Fluid Mechanics at Interfaces 2: Case Studies and Instabilities

Chapter 1 addresses certain aspects of turbulence in discrete mechanics, briefly describing the physical model associated with discrete primal and dual geometric topologies before focusing on channel flow simulations at turbulence-inducing Reynolds numbers. Chapter 2 centers on atomization in an accelerating domain. In one case, an initial Kelvin–Helmholtz instability generates an acceleration field, in turn creating a Rayleigh–Taylor instability which ultimately determines the size of the droplets formed. Chapter 3 explores numerical studies of pipes with sudden contraction using OpenFOAM, and focuses on modeling that will be useful for engines and automobiles.

Chapters 4 and 5 study the evaporation of droplets that are subject to high-frequency perturbations, a possible cause of instabilities in injection engines. The Heidmann model, which replaces the droplets in motion in a combustion chamber with a single continuously-fed droplet, is made more complex by considering the finite conduction heat transfer phenomenon. Finally, Chapter 6 is devoted to a study of the rotor blade surface of a Savonius wind turbine, considering both a non-stationary and a three-dimensional flow.