Rapid distortion analysis of high speed homogeneous turbulence subject to periodic shear
Abstract
The effect of unsteady shear forcing on small perturbation growth in compressible flow is investigated. In particular, flow-thermodynamic field interaction and the resulting effect on the phase-lag between applied shear and Reynolds stress are examined. Simplified linear analysis of the perturbation pressure equation reveals crucial differences between steady and unsteady shear effects. The analytical findings are validated with numerical simulations of inviscid rapid distortion theory (RDT) equations. In contrast to steadily sheared compressible flows, perturbations in the unsteady (periodic) forcing case do not experience an asymptotic growth phase. Further, the resonance growth phenomenon found in incompressible unsteady shear turbulence is absent in the compressible case. Overall, the stabilizing influence of both unsteadiness and compressibility is compounded leading to suppression of all small perturbations. The underlying mechanisms are explained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4937954
Entities
People
- Rebecca L. Bertsch
- Sharath S. Girimaji
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Texas A&M University