Astrid H. Herbst

Early turbulent evolution of the Blasius wall jet

The first direct numerical simulation that is sufficiently large to study the self-similar behaviour of a turbulent wall jet is performed. The investigation is an extension of the simulation performed by Levin et al. (2005, A study of the Blasius wall jet. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 539, 313–347). The same numerical method is used, but a significantly larger computational domain enables us to follow the development of the flow throughout the transition into its early turbulent evolution. Two-dimensional waves and streamwise elongated streaks, matched to measured disturbances, are introduced in the flow to trigger a natural transition mechanism. The Reynolds number is 3090 based on the inlet velocity and the nozzle height. The simulation provides detailed visualisations of the flow structures and statistics of mean flow and turbulent stresses. A weak subharmonic behaviour in the transition region is revealed by animations of the flow. The averaged data are presented in both inner and outer scalings in order to identify self-similar behaviour. Despite the low Reynolds number and the short computational domain, the turbulent flow exhibits a reasonable self-similar behaviour, which is most pronounced with inner scaling in the near-wall region.

Aerodynamic prediction tools for high-speed trains

With high-speed trains, the need for efficient and accurate aerodynamic prediction tools increases, since the influence of the aerodynamics on the overall train performance raises. New requirements on slipstream velocities and head pressure pulse in the revised Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI) for train speeds higher than 190 km/h are more challenging to fulfil for wide-body trains, like the Green train concept vehicle Regina 250, as well as higher trains, like double-deck trains. In this paper, we give an overview of the results from a project within the Green train programme, where the objective was to increase the knowledge on slipstream air flow of wide body trains at high speeds, to understand the implications of the new requirements on the front shape and to develop a prediction methodology in order to take this into account early in the design cycle. In addition, the front design was in parallel optimized with respect to head pressure pulse and drag.

Analysis of Flow Structures in the Wake of a High-Speed Train

Slipstream is the flow that a train pulls along due to the viscosity of the fluid. In real life applications, the effect of the slipstream flow is a safety concern for people on platform, trackside workers and objects on platforms such as baggage carts and pushchairs. The most important region for slipstream of high-speed passanger trains is the near wake, in which the flow is fully turbulent with a broad range of length and time scales. In this work, the flow around the Aerodynamic Train Model (ATM) is simulated using Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) to model the turbulence. Different grids are used in order to prove grid converged results. In order to compare with the results of experimental work performed at DLR on the ATM, where a trip wire was attached to the model, it turned out to be necessary to model this wire to have comparable results. An attempt to model the effect of the trip wire via volume forces improved the results but we were not successful at reproducing the full velocity profiles. The flow is analyzed by computing the POD and Koopman modes. The structures in the flow are found to be associated with two counter rotating vortices. A strong connection between pairs of modes is found, which is related to the propagation of flow structures for the POD modes. Koopman modes and POD modes are similar in the spatial structure and similarities in frequencies of the time evolution of the structures are also found.