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On the Reynolds number dependence of velocity-gradient structure and dynamics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2018

Rishita Das Open the ORCID record for Rishita Das [Opens in a new window]  and
Sharath S. Girimaji
Rishita Das*
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Sharath S. Girimaji
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA Department of Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: rishitadas@tamu.edu
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Abstract

We seek to examine the changes in velocity-gradient structure (local streamline topology) and related dynamics as a function of Reynolds number ($Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}$). The analysis factorizes the velocity gradient ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D608}_{ij}$) into the magnitude ($A^{2}$) and normalized-gradient tensor ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D623}_{ij}\equiv \unicode[STIX]{x1D608}_{ij}/\sqrt{A^{2}}$). The focus is on bounded $\unicode[STIX]{x1D623}_{ij}$ as (i) it describes small-scale structure and local streamline topology, and (ii) its dynamics is shown to determine magnitude evolution. Using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data, the moments and probability distributions of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D623}_{ij}$ and its scalar invariants are shown to attain $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}$ independence. The critical values beyond which each feature attains $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}$ independence are established. We proceed to characterize the $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}$ dependence of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D623}_{ij}$-conditioned statistics of key non-local pressure and viscous processes. Overall, the analysis provides further insight into velocity-gradient dynamics and offers an alternative framework for investigating intermittency, multifractal behaviour and for developing closure models.

JFM classification

Turbulent Flows: Intermittency Turbulent Flows: Isotropic turbulence Turbulent Flows: Turbulent Flows
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 861 , 25 February 2019 , pp. 163 - 179
Copyright
© 2018 Cambridge University Press 

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