No Arabic abstract
We consider transport in a fluid flow of arbitrary complexity but with a dominant flow direction. This is the situation encountered, for example, when analyzing the dynamics of sufficiently small particles immersed in a turbulent fluid and vertically sinking because of their weight. We develop a formalism characterizing the dynamics of particles released from one layer of fluid and arriving in a second one after traveling along the dominant direction. The main ingredient in our study is the definition of a two-layer map that describes the Lagrangian transport between both layers. We combine geometric approaches and probabilistic network descriptions to analyze the two-layer map. From the geometric point of view, we express the properties of lines, surfaces and densities transported by the flow in terms of singular values related to Lyapunov exponents, and define a new quantifier, the Finite Depth Lyapunov Exponent. Within the network approach, degrees and an entropy are introduced to characterize transport. We also provide relationships between both methodologies. The formalism is illustrated with numerical results for a modification of the ABC flow, a model commonly studied to characterize three-dimensional chaotic advection.
We present pore-scale simulations of two-phase flows in a reconstructed fibrous porous layer. The three dimensional microstructure of the material, a fuel cell gas diffusion layer, is acquired via X-ray computed tomography and used as input for lattice Boltzmann simulations. We perform a quantitative analysis of the multiphase pore-scale dynamics and we identify the dominant fluid structures governing mass transport. The results show the existence of three different regimes of transport: a fast inertial dynamics at short times, characterised by a compact uniform front, a viscous-capillary regime at intermediate times, where liquid is transported along a gradually increasing number of preferential flow paths of the size of one-two pores, and a third regime at longer times, where liquid, after having reached the outlet, is exclusively flowing along such flow paths and the two-phase fluid structures are stabilised. We observe that the fibrous layer presents significant variations in its microscopic morphology, which have an important effect on the pore invasion dynamics, and counteract the stabilising viscous force. Liquid transport is indeed affected by the presence of microstructure-induced capillary pressures acting adversely to the flow, leading to capillary fingering transport mechanism and unstable front displacement, even in the absence of hydrophobic treatments of the porous material. We propose a macroscopic model based on an effective contact angle that mimics the effects of the such a dynamic capillary pressure. Finally, we underline the significance of the results for the optimal design of face masks in an effort to mitigate the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Conflict between formation of a cyclonic vortex and isotropization in forced homogeneous rotating turbulence is numerically investigated. It is well known that a large rotation rate of the system induces columnar vortices to result in quasi-two-dimensional (Q2D) flow, while a small rotation rate allows turbulence to be three-dimensional (3D). It is found that the transition from the Q2D turbulent flow to the 3D turbulent flow and the reverse transition occur at different values of the rotation rates. At the intermediate rotation rates, bistability of these two statistically steady states is observed. Such hysteretic behavior is also observed for the variation of the amplitude of an external force.
We present a natural framework for studying the persistence problem in two-dimensional fluid turbulence by using the Okubo-Weiss parameter $Lambda$ to distinguish between vortical and extensional regions. We then use a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the two-dimensional, incompressible Navier--Stokes equation with Ekman friction to study probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the persistence times of vortical and extensional regions by employing both Eulerian and Lagrangian measurements. We find that, in the Eulerian case, the persistence-time PDFs have exponential tails; by contrast, this PDF for Lagrangian particles, in vortical regions, has a power-law tail with an exponent $theta=2.9pm0.2$.
We numerically investigate turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection within two immiscible fluid layers, aiming to understand how the layer thickness and fluid properties affect the heat transfer (characterized by the Nusselt number $Nu$) in two-layer systems. Both two- and three-dimensional simulations are performed at fixed global Rayleigh number $Ra=10^8$, Prandtl number $Pr=4.38$, and Weber number $We=5$. We vary the relative thickness of the upper layer between $0.01 le alpha le 0.99$ and the thermal conductivity coefficient ratio of the two liquids between $0.1 le lambda_k le 10$. Two flow regimes are observed: In the first regime at $0.04lealphale0.96$, convective flows appear in both layers and $Nu$ is not sensitive to $alpha$. In the second regime at $alphale0.02$ or $alphage0.98$, convective flow only exists in the thicker layer, while the thinner one is dominated by pure conduction. In this regime, $Nu$ is sensitive to $alpha$. To predict $Nu$ in the system in which the two layers are separated by a unique interface, we apply the Grossmann-Lohse theory for both individual layers and impose heat flux conservation at the interface. Without introducing any free parameter, the predictions for $Nu$ and for the temperature at the interface well agree with our numerical results and previous experimental data.
Transport and mixing of scalar quantities in fluid flows is ubiquitous in industry and Nature. Turbulent flows promote efficient transport and mixing by their inherent randomness. Laminar flows lack such a natural mixing mechanism and efficient transport is far more challenging. However, laminar flow is essential to many problems and insight into its transport characteristics of great importance. Laminar transport, arguably, is best described by the Lagrangian fluid motion (`advection) and the geometry, topology and coherence of fluid trajectories. Efficient laminar transport being equivalent to `chaotic advection is a key finding of this approach. The Lagrangian framework enables systematic analysis and design of laminar flows. However, the gap between scientific insights into Lagrangian transport and technological applications is formidable primarily for two reasons. First, many studies concern two-dimensional (2D) flows yet the real world is three dimensional (3D). Second, Lagrangian transport is typically investigated for idealised flows yet practical relevance requires studies on realistic 3D flows. The present review aims to stimulate further development and utilisation of know-how on 3D Lagrangian transport and its dissemination to practice. To this end 3D practical flows are categorised into canonical problems. First, to expose the diversity of Lagrangian transport and create awareness of its broad relevance. Second, to enable knowledge transfer both within and between scientific disciplines. Third, to reconcile practical flows with fundamentals on Lagrangian transport and chaotic advection. This may be a first incentive to structurally integrate the `Lagrangian mindset into the analysis and design of 3D practical flows.