Vikram Roy et al.

/ International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology

Vol. 2(6), 2010, 1569-1574
Analysis of the Turbulent Fluid Flow in an
Axi-symmetric Sudden Expansion
Vikram Roy
1*
,

Snehamoy Majumder
2
, Dipankar Sanyal
2
1
Post Graduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032


2
Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032


Abstract
The turbulent fluid flow through the sudden expansion passage is of scientific and industrial significance. The
numerical analysis of the turbulent fluid flow through an axi-symmetric sudden expansion passage has been carried
out by using modified k -e model, taking into consideration the effects of the streamline curvature. The variations
of the size and strength of the recirculation bubble for different Reynolds numbers and expansion ratios have been
analyzed. The recirculation bubble generated due to the sudden expansion of the passage is observed to reduce in
size and strength with the increase in the Reynolds number. But the size and strength of the recirculation bubble
increases with the increase in the expansion ratio. The radial distributions of the turbulent energy and the axial
velocity have been obtained.

Keywords: turbulent flow, recirculation bubble, k- model, Reynolds number, expansion ratio, turbulent energy
1. Introduction
The turbulent fluid flows through sudden expansion passage have both fundamental scientific interest and
numerous practical applications. In this type of flow the flowfield consists of the separated boundary layer, a
recirculation zone and a reattachment point. The experimental analysis for the recirculating flows in the downstream
of the flat duct sudden expansion was presented by Aloui et al (2000). Casarsa et al (2008) proposed that the flow
structures were sensitive to the variation of the Reynolds number. Chaurvedi (1963) first analyzed the flow
characteristics in the axi-symmetric expansion. The turbulent separated and reattaching flows produced by the
sudden expansion in a pipe was studied by Devenport et al (1993).
Guo et al (2001) numerically solved the unsteady turbulent flow behind the axi-symmetric the sudden expansion.
By applying large-eddy simulation (LES) Ko et al (2002) examined the behavior of the turbulent flow inside the
downstream of the sudden-expansion cylindrical chamber. Laufer (1954) carried out in detail the first experiment on
the fully developed turbulent flow in a circular duct. By using the modifications of the standard k- model for
streamline curvature Launder et al (1974) numerically investigated the turbulent flow in a circular duct. Moin et al
(1997) by applying the direct numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations numerically solved the turbulent
flow over the backward-facing step.

2. Physical Description

In fig.1 the flow geometry has been shown in the cylindrical coordinate system with r -x axes. The flow at inlet
is non-reacting and along the axial direction. In the figure the inlet velocity is shown by u
n
. A fully developed
velocity profile is taken at the inlet. The inlet axial velocity is uniform. The value of the inlet velocity varies from 1
m/s to 40 m/s. Here r
i
is the radius at the upstream of the channel and its value is taken to be 2.5 m. The radius of the
passage at the downstream varies from 3 m to 4.5 m. The upstream length of the passage is 5 m and the downstream
length of the passage is 30 m. Both the upstream and downstream length remains constant. It is to be noted that the
no slip wall boundary condition has been taken for the solid wall and the fully developed flow condition has been
taken at the outlet. While the zero shear stress condition has been taken for the axis.

ISSN: 0975-5462 1569
Vikram Roy et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
Vol. 2(6), 2010, 1569-1574


Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the flow through Axi-symmetric sudden expansion

3. Governing Equations

Continuity Equation
(pu)
x
+
1

(p)

= u (1)
Momentum Equations
Axial component (z-component)
j:
u

+u
u
x
[ = -
p
x
+

x
[p
c]]

u
x
+
1

[rp
c]]

u

+ j

x
[p
c]]

u
x
+
1

[p
c]]

x
[ (2)
Radial component (r-component)
j:

+u

x
[ = -
p
z
+

x
[p
c]]

x
+
1

[rp
c]]

x
[p
c]]

u

+
1

[rp
c]]

- 2 p
c]]

2

(3)
The total effective viscosity of the flow is given by,
p
c]]
= p
I
+p
t
(4)
The eddy viscosity, p
t
is given by
p
t
= pC

k
2
e

4. The Turbulent Modelling

The transport equations governing the turbulence properties, k and s can be obtained from the Navier-Stokes
equation. The k and s equations are as follows,

k - Equation
p ju
k
x
+:
k

[ =

x
j[p
I
+

t
c
k

k
x
[ +
1

jr [p
I
+

t
c
k

[ +p0 -pe (5)

r
u
in
R
L
L
i
r
i
AXIS
OUTLET
WALL
X
ISSN: 0975-5462 1570
Vikram Roy et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
Vol. 2(6), 2010, 1569-1574
Where, G is the production term and is given by
0 = p
t
_2_[

2
+[
u
x

2
+[

2
_ +[
u

2
_

The production term represents the transfer of kinetic energy from the mean flow to the turbulent motion through
the interaction between the turbulent fluctuations and the mean flow velocity gradients.

s - Equation
p ju
s
x
+:
s

[ =

x
j[p
I
+

t
c

s
x
[ +
1

jr [p
I
+

t
c

[ +C
s1
0
s
k
-C
s2
s
2
k
(6)

Here C
S1
, C
S2
,

o
k
and o
s
are the empirical turbulent constant. The values are considered according to the Launder et
al., 1974. The values of C
,
C
S1
, C
S2
,

o
k
and o
s
are 0.09, 1.44, 1.92, 1.0 and 1.3 respectively.

5. Numerical Solution Process

The control volume formulation of the Patankar (1981) with SIMPLER algorithm along with the power-law
scheme has been employed for the computational analysis. The final discretized equations have been solved by
applying the uniform grid system with 251 151 points. It was observed that the results converge at lesser grid
points than this grid system, however for the sake of any unwanted instability the present work has been done with a
grid system of above mentioned value. It has been observed that the grid independent study has shown 0.001%
change in the stream wise velocity.

Here in the present numerical analysis the fluid considered is air.
The density of air, is taken as 1.235 kg/m
3
.
The molecular viscosity of air, p
I
is taken is 1.8531u
-5
kg/m.s.
The Reynolds number, Re is obtained by ( u
n
D)/ p
I
, where D is the diameter of the passage at the downstream of
the expansion section. The variation of the Reynolds number is obtained by varying the inlet axial velocity.

6. Results and Discussion

a) Effects of Reynolds number
From the streamline plots of the figure 2 it is observed that with the increase in the axial inlet velocity the
reattachment point moves toward the upstream side of the passage. This shifting of the reattachment point with the
increase in inlet velocity or the Reynolds number implies the reduction of the size of the recirculation bubble. This is
physically reasonable because the average velocity of the flow at the inlet is increasing and this causes decrease in
the probability of the generation of adverse pressure gradient which is responsible for generation of recirculation
bubble. However the inlet flow is not able to eliminate the recirculation bubble completely and the effect of the
recirculation bubble in the downstream flow is very prominent. From the streamline and flooded contour plot we can
conclude that for the same expansion ratio the size and strength of the recirculation region decreases with the
increase in Reynolds number. Thus the increase in Reynolds number provides the stabilizing effect on the flow field
of the downstream.



ISSN: 0975-5462 1571
Vikram Roy et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
Vol. 2(6), 2010, 1569-1574

Figure 2. Effect on recirculation size with the variation of inlet velocity.

b) Effects of Expansion Ratio


Figure 3. Effect on recirculation size with the variation of expansion ratio.

It is observed from the figure 3 that the larger expansion ratios of the passage lead to the increase in the
recirculation region. The maximum width of the recirculation bubble generated for different cases by varying the
expansion ratio is approximately equal to the lateral expansion of the expanded portion of the passage. It is found
ISSN: 0975-5462 1572
Vikram Roy et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
Vol. 2(6), 2010, 1569-1574
that the dividing streamline and the reattachment point moves toward the downstream of the passage with the
increase in the expansion ratio. The shifting of the reattachment point towards the downstream of the passage
implies that the recirculation bubble increases in size with the increase in the expansion ratio. From the above figure
it is observed that the strength of the recirculation bubble increases with increase in the expansion ratio.


Figure 4. Radial distribution of turbulent energy at expansion ratio of 1.2

In the figure 4 the radial distributions of the turbulent energy for the expansion ratio of 1.2 has been plotted. The
generation of the turbulent energy approximately starts from the region of the passage where the geometry of the
passage changes. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy is in the recirculation region. After that the turbulent
energy is in decreasing trend because towards the solid wall there exist the laminar sub layer. In a laminar sub layer
the flow is no longer turbulent and the turbulent intensity has to be zero at the vicinity of the wall. Hence this
drooping nature of the turbulent energy is physically possible. The sudden expansion passage is a typical geometry
where the generation of turbulent energy takes place due to the sudden change of geometrical conditions causing the
instability which ultimately culminate in turbulence.


Figure 5. Radial distribution of axial velocity at x=8 m

In figure 5 the radial distributions of the axial velocity at different axial positions for the expansion ratio of 1.6 at
the axial position of 8 m has been plotted. The existence of the recirculation region is observed in both the cases by
the flow reversal.




0.0000
0.0001
0.0002
0.0003
0.0004
0.0005
0.0006
0.0007
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00
T
u
r
b
u
l
e
n
t

E
n
e
r
g
y
r/R
Exp. Ratio = 1.2
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25
U
r/R
X=8m
ISSN: 0975-5462 1573
Vikram Roy et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
Vol. 2(6), 2010, 1569-1574
7. Conclusions
It was observed that the size and strength of the recirculation bubble decreases with increases in the Reynolds
number. But if the expansion ratio is increased keeping the Reynolds number constant the size and strength of the
recirculation bubble increases. These flow parameters are needed to be controlled for the generation of the
recirculation bubble as required for combustion or any other purposes like the chemical processes etc.

Nomenclature
z Axial coordinate along the duct
r Radial coordinate across the duct
u Time mean velocity along z axis, m/s
u Time mean velocity along r direction, m/s
u
|n
Average inlet velocity
G Rate of Production
k Turbulence kinetic energy
Re Reynolds number
r Radial coordinate
C
x1
, C
x2
Empirical Constants
C

Empirical Constants
E
r
Expansion ratio (
R
r
|
, )
R Expansion radius
r
i
Radius at the inlet
L Length at the downstream
L
in
Length at the upstream

|
Molecular or laminar viscosity, kg/m s

t
Eddy or turbulent viscosity, kg/m s

e
Effective Viscosity, kg/m s
Turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate
o
k
Prandtl number of the turbulent kinetic energy
o
s
Dissipation energy
p Density of air, kg/m
3


References
[1] Aloui F., and Souhar M., 2000. Experimental study of turbulent asymmetric flow in a flat duct symmetric sudden expansion.
Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 122, pp. 174-177.
[2] Casarsa L. and Giannattasio P., 2008.Three-dimensional features of the turbulent flow through a planar sudden expansion. Physics
of fluid, 20, pp. 1-15.
[3] Chaurvedi M. C., 1963. Flow characteristics of axisymmetric expansion. Journal. Hydraulic div.Proc., ASCE, 89, pp. 61-92.
[4] Devenport W. J., and Sutton E. P., 1993. An experimental study of two flows through an axisymmetric sudden expansion.
Experiments in Fluids, 14, pp. 423 432.
[5] Guo B., Langrish Tim A. G., and Fletcher David F., 2001. Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Turbulent Flow in Axi-symmetric
Sudden Expansions. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 123, pp. 574-587.
[6] Ko Sang Cheol and Jin Sung Hyung, 2002. Large-eddy simulation of turbulent flow inside a sudden-expansion cylindrical .
Chamber. Journal of Turbulence, Volume-3, Number-1, pp. 1-16.
[7] Laufer J., 1954. The structure of turbulence in fully developed pipe flow. NACA report no. 1174.
[8] Launder B.E., and Spalding, D.B., 1974. The Numerical Computation of Turbulent Flows. Computer Methods in Applied
Mechanics and Engineering, Vol-3, pp. 269-289.
[9] Moin P., Le, H., and Kim, J., 1997. Direct numerical simulation of turbulent flow over a backward-facing step. Journal Fluid
Mech., Vol. 330, pp. 349-374.S
[10] Patankar S. V., 1981. Numerical heat transfer and fluid flow. McGraw-Hill, New York.
ISSN: 0975-5462 1574