New perspective in statistical modeling of wall-bounded turbulence

Despite dedicated effort for many decades,statistical description of highly technologically important wall turbulence remains a great challenge.Current models are unfortunately incomplete,or empirical,or qualitative.After a review of the existing theories of wall turbulence,we present a new framework,called the structure ensemble dynamics （SED）,which aims at integrating the turbulence dynamics into a quantitative description of the mean flow.The SED theory naturally evolves from a statistical physics understanding of non-equilibrium open systems,such as fluid turbulence, for which mean quantities are intimately coupled with the fluctuation dynamics.Starting from the ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes（EANS） equations,the theory postulates the existence of a finite number of statistical states yielding a multi-layer picture for wall turbulence.Then,it uses order functions（ratios of terms in the mean momentum as well as energy equations） to characterize the states and transitions between states.Application of the SED analysis to an incompressible channel flow and a compressible turbulent boundary layer shows that the order functions successfully reveal the multi-layer structure for wall-bounded turbulence, which arises as a quantitative extension of the traditional view in terms of sub-layer,buffer layer,log layer and wake. Furthermore,an idea of using a set of hyperbolic functions for modeling transitions between layers is proposed for a quantitative model of order functions across the entire flow domain.We conclude that the SED provides a theoretical framework for expressing the yet-unknown effects of fluctuation structures on the mean quantities,and offers new methods to analyze experimental and simulation data.Combined with asymptotic analysis,it also offers a way to evaluate convergence of simulations.The SED approach successfully describes the dynamics at both momentum and energy levels, in contrast with all prevalent approaches describing the mean velocity profile only.Moreover,the SED theoretical framework is general,independent of the flow system to study, while the actual functional form of the order functions may vary from flow to flow.We assert that as the knowledge of order functions is accumulated and as more flows are analyzed, new principles（such as hierarchy,symmetry,group invariance,etc.） governing the role of turbulent structures in the mean flow properties will be clarified and a viable theory of turbulence might emerge.

Boundary layer structure in turbulent rayleigh-bénard convection in a slim box

Logarithmic boundary layers have been observed in different regions in turbulence. However, how thermal plumes correlate to the log law of temperature and how the velocity profile changes with pressure gradient are not fully understood. Here, we perform three-dimensional simulations of turbulence in a slim-box without the front and back walls with aspect ratio, width:depth:height=L:D:H=1:1/6:1width:depth:height=L:D:H=1:1/6:1 (respectively corresponding to xx, yy and zz coordinates), in the Rayleigh number Ra=[1×10^8,1×10^10]Ra=[1×10^8,1×10^10] for Prandtl number Pr=0.7Pr=0.7. To investigate the structures of the viscous and thermal boundary layers, we examine the velocity profiles in the streamwise and vertical directions (i.e. UU and WW) along with the mean temperature profile throughout the plume-impacting, plume-ejecting, and wind-shearing regions. The velocity profile is successfully quantified by a two-layer function of a stress length, e^+u=e^+0(z^+)3/2[1+(z^+/z^+sub)4]^1/4eu+=e^+0(z+)3/2[1+(z+/zsub+)4]1/4, as proposed by She et al.(J Fluid Mech, 2017), though it is neither \pb type nor logarithmic. In contrast, the temperature profile in the plume-ejecting region is logarithmic for all simulated cases, being attributed to the emission of thermal plumes. The coefficient of the temperature log-law, AA, can be described by composition of the thermal stress length ■■θ0■θ0■ and the thicknesses of thermal boundary layer z■subzsub■ and z?bufzbuf■, i.e. A■z?sub/(■■θ0z■buf3/2)A■zsub?/(■θ0■zbuf^3/2). The adverse pressure gradient responsible for turning the wind direction contributes to intensively emitting plumes and the logarithmic temperature profile at the plume-ejecting region. The Nusselt number scaling and the local heat flux in the slim box are consistent with previous results of the confined cells. Therefore, the slim-box RBC is a preferable system for investigating in-box kinetic and thermal structures of turbulent convection with the large-scale circulation in a fixed plane.

Numerical simulations of compressible mixing layers with a discontinuous Galerkin method

Discontinuous Galerkin（DG） method is known to have several advantages for flow simulations,in particular,in fiexible accuracy management and adaptability to mesh refinement. In the present work,the DG method is developed for numerical simulations of both temporally and spatially developing mixing layers. For the temporally developing mixing layer,both the instantaneous fiow field and time evolution of momentum thickness agree very well with the previous results. Shocklets are observed at higher convective Mach numbers and the vortex paring manner is changed for high compressibility. For the spatially developing mixing layer,large-scale coherent structures and self-similar behavior for mean profiles are investigated. The instantaneous fiow field for a three-dimensional compressible mixing layer is also reported,which shows the development of largescale coherent structures in the streamwise direction. All numerical results suggest that the DG method is effective in performing accurate numerical simulations for compressible shear fiows.

Wavy structures in compressible mixing layers

Semi-periodic structures namely inclined wavy structures （IWS） are experimentally observed in compressible mixing layers at two convective Mach numbers （Mc = 0.11 and 0.47）. Flow structures are visualized by the laserinduced planar laser Mie scattering （PLMS） technique. Two methods are developed to investigate the spatial distribu- tion and geometry of IWS： （1） the dominant mode extrac- tion （DME） method, to extract the dominant modes of IWS from the streamwise gray-level fluctuation, and （2） the phase tracking （PT） method, to identify the shape of IWS. The re- sults suggest that pressure perturbations account for the for- marion of IWS in the initial mixing region and the joint effect of dilatation and coherent vortices enhances IWS in the well- developed region. The large transverse （cross-flow） scale of the IWS and their relation to coherent vortices （CV） indicate that the disturbance originated from CV in the mixing center propagates far into the free streams. The DME and the PT method are shown to be the effective tools to study the geometrical features of wavy structures in compressible shear flows.

Symmetry-based description of laminar-turbulent transition

We report a simple but accurate description of flat plate transitional flow based on a structural ensemble dynamics(SED) theory of wall turbulence. It is postulated and verified by simulation data that a multi-layer stress length(SL) function ?12 presents a two-state structure in the streamwise x direction, characterizing the laminar-turbulent transition. The resulting algebraic model(called SED-SL) predicts correctly for the first time the entire streamwise profiles of the friction coefficient, Cf(x), of all seven sets of experimental(of e.g. T3 series) and simulations data of flat plate transitional flows, with varying incoming turbulence intensities Tu(or scales), superior to other closure models, with a two-state correlation for transition location Rex*= 3.3 × 10^6(1 +(Tu/0.65)^4)^-1.5/4. The extension to accurate description of transitional flows of engineering interests is discussed.

Precise drag prediction of airfoil flows by a new algebraic model

We report the results of accurate prediction of lift(C L)and drag(C D)coefficients of two typical airfoil flows(NACA0012 and RAE2822)by a new algebraic turbulence model,in which the eddy viscosity is specified by a stress length(SL)function predicted by structural ensemble dynamics(SED)theory.Unprecedented accuracy of the prediction of C D with error of a few counts(one count is 10−4)and of C L with error under 1%-2%are uniformly obtained for varying angles of attack(AoA),indicating an order of magnitude improvement of drag prediction accuracy compared to currently used models(typically around 20 to 30 counts).More interestingly,the SED-SL model is distinguished with fewer parameters of clear physical meaning,which quantify underlying turbulent boundary layer(TBL)with a universal multi-layer structure,and is thus promising to be more easily generalizable to complex TBL.The use of the new model for the calibration of flow condition in experiment and the extraction of flow physics from numerical simulation data of aeronautic flows are discussed.

Analytic prediction for planar turbulent boundary layers

Analytic predictions of mean velocity profile(MVP) and streamwise(x) development of related integral quantities are presented for flows in channel and turbulent boundary layer(TBL), based on a symmetry analysis of eddy length and total stress. Specific predictions include the relations for momentum Reynolds number(Reθ) with friction Reτ and streamwise Re_x: Re_θ≈ 3.27Re_τ,and Re_x/Re_θ = 4.94(lnRe_θ + 1.88)~2 + 1; the streamwise development of the friction velocity u_τ: U_e/u_τ≈ 2.22 lnRe_x + 2.86. 3.83ln(lnRe_x), and of the boundary layer thickness δ_e: x/δ_e ≈ 7.27 lnRe_x.5.18.12.52ln(lnRe_x), which are fully validated by recent reliable data.

Kepler's third law of n-body system

Newton’s gravitational law and its derived Kapler’s orbit of planetary motions are the very first triumph of science,which confirms that a purely human’s invention of mathematics is able to accurately describe observations in nature.For

Analytic derivation of Monin-Obukhov similarity function for open atmospheric surface layer

The Monin-Obukhov(MO)similarity functionφm of the atmospheric surface layer(ASL)describing the deviation from the log law of the canonical turbulent boundary layer because of thermal stratification has been traditionally determined empirically.This study presents a unified analytic expression derived from a symmetry-based theory of wall turbulence,called structural ensemble dynamics(SED),which postulates a generalized dilation symmetry principle expressing the effect of the wall on turbulence,leading to an analytic multi-regimes expression for the mixing length.For ASL in unstable and stable conditions(i.e.,UC and SC),a unified two-regime formula of the mixing length is proposed,leading to aφm,similar to the Businger-Dyer(BD)formula;with a simplified model energy balance equation,φm is completely specified with no free parameter.Furthermore,the theory allows the study of the open ASL’s underlying additional physical processes such as bottom-up or top-down flux due to pressure variations Tp.Assuming that Tp is decomposed into shear-like and buoyancy-like components,we propose new explanations for two important features of typical ASL:a significantly smaller Karman constant of 0.36 and a varyingφm for SC mean speed profiles.The theory is validated by the data obtained at Kansas and also at Qingtu Lake Observation Array in Northern China for a variety of heat flux conditions.In conclusion,due to pressure variations,we assert that ASL is intrinsically open and that the current theory offers a new basis for its quantification.

A symmetry-based length model for characterizing the hypersonic boundary layer transition on a slender cone at moderate incidence

The hypersonic boundary layer(HBL)transition on a slender cone at moderate incidence is studied via a symmetry-based length model:the SED-SL model.The SED-SL specifies an analytic stress length function(which defines the eddy viscosity)describing a physically sound two-dimensional multi-regime structure of transitional boundary layer.Previous studies showed accurate predictions,especially on the drag coefficient,by the SED-SL for airfoil flows at different subsonic Mach numbers,Reynolds numbers and angles of attack.Here,the SED-SL is extended to compute the hypersonic heat transfer on a 7∘half-angle straight cone at Mach numbers 6 and 7 and angles of attack from 0∘to 6∘.It is shown that a proper setting of the multi-regime structure with three parameters(i.e.a transition center,an after-transition near-wall eddy length,and a transition width quantifying transition overshoot)yields an accurate description of the surface heat fluxes measured in wind tunnels.Uniformly good agreements between simulations and measurements are obtained from windward to leeward side of the cone,implying the validity of the multi-regime description of the transition independent of instability mechanisms.It is concluded that a unified description for the HBL transition of cone is found,and might offer a basis for developing a new transition model that is simultaneously of computational simplicity,sound physics and greater accuracy.