Other turbulent flows

Inlet and initial synthetic turbulent flows for DNS and LES

DNS and LES of flows in complex geometries often require inlet flows that include some form of turbulent structures. Generating such turbulent inflows (without doing a separate DNS) is currently done using "synthetic" turbulence, which tries to have some parameters that match what is desired or known from experiment. We are currently developing an improved anisotropic, inhomogeneous form of synthetic turbulence that can provide realistic looking inlet and initial flows that match energy spectra and, in interaction with an underlying mean flow, Reynolds stresses.

Cavitation and erosion modelling in pumps

Details to come

Particulate transport in turbulent flows

with Dr. M. Lightstone

Direct numerical simulation of premixed combustion

Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) are used to help understand some of the underlying physics involved in the interaction between turbulence and flame dynamics in premixed combustion. The results of these large and computationally expensive simulations can also be used in the development of improved subgrid scale models for Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of turbulent reacting flows. LES of the flows in gas turbine combustors (and other flows of engineering interest, where turbulence plays a crucial role in performance) is one of the ultimate outcomes of this work. 

DNS results of a premixed flame surface wrinkled by turbulence and its own (downwards) propagation. The flame surface is coloured by the surface curvature.