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The analysis and simulation of compressible turbulenceCompressible turbulent flows at low turbulent Mach numbers are considered. Contrary to the general belief that such flows are almost incompressible, (i.e., the divergence of the velocity field remains small for all times), it is shown that even if the divergence of the initial velocity field is negligibly small, it can grow rapidly on a non-dimensional time scale which is the inverse of the fluctuating Mach number. An asymptotic theory which enables one to obtain a description of the flow in terms of its divergence-free and vorticity-free components has been developed to solve the initial-value problem. As a result, the various types of low Mach number turbulent regimes have been classified with respect to the initial conditions. Formulae are derived that accurately predict the level of compressibility after the initial transients have disappeared. These results are verified by extensive direct numerical simulations of isotropic turbulence.
Document ID
19900013223
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Erlebacher, Gordon
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA., United States)
Hussaini, M. Y.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA., United States)
Kreiss, H. O.
(California Univ. Los Angeles., United States)
Sarkar, S.
(Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1990
Subject Category
Aerodynamics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-181997
ICASE-90-15
NAS 1.26:181997
AD-A227100
Accession Number
90N22539
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-18605
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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