The stress generated by non-Brownian fibers in turbulent channel flow simulations

Turbulent fiber suspension channel flow is studied using direct numerical simulation. The effect of the fibers on the fluid mechanics is governed by a stress tensor, involving the distribution of fiber position and orientation. Properties of this function in channel flow are studied by computing the trajectories and orientations of individual particles, referred to as the particle method. It is shown that, due to computer restrictions, the instantaneous stress in channel flow cannot be simulated directly with the particle method. To approximate the stress we compute the second-order moment of the fiber distribution function. This method involves an unknown subgrid term, which is modeled as diffusion. The accuracy of the moment approximation is studied by comparing Reynolds averaged stress to results obtained from the particle method. It is observed that the errors are similar to 1% for y(+)> 20, and similar to 20% for y(+)< 20. The model is improved by applying a wall damping function to the diffusivity. The moment approximation is used to simulate drag-reduced channel flow. A simplified model for fiber stress is introduced as fiber viscosity times rate of strain, where fiber viscosity is defined as the ratio of Reynolds averaged dissipation due to fiber stress and Reynolds averaged dissipation due to Newtonian stress. Fluid velocity statistics predicted by the simple model compare very well to those obtained from the moment approximation. This means that the effect of fibers on turbulent channel flow is equivalent to an additional Reynolds averaged viscosity. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.