Direct Numerical Simulation of Incompressible

Homogeneous Turbulent Flows

Adwiteey Raj Shishodia
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

Contents
I

Governing Equations

Coordinate Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II Notes

Graduate Student, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University.

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I.

Governing Equations

Equations governing incompressible turbulent flow comprise of continuity and the Navier-Stokes
equations. These governing equations are as follows:(the denotes dimensional quantity)
ui
=0
xi

(1)

1 p
ui
+ ui uj + =

t
xj
xi

2 ui
xj xj

u
j =
t
xj

2
xj xj

!
(2)

(3)

where is the density, ui is the velocity in the xi direction, is the kinematic viscosity
coefficient, is the passive scalar and is defined as = D (where, D is the diffusion
constant).
Nondimensionalizing the equations using length scale, L0 and a velocity scale u0 , the variables
can be defined as
ui = ui /u0

p = p /( u2
0 )

xi = xi /L0

= /0

t = t u0 /L0

Using these nondimensional variables, the governing equations obtained in non dimensional form
are
ui
=0
xi

(4)

ui

p
1
+
(ui uj ) +
=
t
xj
xi
Re

Le
+
(uj ) =
t
xj
ReP r

2 ui
xj xj

2
xj xj


(5)


(6)

The nondimensional parameters Re is the Reynolds number based on the length and velocity
scales used for nondimensionalization, Pr = cp /k is the Prandtl number and Le= cp /k , is
the Lewis number.
Using ergodic hypothesis and averaging the governing equations to get the constraints on mean

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flows for homogeneous turbulence. Carrying out Reynolds averaging, the averaged equations are:
ui
=0
xi
ui

p
(ui uj ) +
=
+
t
xj
xi
xj

(7)


1 ui
ui 0uj 0
Re xj

(8)

In order to study homogeneous flows, we obtain a constraint that mean velocity gradients are
only a function of time which is
ui
= Aij (t)
xi

(9)

ui = Aij (t)xj

(10)

Integrating this equation gives

Here constant of integration is taken to be 0. Using this definition of mean velocity and assuming
homogeneity in space, the mean momentum equation 8 gives

Aij + Ajk Aik = 0

t

(11)

The governing equations 4 and 5 can be split into mean and fluctuating parts and using the
condition on mean velocity in equation 9. The governing equations for fluctuating componenets
becomes become

A.

u0i
=0
xi

(12)

p0
u0

1 2 u0i
u0i
+ Ajk xk i + u0j Aij +
u0i u0j +
=
t
xj
xj
xi
Re xj xj

(13)

Coordinate Transformation

The limitation of using a pseudospectral method is to have periodic boundary conditions. However,
mean velocity varies in space and coordinate transformation is required to have a uniform grid. This
is achieved by moving the coordinate system with the mean velocity. The following transformation
will be carried out

x0i = Bij (t)xj

t0 = t

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where, initially Bij = diag(1 , 2 , 3 ). To benefit from the periodic boundary conditions i =
2/(Lxi /L0 ). The temporal and spatial derivatives are transformed as

= 0 + B ij xj 0
t
t
xi

= Bik 0
xk
xi
We can obtain the substantial derivative from the above two transformations as

+ Akj xj
= 0 + (B ij + Bik Akj )xj 0
t
xk
t
xi

(14)

Equation 14 gives on ODE for the transformation tensor Bij . If we remove the spatial dependance,
then we can use the periodic boundary conditions if we satisfy
B ij + Bik Akj = 0

(15)

Using this transformation, equations 12 and 13 can be recast into

Bki

u0i
=0
x0k

(16)

u0i

p0
1
2 u0i
0
0 0
+
u
A
+
B
u
u
+
B
=
B
B
ij
kj
ki
kj
lj
j
t0
x0k i j
x0k
Re
x0k x0l

(17)

The general flowfield that will be considered would incorporate homogeneous turbulent shear
flow, decaying isotropic turbulence, strained flow, rotating flows and elliptical strain . These flowfields can be achieved by choosing

0
A11 (t) A12 (t)

Aij =
0
A21 (t) A22 (t)

0
0
A33 (t)

Aii (t) = 0

(18)

Solutions for Aij and Bij can be obtained using equations 15 and 18, respectively. The general
solution for this flowfield is given in Blaisdell (1991a), Appendix A.

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II.

Notes

Understand Rapid Distortion Theory

How is memory affected by taking the particular form of Aij
Add elliptical strain and obtain a solution for that
We do not need to consider pseudoderivative as given in Rogallo (1981)
Practice FFT and get acquainted with FFT in the West library
Complete the derivation of passive scalar

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