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Temporal dynamics of large-scale structures for turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection in a moderate aspect-ratio cylinder

Journal Article · · Journal of Fluid Mechanics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2020.588· OSTI ID:1670180
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
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We investigate the spatial organization and temporal dynamics of large-scale, coherent structures in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection via direct numerical simulation of a 6.3 aspect-ratio cylinder with Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers of 9.6×107 and 6.7, respectively. Fourier modal decomposition is performed to investigate the structural organization of the coherent turbulent motions by analysing the length scales, time scales and the underlying dynamical processes that are ultimately responsible for the large-scale structure formation and evolution. We observe a high level of rotational symmetry in the large-scale structure in this study and that the structure is well described by the first four azimuthal Fourier modes. Two different large-scale organizations are observed during the duration of the simulation and these patterns are dominated spatially and energetically by azimuthal Fourier modes with frequencies of 2 and 3. Studies of the transition between these two large-scale patterns, radial and vertical variations in the azimuthal energy spectra, as well as the spatial and modal variations in the system's correlation time are conducted. Rotational dynamics are observed for individual Fourier modes and the global structure with strong similarities to the dynamics that have been reported for unit aspect-ratio domains in prior works. It is shown that the large-scale structures have very long correlation time scales, on the order of hundreds to thousands of free-fall time units, and that they are the primary source for a horizontal inhomogeneity within the system that can be observed during a finite, but a very long-time simulation or experiment.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Science Foundation (NSF); Arizona State University's Dean's Fellowship
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1670180
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1670726
Report Number(s):
SAND--2020-5368J; 686278
Journal Information:
Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal Name: Journal of Fluid Mechanics Vol. 901; ISSN 0022-1120
Publisher:
Cambridge University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Figures / Tables (22)

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Table 2(p. 38)table Table 2

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Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
Benard convection
Convection
Turbulent flows