bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rayleigh–Taylor instability of a viscous liquid layer resting on a plane wall
Authors: Newhouse Lori A. , Pozrikidis C.
Published: April 2006

The nonlinear Rayleigh–Taylor instability of a liquid layer resting on a plane wall below a second liquid of higher density is considered. Under the assumption of creeping flow, the motion is studied as a function of surface tension and the ratio of the viscosities of the two fluids. The flow induced by the deformation of the layer is represented by an interfacial distribution of Green's functions. A Fredholm integral equation of the second kind is derived for the density of the distribution, and is solved by successive iteration. The results show that for small and moderate surface tension, the instability of the layer leads to the formation of a periodic array of viscous plumes which penetrate into the overlying fluid. The morphology of these plumes strongly depends upon the viscosity ratio and surface tension. When the viscosity of the overlying fluid is comparable with or larger than that of the layer, the plumes are composed of a well-defined leading drop on top of a narrow stem. When the viscosity of the overlying fluid is smaller than that of the layer, the plumes take the form of a compact column of rising fluid. The size of the drop leading a plume is roughly proportional to the initial thickness of the layer. When surface tension is sufficiently small, ambient fluid is entrained into the leading drop and circulates in a spiral pattern. Convection currents generated by the rising plumes are visualized with streamline patterns, and the rate of thinning of the remnant layer, as well as the speed of the rising drop or plumes, are discussed.
Steady two-dimensional flow through a row of normal flat plates
Authors: Ingham D. B. , Tang T. , Morton B. R.
Published: April 2006

A numerical and experimental study is described for the two-dimensional steady flow through a uniform cascade of normal flat plates. The Navier–Stokes equations are written in terms of the stream function and vorticity and are solved using a second-order-accurate finite-difference scheme which is based on a modified procedure to preserve accuracy and iterative convergence at higher Reynolds numbers. The upstream and downstream boundary conditions are discussed and an asymptotic solution is employed both upstream and downstream. A frequently used method for dealing with corner singularities is shown to be inaccurate and a method for overcoming this problem is described. Numerical solutions have been obtained for blockage ratio of 50 % and Reynolds numbers in the range 0 [les ]R[les ] 500 and results for both the lengths of attached eddies and the drag coefficients are presented. The calculations indicate that the eddy length increases linearly withR, at least up toR= 500, and that the multiplicative constant is in very good agreement with the theoretical prediction of Smith (1985a), who considered a related problem. In the case ofR= 0 the Navier–Stokes equations are solved using the finite-difference scheme and a modification of the boundary-element method which treats the corner singularities. The solutions obtained by the two methods are compared and the results are shown to be in good agreement. An experimental investigation has been performed at small and moderate values of the Reynolds numbers and there is excellent agreement with the numerical results both for flow streamlines and eddy lengths.
Lunate-tail swimming propulsion. Part 2. Performance analysis
Authors: Karpouzian G. , Spedding G. , Cheng H. K.
Published: April 2006

The theory of an oscillating, high-aspect-ratio, lifting surface with a curved centreline (Cheng & Murillo 1984) is applied to a performance analysis of lunate-tail swimming propulsion. Thrust, power and propulsive efficiency are calculated for model lunate tails with various combinations of mode shapes and morphological features to ascertain the viability of the proportional-feathering concept, and to determine the influence of sweep and centreline curvature. One of the principal conclusions concerns the interchangeability of the heaving amplitude of the peduncle (identified with the major pitching axis) with the centreline sweep, and its effect on the propulsive efficiency, while maintaining the same thrust. Hydrodynamic reasons are also offered for the apparent preference for the crescent-moon fin shape over the V-shape at moderate sweep angles, and for the large sweep angles often found in V-shaped fins.
On the Lagrangian description of unsteady boundary-layer separation. Part 2. The spinning sphere
Authors: Van Dommelen Leon L.
Published: April 2006

A theory to explain the initial stages of unsteady separation has been proposed by Van Dommelen & Cowiey (1990). In the present paper, this theory is verified for the separation process that occurs at the equatorial plane of a sphere or a spheroid which is impulsively spun around an axis of symmetry. A Lagrangian numerical scheme is developed which gives results in good agreement with Eulerian computations, but which is significantly more accurate. This increased accuracy, and a simpler structure to the solution, also allows verification of the Eulerian structure, including the presence of logarithmic terms. Further, while the Eulerian computations broke down at the first occurrence of separation, it is found that the Lagrangian computation can be continued. It is argued that this separated solution does provide useful insight into the further evolution of the separated flow. A remarkable conclusion is that an unseparated vorticity layer at the wall, a familiar feature in unsteady separation processes, disappears in finite time.
The hydrodynamic force on an oscillating ship with low forward speed
Authors: Wu G. X. , Taylor R. Eatock
Published: April 2006

The mathematical formulation of the linearized potential theory for a slowly translating body undergoing oscillations in infinitely deep water is derived based on a perturbation series in terms of forward speed. It is shown that the hydrodynamic force on the oscillating body can be obtained from the solution of the velocity potential without forward speed, if second-order terms in forward speed are neglected. An example of a submerged circular cylinder is discussed. The numerical results are compared with the general solution of the linearized potential theory by a coupled finite-element method (Wu & Eatock Taylor 1987) which is not restricted to low forward speeds. Very good agreement is found. The nonlinear effect of the steady potential on the hydrodynamic forces is also discussed and is illustrated for a floating semicircular cylinder.
The effect of background rotation on fluid motions: a report on Euromech 245
Authors: Hopfinger E. J. , Linden P. F.
Published: April 2006

The 245th Euromech Colloquium, on the effect of background rotation on fluid motions, was held in Cambridge from 10–13 April 1989 with the two authors acting as chairmen. There were sixty-five participants with widely different backgrounds. The striking feature of the Colloquium was the recent advances on nonlinear processes. A wide range of nonlinear phenomena was presented and particular emphasis was on the formation and dynamics of coherent vortices. The similarities between the processes in rotating, curved and stratified flows, which lead to anisotropic motions and long-lived coherent structures alongside linear wave motions was a feature of many of the presentations. Fifty-one papers were presented, covering engineering, geophysical and astrophysical applications of rotating fluids. These papers are summarized in this report with the purpose of giving an up-to-date view of current research in rotating fluids.
A generalized lifting-line theory for curved and swept wings
Authors: Guermond Jean-Luc
Published: April 2006

A generalized lifting-line theory is developed in inviscid, incompressible, steady flow for curved, swept wings of large aspect ratio. It is shown in this paper that by using the integral formulation of the problem instead of the partial differential equation formulation, it is possible to circumvent the algebraic complications encountered by the previous approaches using the method of the matched asymptotic expansions. At each approximation order the problem is reduced to inverting a classical Carleman type integral equation. The asymptotic solution in terms of circulation is found up to A−1 and A−1 In (A−1). It is very convenient for illustrating the major three-dimensional effects induced on the flow by curvature and yaw angle. The concept of the finite part integrals, introduced by Hadamard (1932), is shown to be very useful for handling elegantly singularities like 1/x|x| or 1/|x| which occur in the course of our developments. Comparisons of the new, simple approach with lifting-surface theories reveal excellent agreements in terms of circulation. Furthermore, a consistent calculation of the three components of the total force acting on the wing is done in the lifting-line context without re-introducing the inner geometry of the wing.
On periodic and solitary wavelike solutions of the intermediate long-wave equation
Authors: Miloh Touvia
Published: April 2006

The intermediate long-wave (ILW) equation is a weakly nonlinear integrodifferential equation which governs the evolution of long internal waves in a stratified fluid of finite depth. It reduces to the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) and to the Benjamin–Ono (BO) equations for shallow and large depths respectively. Solitary wave solutions of the ILW equation are well known, however analytic expressions for periodic solutions of the same equation do not seem to exist. Such expressions are derived in this paper and a remarkable property discovered for these periodic waves is that they can be represented as an infinite sum of spatially repeated solitons. Thus, nonlinear periodic solutions of the ILW equation are obtained by linear superposition of solitons.
Two-phase multicomponent filtration: instabilities, autowaves and retrograde phenomena
Authors: Mitlin V. S.
Published: April 2006

The different modifications of the models of two-phase multicomponent filtration (Collins 1961; Nikolaevsky et al. 1968) enable one to study the dynamics of filtration flows, taking into account phase transitions. The equations of multicomponent filtration are quite complicated and only in a few individual cases do they allow for an exact solution. The most frequently used of these appears to be the solution of the stationary problem of the flow of a multicomponent mixture toward a well or a system of wells (Khristianovich 1941). In the present paper we show that at certain values of pressure, temperature and composition of the multicomponent mixture a stationary solution of the problem may not exist. The absence of a stationary solution is related to the possibility of a spatially homogeneous solution losing its stability under a perturbation (Mitlin 1986a, 1987b). We obtain an analytical criterion for instability. As an illustration, we present the results of the numerical solution of the planar linear problem of the evolution of a multicomponent system whose pressure and composition are perturbed with respect to their constant values, which are equal at both ends. We have done a numerical analysis of the plane-radial problem of the operation of a gas–condensate well with different mass fluxes, applying the conditions of a real deposit. There are several ranges of flux where the flow becomes pulsating. It is shown that the time within which the stationary solution sets in is a non-monotonic function of flux and on approaching the stability limit diverges in inverse proportion to the undercriticality of debit. We have analysed the connection between the observed instabilities and the thermodynamics of two-phase multicomponent mixtures. It is shown that the instabilities are associated with the system entering the region of retrograde condensation. We discuss the relation of retrograde phenomena to the effect of negative volume of heavy components and, as a consequence, to the negative compressibility of an individual volume of a two-phase mixture moving in a porous medium. It is shown that the observed autowave modes are relaxation oscillations in a distributed system. By using the method of perturbations in the interphase equilibrium time, we have analysed the loss of stability in a more general – non-equilibrium – model. We show that the instabilities are generated according to the Landau–Hopf scenario and calculate the period of auto-oscillations. The one-mode approximation of the theory leads to the Van der Pol equation. In conclusion we present an experimental confirmation of the theory.
The Taylor–Saffman problem for a non-Newtonian liquid
Authors: Wilson S. D. R.
Published: April 2006

The Taylor–Saffman problem concerns the fingering instability which develops when one liquid displaces another, more viscous, liquid in a porous medium, or equivalently for Newtonian liquids, in a Hele-Shaw cell. Recent experiments with Hele-Shaw cells using non-Newtonian liquids have shown striking qualitative differences in the fingering pattern, which for these systems branches repeatedly in a manner resembling the growth of a fractal. This paper is an attempt to provide the beginnings of a hydrodynamical theory of this instability by repeating the analysis of Taylor & Saffman using a more general constitutive model. In fact two models are considered; the Oldroyd ‘Fluid B’ model which exhibits elasticity but not shear thinning, and the Ostwald–de Waele power-law model with the opposite combination. Of the two, only the Oldroyd model shows qualitatively new effects, in the form of a kind of resonance which can produce sharply increasing (in fact unbounded) growth rates as the relaxation time of the fluid increases. This may be a partial explanation of the observations on polymer solutions; the similar behaviour reported for clay pastes and slurries is not explained by shear-thinning and may involve a finite yield stress, which is not incorporated into either of the models considered here.
Material-element deformation in isotropic turbulence
Authors: Girimaji S. S. , Pope S. B.
Published: April 2006

The evolution of infinitesimal material line and surface elements in homogeneous isotropic turbulence is studied using velocity-gradient data generated by direct numerical simulations (DNS). The mean growth rates of length ratio (l) and area ratio (A) of material elements are much smaller than previously estimated by Batchelor (1952) owing to the effects of vorticity and of non-persistent straining. The probability density functions (p.d.f.'s) of l/〈l〉 and A/〈A〉 do not attain stationarity as hypothesized by Batchelor (1952). It is shown analytically that the random variable l/〈l〉 cannot be stationary if the variance and integral timescale of the strain rate along a material line are non-zero and DNS data confirm that this is indeed the case. The application of the central limit theorem to the material element evolution equations suggests that the standardized variables $\hat{l}(\equiv (\ln l - \langle \ln l\rangle)/({\rm var} l)^{\frac{1}{2}})$ and Â(≡(ln A − 〈ln A〉)/(var A)½) should attain stationary distributions that are Gaussian for all Reynolds numbers. The p.d.f.s of $\hat{l}$ and Â calculated from DNS data appear to attain stationary shapes that are independent of Reynolds number. The stationary values of the flatness factor and super-skewness of both $\hat{l}$ and Â are in close agreement with those of a Gaussian distribution. Moreover, the mean and variance of ln l (and ln A) grow linearly in time (normalized by the Kolmogorov timescale, τη), at rates that are nearly independent of Reynolds number. The statistics of material volume-element deformation are also studied and are found to be nearly independent of Reynolds number. An initially spherical infinitesimal volume of fluid deforms into an ellipsoid. It is found that the largest and the smallest of the principal axes grow and shrink respectively, exponentially in time at comparable rates. Consequently, to conserve volume, the intermediate principal axis remains approximately constant.

The performance of the stochastic model of Girimaji & Pope (1990) for the velocity gradients is also studied. The model estimates of the growth rates of 〈ln l〉 and 〈ln A〉 are close to the DNS values. The growth rate of the variances are estimated by the model to within 17%. The stationary distributions of $\hat{l}$ and Â obtained from the model agree very well with those calculated from DNS data. The model also performs well in calculating the statistics of material volume-element deformation.
On the evolution of the turbulent spot in a laminar boundary layer with a favourable pressure gradient
Authors: Katz Y. , Seifert A. , Wygnanski I.
Published: April 2006

The evolution of a turbulent spot in an accelerating laminar boundary-layer flow was investigated. The type of boundary layer chosen for this experiment resembles in every respect the flow in the vicinity of a stagnation point theoretically described by Falkner and Skan. The rate of growth of the spot was significantly inhibited by the favourable pressure gradient in all three directions. It became much shorter and narrower in comparison with a similar spot generated in a Blasius boundary layer at comparable distances from its origin and comparable Reynolds numbers. The celerities of its boundaries did not scale with the local free-stream velocity as they do in the absence of a pressure gradient. Dimensional analysis was used to identify and correlate the independent variables determining the size, the convection speed, and the relative rate of growth of this spot

The familiar arrowhead shape of the spot gave way to a rounded triangular shape with the trailing interface being straight and perpendicular to the direction of streaming. The familiar Tollmien-Schlichting wave packet was not observed in this pressure gradient because the surrounding boundary layer was very stable at theReconsidered. Since the arrowhead shape of the spot is associated with the breakdown of the waves within the packet it cannot occur below the criticalRe.The relative size of the ‘calmed region’ following the spot also diminished; however, one could only speculate as to the origin of this region.
A theoretical study of two-phase flow through a narrow gap with a moving contact line: viscous fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell
Authors: Weinstein Steven J. , Dussan E. B. , Ungar Lyle H.
Published: April 2006

The problem of viscous fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell with moving contact lines is considered. In contrast to the usual situation where the displaced fluid coats the solid surface in the form of thin films, here, both the displacing and the displaced fluids make direct contact with the solid. The principal differences between these two situations are in the ranges of attainable values of the gapwise component of the interfacial curvature (the component due to the bending of the fluid interface across the small gap of the Hele-Shaw cell), and in the introduction of two additional parameters for the case with moving contact lines. These parameters are the receding contact angle, and the sensivity of the dynamic angle to the speed of the contact line. Our objective is the prediction of the shape and widths of the fingers in the limit of small capillary number, Uμ/σ. Here, U denotes the finger speed, μ denotes the dynamic viscosity of the more viscous displaced fluid, and σ denotes the surface tension of the fluid interface. As might be expected, there are similarities and differences between the two problems. Despite the fact that different equations arise, we find that they can be analysed using the techniques introduced by McLean & Saffman and Vanden-Broeck for the thin-film case. The nature of the multiplicity of solutions also appears to be similar for the two problems. Our results indicate that when contact lines are present, the finger shapes are sensitive to the value of the contact angle only in the vicinity of its nose, reminiscent of experiments where bubbles or wires are placed at the nose of viscous fingers when thin films are present. On the other hand, in the present problem at least two distinct velocity scales emerge with well-defined asymptotic limits, each of these two cases being distinguished by the relative importance played by the two components of the curvature of the fluid interface. It is found that the widths of fingers can be significantly smaller than half the width of the cell.
Non-parallel stability of a flat-plate boundary layer using the complete Navier-Stokes equations
Authors: Fasel H. , Konzelmann U.
Published: April 2006

Non-parallel effects which are due to the growing boundary layer are investigated by direct numerical integration of the complete Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flows. The problem formulation is spatial, i.e. disturbances may grow or decay in the downstream direction as in the physical experiments. In the past various non-parallel theories were published that differ considerably from each other in both approach and interpretation of the results. In this paper a detailed comparison of the Navier-Stokes calculation with the various non-parallel theories is provided. It is shown, that the good agreement of some of the theories with experiments is fortuitous and that the difference between experiments and theories concerning the branch I neutral location cannot be explained by non-parallel effects.
Measurement of the average velocity of sedimentation in a dilute polydisperse suspension of spheres
Authors: Bruneau D. , Anthore R. , Feuillebois F. , Auvray X. , Petipas C.
Published: April 2006

An X-ray attenuation technique is used to obtain the local concentration of spherical particles in a polydisperse suspension as a function of vertical position and time. From these experimental data, the average velocity of sedimentation in the homogeneous part of the suspension is derived by considering the variation with time of the total volume of particles located above a given fixed horizontal plane. Measurements have been performed in suspensions of particles which differ from each other in size with a total volume concentration in particles between 0.13% and 2.5%, and also in suspensions of particles which differ from each other both in size and in density, the total volume concentration being 2%. For the first kind of suspension, the experimental hindered settling factor is plotted versus the concentration and a linear regression analysis provides the slope with its 90% confidence limits: Se = −5.3 ± 1.1. This experimental average coefficient of sedimentation is in good agreement with the theoretical average coefficient St = −5.60 obtained from the results of Batchelor & Wen (1982). The second kind of suspension, for which permanent doublets of spheres may theoretically exist, is not in the range of validity of Batchelor & Wen's results. The experimental average coefficient of sedimentation for this case is found to be much larger than the prediction obtained by extrapolating Batchelor & Wen's results out of their range of validity. This increased velocity may be experimental evidence of the existence of permanent doublets.
The influence of stratification on secondary instability in free shear layers
Authors: Klaassen G. P. , Peltier W. R.
Published: April 2006

We analyse the stability of horizontally periodic, two-dimensional, finite-amplitude Kelvin-Helmholtz billows with respect to infinitesimal three-dimensional perturbations having the same streamwise wavelength for several different levels of the initial density stratification. A complete analysis of the energy budget for this class of secondary instabilities establishes that the contribution to their growth from shear conversion of the basic-state kinetic energy is relatively insensitive to the strength of the stratification over the range of values considered, suggesting that dynamical shear instability constitutes the basic underlying mechanism. Indeed, during the initial stages of their growth, secondary instabilities derive their energy predominantly from shear conversion. However, for initial Richardson numbers between 0.065 and 0.13, the primary source of kinetic energy for secondary instabilities at the time the parent wave climaxes is in fact the conversion of potential energy by convective overturning in the cores of the individual billows. A comparison between the secondary instability properties of unstratified Kelvin-Helmholtz billows and Stuart vortices is made, as the latter have often been assumed to provide an adequate approximation to the former. Our analyses suggest that the Stuart vortex model has several shortcomings in this regard.
Unsteady flow in trailing vortices
Authors: Green S. I. , Acosta A. J.
Published: April 2006

The instantaneous velocity distribution in trailing vortices generated by lifting hydrofoils has been measured in the Low Turbulence Water Tunnel at the California Institute of Technology. Two different rectangular planform hydrofoils with small aspect ratios were tested. Double-pulsed holography of injected microbubbles, which act much as Lagrangian flow tracers, was used to determine instantaneous axial and tangential velocities. Measurements were made at various free-stream velocities, angles of attack, and downstream distances. The vortex core mean axial velocity is consistently greater than the free-stream velocity near the hydrofoil trailing edge, and decreases with downstream distance. The mean axial velocity is strongly Reynolds-number dependent.

Axial flow in the trailing vortex is highly unsteady for all the flow conditions studied; peak-to-peak fluctuations on the centreline as large as the free-stream velocity have been observed. The amplitude of these fluctuations falls rapidly with increasing distance from the centreline. For an angle of attack of 10° the fluctuations consist of both ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ components, whereas for α = 5° only ‘fast’ fluctuations have been observed. Peak decelerations of the centreline fluid occur with amplitude comparable to the maximum centripetal acceleration around the centreline. Certain unusual structures of the vortex core - regions in which the flow direction quickly diverges from the free-stream direction, and then equally quickly recovers - have been labelled ‘vortex kinks.’
Intermittent dynamics in simple models of the turbulent wall layer
Authors: Berkooz Gal , Holmes Philip , Lumley J. L.
Published: April 2006

We generalize the class of models of the wall layer of Aubry et al. (1988), based on the proper orthogonal decomposition, to permit uncoupled evolution of streamwise and cross-stream disturbances. Since the Reynolds stress is no longer constrained, in the absence of streamwise spatial variations all perturbation velocity components eventually decay to zero. However, their transient behaviour is dominated by ’ghosts’ of the non-trivial fixed points and attracting heteroclinic cycles which are characteristic features of those models based on empirical eigenfunctions whose individual velocity components are fixed. This suggests that the intermittent events observed in Aubry et al. do not arise solely because of the effective closure assumption incorporated in those models, but are rooted deeper in the dynamical phenomenon of the wall region.
Phase decorrelation of coherent structures in a free shear layer
Authors: Ho Chih-Ming , Zohar Yitshak , Foss Judith K. , Buell Jeffrey C.
Published: April 2006

The vortices near the origin of an initially laminar mixing layer have a single frequency with a well-defined phase; i.e. there is little phase jitter. Further downstream, however, the phase jitter increases suddenly. Even when the flow is forced, this same transition is observed. The forcing partially loses its influence because of the decorrelation of the phase between the forcing signal and the passing coherent structures. In the present investigation, this phenomenon is documented and the physical mechanism responsible for the phase decorrelation is identified.
Plane Stokes flow driven by capillarity on a free surface. Part 2. Further developments
Authors: Hopper Robert W.
Published: April 2006

For the free creeping viscous incompressible plane flow of a finite region, bounded by a simple smooth closed curve and driven solely by surface tension, analyzed previously, the shape evolution was described in terms of a time-dependent mapping function z = Ω(ζ,t) of the unit circle, conformal on |ζ| [les ] 1. An equation giving the time evolution of the map, typically in parametric form, was derived. In this article, the flow of the infinite region exterior to a hypotrochoid is given. This includes the elliptic hole, which shrinks at a constant rate with a constant aspect ratio. The theory is extended to a class of semi-infinite regions, mapped from Im ζ [les ] 0, and used to solve the flow in a half-space bounded by a certain groove. The depth of the groove ultimately decays inversely with time.
Frequency downshift in narrowbanded surface waves under the influence of wind
Authors: Hara Tetsu , Mei Chiang C.
Published: April 2006

It is well known that the spectral peak of wind-induced gravity waves on the sea surface tends to shift to lower frequencies as the fetch increases. In past theories the nonlinear dynamics subsequent to Benjamin–Feir instability has been found to initiate the downshift in narrow-banded waves in the absence of wind. However, these weakly nonlinear theories all predict the downshift to be only the first phase of an almost cyclic process. Limited by the length of a wave tank, existing experiments are usually made with relatively steep waves which often break. Although there is a theory on how breaking adds dissipation to stop the reversal of the initial trend of downshift, the details of breaking must be crudely characterized by semi-empirical hypotheses.

Since the direct role of wind itself must be relevant to the entire development of wind-wave spectrum, we examine here the effect of wind on the nonlinear evolution of unstable sidebands in narrow-banded waves. We assume that the waves do not break and consider the case where the nonlinear effects that initiate the downshift, energy input by wind and damping by internal dissipation all occur on the same timescale. This means that not only must the waves be mild but the wind stress intensity must also lie within a certain narrow range. With these limitations we couple the air flow above the waves with Dysthe's extension of the cubic Schrödinger equation, and examine the initial as well as the long-time evolution of a mechanically generated wavetrain. For a variety of wind intensities, downshift is indeed found to be enhanced and rendered long lasting.
The rate of collisions due to Brownian or gravitational motion of small drops
Authors: Zhang Xiaoguang , Davis Robert H.
Published: April 2006

A dilute dispersion containing drops of one fluid dispersed in a second, immiscible fluid is considered. The drops are sufficiently small that inertia is negligible and that they remain spherical. Two drops of different size are in relative motion due to either Brownian diffusion or gravitational sedimentation. When the drops become close, they interact with each other owing to hydrodynamic disturbances and van der Waals attractions, and, under favourable conditions, they will collide with each other and coalesce. The rate at which two drops collide is predicted by solving the diffusion equation for Brownian coalescence, and by using a trajectory analysis to follow the relative motion of pairs of drops for gravity-induced coalescence.

The emphasis of our analysis is on the effects of drop interactions on their collision rate, and these are described by the collision efficiency. Since the hydrodynamic resistance to the drop relative motion reduces with a decreasing ratio of the viscosities of the drop fluid and the surrounding fluid, the collision efficiency increases with decreasing viscosity ratio. A qualitative difference in the collision behaviour of viscous drops from that of rigid spheres is demonstrated; finite collision rates for drops are predicted even in the absence of attractive forces, provided that drop deformation is negligible, whereas rigid particles with smooth surfaces will not come into contact in a fluid continuum unless an attractive force is present which is able to overcome the lubrication forces resisting the relative motion. Hydrodynamic interactions between two spherical drops are accounted for exactly by determining the two-sphere relative mobility functions from previous solutions for two drops moving along and normal to their line of centres. These solutions are based on the method of reflections for widely separated drops, lubrication theory for drops in near-contact, and bispherical coordinates for general separations. The hydrodynamic interactions have a greater effect on reducing the rate of gravity collisions than the rate of Brownian collisions.
Inviscid spatial stability of a compressible mixing layer. Part 3. Effect of thermodynamics
Authors: Jackson T. L. , Grosch C. E.
Published: April 2006

We report the results of a comprehensive comparative study of the inviscid spatial stability of a parallel compressible mixing layer using various models for the mean flow. The models are (i) the hyperbolic tangent profile for the mean speed and the Crocco relation for the mean temperature, with the Chapman viscosity–temperature relation and a Prandtl number of one; (ii) the Lock profile for the mean speed and the Crocco relation for the mean temperature, with the Chapman viscosity-temperature relation and a Prandtl number of one; and (iii) the similarity solution for the coupled velocity and temperature equations using the Sutherland viscosity–temperature relation and arbitrary but constant Prandtl number. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity of the stability characteristics of the compressible mixing layer to the assumed thermodynamic properties of the fluid. It is shown that the qualitative features of the stability characteristics are quite similar for all models but that there are quantitative differences resulting from the difference in the thermodynamic models. In particular, we show that the stability characteristics are sensitive to the value of the Prandtl number and to a particular value of the temperature ratio across the mixing layer.
Inertial migration of a small sphere in linear shear flows
Authors: McLaughlin John B.
Published: April 2006

The motion of a small, rigid sphere in a linear shear flow is considered. Saffman's analysis is extended to other asymptotic cases in which the particle Reynolds number based on its slip velocity is comparable with or larger than the square root of the particle Reynolds number based on the velocity gradient. In all cases, both particle Reynolds numbers are assumed to be small compared to unity. It is shown that, as the Reynolds number based on particle slip velocity becomes larger than the square root of the Reynolds number based on particle shear rate, the magnitude of the inertial migration velocity rapidly decreases to very small values. The latter behaviour suggests that contributions that are higher order in the particle radius may become important in some situations of interest.
Reflection and transmission from porous structures under oblique wave attack
Authors: Dalrymple Robert A. , Losada Miguel A. , Martin P. A.
Published: April 2006

The linear theory for water waves impinging obliquely on a vertically sided porous structure is examined. For normal wave incidence, the reflection and transmission from a porous breakwater has been studied many times using eigenfunction expansions in the water region in front of the structure, within the porous medium, and behind the structure in the down-wave water region. For oblique wave incidence, the reflection and transmission coefficients are significantly altered and they are calculated here.

Using a plane-wave assumption, which involves neglecting the evanescent eigenmodes that exist near the structure boundaries (to satisfy matching conditions), the problem can be reduced from a matrix problem to one which is analytic. The plane-wave approximation provides an adequate solution for the case where the damping within the structure is not too great.

An important parameter in this problem is Γ2= ω2h(s- if)/g, where ω is the wave angular frequency,hthe constant water depth,gthe acceleration due to gravity, andsandfare parameters describing the porous medium. As the friction in the porous medium,f, becomes non-zero, the eigenfunctions differ from those in the fluid regions, largely owing to the change in the modal wavenumbers, which depend on Γ2.

For an infinite number of values of ΓF2, there are no eigenfunction expansions in the porous medium, owing to the coalescence of two of the wavenumbers. These cases are shown to result in a non-separable mathematical problem and the appropriate wave modes are determined. As the two wavenumbers approach the critical value of Γ2, it is shown that the wave modes can swap their identity.
Virtual mass and drag in two-phase flow
Authors: Felderhof B. U.
Published: April 2006

We study virtual mass and drag effects in a fluid suspension consisting of spherical particles immersed in an incompressible, nearly inviscid fluid. We derive average equations of motion for the fluid phase and the particle phase by the method of ensemble averaging. We show that the virtual mass and drag coefficients may be expressed exactly in terms of the dielectric constant of a corresponding dielectric suspension with the same distribution of particles. We make numerical predictions for the case of an equilibrium distribution of hard spheres.
The minimal flow unit in near-wall turbulence
Authors: Jiménez Javier , Moin Parviz
Published: April 2006

Direct numerical simulations of unsteady channel flow were performed at low to moderate Reynolds numbers on computational boxes chosen small enough so that the flow consists of a doubly periodic (inxandz) array of identical structures. The goal is to isolate the basic flow unit, to study its morphology and dynamics, and to evaluate its contribution to turbulence in fully developed channels. For boxes wider than approximately 100 wall units in the spanwise direction, the flow is turbulent and the low-order turbulence statistics are in good agreement with experiments in the near-wall region. For a narrow range of widths below that threshold, the flow near only one wall remains turbulent, but its statistics are still in fairly good agreement with experimental data when scaled with the local wall stress. For narrower boxes only laminar solutions are found. In all cases, the elementary box contains a single low-velocity streak, consisting of a longitudinal strip on which a thin layer of spanwise vorticity is lifted away from the wall. A fundamental period of intermittency for the regeneration of turbulence is identified, and that process is observed to consist of the wrapping of the wall-layer vorticity around a single inclined longitudinal vortex.
Motion of a vortex near a free surface[dagger]
Authors: Tyvand Peder A.
Published: April 2006

The early motion of a single vortex suddenly placed near a free surface is studied analytically. The general initial/boundary-value problem is solved in terms of a Taylor expansion in time. The vortex position and the surface elevation are determined to third order. We find a precise distinction between subcritical (weak) and supercritical (strong) vortices. All vortices start with retrograde horizontal motion. After a short time, subcritical vortices tend to turn and continue their motion in the prograde direction. Supercritical vortices cannot turn, but will continue their retrograde motion. They will accumulate a surface mound until surface breaking eventually occurs.
Transport of energy by disturbances in arbitrary steady flows
Authors: Myers M. K.
Published: April 2006

An exact equation governing the transport of energy associated with disturbances in an arbitrary steady flow is derived. The result is a generalization of the familiar concept of acoustic energy and is suggested by a perturbation expansion of the general energy equation of fluid mechanics. A disturbance energy density and flux are defined and identified as exact fluid dynamic quantities whose leading-order regular perturbation representations reduce in various special cases to previously known results. The exact equation on disturbance energy is applied to a simple example of nonlinear wave propagation as an illustration of its general utility in situations where a linear description of the disturbance is inadequate.
Flow of non-Newtonian fluids over a confined baffle
Authors: Pinho F. T. , Whitelaw J. H.
Published: April 2006

Measurements of wall pressure, and mean and r.m.s. velocities of the confined flow about a disk of 50 % area blockage have been carried out for two Newtonian fluids and four concentrations of a shear-thinning weakly elastic polymer in aqueous solution encompassing a Reynolds-number range from 220 to 138000. The flows of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids were found to be increasingly dependent on Reynolds numbers below 50000, with a decrease in the length of the recirculation region and dampening of the normal Reynolds stresses. At Reynolds numbers less than 25000, the recirculation bubble lengthened and all turbulence components were suppressed with increased polymer concentration so that, at a Reynolds number of 8000, the maximum values of turbulent kinetic energy were 35 and 45% lower than that for water, with 0.2% and 0.4% solutions of the polymer. Non-Newtonian effects were found to be important in regions of low local strain rates in low-Reynolds-number flows, especially inside the recirculation bubble and close to the shear layer, and are represented by both an increase in viscous diffusion and a decrease in turbulent diffusion to, respectively, 6% and 18% of the largest term of the momentum balance with a 0.4 % polymer solution at a Reynolds number of 7700. The asymmetry and unsteadiness of the flow at Reynolds numbers between 400 and 6000 is shown to be an aerodynamic effect which increases in range and amplitude with the more concentrated polymer solutions.
The breakdown of the linearized theory and the role of quadrupole sources in transonic rotor acoustics
Authors: Ardavan H.
Published: April 2006

The retarded Green's function for the linearized version of the equation of the mixed type governing the potential flow around a rotating helicopter blade or a propeller (with no forward motion) is derived and is shown to constitute the unifying feature of the various existing approaches to rotor acoustics. This Green's function is then used to pinpoint the singularity predicted by the linearized theory of rotor acoustics which signals its experimentally confirmed breakdown in the transonic regime: the gradient of the near-field sound amplitude, associated with a linear flow which is steady in the blade-fixed rotating frame, diverges on the sonic cylinder at the dividing boundary between the subsonic and supersonic regions of the flow. Prom the point of view of the equivalent Cauchy problem for the homogeneous wave equation, this singularity is caused by the imposition of entirely non-characteristic initial data on a space—time hypersurface which, at its points of intersection with the sonic cylinder, is locally characteristic. It also emerges from the analysis presented that the acoustic discontinuities detected in the far zone are generated by the quadrupole source term in the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation and that the impulsive noise resulting from these discontinuities would be removed if the flow in the transonic region were to be rendered unsteady (as viewed from the blade-fixed rotating frame).
Boundary-driven mixing
Authors: Woods Andrew W.
Published: April 2006

There are two separate mechanisms which can generate a boundary flow in a non-rotating, stratified fluid. The Phillips–Wunsch boundary flow arises in a stratified, quiescent fluid along a sloping boundary. Isopycnals are deflected from the horizontal in order to satisfy the zero normal mass flux condition at the boundary; this produces a horizontal density gradient which drives a boundary flow. The second mechanism arises when there is an independently generated turbulent boundary layer at the wall such that the eddy diffusion coefficients decay away from the wall; if the vertical density gradient is non-uniform the greater eddy diffusion coefficients near the wall result in a greater accumulation or diminution of density near the wall. This produces a horizontal density gradient which drives a boundary flow, even at a vertical wall. The turbulent Phillips Wunsch flow, in which there is a vigorous recirculation in the boundary layer, develops if the wall is sloping. This recirculation produces an additional dispersive mass flux along the wall, which also generates a net volume flux along the wall if the density gradient is non-uniform.

We investigate the effect of these boundary flows upon the mixing of the fluid in the interior of a closed vessel. The mixing in the interior fluid resulting from the laminar Phillips–Wunsch-driven boundary flow is governed by
\[
\rho_t = \frac{\kappa_{\rm m}}{A}(\rho z A)_z.
\]
The turbulence-driven boundary flow mixes the interior fluid according to
\[
\rho_\frac{1}{A}\left(\kappa_{\rm e}\rho z\int\delta\,{\rm d}s\right)z.
\]
Here ρ is the density, κm and κe are the far-field (molecular) and effective boundary (eddy) diffusivities, including the dispersion, A is the cross-sectional area of the basin and ∫ δ ds is the cross-sectional area of the boundary layer. The interior fluid is only mixed significantly faster than the rate of molecular diffusion if there is a turbulent boundary layer at the sidewalls of the containing vessel which either (i) varies in intensity with depth in the vessel or (ii) is mixing a non-uniform density gradient. These mixing phenomena are consistent with published experimental data and we consider the effect of such mixing in the ocean.
Slow viscous flow due to motion of an annular disk; pressure-driven extrusion through an annular hole in a wall
Authors: Davis A. M. J.
Published: April 2006

The description of the slow viscous flow due to the axisymmetric or asymmetric translation of an annular disk involves the solution of respectively one or two sets of triple integral equations involving Bessel functions. An efficient method is presented for transforming each set into a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Simple, regular kernels are obtained and the required physical constants are readily available. The method is also applied to the pressure-driven extrusion flow through an annular hole in a wall. The velocity profiles in the holes are found to be flatter than expected with correspondingly sharper variation near a rim. For the sideways motion of a disk, an exact solution is given with bounded velocities and both components of the rim pressure singularity minimized. The additional drag experienced by this disk when the fluid is bounded by walls parallel to the motion is then determined by solving a pair of integral equations, according to methods given in an earlier paper.