Near-wall dynamics of inertial particles in dilute turbulent channel flows

This investigation considers the effect of the Stokes number on the near-wall particle dynamics of two-phase (solid-fluid) turbulent channel flows. The spectral element method-based direct numerical simulation code Nek5000 is used to model the fluid phase at a shear Reynolds number, Reτ = 180. Dispersed particles are tracked using a Lagrangian approach with one-way coupling. Eulerian fluid and particle statistics are gathered and analyzed to determine the effect of the Stokes number, first on macroscopic statistics. Previous work of this nature indicates that mean streamwise particle velocities and root-mean-square velocity fluctuations are reduced in the bulk and increased very close to the wall, an effect which is stronger with increased particle Stokes number or inertial particles. This phenomenon has important consequences for mechanisms such as particle deposition and preferential concentration, and so for the first time, this work aims to elucidate the dynamics of this effect through rigorous analysis on various scales. An in-depth force analysis indicates the importance of the lift force, even at increased Stokes numbers, in predicting particle motion in the buffer layer and log-law regions. It is also observed that pressure gradient and virtual mass forces are significant close to the wall. Alongside bulk velocity and acceleration statistics, microscopic behavior is analyzed by considering region-based particle dynamics. Probability density functions are used to determine the effect of the Stokes number on particle motion in three near-wall regions, as well as within the bulk flow. It is observed that at higher Stokes numbers, the viscous sublayer contains particles with dynamic properties similar to those present in the buffer layer. This suggests rapid interlayer migration in the wall direction, causing increased particle turbulence intensities in near-wall regions. A local flow topology classification method is also used to correlate particle behavior with near-wall coherent turbulent structures, and a mechanism for particle sweep toward the wall is suggested. Finally, low-speed streak accumulation and interlayer particle fluxes are considered and the extent of mixing for low and high Stokes numbers is discussed.