The Sun's Supergranulation

Supergranulation is a fluid-dynamical phenomenon taking place in the solar photosphere, primarily detected in the form of a vigorous cellular flow pattern with a typical horizontal scale of approximately 30--35~megameters, a dynamical evolution time of 24--48~h, a strong 300--400~m/s (rms) horizontal flow component and a much weaker 20--30~m/s vertical component. Supergranulation was discovered more than sixty years ago, however, explaining its physical origin and most important observational characteristics has proven extremely challenging ever since, as a result of the intrinsic multiscale, nonlinear dynamical complexity of the problem concurring with strong observational and computational limitations. Key progress on this problem is now taking place with the advent of 21st-century supercomputing resources and the availability of global observations of the dynamics of the solar surface with high spatial and temporal resolutions. This article provides an exhaustive review of observational, numerical and theoretical research on supergranulation, and discusses the current status of our understanding of its origin and dynamics, most importantly in terms of large-scale nonlinear thermal convection, in the light of a selection of recent findings.Comment: Major update of 2010 Liv. Rev. Sol. Phys. review. Addresses many new theoretical, numerical and observational developments. All sections, including discussion, revised extensively. Also includes previously unpublished results on nonlinear dynamics of convection in large domains, and lagrangian transport at the solar surfac

Simulation of all-scale atmospheric dynamics on unstructured meshes

The advance of massively parallel computing in the nineteen nineties and beyond encouraged finer grid intervals in numerical weather-prediction models. This has improved resolution of weather systems and enhanced the accuracy of forecasts, while setting the trend for development of unified all-scale atmospheric models. This paper first outlines the historical background to a wide range of numerical methods advanced in the process. Next, the trend is illustrated with a technical review of a versatile nonoscillatory forward-in-time finite-volume (NFTFV) approach, proven effective in simulations of atmospheric flows from small-scale dynamics to global circulations and climate. The outlined approach exploits the synergy of two specific ingredients: the MPDATA methods for the simulation of fluid flows based on the sign-preserving properties of upstream differencing; and the flexible finite-volume median-dual unstructured-mesh discretisation of the spatial differential operators comprising PDEs of atmospheric dynamics. The paper consolidates the concepts leading to a family of generalised nonhydrostatic NFTFV flow solvers that include soundproof PDEs of incompressible Boussinesq, anelastic and pseudo-incompressible systems, common in large-eddy simulation of small- and meso-scale dynamics, as well as all-scale compressible Euler equations. Such a framework naturally extends predictive skills of large-eddy simulation to the global atmosphere, providing a bottom-up alternative to the reverse approach pursued in the weather-prediction models. Theoretical considerations are substantiated by calculations attesting to the versatility and efficacy of the NFTFV approach. Some prospective developments are also discussed

Analytical and Numerical Studies of Several Fluid Mechanical Problems

In this thesis, three parts, each with several chapters, are respectively devoted to hydrostatic, viscous and inertial fluids theories and applications. In the hydrostatics part, the classical Maclaurin spheroids theory is generalized, for the first time, to a more realistic multi-layer model, which enables the studies of some gravity problems and direct numerical simulations of flows in fast rotating spheroidal cavities. As an application of the figure theory, the zonal flow in the deep atmosphere of Jupiter is investigated for a better understanding of the Jovian gravity field. High viscosity flows, for example Stokes flows, occur in a lot of processes involving low-speed motions in fluids. Microorganism swimming is such typical a case. A fully three dimensional analytic solution of incompressible Stokes equation is derived in the exterior domain of an arbitrarily translating and rotating prolate spheroid, which models a large family of microorganisms such as cocci bacteria. The solution is then applied to the magnetotactic bacteria swimming problem and good consistency has been found between theoretical predictions and laboratory observations of the moving patterns of such bacteria under magnetic fields. In the analysis of dynamics of planetary fluid systems, which are featured by fast rotation and very small viscosity effects, three dimensional fully nonlinear numerical simulations of Navier-Stokes equations play important roles. A precession driven flow in a rotating channel is studied by the combination of asymptotic analyses and fully numerical simulations. Various results of laminar and turbulent flows are thereby presented. Computational fluid dynamics requires massive computing capability. To make full use of the power of modern high performance computing facilities, a C++ finite-element analysis code is under development based on PETSc platform. The code and data structures will be elaborated, along with the presentations of some preliminary results

Aeronautical engineering: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 295)

This bibliography lists 581 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System in Sep. 1993. Subject coverage includes: design, construction and testing of aircraft and aircraft engines; aircraft components, equipment, and systems; ground support systems; and theoretical and applied aspects of aerodynamics and general fluid dynamics

SOLID-SHELL FINITE ELEMENT MODELS FOR EXPLICIT SIMULATIONS OF CRACK PROPAGATION IN THIN STRUCTURES

Crack propagation in thin shell structures due to cutting is conveniently simulated using explicit finite element approaches, in view of the high nonlinearity of the problem. Solidshell elements are usually preferred for the discretization in the presence of complex material behavior and degradation phenomena such as delamination, since they allow for a correct representation of the thickness geometry. However, in solid-shell elements the small thickness leads to a very high maximum eigenfrequency, which imply very small stable time-steps. A new selective mass scaling technique is proposed to increase the time-step size without affecting accuracy. New ”directional” cohesive interface elements are used in conjunction with selective mass scaling to account for the interaction with a sharp blade in cutting processes of thin ductile shells

[Activity of Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering]

This report summarizes research conducted at the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering in applied mathematics, fluid mechanics, and computer science

Cumulative reports and publications

A complete list of Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering (ICASE) reports are listed. Since ICASE reports are intended to be preprints of articles that will appear in journals or conference proceedings, the published reference is included when it is available. The major categories of the current ICASE research program are: applied and numerical mathematics, including numerical analysis and algorithm development; theoretical and computational research in fluid mechanics in selected areas of interest to LaRC, including acoustics and combustion; experimental research in transition and turbulence and aerodynamics involving LaRC facilities and scientists; and computer science

Dynamic models for Large Eddy Simulation of compressible flows with a high order DG method

The impact of dynamic models for applications to LES of compressible flows is assessed in the framework of a numerical model based on high order discontinuous finite elements. The projections onto lower dimensional subspaces associated with lower degree basis functions are used as LES filter, along the lines proposed in Variational Multiscale templates. Comparisons with DNS results available in the literature for plane and constricted channel flows at Mach numbers 0.2, 0.7 and 1.5 show clearly that the dynamic models are able to improve the prediction of most key features of the flow with respect to the Smagorinsky models employed so far in a VMS-DG context