Analysis and Discussion of Two-Way Coupling Effects in Particle-Laden Turbulent Channel Flow

Abstract

This paper studies the turbulence modification caused by the presence of solid particles in fully developed channel flow by means of the point particle Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) approach. Inertial particles much smaller than the smallest vortical flow structures are considered, maintaining a volume fraction of the order , where inter-particle collisions are rare and have nearly no influence on flow development. To avoid concurrent effects that could mask the analysis of fluid turbulence interaction, gravity is not included in the study, and particle-smooth wall collisions are modelled as ideal reflections. The alteration of fluid turbulence dynamics by the particles is illustrated and discussed, providing an overview of the fluid-particle interaction phenomena occurring at both microscopic and macroscopic flow levels. Finally, the relation of such phenomena with drag-reducing effects by particles is demonstrated.