Numerical simulation of flow separation over a backward-facing step with high Reynolds number

Large eddy simulation (LES) explicitly calculates the large-scale vortex field and parameterizes the small-scale vortices.In this study,LES and κ-ε models were developed for a specific geometrical configuration of backward-facing step (BFS).The simulation results were validated with particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements and direct numerical simulation (DNS).This LES simulation was carried out with a Reynolds number of 9000 in a pressurized water tunnel with an expansion ratio of 2.00.The results indicate that the LES model can reveal largescale vortex motion although with a larger grid-cell size.However,the LES model tends to overestimate the top wall separation and the Reynolds stress components for the BFS flow simulation without a sufficiently fine grid.Overall,LES is a potential tool for simulating separated flow controlled by large-scale vortices.

Large Eddy Simulation of Particle-Laden Turbulent Flow over a Backward-Facing Step

Particle diffusion in large eddy structures with various Stokes number was analyzed numerically for the two-dimensional gas-particle turbulent flow over a backward-facing step. The continuous phase simulation was analyzed using the large eddy simulation (LES) method while the particle phase was analyzed by the Lagrangian method. The spatial and temporal results were used to analyze the evolution of the large eddy coherent structures and the vortex-particle interactions. The effect of the particle Stokes number on the in-stantaneous particle concentration distributions was also discussed. The simulations of the single-phase flow reproduced the character of the separation and reattachment flow and the essential features of the coherent structures. Numerous and complex vortex structures appeared at the high Reynolds number. Furthermore, the simulation shows that the Stokes number plays an important role in the particle dispersion and the instanta-neous particle distribution. The continuous phase time-averaged results and the particle phase time-averaged results obtained from the LES analysis agree well with previous experimental data.

Large Eddy Simulation of a dilute particleladen turbulent flow over a backwardfacing step

Dilute gas-particle turbulent flows over a backward-facing step are numerically simulated by Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for the continuous phase and Lagran- gian particle trajectory method for the particle phase. Predicted results of mean velocities and fluctuating velocities of both phases agree well with the experimental data, and demonstrate that the main characteristics of the flow are accurately captured by the simulations. Characteristics of separation and reattachments as well as essential features of the coherent structure are obtained, in which the processes of vortex roll up, growth, pairing and breaking up are shown in details. Particle dispersions are then investigated through particles’ instantaneous distri- butions in coherent structure as well as the mean and fluctuating properties of particle number density (PND). The predicted mean PND agree well with experiment results. For small particles, the instantaneous distributions show much preferential concentration, while their mean PND shows more uniform distribution in down- stream region. On the contrary, for large particles, their instantaneous distributions are much uniform (without clear preferential concentration) due to less effect of large eddy coherent, while their mean PND across the section is not uniform for more particles are distributed in the main flow region. The preferential concentra- tion of particles by the large-scale eddies can lead to a high fluctuating PND.