arXiv subjects

Michael Wilczek

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Wilczek.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Height-dependence of spatio-temporal spectra of wall-bounded turbulence - LES results and model predictions

Wavenumber-frequency spectra of the streamwise velocity component obtained from large-eddy simulations are presented. Following a recent paper [Wilczek et al., J. Fluid. Mech., 769:R1, 2015] we show that the main features, a Doppler shift and a Doppler broadening of frequencies, are captured by an advection model based on the Tennekes-Kraichnan random-sweeping hypothesis with additional mean flow. In this paper, we focus on the height-dependence of the spectra within the logarithmic layer of the flow. We furthermore benchmark an analytical model spectrum that takes the predictions of the random-sweeping model as a starting point and find good agreement with the LES data. We also quantify the influence of LES grid resolution on the wavenumber-frequency spectra.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2015

Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection described by projected dynamics in phase space

Rayleigh-Bénard convection, i.e. the flow of a fluid between two parallel plates that is driven by a temperature gradient, is an idealised setup to study thermal convection. Of special interest are the statistics of the turbulent temperature field, which we are investigating and comparing for three different geometries, namely convection with periodic horizontal boundary conditions in three and two dimensions as well as convection in a cylindrical vessel, in order to work out similarities and differences. To this end, we derive an exact evolution equation for the temperature probability density function (PDF). Unclosed terms are expressed as conditional averages of velocities and heat diffusion, which are estimated from direct numerical simulations. This framework lets us identify the average behaviour of a fluid particle by revealing the mean evolution of fluid of different temperatures in different parts of the convection cell. We connect the statistics to the dynamics of Rayleigh-Bénard convection, giving deeper insights into the temperature statistics and transport mechanisms. We find that the average behaviour is described by closed cycles in phase space that reconstruct the typical Rayleigh-Bénard cycle of fluid heating up at the bottom, rising up to the top plate, cooling down and falling down again. The detailed behaviour shows subtle differences between the three cases.

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arXiv2015

Spatio-temporal spectra in the logarithmic layer of wall turbulence: large-eddy simulations and simple models

Motivated by the need to characterize the spatio-temporal structure of turbulence in wall-bounded flows, we study wavenumber-frequency spectra of the streamwise velocity component based on large-eddy simulation (LES) data. The LES data are used to measure spectra as a function of the two wall-parallel wavenumbers and the frequency in the equilibrium (logarithmic) layer. We then reformulate one of the simplest models that is able to reproduce the observations: the random sweeping model with a Gaussian large-scale fluctuating velocity and with additional mean flow. Comparison with LES data shows that the model captures the observed temporal decorrelation, which is related to the Doppler broadening of frequencies. We furthermore introduce a parameterization for the entire wavenumber-frequency spectrum $E_{11}(k_1,k_2,ω;z)$, where $k_1$, $k_2$ are the streamwise and spanwise wavenumbers, $ω$ is the frequency and $z$ is the distance to the wall. The results are found to be in good agreement with LES data.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2014

Kinetic Energy Transport in Rayleigh--Bénard Convection

The kinetic energy balance in Rayleigh--Bénard convection is investigated for the Prandtl number range $0.01\le Pr \le 150$ and for fixed Rayleigh number $Ra=5\cdot10^{6}$. The kinetic energy balance is divided into a dissipation, a production and a flux term. We discuss profiles of all terms and find that the different contributions to the energy balance can be spatially separated into regions where kinetic energy is produced and where kinetic energy is dissipated. Analysing the Prandtl number dependence of the kinetic energy balance, we show that the height-dependence of the mean viscous dissipation is closely related to the flux of kinetic energy. We show that the flux of kinetic energy can be divided into four additive contributions, each representing a different elementary physical process (advection, buoyancy, normal viscous stresses and viscous shear stresses). The behaviour of these individual flux contributions is found to be surprisingly rich and exhibits a pronounced Prandtl number dependence. Different flux contributions dominate the kinetic energy transport at different depth, such that a comprehensive discussion requires a decomposition of the domain into a considerable number of sub-layers. On a less detailed level, our results reveal that advective kinetic energy fluxes play a key role in balancing the near-wall dissipation at low Prandtl number, whereas normal viscous stresses are particularly important at high Prandtl number. Finally, our work reveals that classical velocity boundary layers are deeply connected to the kinetic energy transport, but fail to correctly represent regions of enhanced viscous dissipation.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2014

Large-eddy simulation study of the logarithmic law for second and higher-order moments in turbulent wall-bounded flow

The logarithmic law for the mean velocity in turbulent boundary layers has long provided a valuable and robust reference for comparison with theories, models, and large-eddy simulations (LES) of wall-bounded turbulence. More recently, analysis of high-Reynolds number experimental boundary layer data has shown that also the variance and higher-order moments of the streamwise velocity fluctuations $u'^{+}$ display logarithmic laws. Such experimental observations motivate the question whether LES can accurately reproduce the variance and the higher-order moments, in particular their logarithmic dependency on distance to the wall. In this study we perform LES of very high Reynolds number wall-modeled channel flow and focus on profiles of variance and higher-order moments of the streamwise velocity fluctuations. In agreement with the experimental data, we observe an approximately logarithmic law for the variance in the LES, with a `Townsend-Perry' constant of $A_1\approx 1.25$. The LES also yields approximate logarithmic laws for the higher-order moments of the streamwise velocity. Good agreement is found between $A_p$, the generalized `Townsend-Perry' constants for moments of order $2p$, from experiments and simulations. Both are indicative of sub-Gaussian behavior of the streamwise velocity fluctuations. The near-wall behavior of the variance, the ranges of validity of the logarithmic law and in particular possible dependencies on characteristic length scales such as the roughness scale $z_0$, the LES grid scale $Δ$, and sub-grid scale (SGS) mixing length $C_sΔ$ are examined. We also present LES results on moments of spanwise and wall-normal fluctuations of velocity.

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arXiv2014

Pressure Hessian and viscous contributions to velocity gradient statistics based on Gaussian random fields

Understanding the non-local pressure contributions and viscous effects on the small-scale statistics remains one of the central challenges in the study of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Here we address this issue by studying the impact of the pressure Hessian as well as viscous diffusion on the statistics of the velocity gradient tensor in the framework of an exact statistical evolution equation. This evolution equation shares similarities with earlier phenomenological models for the Lagrangian velocity gradient tensor evolution, yet constitutes the starting point for a systematic study of the unclosed pressure Hessian and viscous diffusion terms. Based on the assumption of incompressible Gaussian velocity fields, closed expressions are obtained as the results of an evaluation of the characteristic functionals. The benefits and shortcomings of this Gaussian closure are discussed, and a generalization is proposed based on results from direct numerical simulations. This enhanced Gaussian closure yields, for example, insights on how the pressure Hessian prevents the finite-time singularity induced by the local self-amplification and how its interaction with viscous effects leads to the characteristic strain skewness phenomenon.

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arXiv2013

Nonuniversal power-law spectra in turbulent systems

Turbulence is generally associated with universal power-law spectra in scale ranges without significant drive or damping. Although many examples of turbulent systems do not exhibit such an inertial range, power-law spectra may still be observed. As a simple model for such situations, a modified version of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation is studied. By means of semi-analytical and numerical studies, one finds power laws with nonuniversal exponents in the spectral range for which the ratio of nonlinear and linear time scales is (roughly) scale-independent.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Conditional vorticity budget of coherent and incoherent flow contributions in fully developed homogeneous isotropic turbulence

We investigate the conditional vorticity budget of fully developed three-dimensional homogeneous isotropic turbulence with respect to coherent and incoherent flow contributions. The Coherent Vorticity Extraction based on orthogonal wavelets allows to decompose the vorticity field into coherent and incoherent contributions, of which the latter are noise-like. The impact of the vortex structures observed in fully developed turbulence on statistical balance equations is quantified considering the conditional vorticity budget. The connection between the basic structures present in the flow and their statistical implications is thereby assessed. The results are compared to those obtained for large- and small-scale contributions using a Fourier decomposition, which reveals pronounced differences.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2011

On the velocity distribution in homogeneous isotropic turbulence: correlations and deviations from Gaussianity

We investigate the single-point probability density function of the velocity in three-dimensional stationary and decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence. To this end we apply the statistical framework of the Lundgren-Monin-Novikov hierarchy combined with conditional averaging, identifying the quantities that determine the shape of the probability density function. In this framework the conditional averages of the rate of energy dissipation, the velocity diffusion and the pressure gradient with respect to velocity play a key role. Direct numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equation are used to complement the theoretical results and assess deviations from Gaussianity.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2011

Theory for the single-point velocity statistics of fully developed turbulence

We investigate the single-point velocity probability density function (PDF) in three-dimensional fully developed homogeneous isotropic turbulence within the framework of PDF equations focussing on deviations from Gaussianity. A joint analytical and numerical analysis shows that these deviations may be quantified studying correlations of dynamical quantities like pressure gradient, external forcing and energy dissipation with the velocity. A stationary solution for the PDF equation in terms of these quantities is presented, and the theory is validated with the help of direct numerical simulations indicating sub-Gaussian tails of the PDF.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2008

Dynamical Origins for Non-Gaussian Vorticity Distributions in Turbulent Flows

We present results on the connection between the vorticity equation and the shape of the single-point vorticity PDF. The statistical framework for these observations is cast in form of conditional averages. The numerical evaluation of these conditional averages provides insights into the intimate relation of dynamical effects like vortex stretching and vorticity diffusion and non-Gaussian vorticity statistics.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2007

Lagrangian Investigation of Two-Dimensional Decaying Turbulence

We present a numerical investigation of two-dimensional decaying turbulence in the Lagrangian framework. Focusing on single particle statistics, we investigate Lagrangian trajectories in a freely evolving turbulent velocity field. The dynamical evolution of the tracer particles is strongly dominated by the emergence and evolution of coherent structures. For a statistical analysis we focus on the Lagrangian acceleration as a central quantity. For more geometrical aspects we investigate the curvature along the trajectories. We find strong signatures for self-similar universal behavior.

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