Acceleration statistics of finite-sized particles in turbulent flow: the role of Faxén forces

• Published in: Journal of fluid mechanics Vol. 630; pp. 179 - 189
• Main Authors: CALZAVARINI, E., VOLK, R., BOURGOIN, M., LÉVÊQUE, E., PINTON, J.-F., TOSCHI, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 10.07.2009; Cambridge University Press (CUP)
• Subjects: Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fluid mechanics; Fluids mechanics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mechanics; Multiphase and particle-laden flows; Nonhomogeneous flows; Physics; Turbulence simulation and modeling; Turbulent flow; Turbulent flows, convection, and heat transfer; Turbulent flow; Two-phase flow; Particle motion; Digital simulation; Probability density function; Modelling; Particle suspension; Acceleration; Turbulence structure
• ISSN: 0022-1120; 1469-7645
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022112009006880

The dynamics of particles in turbulence when the particle size is larger than the dissipative scale of the carrier flow are studied. Recent experiments have highlighted signatures of particles' finiteness on their statistical properties, namely a decrease of their acceleration variance, an increase of correlation times (at increasing the particles size) and an independence of the probability density function of the acceleration once normalized to their variance. These effects are not captured by point-particle models. By means of a detailed comparison between numerical simulations and experimental data, we show that a more accurate description is obtained once Faxén corrections are included.