Statistical Analysis of the Velocity Fluctuations in a Strong Detonation- Turbulence Interaction

Following shock-turbulence interaction (STI), continuation studies of detonation-turbulence interaction (DTI) are conducted. Both STI and DTI are of fundamental interest as they embody complex gasdynamics phenomena without the further complications of geometry.  DTI has the added complexity of chemical reactions. The project is to process and visualize a large database obtained from the direct numerical simulation of DTI. Longitudinal fluctuations of five hundred datasets are analyzed statistically. The DTI problem involves the propagation of a shock wave into a turbulent, reactive mixture. When the shock is sufficiently strong, it will ignite the mixture.  In our simulations, we have provided a sufficiently strong shock to produce a direct initiation, meaning that the combustion occurs right behind the shock, the coupled shock and combustion front being known as a detonation wave.  However, due to the pre-existing turbulence, the combustion is not smooth.  A wrinkled detonation wave forms.  Of fundamental interest is the mutual interaction between the turbulent structures and the wave front. My work will help provide further insight into the way that the turbulence structures propagate past the detonation wave.  At least three cases will be examined, namely, non-reactive, low energy and high energy release.  Then, a property of interest in turbulent flows known as the enstrophy will be examined.