The perturbation method - A novel large-eddy simulation technique to model realistic turbulence: Application to tidal flow

Turbulence in the ocean dominates the vertical movement of heat and salt, as well as chemical and biological particulates. The modelling of turbulence is therefore essential to forecast the strength of the biological pump, for example, in which CO2 is drawn out of the atmosphere and trapped in the deep ocean. Obtaining observations of turbulence is an expensive process and the modelling of turbulence still remains an open problem. Using state-of-the-art 3D hydrodynamic models, such as Large-Eddy Simulation and Direct Numerical Simulation, to understand turbulence driven by mean flow is a popular method. However in this approach, the turbulence creates its own mean flow contribution which, in some applications, results in an undesirable divergence from the prescribed mean flow. Here, the perturbation method is introduced. This technique ensures zero divergence to the prescribed mean flow. Results reveal the high level of accuracy this approach has in replicating the observed turbulent field when using ADCP mean current data to prescribe the model mean flow. It is envisaged that the user-friendly nature of this method will enable non-specialists to derive turbulence data when turbulence profilers are not a tractable resource. This modelling approach also sets a rigid framework for the testing of turbulence closure schemes

Time to Switch to Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy in Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Europe and Thailand.

Background: Data on durability of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are limited. We assessed time to switch to second-line therapy in 16 European countries and Thailand. Methods: Children aged <18 years initiating combination ART (≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] plus nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI] or boosted protease inhibitor [PI]) were included. Switch to second-line was defined as (i) change across drug class (PI to NNRTI or vice versa) or within PI class plus change of ≥1 NRTI; (ii) change from single to dual PI; or (iii) addition of a new drug class. Cumulative incidence of switch was calculated with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks. Results: Of 3668 children included, median age at ART initiation was 6.1 (interquartile range (IQR), 1.7-10.5) years. Initial regimens were 32% PI based, 34% nevirapine (NVP) based, and 33% efavirenz based. Median duration of follow-up was 5.4 (IQR, 2.9-8.3) years. Cumulative incidence of switch at 5 years was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20%-23%), with significant regional variations. Median time to switch was 30 (IQR, 16-58) months; two-thirds of switches were related to treatment failure. In multivariable analysis, older age, severe immunosuppression and higher viral load (VL) at ART start, and NVP-based initial regimens were associated with increased risk of switch. Conclusions: One in 5 children switched to a second-line regimen by 5 years of ART, with two-thirds failure related. Advanced HIV, older age, and NVP-based regimens were associated with increased risk of switch

Large scale structures in LES of an oscillating open channel flow under the influence of surface cooling

11 páginasLarge-eddy simulation (LES) of open channel flow driven by an oscillating pressure gradient with zero surface shear stress was performed. The flow is representative of a tidal boundary layer in the coastal ocean under weak or no wind forcing. For a neutrally stratified water column, during peak pressure gradient forcing or peak tide, the flow develops large scale structures secondary to the mean flow consisting of streamwise-elongated, counter-rotating cells engulfing the bulk of the water column. These structures are similar to the classical Couette cells found in turbulent Couette flow driven by parallel no-slip plates moving in opposite direction. Application of a constant cooling flux of 200 W m−2 at the surface of the open channel flow with an adiabatic bottom wall leads to what we term convective supercells consisting of streamwise-elongated cells of greater intensity and cross-stream width than Couette cells. The signature of the convective supercells is observed even during times when the oscillating mean flow is decelerating, unlike the signature of Couette cells in the case without surface cooling. The signature of the cells is visualized and quantified in terms of instantaneous fields such as streamwise-averaged velocity fluctuations, streamwise velocity averaged over streamwise and cross-stream directions and turbulent structure revealed through depth trajectories of Lumley invariant maps. Investigation of these convective supercells is deemed important due to their strong influence on vertical mixing of momentum and scalars and their potential role in determining the wake behind turbines in tidal flows

Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Flow Velocity Waveform Notching in Umbilical Arteries

Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry waveform notching has long been associated with umbilical cord abnormalities, such as distortion, torsion, and/or compression (i.e., constriction). The physical mechanism by which the notching occurs has not been elucidated. Flow velocity waveforms (FVWs) from two-dimensional pulsatile flows in a constricted channel approximating a compressed umbilical cord are analyzed, leading to a clear relationship between the notching and the constriction. Two flows with an asymmetric, semi-elliptical constriction are computed using a stabilized finite-element method. In one case, the constriction blocks 75% of the flow passage, and in the other the constriction blocks 85%. Channel width and prescribed flow rates at the channel inflow are consistent with typical cord diameters and flow rates reported in the literature. Computational results indicate that waveform notching is caused by flow separation induced by the constriction, giving rise to a vortex (core) wave and associated eddies. Notching in FVWs based on centerline velocity (centerline FVW) is directly related to the passage of an eddy over the point of measurement on the centerline. Notching in FVWs based on maximum cross-sectional velocity (envelope FVW) is directly related to acceleration and deceleration of the fluid along the vortex wave. Results show that notching in envelope FVW is not present in flows with less than a 75% constriction. Furthermore, notching disappears as the vortex wave is attenuated at distances downstream of the constriction. In the flows with 75 and 85% constriction, notching of the envelope FVW disappears at ∼3.8 and ∼4.3 cm (respectively) downstream of the constriction. These results are of significant medical importance, given that envelope FVW is typically measured by commercial Doppler systems

Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Flow Velocity Waveform Notching in Umbilical Arteries

Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry waveform notching has long been associated with umbilical cord abnormalities, such as distortion, torsion, and/or compression (i.e., constriction). The physical mechanism by which the notching occurs has not been elucidated. Flow velocity waveforms (FVWs) from two-dimensional pulsatile flows in a constricted channel approximating a compressed umbilical cord are analyzed, leading to a clear relationship between the notching and the constriction. Two flows with an asymmetric, semi-elliptical constriction are computed using a stabilized finite-element method. In one case, the constriction blocks 75% of the flow passage, and in the other the constriction blocks 85%. Channel width and prescribed flow rates at the channel inflow are consistent with typical cord diameters and flow rates reported in the literature. Computational results indicate that waveform notching is caused by flow separation induced by the constriction, giving rise to a vortex (core) wave and associated eddies. Notching in FVWs based on centerline velocity (centerline FVW) is directly related to the passage of an eddy over the point of measurement on the centerline. Notching in FVWs based on maximum cross-sectional velocity (envelope FVW) is directly related to acceleration and deceleration of the fluid along the vortex wave. Results show that notching in envelope FVW is not present in flows with less than a 75% constriction. Furthermore, notching disappears as the vortex wave is attenuated at distances downstream of the constriction. In the flows with 75 and 85% constriction, notching of the envelope FVW disappears at ∼3.8 and ∼4.3 cm (respectively) downstream of the constriction. These results are of significant medical importance, given that envelope FVW is typically measured by commercial Doppler systems

Rapid generation of high-frequency internal waves beneath a wind and wave forced oceanic surface mixed layer

High-frequency internal waves generated by Langmuir motions over stratified water may be an important source of turbulent mixing below the surface mixed-layer. Large eddy simulations of a developing mixed-layer and inertial current are employed to investigate this phenomena. Uniform surface wind stress and parallel Stokes drift wave forcing rapidly establishes a turbulent mixed-layer flow, which (as the inertial motion veers off the wind) generates high-frequency internal waves in the stratified fluid below. The internal waves evolve such that their vector phase velocity matches the depth-averaged mixed-layer velocity that rotates as an inertial oscillation. The internal waves drain energy and momentum from the mixed-layer on decay time-scales that are comparable to those of near-inertial oscillations. The high-frequency waves, which are likely to be trapped in the transition layer, may significantly contribute to mixing there and thus provide a potentially important energy sink for mixed-layer inertial motions

Computational fluid dynamic analysis of flow velocity waveform notching in umbilical arteries

Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry waveform notching has long been associated with umbilical cord abnormalities, such as distortion, torsion, and/or compression (i.e., constriction). The physical mechanism by which the notching occurs has not been elucidated. Flow velocity waveforms (FVWs) from two-dimensional pulsatile flows in a constricted channel approximating a compressed umbilical cord are analyzed, leading to a clear relationship between the notching and the constriction. Two flows with an asymmetric, semi-elliptical constriction are computed using a stabilized finite-element method. In one case, the constriction blocks 75% of the flow passage, and in the other the constriction blocks 85%. Channel width and prescribed flow rates at the channel inflow are consistent with typical cord diameters and flow rates reported in the literature. Computational results indicate that waveform notching is caused by flow separation induced by the constriction, giving rise to a vortex (core) wave and associated eddies. Notching in FVWs based on centerline velocity (centerline FVW) is directly related to the passage of an eddy over the point of measurement on the centerline. Notching in FVWs based on maximum cross-sectional velocity (envelope FVW) is directly related to acceleration and deceleration of the fluid along the vortex wave. Results show that notching in envelope FVW is not present in flows with less than a 75% constriction. Furthermore, notching disappears as the vortex wave is attenuated at distances downstream of the constriction. In the flows with 75 and 85% constriction, notching of the envelope FVW disappears at ∼3.8 and ∼4.3 cm (respectively) downstream of the constriction. These results are of significant medical importance, given that envelope FVW is typically measured by commercial Doppler systems