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The vorticity versus the scalar criterion for the detection of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2014

Markus Gampert ,
Jonas Boschung ,
Fabian Hennig ,
Michael Gauding  and
Norbert Peters
Markus Gampert
Affiliation:
Institute for Combustion Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 64, Aachen, Germany
Jonas Boschung*
Affiliation:
Institute for Combustion Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 64, Aachen, Germany
Fabian Hennig
Affiliation:
Institute for Combustion Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 64, Aachen, Germany
Michael Gauding
Affiliation:
Institute for Combustion Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 64, Aachen, Germany
Norbert Peters
Affiliation:
Institute for Combustion Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 64, Aachen, Germany
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

Based on a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a temporally evolving mixing layer, we present a detailed study of the turbulent/non-turbulent (T/NT) interface that is defined using the two most common procedures in the literature, namely either a vorticity or a scalar criterion. The different detection approaches are examined qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of the interface position, conditional statistics and orientation of streamlines and vortex lines at the interface. Computing the probability density function (p.d.f.) of the mean location of the T/NT interface from vorticity and scalar allows a detailed comparison of the two methods, where we observe a very good agreement. Furthermore, conditional mean profiles of various quantities are evaluated. In particular, the position p.d.f.s for both criteria coincide and are found to follow a Gaussian distribution. The terms of the governing equations for vorticity and passive scalar are conditioned on the distance to the interface and analysed. At the interface, vortex stretching is negligible and the displacement of the vorticity interface is found to be determined by diffusion, analogous to the scalar interface. In addition, the orientation of vortex lines at the vorticity and the scalar based T/NT interface are analyzed. For both interfaces, vorticity lines are perpendicular to the normal vector of the interface, i.e. parallel to the interface isosurface.

JFM classification

Mixing: Mixing Turbulent Flows: Shear layer turbulence Turbulent Flows: Turbulent Flows
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 750 , 10 July 2014 , pp. 578 - 596
Copyright
© 2014 Cambridge University Press 

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