Cheng Chin

The influence of pipe length on turbulence statistics computed from direct numerical simulation data

In this paper, direct numerical simulation of fully developed turbulent pipe flow is carried out at Reτ≈170 and 500 to investigate the effect of the streamwise periodic length on the convergence of turbulence statistics. Mean flow, turbulence intensities, correlations, and energy spectra were computed. The findings show that in the near-wall region (below the buffer region, r+≤30), the required pipe length for all turbulence statistics to converge needs to be at least a viscous length of O(6300) wall units and should not be scaled with the pipe radius (δ). It was also found for convergence of turbulence statistics at the outer region that the pipe length has to be scaled with pipe radius and a proposed pipe length of 8πδ seems sufficient for the Reynolds numbers considered in this study.

Use of direct numerical simulation (DNS) data to investigate spatial resolution issues in measurements of wall-bounded turbulence

The effect of limited spatial resolution for hot-wire anemometry (HWA) is investigated by analysing the two-dimensional energy spectra from direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulent channel flow at Reτ ≈ 950. Various spanwise filter lengths are applied to the streamwise velocity components in order to mimic the limited spatial resolution of a single-normal hot-wire experiment. Clear attenuation of the small-scale DNS energy is observed as the filter length is increased and good agreement is noted between the missing energy from filtered DNS and that from hot-wire experiments over a range of sensing lengths. The missing energy in the near-wall region is shown to be highly anisotropic in nature, thus bringing into question existing correction schemes that rely on small-scale isotropic flow assumptions. An empirical model of the missing streamwise component energy spectra is formulated, as a function of wire length, and is shown to be useful as a new correction function for the missing energy and streamwise turbulence intensity at the near-wall energetic peak.

Emergence of the four layer dynamical regime in turbulent pipe flow

Direct numerical simulations of fully developed turbulent pipe flow that span the Reynolds number range 90 ≲ δ+ ≲ 1000 are used to investigate the evolution of the mean momentum field in and beyond the transitional regime. It is estimated that the four layer regime for pipe flow is nominally established for δ+ ⩾ 180, which is also close to the value found for channel flow. Primary attention is paid to the magnitude ordering and scaling behaviors of the terms in the mean momentum equation. Once the ordering underlying the existence of four distinct balance layers is attained, this ordering is sustained for all subsequent increases in Reynolds number. Comparisons indicate that pipe flow develops toward the four layer regime in a manner similar to that for channel flow, but distinct from that for the boundary layer. Small but discernible differences are observed in the mean momentum field development in pipes and channels. These are tentatively attributed to variations in the manner by which the outer region...

The topology of skin friction and surface vorticity fields in wall-bounded flows

In previous studies, the three invariants (P, Q and R) of the velocity gradient tensor have been widely used to investigate turbulent flow structures. For incompressible flows, the first invariant P is zero and the topology of turbulent flow structures can be investigated in terms of the second and third invariants, Q and R, respectively. However, all these three invariants are zero at a no-slip wall and can no longer be used to identify and study structures at the surface in any wall-bounded flow. An alternative scheme is presented here for the classification of critical points at a no-slip wall; the skin friction vector field at the wall is given by the wall normal gradients of the streamwise and spanwise velocity components; at a critical point, these gradients are simultaneously zero. The flow close to critical points in the surface skin friction field can be described by a no-slip Taylor series expansion and the topology of the critical point in the skin friction field is defined by the three invaria...

Advances in three-dimensional coronary imaging and computational fluid dynamics: is virtual fractional flow reserve more than just a pretty picture?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has shown a high success rate in the treatment of coronary artery disease. The decision to perform PCI often relies on the cardiologist’s visual interpretation of coronary lesions during angiography. This has inherent limitations, particularly due to the low resolution and two-dimensional nature of angiography. State-of-the-art modalities such as three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography, optical coherence tomography and invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) may improve clinicians’ understanding of both the anatomical and physiological importance of coronary lesions. While invasive FFR is the gold standard technique for assessment of the haemodynamic significance of coronary lesions, recent studies have explored a surrogate for FFR derived solely from three-dimensional reconstruction of the invasive angiogram, and therefore eliminating need for a pressure wire. Utilizing advanced computational fluid dynamics research, this virtual fractional flow reserve (vFFR) has demonstrated reasonable correlation with invasive measurements and remains an intense area of ongoing study. However, at present, several limitations and computational fluid dynamic assumptions may preclude vFFR from widespread clinical use. This review demonstrates the tight integration of advanced three-dimensional imaging techniques and vFFR in assessing coronary artery disease, reviews the advantages and disadvantages of such techniques and attempts to provide a glimpse of how such advances may benefit future clinical decision-making during PCI.

Endothelial shear stress 5 years after implantation of a coronary bioresorbable scaffold

Aims As a sine qua non for arterial wall physiology, local hemodynamic forces such as endothelial shear stress (ESS) may influence long-term vessel changes as bioabsorbable scaffolds dissolve. The aim of this study was to perform serial computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to examine immediate and long-term haemodynamic and vascular changes following bioresorbable scaffold placement. Methods and results Coronary arterial models with long-term serial assessment (baseline and 5 years) were reconstructed through fusion of intravascular optical coherence tomography and angiography. Pulsatile non-Newtonian CFD simulations were performed to calculate the ESS and relative blood viscosity. Time-averaged, systolic, and diastolic results were compared between follow-ups. Seven patients (seven lesions) were included in this analysis. A marked heterogeneity in ESS and localised regions of high blood viscosity were observed post-implantation. Percent vessel area exposed to low averaged ESS (<1 Pa) significantly decreased over 5 years (15.92% vs. 4.99%, P < 0.0001) whereas moderate (1-7 Pa) and high ESS (>7 Pa) did not significantly change (moderate ESS: 76.93% vs. 80.7%, P = 0.546; high ESS: 7.15% vs. 14.31%, P = 0.281), leading to higher ESS at follow-up. A positive correlation was observed between baseline ESS and change in lumen area at 5 years (P < 0.0001). Maximum blood viscosity significantly decreased over 5 years (4.30 ± 1.54 vs. 3.21± 0.57, P = 0.028). Conclusion Immediately after scaffold implantation, coronary arteries demonstrate an alternans of extremely low and high ESS values and localized areas of high blood viscosity. These initial local haemodynamic disturbances may trigger fibrin deposition and thrombosis. Also, low ESS can promote neointimal hyperplasia, but may also contribute to appropriate scaffold healing with normalisation of ESS and reduction in peak blood viscosity by 5 years.

Numerical and experimental investigations of the flow–pressure relation in multiple sequential stenoses coronary artery

Virtual fractional flow reserve (vFFR) has been evaluated as an adjunct to invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) in the light of its operational and economic benefits. The accuracy of vFFR and the complexity of hyperemic flow simulation are still not clearly understood. This study investigates the flow–pressure relation in an idealised multiple sequential stenoses coronary artery model via numerical and experimental approaches. Pressure drop is linearly correlated with flow rate irrespective of the number of stenosis. Computational fluid dynamics results are in good agreement with the experimental data, demonstrating reasonable accuracy of vFFR. It was also found that the difference between data obtained with steady and pulsatile flows is negligible, indicating the steady flow may be used instead of pulsatile flow conditions in vFFR computation. This study adds to the current understanding of vFFR and may improve its clinical applicability as an adjunct to invasively determined FFR.