Features of Transition to Turbulence in Sudden Expansion Pipe Flows

Abstract: The complex flow features resulting from the laminar-turbulent transition (LTT) in a sudden expansion pipe flow, with expansion ratio of 1:2 subjected to an inlet vortex perturbation is investigated by means of direct numerical simulations (DNS). It is shown that the threshold for LTT described by a power law scaling with -3 exponent that links the perturbation intensity to the subcritical transitional Reynolds number. Additionally, a new type of instability is found within a narrow range of flow parameters. This instability originates from the region of intense shear rate which is a result of the flow symmetry breakdown. Unlike the fast transition, usually reported in the literature, the new instability emerges gradually from a laminar state and appears to be chaotic and strongly unsteady. Additionally, the simulations show a hysteresis mode transition due to the reestablishment of the recirculation zone in a certain range of Reynolds numbers. The latter depends on (i) the initial and final quasi-steady states, (ii) the observation time and (iii) the number of intermediate steps taken when increasing and decreasing the Reynolds number.