling is found only for one specific initial separation outside the inertial range. Moreover, the model incorporates the observed non-local contribution to the dispersion, because it requires only small-time-scale properties and large-scale properties.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2020

Extreme dissipation and intermittency in turbulence at very high Reynolds numbers

Extreme dissipation events in turbulent flows are rare, but they can be orders of magnitude stronger than the mean dissipation rate. Despite its importance in many small-scale physical processes, there is presently no accurate theory or model for predicting the extrema as a function of the Reynolds number. Here, we introduce a new model for the dissipation PDF based on the concept of significant shear layers, which are thin regions of elevated local mean dissipation. At very high Reynolds numbers these significant shear layers develop layered substructures. The flow domain is divided into the different layer regions and a background region, each with their own PDF of dissipation. The volume weighted regional PDFs are combined to obtain the overall PDF, which is subsequently used to determine the dissipation variance and maximum. The model yields Reynolds number scalings for the dissipation maximum and variance, which are in agreement with the available data. Moreover, the power law scaling exponent is found to increase gradually with the Reynolds number, which is also consistent with the data. The increasing exponent is shown to have profound implications for turbulence at atmospheric and astrophysical Reynolds numbers. The present results strongly suggest that intermittent significant shear layer structures are key to understanding and quantifying the dissipation extremes, and, more generally, extreme velocity gradients.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Growth of unsteady wave groups by shear flows

A weakly nonlinear theory has been proposed and developed for calculating the energy- transfer rate to individual waves in a group. It is shown what portion of total energy- transfer rate, over the envelope of wave group, affects individual waves in the group. From this an expression for complex phase speed of individual waves is calculated. It is deduced that each wave in a group does not grow at the same rate. It is shown that the critical layer is no longer symmetrical compared with the ideal monochromatic waves. This asymmetry causes the critical layer height to be lower over the downwind part. Therefore the positive growth of the individual waves on the upwind part of the wave group exceeds the negative growth on the downwind part (which would not be true if $z_c$, where the mean flow $U$ is equal to the speed of the wave propagation, was the same over the whole group). This leads to the critical layer group effect producing a net horizontal force on the waves, in addition to the sheltering effect. Computational simulations over a non-growing wave group is also presented, which confirms the above postulation made by Sajjadi, Hunt and Drullion (2014) (SHD).

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2013

Asymptotic Multi-Layer Analysis of Wind Over Unsteady Monochromatic Surface Waves

Asymptotic multi-layer analyses and computation of solutions for turbulent flows over steady and unsteady monochromatic surface wave are reviewed, in the limits of low turbulent stresses and small wave amplitude. The structure of the flow is defined in terms of asymptotically-matched thin-layers, namely the surface layer and a critical layer, whether it is elevated or immersed, corresponding to its location above or within the surface layer. The results particularly demonstrate the physical importance of the singular flow features and physical implications of the elevated critical layer in the limit of the unsteadiness tending to zero. These agree with the variational mathematical solution of Miles (1957) for small but finite growth rate, but they are not consistent physically or mathematically with his analysis in the limit of growth rate tending to zero. As this and other studies conclude, in the limit of zero growth rate the effect of the elevated critical layer is eliminated by finite turbulent diffusivity, so that the perturbed flow and the drag force are determined by the asymmetric or sheltering flow in the surface shear layer and its matched interaction with the upper region. But for groups of waves, in which the individual waves grow and decay, there is a net contribution of the elevated critical layer to the wave growth. Critical layers, whether elevated or immersed, affect this asymmetric sheltering mechanism, but in quite a different way to their effect on growing waves. These asymptotic multi-layer methods lead to physical insight and suggest approximate methods for analyzing higher amplitude and more complex flows, such as flow over wave groups.

physics.flu-dyn↗