Advancing Fluid Dynamics Stability Analysis: Construction of Lyapunov Functions via the Generalized Kinetic Energy Approach

The energy method, also known as the Reynolds-Orr equation, is widely utilized in predicting the unconditional stability threshold of shear flows owing to the zero contribution of nonlinear terms to the time derivative of perturbation kinetic energy. However, it often underestimates the critical Reynolds numbers compared to experimental measurements. On the other hand, linear stability analysis tends to yield impractically high limits due to the occurrence of subcritical transitions. A novel methodology is introduced to enhance and validate the generalized kinetic energy formulation, aiming to provide a more accurate estimation of transition. This method considers the influence of nonlinear terms in calculating the threshold amplitude. The efficacy of this approach is showcased through the utilization of basic low-order turbulence models and the Poiseuille flow as illustrative examples. Through the proposed technique, the objective is to bridge the disparity between theoretically predicted critical Reynolds numbers and experimental observations, thus providing a more precise evaluation of shear flow stability. This research contributes to the advancement of stability analysis methods, offering practical implications for diverse fluid flow scenarios

Annual Research Briefs - 1996

This report contains the 1996 annual progress reports of the research fellows and students supported by the Center for Turbulence Research. Last year, CTR hosted twelve resident Postdoctoral Fellows, three Research Associates, four Senior Research Fellows, and supported one doctoral student and ten short term visitors

Resolution of Tip Vortices by grid-based, grid-free and coupled methods using CFD

The vortex structure resolution is one of the vital problems of CFD as inherent artificial dissipation effects lead to an unphysical strong decay of the vortices. The overall objective of this work is to improve the resolution of concentrated vortices. This work focuses on grid based, grid free methods and coupled methods to capture the details of vortices especially further downstream after the vortex has rolled up and started to decay. The work focuses on a hybrid method as a coupling of grid based and grid free vortex method