Tamer A. Zaki

Mode interaction and the bypass route to transition

The manner by which external vortical disturbances penetrate the laminar boundary layer and induce transition is explored. Linear theory suggests that the well-known Klebanoff mode precursor to transition can be understood as a superposition of Squire continuous modes. Shear sheltering influences the ability of free-stream disturbances to generate a packet of Squire modes. A coupling coefficient between continuous spectrum spectrum Orr–Sommerfeld and Squire modes is used to characterize the interaction. Full numerical simulations with prescribed modes at the inlet substantiate this approach. With two weakly coupled modes at the inlet, the boundary layer is little perturbed; with two strongly coupled modes, Klebanoff modes are produced; with one strongly coupled and one weakly coupled high-frequency mode, the complete transition process is simulated.

On shear sheltering and the structure of vortical modes in single- and two-fluid boundary layers

Studies of vortical interactions in boundary layers have often invoked the continuous spectrum of the Orr–Sommerfeld (O-S) equation. These vortical eigenmodes provide a link between free-stream disturbances and the boundary-layer shear – a link which is absent in the inviscid limit due to shear sheltering. In the presence of viscosity, however, a shift in the dominant balance in the operator determines the structure of these eigenfunctions inside the mean shear. In order to explain the mechanics of shear sheltering and the structure of the continuous modes, both numerical and asymptotic solutions of the linear perturbation equation are presented in single- and two-fluid boundary layers. The asymptotic analysis identifies three limits: a convective shear-sheltering regime, a convective–diffusive regime and a diffusive regime. In the shear-dominated limit, the vorticity eigenfunction possesses a three-layer structure, the topmost being a region of exponential decay. The role of viscosity is most pronounced in the diffusive regime, where the boundary layer becomes ‘transparent’ to the oscillatory eigenfunctions. Finally, the convective–diffusive regime demonstrates the interplay between the the accumulative effect of the shear and the role of viscosity. The analyses are complemented by a physical interpretation of shear-sheltering mechanism. The influence of a wallfilm, in particular viscosity and density stratification, and surface tension are also evaluated. It is shown that a modified wavenumber emerges across the interface and influences the penetration of vortical disturbances into the two-fluid shear flow.

Continuous mode transition and the effects of pressure gradient

Continuous mode transition is an instance of the bypass route to boundary-layer turbulence. The stages that precede breakdown are explained in terms of continuous Orr-Sommerfeld and Squire spectra. In that context, the role of pressure gradient is less evident than it is in natural transition. Its role is investigated using linear theory and numerical simulations. Both approaches demonstrate that adverse pressure gradients enhance the coupling of low-frequency vortical disturbances to the boundary-layer shear. The result is stronger boundary-layer perturbation jets - or Klebanoff distortions. The correlation between the intensity of the perturbation jets and transition location is tested by direct numerical simulations of pairwise continuous mode interactions; such interactions can reproduce the entire transition process. The results confirm that stronger perturbation jets are more unstable, and hence provoke early transition in adverse pressure gradient. This is also consistent with the experimental observation that transition becomes independent of pressure gradient at high turbulent intensities. Under such conditions, boundary-layer streaks are highly unstable and transition is achieved swiftly, independent of the mean gradient in pressure.

Direct numerical simulations of transition in a compressor cascade: the influence of free-stream turbulence

The flow through a compressor passage without and with incoming free-stream grid turbulence is simulated. At moderate Reynolds number, laminar-to-turbulence transition can take place on both sides of the aerofoil, but proceeds in distinctly different manners. The direct numerical simulations (DNS) of this flow reveal the mechanics of breakdown to turbulence on both surfaces of the blade. The pressure surface boundary layer undergoes laminar separation in the absence of free-stream disturbances. When exposed to free-stream forcing, the boundary layer remains attached due to transition to turbulence upstream of the laminar separation point. Three types of breakdowns are observed; they combine characteristics of natural and bypass transition. In particular, instability waves, which trace back to discrete modes of the base flow, can be observed, but their development is not independent of the Klebanoff distortions that are caused by free-stream turbulent forcing. At a higher turbulence intensity, the transition mechanism shifts to a purely bypass scenario. Unlike the pressure side, the suction surface boundary layer separates independent of the free-stream condition, be it laminar or a moderate free-stream turbulence of intensity T u ~ 3%. Upstream of the separation, the amplification of the Klebanoff distortions is suppressed in the favourable pressure gradient (FPG) region. This suppression is in agreement with simulations of constant pressure gradient boundary layers. FPG is normally stabilizing with respect to bypass transition to turbulence, but is, thereby, unfavourable with respect to separation. Downstream of the FPG section, a strong adverse pressure gradient (APG) on the suction surface of the blade causes the laminar boundary layer to separate. The separation surface is modulated in the instantaneous fields of the Klebanoff distortion inside the shear layer, which consists of forward and backward jet-like perturbations. Separation is followed by breakdown to turbulence and reattachment. As the free-stream turbulence intensity is increased, T u ~ 6.5 %, transitional turbulent patches are initiated, and interact with the downstream separated flow, causing local attachment. The calming effect, or delayed re-establishment of the boundary layer separation, is observed in the wake of the turbulent events.

Boundary-layer transition by interaction of discrete and continuous modes

The natural and bypass routes to boundary-layer turbulence have traditionally been studied independently. In certain flow regimes, both transition mechanisms might coexist, and, if so, can interact. A nonlinear interaction of discrete and continuous Orr-Sommerfeld modes, which are at the origin of orderly and bypass transition, respectively, is found. It causes breakdown to turbulence, even though neither mode alone is sufficient. Direct numerical simulations of the interaction shows that breakdown occurs through a pattern of A-structures, similar to the secondary instability of Tollmien-Schlichting waves. However, the streaks produced by the Orr-Sommerfeld continuous mode set the spanwise length scale, which is much smaller than that of the secondary instability of Tollmien-Schlichting waves. Floquet analysis explains some of the features seen in the simulations as a competition between destabilizing and stabilizing interactions between finite-amplitude distortions.

Turbulence and skin friction modification in channel flow with streamwise-aligned superhydrophobic surface texture

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent flow in a channel with superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) were performed, and the effects of the surface texture on the turbulence and skin-friction coefficient were examined. The SHS is modeled as a planar boundary comprised of spanwise-alternating regions of no-slip and free-slip boundary conditions. Relative to the reference no-slip channel flow at the same bulk Reynolds number, the overall mean skin-friction coefficient is reduced by 21.6%. A detailed analysis of the turbulence kinetic energy budget demonstrates a reduction in production over the no-slip phases, which is explained by aid of quadrant analysis of the Reynolds shear stresses and statistical analysis of the turbulence structures. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in the strength of streamwise vortical structures in the presence of the SHS texture and a decrease in the Reynolds shear-stress component ⟨R12⟩ which has a favorable influence on drag over the no-slip phases. A secondary flow ...

Floquet analysis of secondary instability of boundary layers distorted by Klebanoff streaks and Tollmien–Schlichting waves

Previous studies of the interaction between boundary layer streaks and Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) waves have shown puzzling effects. Streaks were shown to reduce the growth rate of primary TS waves and, thereby, to delay transition; however, they can also promote transition by inducing a secondary instability. The outcome of the interaction depends on the spanwise wavelength and intensity of the streaks as well as on the amplitude of the TS waves. A Floquet analysis of secondary instability is able to explain many of these features. The base state is periodic in two directions: it is an Ansatz composed of a saturated TS wave (periodic in x) and steady streaks (periodic in z). Secondary instability analysis is extended to account for the doubly periodic base flow. Growth rate computations show that, indeed, the streak can either enhance or diminish the overall stability of the boundary layer. The stabilizing effect is a reduction in the growth rate of the primary two-dimensional TS wave; the destabilizing e...

Stability analysis of separated flows subject to control by zero-net-mass-flux jet

The control of flow around a canonical airfoil-like geometry with laminar separation bubble is analyzed using linear stability theory. The theoretical predictions are compared to data from Navier-Stokes simulations [Kotapati et al., “Nonlinear dynamics and synthetic-jet-based control of a canonical separated flow,” J. Fluid Mech. 654, 65-97 (2010)], in which the flow was controlled through a zero-net-mass-flux actuator. Very good agreement between the two approaches is found for a range of frequencies from low to high relative to the most dominant frequency for convective instability. The uncontrolled case exhibits periodic vortex shedding from the separation bubble due to an absolute instability. Linear modes with intermediate frequencies are found to exhibit strongest convective amplification, and forcing at these frequencies is most effective in order to reduce the size and extent of the separation bubble. The corresponding physical mechanism relies on a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability of the separated sh...

Pressure dependence of confined liquid behavior subjected to boundary-driven shear

Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of boundary-driven sheared Lennard-Jones liquids at variable pressure up to 5 GPa (for argon) reveal a rich out-of-equilibrium phase behavior with a strong degree of shear localization. At the lowest apparent shear rate considered (wall speed ~1 m s(-1)) the confined region is an homogeneously sheared solid (S) with no slip at the walls. This transforms at higher shear rates to a non-flowing plug with slip at the walls, referred to as the plug slip (PS) state. At higher shear rate a central localized (CL) state formed in which the shear gradient was localized in the center of the film, with the rest of the confined sample in a crystalline state commensurate with the wall lattice. The central zone liquidlike region increased in width with shear rate. A continuous rounded temperature profile across the whole system reflects strong dynamical coupling between the wall and confined region. The temperature rise in the confined film is consistent with the Brinkman number. The transition from the PS to CL states typically occurred at a wall speed near where the shear stress approached a critical value of ~3% of the shear modulus, and also near the peak in the traction coefficient, μ. The peak traction coefficient values computed, ~0.12-0.14 at 1000 MPa agree with those found for traction fluids and occur when the confined liquid is in the PS and CL states. At low wall speeds slip can occur at one wall and stick at the other. Poorly wetting liquids manifest long-lived asymmetries in the confined liquid properties across the system, and a shift in solid-liquid phase co-existence to higher shear rates. A non-equilibrium phase diagram based on these results is proposed. The good agreement of the tribological response of the Lennard-Jones fluid with that of more complicated molecular systems suggests that a corresponding states scaling of the tribological behavior could apply.

The equivalence between volume averaging and method of planes definitions of the pressure tensor at a plane.

It is shown analytically that the method of planes (MOP) [Todd, Evans, and Daivis, Phys. Rev. E 52, 1627 (1995)] and volume averaging (VA) [Cormier, Rickman, and Delph, J. Appl. Phys. 89, 99 (2001)] formulas for the local pressure tensor, P(α, y)(y), where α ≡ x, y, or z, are mathematically identical. In the case of VA, the sampling volume is taken to be an infinitely thin parallelepiped, with an infinite lateral extent. This limit is shown to yield the MOP expression. The treatment is extended to include the condition of mechanical equilibrium resulting from an imposed force field. This analytical development is followed by numerical simulations. The equivalence of these two methods is demonstrated in the context of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations of boundary-driven shear flow. A wall of tethered atoms is constrained to impose a normal load and a velocity profile on the entrained central layer. The VA formula can be used to compute all components of P(αβ)(y), which offers an advantage in calculating, for example, P(xx)(y) for nano-scale pressure-driven flows in the x-direction, where deviations from the classical Poiseuille flow solution can occur.