European Journal of Mechanics B-fluids最新文献

In this work, a numerical study is conducted to analyze the spreading dynamics of an insoluble and non-diffusive surfactant through the Marangoni convection mechanism on the surface of a deep layer of a shear thickening fluid, whose behavior follows the power-law fluid rheological model. The momentum and convective–diffusion equations are non-dimensionalized and solved numerically by an implicit finite-difference scheme. The dynamic of the physical problem depends on dimensionless parameters that control the decay of the temporal variations in the surfactant concentration: the Reynolds number $Re$, the power index $n$, and $\varepsilon$ is the ratio between the wave amplitude and the mean surfactant concentration. The main findings show that opposite to shear-thinning fluids, shear-thickening fluids require less time to reach the uniform condition in the surfactant distribution due to a lower response to the inertia of the fluid; this time is even less than that needed for Newtonian fluids. Besides, both types, pseudoplastic and dilatant fluids, showed a similar response when varying the Reynolds number; as this parameter increases, the temporal decay of the surfactant concentration on the fluid surface increases while the distance over which the fluid motion is diffused towards the bottom of the fluid layer decreases.

Understanding the flow dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids is crucial in various engineering, industrial, and biomedical applications. However, the existing generalized Reynolds number formulations for non-Newtonian fluids have limited applicability due to their dependencies on their specific viscosity models. In this study, we propose a new viscosity-model-independent generalized Reynolds number formulation for laminar pipe flow. The proposed method is based on the direct adaptation of the measurement principles of rotational viscometers for wall shear rate estimation. We assess the accuracy of this proposed formulation for power-law and Carreau-Yasuda viscosity models through robust friction factor experiments. The experimental results demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed viscosity-model-independent Reynolds number, as the measured friction factor data align closely with our Reynolds number predictions. Furthermore, we compare the accuracy of our Reynolds number formulation against established generalized Reynolds formulations for pure shear-thinning (Carreau-Yasuda) and viscoplastic (Herschel-Bulkley-extended) models. The results of the comparative analysis confirm the reliability and robustness of this generalized Reynolds number in characterizing and interpreting flow behavior in systems with visco-inelastic non-Newtonian fluids. This unified generalized Reynolds number formulation presents new and significant opportunities for precise pipe flow characterization and interpretation as it is applicable to any visco-inelastic (time-independent) viscosity model without requiring additional derivations.

In rarefied gas dynamics, the Cercignani-Lampis (CL) scattering kernel, containing two accommodation coefficients (ACs), namely the tangential momentum and normal energy ones, is widely employed to characterize gas-surface interaction, particularly in non-isothermal setups, where both momentum and energy may simultaneously be exchanged. Here, a formal and detailed sensitivity analysis of the effect of the CL ACs on the main output quantities of several prototype problems, namely the cylindrical Poiseuille, thermal creep and thermomolecular pressure difference (TPD) flows, as well as the plane Couette flow and heat transfer (Fourier flow), is performed. In each problem, some uncertainties are randomly introduced in the ACs (input parameters) and via a Monte Carlo propagation analysis, the deduced uncertainty of the corresponding main output quantity is computed. The output uncertainties are compared to each other to determine the flow configuration and the gas rarefaction range, where a high sensitivity of the output quantities with respect to the CL ACs is observed. The flow setups and rarefaction regimes with high sensitivities are the most suitable ones for the estimations of the ACs, since larger modeling and experimental errors may be acceptable. In the Poiseuille and Couette flows, the uncertainties of the flow rate and shear stress respectively are several times larger than the input uncertainty in the tangential momentum AC and much smaller than the uncertainty in the normal energy AC in a wide range of gas rarefaction. In the thermal creep flow, the uncertainty of the flow rate depends on the input ones of both ACs, but, in general, it remains smaller than the input uncertainties. A similar behavior with the thermal creep flow is obtained in the TPD flow. On the contrary, in the Fourier flow, the uncertainty of the heat flux may be about the same or even larger than the input ones of both ACs in a wide range of gas rarefaction. It is deduced that in order to characterize the gas-surface interaction via the CL ACs by matching computations with measurements, it is more suitable to combine the Poiseuille (or Couette) and Fourier configurations, rather than, as it is commonly done, the Poiseuille and thermal creep ones. For example, in order to estimate the normal energy AC within an accuracy of 10 %, experimental uncertainties should be less than 4 % in the thermal creep or TPD flows, while may be about 10 % in the Fourier flow.

Droplet evaporation occurs in many natural phenomena and industrial processes; hence, several studies have been conducted on droplet evaporation. In many applications, a group of droplets evaporate and the interaction between them affects the evaporation process. In this paper, the front-tracking method is used to simulate the droplets groups evaporation. Since the front-tracking method uses a Lagrangian grid for each droplet, this method offers good accuracy in predicting the shape, the displacement and the evaporation rate of droplets. The numerical method has been developed to simulate the evaporation of binary droplets. The fluid surrounding the droplets is modeled as a gas mixture, so the numerical method can be used to simulate multiphase-multicomponent problems. The front-tracking method requires very fine grid resolution to simulate flows at high-density ratios; therefore, the method is rarely used at high-density ratios. In this paper, a two-step method is used to move the front at high-density ratios without requiring a very fine grid resolution. First, a static droplet evaporation is simulated, and the results are compared with the analytical solutions; evaporation of a Decane droplet is then simulated, and the results are compared with the experimental data. Subsequently, the evaporation of a binary droplet is modeled. The evaporation of a group of static droplets is also simulated, and the effect of droplets interaction is investigated. Next, the evaporation of three injected droplets is simulated, and the effect of some parameters on droplets interaction is probed. The evaporation rate and displacement of each droplet are calculated and compared with the single droplet. Finally, the evaporation of the groups of droplets is simulated, and the effect of different arrangements of droplets on the evaporation rate is studied. Understanding the droplets interactions is helpful in predicting droplet spray behavior and developing numerical methods. Thus, the presented results are useful to achieve a better understanding of the droplets interaction phenomenon, its outcomes, and the parameters affecting evaporation rate.

This work investigates the mixing phenomenon within rectangular cavities of various aspect ratios, all four sides driven at the same speed in a clockwise direction. For the creeping flow regime, an analytical solution using real eigenfunction expansion is derived. Inertia’s influence under higher flow rates is then numerically simulated using a built-in finite element technique in the Mathematica software. For a square cavity, the inherent structural symmetry is combined with the dynamical symmetry of the velocity field. However, changing the aspect ratio disrupts this symmetry in the horizontal and vertical velocities. Interestingly, unlike other wall-driven cavity flows found in the literature, the recirculating zone in this system forms a single vortex without any corner eddies at any Reynolds number. This unique feature offers tremendous potential for controlling the mixing process. In the highly viscous regime, the pressure field is dominated by odd functions in both x and y. As inertia increases, even functions in x and y become more significant, causing the velocities near the moving lids to overshoot their steady-state values. The extent of this overshoot depends on the cavity’s aspect ratio, and such a fast mixing regime could be valuable for industrial fluid mixing applications.

The application of saline solutions for surface coating is pertinent across multiple biomedical fields, various technological sectors, and industries, including agriculture. The drying of salt solution droplets is key to understanding and controlling morphological structures on surfaces. In this paper, we report the study of pattern formation from the evaporation of saline drops (NaCl, CsCl, and KCl) placed on pillars. Our findings indicate that regardless of saline concentration and type, the drying process can be categorized into three modes: stable, metastable, and unstable. In both the stable and metastable modes, the droplet fixes to the pillar during the drying process and ensuing pattern formation; however, the crucial distinction lies in the metastable mode, where the droplet additionally undergoes mass loss through fluid drainage from the walls of the pillars. Conversely, in the unstable drying mode, the droplet undergoes rapid collapse, leading to a substantial loss of mass. The distinct drying modes dictate the resulting patterns on the pillars. We employ measurements of configurational entropy and fractal dimension as quantitative metrics to assess the complexity, reproducibility, and similarity of patterns. The texture analysis reveals that, at low concentrations of both CsCl and KCl, significant differences emerge among the patterns produced by the different drying modes, especially highlighting differences in patterns of the stable drying mode. Finally, we analyze fertilizer deposition patterns to prove that all three drying modes can occur in complex fluids.

This study deals with an oblique wave interaction by a floating rigid rectangular structure in the presence of a porous barrier which is placed in front of the floating structure. By considering the bottom topography as an elevated-type and a trench-type bottom, it is assumed that the train of water waves interacts with the porous barrier and the floating structure due to which it undergoes partial reflection. The boundary value problem in the fluid domain, which is split into five sub-regions, is solved by the utilization of separation of variables technique and eigenfunction expansion. The impact of the porous barrier and bottom topography on the reflection coefficient and hydrodynamic forces acting on the floating structure is discussed. As the distance of the porous barrier from the floating structure increases, an oscillatory pattern in the reflection coefficient is observed. Further, when the height of the elevated bottom or trench-bottom increases, the reflection coefficient increases in both cases; the reflection is higher in the presence of a trench than that due to the elevated sea-bed. The obtained results are validated against an established result which shows a very close match.

The Soret effect, also known as thermal diffusion, plays a crucial role in the phenomenon of double diffusion convection in liquids. This study investigates Soret-driven convection within a vertical double-diffusive layer of Maxwell-Cattaneo (M-C) fluids, where the boundaries maintain constant temperatures and solute concentrations that are distinct from each other. The heat transfer equation for Maxwell-Cattaneo fluids is governed by a hyperbolic rule of heat conduction, rather than the typical Fourier parabolic one. The Chebyshev collocation method is employed to solve the corresponding stability eigenvalue problem. The neutral stability curve shows significant fluctuation responses due to the M-C effect. When the Cattaneo number (C) reaches 0.02, multiple local minima appear in the critical Grashof number (Gr). The instability the thermal convection is found to be amplified by the combined effects of Maxwell-Cattaneo and Soret, along with the Grashof number, while the double diffusion effect appears to suppress the instability of convective system. The influence of Soret effect on convective instability will diminish dramatically as the Gr number rises above 8200.

Integrating wave energy devices with coastal structures is a promising solution to reduce the cost of wave energy development along with additional shared benefits. In this study, the performance of a heaving spherical point absorber wave energy converter model in irregular waves is analysed and compared experimentally and numerically. After the fundamental investigation of models in regular waves, it is important to advance the testing in more realistic conditions before the sea trial phase. The investigations are conducted in irregular waves on a 1:30 scale model under two scenarios, (1) model heaving alone and (2) model heaving in a chambered breakwater. Irregular waves are generated based on the JONSWAP spectrum with modified parameters to suit the Indian coastal conditions. Results indicate that the wave energy converter model in the chambered breakwater produces 40.25 % higher power than the model heaving alone in irregular sea conditions. The performance of the model is found to be less compared to that in regular waves.

Flow stability plays a key role in transition to turbulence in various systems. This transition initiates with disturbances appearing in the laminar base flow, potentially amplifying over time based on flow and fluid parameters. In response to these amplified disturbances, the flow undergoes successive stages of different laminar flows, ultimately transitioning to turbulence. One influential parameter affecting flow stability is the nanoparticle volume fraction ($\varphi$) in nanofluids, extensively employed in thermofluid systems like cooling devices to enhance fluid thermal conductivity and the heat transfer coefficient. Focusing on the impact of nanoparticles on Jeffery–Hamel flow stability, this study assumes fluid properties are temperature- and pressure-independent, exclusively examining the momentum transfer aspect. The analysis commences by deriving the base laminar flow solution. Subsequently, linear temporal stability analysis is employed, imposing infinitesimally-small perturbations on the base flow as a modified form of normal modes. A generalized Orr–Sommerfeld equation is derived and solved using a spectral method. Results indicate that, assuming nanofluid viscosity as ${\mu }_{\mathrm{nf}}={\mu }_f/{(1-\varphi )}^{2.5}$, nanoparticle effects on momentum transfer and flow stability hinge on the ratio of nano-solid particle density to base fluid density ($R_{\rho }={\rho }_s/{\rho }_f$). For $\varphi \in (0,0.1]$, flow stabilization occurs with $\varphi$ when $R_{\rho }<3.5000$, while destabilization is observed when $R_{\rho }>4.0135$. Notably, nanoparticles exhibit a negligible impact on flow stability when $3.5000\le R_{\rho }\le 4.0135$.