Acta Geophysica
vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 562-583
DOI: 10.2478/s11600-008-0026-x
© 2008 Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Analysis of turbulent flows
in fixed and moving permeable media
Marcelo J.S. DE LEMOS
Departmento de Energia, Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA),
São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil; e-mail: delemos@ita.br
Abstract
The ability to realistically model flows through heterogeneous do-
mains, which contain both solid and fluid phases, can benefit the analysis
and simulation of complex real-world systems. Environmental impact
studies, as well as engineering equipment design, can both take advan-
tage of reliable modelling of turbulent flow in permeable media. Turbu-
lence models proposed for such flows depend on the order of application
of volume- and time-average operators. Two methodologies, following
the two orders of integration, lead to distinct governing equations for the
statistical quantities. This paper reviews recently published methodolo-
gies to mathematically characterize turbulent transport in permeable media.
A new concept, called double-decomposition, is here discussed and
instantaneous local transport equations are reviewed for clear flow before
the time and volume averaging procedures are applied to them. Equations
for turbulent transport follow, including their detailed derivation and a
proposed model for suitable numerical simulations. The case of a moving
porous bed is also discussed and transport equations for the mean and
turbulent flow fields are presented.
Key words: turbulent flow, porous media, moving bed.
1. INTRODUCTION
A number of natural and engineering systems can be characterized by a per-
meable structure through which a working fluid permeates. For treating and