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We present a systematic simulation campaign to investigate the pairwise interaction of two mobile, monodisperse particles submerged in a viscous fluid and subjected to monochromatic oscillating flows. To this end, we employ the immersed boundary method to geometrically resolve the flow around the two particles in a non-inertial reference frame. We neglect gravity to focus on fluid–particle interactions associated with particle inertia and consider particles of three different density ratios aligned along the axis of oscillation. We systematically vary the initial particle distance and the frequency based on which the particles show either attractive or repulsive behaviour by approaching or moving away from each other, respectively. This behaviour is consistently confirmed for the three density ratios investigated, although particle inertia dictates the overall magnitude of the particle dynamics. Based on this, threshold conditions for the transition from attraction to repulsion are introduced that obey the same power law for all density ratios investigated. We furthermore analyse the flow patterns by suitable averaging and decomposition of the flow fields and find competing effects of the vorticity induced by the fluid–particle interactions. Based on these flow patterns, we derive a circulation-based criterion that provides a quantitative measure to categorize the different cases. It is shown that such a criterion provides a consistent measure to distinguish the attractive and repulsive arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We interpret the Taylor-Green cellular vortex model in terms of the Kolmogorov length and velocity scales, in order to study the balance between aggregation and breakup of cohesive sediment in fine-scale turbulence. One-way coupled numerical simulations, which capture the effects of cohesive, lubrication and direct contact forces on the flocculation process, reproduce the non-monotonic relationship between the equilibrium floc size and shear rate observed in previous experiments. The one-way coupled results are confirmed by select two-way coupled simulations. Intermediate shear gives rise to the largest flocs, as it promotes preferential concentration of the primary particles without generating sufficiently strong turbulent stresses to break up the emerging aggregates. We find that the optimal intermediate shear rate increases for stronger cohesion and smaller particle-to-fluid density ratios, and we propose a simple model for the equilibrium floc size that agrees well with experimental data reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed comparison of the rheological behaviour of sheared sediment beds in a pressure-driven, straight channel configuration based on data that were generated by means of fully coupled, grain-resolved direct numerical simulations and experimental measurements previously published by Aussillous et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 736, 2013, pp. 594–615). The highly resolved simulation data allow us to compute the stress balance of the suspension in the streamwise and vertical directions and the stress exchange between the fluid and particle phases, which is information needed to infer the rheology, but has so far been unreachable in experiments. Applying this knowledge to the experimental and numerical data, we obtain the statistically stationary, depth-resolved profiles of the relevant rheological quantities. The scaling behaviour of rheological quantities such as the shear and normal viscosities and the effective friction coefficient are examined and compared to data coming from rheometry experiments and from widely used rheological correlations. We show that rheological properties that have previously been inferred for annular Couette-type shear flows with neutrally buoyant particles still hold for our set-up of sediment transport in a Poiseuille flow and in the dense regime we found good agreement with empirical relationships derived therefrom. Subdividing the total stress into parts from particle contact and hydrodynamics suggests a critical particle volume fraction of 0.3 to separate the dense from the dilute regime. In the dilute regime, i.e. the sediment transport layer, long-range hydrodynamic interactions are screened by the porous medium and the effective viscosity obeys the Einstein relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the dynamics of cohesive particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence, based on one-way coupled simulations that include Stokes drag, lubrication, cohesive and direct contact forces. We observe a transient flocculation phase, followed by a statistically steady equilibrium phase. We analyse the temporal evolution of floc size and shape due to aggregation, breakage and deformation. Larger turbulent shear and weaker cohesive forces yield smaller elongated flocs. Flocculation proceeds most rapidly when the fluid and particle time scales are balanced and a suitably defined Stokes number is $O(1)$. During the transient stage, cohesive forces of intermediate strength produce flocs of the largest size, as they are strong enough to cause aggregation, but not so strong as to pull the floc into a compact shape. Small Stokes numbers and weak turbulence delay the onset of the equilibrium stage. During equilibrium, stronger cohesive forces yield flocs of larger size. The equilibrium floc size distribution exhibits a preferred size that depends on the cohesive number. We observe that flocs are generally elongated by turbulent stresses before breakage. Flocs of size close to the Kolmogorov length scale preferentially align themselves with the intermediate strain direction and the vorticity vector. Flocs of smaller size tend to align themselves with the extensional strain direction. More generally, flocs are aligned with the strongest Lagrangian stretching direction. The Kolmogorov scale is seen to limit floc growth. We propose a new flocculation model with a variable fractal dimension that predicts the temporal evolution of the floc size and shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordinated laboratory experiments and computational simulations are conducted that explore the collective vertical migration of a swarm of inertial swimmers through a stably stratified density interface. Values of the governing parameters such as the swimmer- and swarm-scale Reynolds numbers, the Richardson number, as well as the animal number density in the swarm closely match each other in the simulations and experiments. In addition to intense mixing at the swimmer scale, the experiments and simulations demonstrate that the hydrodynamic interaction of the individual swimmers produces a spatially coherent source of thrust that results in the formation of a swarm-scale jet in the direction opposite to the migration. The jet velocity is seen to increase monotonically with the animal number density, at a sublinear rate. For steadily moving dilute swarms, the jet velocity is well predicted by a simple analytical model that assumes spatially uniform jet and swimmer velocities. Experimental measurements demonstrate effective diffusivity values up to three orders of magnitude larger than the molecular value. Numerical results are consistent with these observations, although they employ a larger molecular diffusivity and, hence, yield a lower ratio. The effective diffusivity is seen to increase linearly with the volume fraction of the swimmers. A continuum model is proposed for the generation of the swarm-scale jet, based on an idealization of the swarm as a self-propelled porous sphere. This model suggests that large swarms generate most of their mixing through the coherent swarm-scale jet, rather than by processes at the scale of individual swimmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a one-way coupled model that tracks individual primary particles in a conceptually simple cellular flow set-up to predict flocculation in turbulence. This computationally efficient model accounts for Stokes drag, lubrication, cohesive and direct contact forces on the primary spherical particles, and allows for a systematic simulation campaign that yields the transient mean floc size as a function of the governing dimensionless parameters. The simulations reproduce the growth of the cohesive flocs with time, and the emergence of a log-normal equilibrium distribution governed by the balance of aggregation and breakage. Flocculation proceeds most rapidly when the Stokes number of the primary particles is $O(1)$. Results from this simple computational model are consistent with experimental observations, thus allowing us to propose a new analytical flocculation model that yields improved agreement with experimental data, especially during the transient stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a physical and computational model for performing fully coupled, grain-resolved direct numerical simulations of cohesive sediment, based on the immersed boundary method. The model distributes the cohesive forces over a thin shell surrounding each particle, thereby allowing for the spatial and temporal resolution of the cohesive forces during particle–particle interactions. The influence of the cohesive forces is captured by a single dimensionless parameter in the form of a cohesion number, which represents the ratio of cohesive and gravitational forces acting on a particle. We test and validate the cohesive force model for binary particle interactions in the drafting–kissing–tumbling (DKT) configuration. Cohesive sediment grains can remain attached to each other during the tumbling phase following the initial collision, thereby giving rise to the formation of flocs. The DKT simulations demonstrate that cohesive particle pairs settle in a preferred orientation, with particles of very different sizes preferentially aligning themselves in the vertical direction, so that the smaller particle is drafted in the wake of the larger one. This preferred orientation of cohesive particle pairs is found to remain influential for systems of higher complexity. To this end, we perform large simulations of 1261 polydisperse settling particles starting from rest. These simulations reproduce several earlier experimental observations by other authors, such as the accelerated settling of sand and silt particles due to particle bonding, the stratification of cohesive sediment deposits, and the consolidation process of the deposit. They identify three characteristic phases of the polydisperse settling process, viz. (i) initial stir-up phase with limited flocculation, (ii) enhanced settling phase characterized by increased flocculation, and (iii) consolidation phase. The simulations demonstrate that cohesive forces accelerate the overall settling process primarily because smaller grains attach to larger ones and settle in their wakes. For the present cohesive number values, we observe that settling can be accelerated by up to 29 %. We propose physically based parametrization of classical hindered settling functions introduced by earlier authors, in order to account for cohesive forces. An investigation of the energy budget shows that, even though the work of the collision forces is much smaller than that of the hydrodynamic drag forces, it can substantially modify the relevant energy conversion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of shear on double-diffusive fingering and on the settling-driven instability are assessed by means of a transient growth analysis. Employing Kelvin waves within a linearized framework allows for the consideration of time-dependent waveforms in uniform shear. In this way, the effects of boundaries and of shear-driven instability modes can be eliminated, so that the influence of shear on the double-diffusive and settling-driven instabilities can be analysed in isolation. Shear is seen to dampen both instabilities, which is consistent with previous findings by other authors. The shear damping is more pronounced for parameter values that produce larger unsheared growth. These trends can be explained in terms of instantaneous linear stability results for the unsheared case. For both double-diffusive and settling-driven instabilities, low Prandtl number (Pr) values result in less damping and an increased importance of the Orr mechanism, for which a quantitative scaling law is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vorticity-based modelling approach originally introduced by Borden & Meiburg (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 726, 2013b, R1) is extended to gravity currents propagating into two-layer stratified ambients. Vorticity models are developed for three different flow configurations: no upstream-propagating wave, an upstream-propagating expansion wave only and an upstream-propagating expansion wave and a bore. For a given gravity current height and stratification strength, along with ambient inflow layer thicknesses and velocities, the models yield the gravity current velocity, the bore and expansion wave properties and the ambient outflow layer thicknesses and velocities. We furthermore establish which of the three configurations will occur in a given parameter regime. Since energy-related closure assumptions are not required for any of the configurations, we can determine the dissipation as a function of the gravity current height, for a given set of flow parameters. To investigate which gravity current height is selected in real flows, we carry out two-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulations for comparison. These yield gravity current heights close to the vorticity model solutions for energy-conserving flows. Hence we adopt these energy-conserving solutions as the vorticity model predictions. We subsequently discuss these predictions in the context of earlier models by other authors, and of two-layer stratified flows over obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium intrusions released from long, full-depth locks and advancing into linearly stratified ambients are investigated via a vorticity-based modelling approach, for the constant-velocity slumping phase. Non-equilibrium intrusions give rise to an upstream-propagating wave, which we model as a bore. Predictions by the vorticity model agree closely with two-dimensional direct numerical simulation results and earlier experimental and computational data regarding front velocities, current thicknesses as well as the height and propagation velocity of the bore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the linear stability of stably stratified fluids whose density depends on two scalar fields where one of the scalar fields is unstably stratified and involves a settling velocity. Such conditions may be found, for example, in flows involving the transport of sediment in addition to heat or salt. A linear stability analysis for constant-gradient base states demonstrates that the settling velocity generates a phase shift between the perturbation fields of the two scalars, which gives rise to a novel, settling-driven instability mode. This instability mechanism favours the growth of waves that are inclined with respect to the horizontal. It is active for all density and diffusivity ratios, including for cases in which the two scalars diffuse at identical rates. If the scalars have unequal diffusivities, it competes with the elevator mode waves of the classical double-diffusive instability. We present detailed linear stability results as a function of the governing dimensionless parameters, including for lateral gradients of the base state density fields that result in predominantly horizontal intrusion instabilities. Highly resolved direct numerical simulation results serve to illustrate the nonlinear competition of the various instabilities for such flows in different parameter regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When particles settle through a stable temperature or salinity gradient they can drive an instability known as sedimentary fingering convection. This phenomenon is thought to occur beneath sediment-rich river plumes in lakes and oceans, in the context of marine snow where decaying organic materials serve as the suspended particles or in the atmosphere in the presence of aerosols or volcanic ash. Laboratory experiments of Houk & Green (Deep-Sea Res., vol. 20, 1973, pp. 757-761) and Green (Sedimentology, vol. 34(2), 1987, pp. 319-331) have shown sedimentary fingering convection to be similar to the more commonly known thermohaline fingering convection in many ways. Here, we study the phenomenon using three-dimensional direct numerical simulations. We find evidence for layer formation in sedimentary fingering convection in regions of parameter space where it does not occur for non-sedimentary systems. This is due to two complementary effects. Sedimentation affects the turbulent fluxes and broadens the region of parameter space unstable to the γ -instability (Radko, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 497, 2003, pp. 365-380) to include systems at larger density ratios. It also gives rise to a new layering instability that exists in γ -stable regimes. The former is likely quite ubiquitous in geophysical systems for sufficiently large settling velocities, while the latter probably grows too slowly to be relevant, at least in the context of sediments in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the vorticity-based modelling approach of Borden & Meiburg (Phys. Fluids, vol. 25 (10), 2013, 101301) to non-Boussinesq gravity currents and derive an analytical expression for the Froude number without the need for an energy closure or any assumptions about the pressure. The Froude-number expression we obtain reduces to the correct form in the Boussinesq limit and agrees closely with simulation data. Via detailed comparisons with simulation results, we furthermore assess the validity of three key assumptions underlying both our as well as earlier models: (i) steady-state flow in the moving reference frame; (ii) inviscid flow; and (iii) horizontal flow sufficiently far in front of and behind the current. The current approach does not require an assumption of zero velocity in the current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a layer of particle-laden fresh water is placed above clear, saline water, both double-diffusive and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities may arise. The present investigation extends the linear stability analysis of Burns & Meiburg (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 691, 2012, pp. 279–314) into the nonlinear regime, by means of two- and three-dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS). The initial instability growth in the DNS is seen to be consistent with the dominant modes predicted by the linear stability analysis. The subsequent vigorous growth of individual fingers gives rise to a secondary instability, and eventually to the formation of intense plumes that become detached from the interfacial region. The simulations show that the presence of particles with a Stokes settling velocity modifies the traditional double-diffusive fingering by creating an unstable ‘nose region’ in the horizontally averaged profiles, located between the upward-moving salinity and the downward-moving sediment interface. The effective thickness $l_{s}$ ($l_{c}$) of the salinity (sediment) interface grows diffusively, as does the height $H$ of the nose region. The ratio $H/l_{s}$ initially grows and then plateaus, at a value that is determined by the balance between the flux of sediment into the rose region from above, the double-diffusive/Rayleigh–Taylor flux out of the nose region below, and the rate of sediment accumulation within the nose region. For small values of $H/l_{s}\leqslant O(0.1)$, double-diffusive fingering dominates, while for larger values $H/l_{s}\geqslant O(0.1)$ the sediment and salinity interfaces become increasingly separated in space and the dominant instability mode becomes Rayleigh–Taylor like. A scaling analysis based on the results of a parametric study indicates that $H/l_{s}$ is a linear function of a single dimensionless grouping that can be interpreted as the ratio of inflow and outflow of sediment into the nose region. The simulation results furthermore indicate that double-diffusive and Rayleigh–Taylor instability mechanisms cause the effective settling velocity of the sediment to scale with the overall buoyancy velocity of the system, which can be orders of magnitude larger than the Stokes settling velocity. While the power spectra of double-diffusive and Rayleigh–Taylor-dominated flows are qualitatively similar, the difference between flows dominated by fingering and leaking is clearly seen when analysing the spectral phase shift. For leaking-dominated flows a phase-locking mechanism is observed, which intensifies with time. Hence, the leaking mode can be interpreted as a fingering mode which has become phase-locked due to large-scale overturning events in the nose region, as a result of a Rayleigh–Taylor instability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Direct numerical simulations are employed to investigate the interactions of bidisperse turbidity currents with three-dimensional seafloor topography in the form of Gaussian bumps. Results for two different bump heights are compared against currents propagating over a flat surface. The bump heights are chosen such that the current largely flows over the smaller bump, while it primarily flows around the taller bump. Furthermore, the effects of the settling velocity are investigated by comparing turbidity currents with corresponding compositional gravity currents. The influence of the bottom topography on the front velocity of turbidity currents is seen to be much weaker than the influence of the particle settling velocity. Consistent with earlier work on gravity currents propagating over flat boundaries, the influence of the Reynolds number on the front velocity of currents interacting with three-dimensional bottom topography is found to be small, as long as $\mathit{Re}\geq O(1000)$. The lobe-and-cleft structures, on the other hand, exhibit a stronger influence of the Reynolds number. The current/bump interaction deforms the bottom boundary-layer vorticity into traditional horseshoe vortices, with a downwash region in the centre of the wake. At the same time, the vorticity originating in the mixing layer between the current and the ambient interacts with the bump in such a way as to form ‘inverted horseshoe vortices’, with an upwash region in the wake centre. Additional streamwise vortical structures form as a result of baroclinic vorticity generation. The dependence of the sedimentation rate and streamwise vorticity generation on the height of the bump are discussed, and detailed analyses are presented of the energy budget and bottom wall-shear stress. It is shown that for typical laboratory-scale experiments, the range of parameters explored in the present investigation will not give rise to bedload transport or sediment resuspension. Based on balance arguments for the kinetic and potential energy components, a scaling law is obtained for the maximum bump height over which gravity currents can travel. This scaling law is validated by simulation results, and it provides a criterion for distinguishing between ‘short’ and ‘tall’ topographical features. For turbidity currents, this scaling result represents an upper limit. An interesting non-monotonic influence of the bump height is observed on the long-term propagation velocity of the current. On the one hand, the lateral deflection of the current by the bump leads to an effective increase in the current height and its front velocity in the region away from the bump. At the same time, taller bumps result in a more vigorous three-dimensional evolution of the current, accompanied by increased levels of dissipation, which slows the current down. For small bumps, the former mechanism dominates, so that on average the current front propagates faster than its flat bottom counterpart. For currents interacting with larger bumps, however, the increased dissipation becomes dominant, so that they exhibit a reduced front velocity as compared to currents propagating over flat surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Direct numerical simulations of the variable density and viscosity Navier–Stokes equations are employed, in order to explore three-dimensional effects within miscible displacements in horizontal Hele-Shaw cells. These simulations identify a number of mechanisms concerning the interaction of viscous fingering with a spanwise Rayleigh–Taylor instability. The dominant wavelength of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability along the upper, gravitationally unstable side of the interface generally is shorter than that of the fingering instability. This results in the formation of plumes of the more viscous resident fluid not only in between neighbouring viscous fingers, but also along the centre of fingers, thereby destroying their shoulders and splitting them longitudinally. The streamwise vorticity dipoles forming as a result of the spanwise Rayleigh–Taylor instability place viscous resident fluid in between regions of less viscous, injected fluid, thereby resulting in the formation of gapwise vorticity via the traditional, gap-averaged viscous fingering mechanism. This leads to a strong spatial correlation of both vorticity components. For stronger density contrasts, the streamwise vorticity component increases, while the gapwise component is reduced, thus indicating a transition from viscously dominated to gravitationally dominated displacements. Gap-averaged, time-dependent concentration profiles show that variable density displacement fronts propagate more slowly than their constant density counterparts. This indicates that the gravitational mixing results in a more complete expulsion of the resident fluid from the Hele-Shaw cell. This observation may be of interest in the context of enhanced oil recovery or carbon sequestration applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A computational investigation of variable density and viscosity, miscible displacements in horizontal Hele-Shaw cells is presented. As a first step, two-dimensional base states are obtained by means of simulations of the Stokes equations, which are nonlinear due to the dependence of the viscosity on the local concentration. Here, the vertical position of the displacement front is seen to reach a quasisteady equilibrium value, reflecting a balance between viscous and gravitational forces. These base states allow for two instability modes: first, there is the familiar tip instability driven by the unfavourable viscosity contrast of the displacement, which is modulated by the presence of density variations in the gravitational field; second, a gravitational instability occurs at the unstably stratified horizontal interface along the side of the finger. Both of these instability modes are investigated by means of a linear stability analysis. The gravitational mode along the side of the finger is characterized by a wavelength of about one half to one full gap width. It becomes more unstable as the gravity parameter increases, even though the interface is shifted closer to the wall. The growth rate is largest far behind the finger tip, where the interface is both thicker, and located closer to the wall, than near the finger tip. The competing influences of interface thickness and wall proximity are clarified by means of a parametric stability analysis. The tip instability mode represents a gravity-modulated version of the neutrally buoyant mode. The analysis shows that in the presence of density stratification its growth rate increases, while the dominant wavelength decreases. This overall destabilizing effect of gravity is due to the additional terms appearing in the stability equations, which outweigh the stabilizing effects of gravity onto the base state. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When a layer of particle-laden fresh water is placed above clear, saline water, both Rayleigh–Taylor and double diffusive fingering instabilities may arise. For quasi-steady base profiles, we obtain linear stability results for such situations by means of a rational spectral approximation method with adaptively chosen grid points, which is able to resolve multiple steep gradients in the base state density profile. In the absence of salinity and for a step-like concentration profile, the dominant parameter is the ratio of the particle settling velocity to the viscous velocity scale. As long as this ratio is small, particle settling has a negligible influence on the instability growth. However, when the particles settle more rapidly than the instability grows, the growth rate decreases inversely proportional to the settling velocity. This damping effect is a result of the smearing of the vorticity field, which in turn is caused by the deposition of vorticity onto the fluid elements passing through the interface between clear and particle-laden fluid. In the presence of a stably stratified salinity field, this picture changes dramatically. An important new parameter is the ratio of the particle settling velocity to the diffusive spreading velocity of the salinity, or alternatively the ratio of the unstable layer thickness to the diffusive interface thickness of the salinity profile. As long as this quantity does not exceed unity, the instability of the system and the most amplified wavenumber are primarily determined by double diffusive effects. In contrast to situations without salinity, particle settling can have a destabilizing effect and significantly increase the growth rate. Scaling laws obtained from the linear stability results are seen to be largely consistent with earlier experimental observations and theoretical arguments put forward by other authors. For unstable layer thicknesses much larger than the salinity interface thickness, the particle and salinity interfaces become increasingly decoupled, and the dominant instability mode becomes Rayleigh–Taylor-like, centred at the lower boundary of the particle-laden flow region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We investigate the linear stability of miscible, viscosity-layered Poiseuille flow. In the Stokes flow regime, diffusion is observed to have a destabilizing effect very similar to that of inertia in finite-Reynolds-number flows. For two-layer flows, four types of instability can dominate, depending on the interface location. Two interfacial modes exhibit large growth rates, while two additional bulk modes grow more slowly. Three-layer Stokes flows give rise to diffusive modes for each interface. These two diffusive interface modes can be in resonance, thereby enhancing the growth rate. Furthermore, modes without inertia and diffusion are also observed, consistent with a previous long-wave analysis for sharp interfaces. In contrast to that earlier investigation, the present analysis demonstrates that instability can also occur when the more viscous layer is in the centre, at larger wavenumbers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A linear stability analysis is carried out for the interaction of an erodible sediment bed with a sediment-laden, stratified flow above the bed, such as a turbidity or bottom current. The fluid motion is described by the full, two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation, while erosion is modelled as a diffusive flux of particles from the bed into the fluid. The stability analysis shows the existence of both Tollmien–Schlichting and internal wave modes in the stratified boundary layer. For the internal wave mode, the stratified boundary layer acts as a wave duct, whose height can be determined analytically from the Brunt–Väisälä frequency criterion. Consistent with this criterion, distinct unstable perturbation wavenumber regimes exist for the internal wave mode, which are associated with different numbers of pressure extrema in the wall-normal direction. For representative turbidity current parameters, the analysis predicts unstable wavelengths that are consistent with field observations. As a key condition for instability to occur, the base flow velocity boundary layer needs to be thinner than the corresponding concentration boundary layer. For most of the unstable wavenumber ranges, the phase relations between the sediment bed deformation and the associated wall shear stress and concentration perturbations are such that the sediment waves migrate in the upstream direction, which again is consistent with field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The flow of compositional gravity currents past circular cylinders mounted above a wall is investigated numerically. Two- and three-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulations are employed to quantify the force load on the cylinder, along with the friction velocity at the bottom wall near the cylinder, for Reynolds numbers in the range of 2000-45 000. While two-dimensional simulations accurately capture the impact stage, they are seen to overpredict the force and friction velocity fluctuations throughout the transient stage. Comparisons between gravity current and constant-density flows past circular cylinders show that the impact and transient stages are unique to gravity current flows. During the quasi-steady stage, on the other hand, the wake structures and the values of the drag, the peak-to-peak lift, the vortex shedding frequency and the friction velocity below the cylinder are comparable. The friction velocity below the cylinder depends chiefly on the Reynolds number formed with the front velocity and the gap width. The maximum friction velocity at impact is about 60%larger than during the quasi-steady stage or in a constant-density flow. This raises the possibility of aggressive erosion behaviour at impact, which may occur in a spanwise localized fashion because of the larger friction velocity near the lobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravity currents intruding into a uniformly stratified ambient are examined in a series of finite-volume full-depth lock-release laboratory experiments and in numerical simulations. Previous studies have focused on gravity currents which are denser than fluid at the bottom of the ambient or on symmetric cases in which the intrusion is the average of the ambient density. Here, we vary the density of the intrusion between these two extremes. After an initial adjustment, the intrusions and the internal waves they generate travel at a constant speed. For small departures from symmetry, the intrusion speed depends weakly upon density relative to the ambient fluid density. However, the internal wave speed approximately doubles as the waves change from having a mode-2 structure when generated by symmetric intrusions to having a mode-1 structure when generated by intrusions propagating near the bottom. In the latter circumstance, the interactions between the intrusion and internal waves reflected from the lock-end of the tank are sufficiently strong and so the intrusion stops propagating before reaching the end of the tank. These observations are corroborated by the analysis of two-dimensional numerical simulations of the experimental conditions. These reveal a significant transfer of available potential energy to the ambient in asymmetric circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsteady drag and lift generated by the interaction of a gravity current with a bottom-mounted square cylinder are investigated by means of high-resolution Navier-Stokes simulations. Two-dimensional simulations for Reynolds numbers (Re) O(1000) and three-dimensional simulations for Re=O(10 000) demonstrate that the drag coefficient increases exponentially towards a maximum as the current meets the cylinder, then undergoes strong fluctuations and eventually approaches a quasi-steady value. The simulation results show that the maximum drag coefficient can reach a value of 3, with the quasi-steady value being O(1), which should aid in selecting a design drag coefficient for submarine structures under the potential impact of gravity currents. The transient drag and lift fluctuations after impact are associated with the Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices in the mixing layer between the gravity current and the ambient fluid. As these vortices pass over the cylinder, they cause the convection of separated flow regions along the bottom wall towards the cylinder. In two-dimensional simulations at Re=O(10 000), these flow structures are seen to be unrealistically coherent and to persist throughout the interaction, thus resulting in a noticeable overprediction of the drag and lift fluctuations. On the other hand, the impact of the current on the cylinder is seen to be very well captured by two-dimensional simulations at all Re values. Three-dimensional simulations lead to excellent agreement with available experimental data throughout the flow/structure interaction. They show that the spanwise variation of the drag is determined by the gravity current's lobe-and-cleft structure at impact and by an unsteady cellular flow structure similar to that found in constant-density flows at later times. A comparison between gravity-current flows and corresponding constant-density flows shows the hydrostatic drag component to be important for gravity currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The convective/absolute nature of the instability of miscible core-annular flow with variable viscosity is investigated via linear stability analysis and nonlinear simulations. From linear analysis, it is found that miscible core-annular flows with the more viscous fluid in the core are at most convectively unstable. On the other hand, flows with the less viscous fluid in the core exhibit absolute instability at high viscosity ratios, over a limited range of core radii. Nonlinear direct numerical simulations in a semi-infinite domain display self-excited intrinsic oscillations if and only if the underlying base flow exhibits absolute instability. This oscillator-type flow behaviour is demonstrated to be associated with the presence of a nonlinear global mode. Both the parameter range of global instability and the intrinsically selected frequency of nonlinear oscillations, as observed in the simulation, are accurately predicted from linear criteria. In convectively unstable situations, the flow is shown to respond to external forcing over an unstable range of frequencies, in quantitative agreement with linear theory. As discussed in part 1 of this study (d'Olce, Martin, Rakotomalala, Salin and Talon, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 618, 2008, pp. 305-322), self-excited synchronized oscillations were also observed experimentally. An interpretation of these experiments is attempted on the basis of the numerical results presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vortex breakdown of nominally axisymmetric, swirling incompressible flows with jet- and wake-like axial velocity distributions issuing into a semi-infinite domain is studied by means of direct numerical simulations. By selecting a two-parametric velocity profile for which the steady axisymmetric breakdown is well-studied (Grabowski & Berger 1976), issues are addressed regarding the role of three-dimensionality and unsteadiness with respect to the existence, mode selection, and internal structure of vortex breakdown, in terms of the two governing parameters and the Reynolds number. Low Reynolds numbers are found to yield flow fields lacking breakdown bubbles or helical breakdown modes even for high swirl. In contrast, highly swirling flows at large Reynolds numbers exhibit bubble, helical or double-helical breakdown modes, where the axisymmetric mode is promoted by a jet-like axial velocity profile, while a wake-like profile renders the flow helically unstable and ultimately yields non-axisymmetric breakdown modes. It is shown that a transition from super- to subcritical flow, as defined by Benjamin (1962), accurately predicts the parameter combination yielding breakdown, if applied locally to flows with supercritical inflow profiles. Thus the basic form of breakdown is axisymmetric, and a transition to helical breakdown modes is shown to be caused by a sufficiently large pocket of absolute instability in the wake of the bubble, giving rise to a self-excited global mode. Two distinct eigenfunctions corresponding to azimuthal wavenumbers m = − 1 and m − 2 have been found to yield a helical or double-helical breakdown mode, respectively. Here the minus sign represents the fact that the winding sense of the spiral is opposite to that of the flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]