Discrete Vortex Modelling of Turbulent Flow in Two Dimensions

Authors

  • A.A. Adegbola Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
  • O.O. Ajide Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Turbulent flow, discrete vortex modeling, free surface flow in channel, Helmholtz instability, irregularity, high momentum convection.

Abstract

There has been growing need to characterize the turbulent flow through a
simplified model. This paper reports the characterization of turbulent flow in two
dimensions using discrete vortex modelling. The free surface flow in channel is
considered as a case study. Appropriate flow charts and FORTRAN source codes were
developed to solve the main governing equations of fluid flow. The Reynolds number
which is the control parameter from 100,000 (experimental transition point) at an interval
of 10,000 to 1,000,000 is used and the result is displayed using Microsoft Excel Graph.
After the four stages of transition process due to Helmholtz instability, the turbulent
region is reached, which is characterized by irregularity, low momentum diffusion, high
momentum convection, and rapid variation of velocity. The result has shown that
turbulent flow can be characterized with ease by using discrete vortex modelling.

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Published

2012-04-02

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2012): Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering and Science

Section

Articles