Aircraft with bio-inspired flapping wings that are operated in low-density atmospheric environments encounter unique challenges associated with the low density. The low density results in the requirement of high operating velocities of aircraft to generate sufficient lift resulting in significant compressibility effects. Here, we perform numerical simulations to investigate the compressibility effects on the lift generation of a bio-inspired wing during hovering flight using an immersed boundary method. The aim of this study is to develop a scaling law to understand how the lift is influenced by the Reynolds and Mach numbers, and the associated flow physics. Our simulations have identified a critical Mach number of approximately $0.6$ defined by the average wing-tip velocity. When the Mach number is lower than 0.6, compressibility does not have significant effects on the lift or flow fields, while when the Mach number is greater than $0.6$, the lift coefficient decreases linearly with increasing Mach number, due to the drastic change in the pressure on the wing surface caused by unsteady shock waves. Moreover, the decay rate is dependent on the Reynolds number and the angle of attack. Based on these observations, we propose a scaling law for the lift of a hovering flapping wing by considering compressible and viscous effects, with the scaled lift showing excellent collapse.

Models for slow flow of dense granular materials often treat the medium as incompressible, thereby neglecting the role of Reynolds dilatancy. However, recent particle simulations have demonstrated the presence of a significant coupling between the volume fraction and velocity fields. The model of Dsouza & Nott (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 888, 2020, R3) incorporates dilatancy and captures the coupling, but it has thus far lacked experimental validation. In this paper, we provide the first experimental demonstration of dilatancy and its coupling to the kinematics in a two-dimensional cylindrical Couette cell. We find a shear layer near the inner cylinder within which there is significant dilation. Within the shear layer, the azimuthal velocity decays roughly exponentially and the volume fraction rises with radial distance from the inner cylinder. The predictions of the model of Dsouza & Nott (2020) are in good agreement with the experimental data for a variety of roughness features of the outer cylinder. Moreover, by comparing the steady states resulting from different initial volume fraction profiles (but having the same average), we show the inter-dependence of the velocity and volume fraction fields, as predicted by the model. Our results establish the importance of shear dilatancy even in systems of constant volume.

In this study, we investigate the properties of energy thickness $\delta _3$ in turbulent boundary layer (TBL) flows, a parameter derived solely from the mean streamwise velocity ($U$) profile. Through an analysis of the energy integral equation for zero pressure gradient TBLs, we establish a close relationship between turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production and $\delta _3$, offering a practical method to estimate TKE production, which is particularly useful in physical experiments where direct measurements are challenging. The significance of $\delta _3$ becomes even more pronounced in TBLs under pressure gradient. Through extensive analysis of numerical and experimental data, we show that the ratio between $\delta _3$ and the momentum thickness $\delta _2$ is a promising criterion for predicting flow separation. Moreover, we derive a new energy integral equation for TBLs under arbitrary pressure gradients, and provide approximations for TKE productions terms by $R_{uv}\,\partial U/\partial y$ and $R_{uu}\,\partial U/\partial x$, and dissipation term by the mean shear. Here, $x, y$ represent the streamwise and wall-normal directions, respectively, and $R_{uu}$ and $R_{uv}$ are the Reynolds normal and shear stresses. The accuracy and robustness of the new energy integral equation and the approximation equations are validated using direct numerical simulations data. Our results show that the TKE production by $R_{uv}\,\partial U/\partial y$ and the overall productions consistently remain positive, reflecting a continuous conversion of mean kinetic energy into TKE across all TBLs. However, under strong favourable pressure gradients, TKE production by $R_{uu}\,\partial U/\partial x$ becomes negative, indicating a reverse energy transfer from TKE to mean kinetic energy.

Predicting and perhaps mitigating against rare, extreme events in fluid flows is an important challenge. Due to the time-localised nature of these events, Fourier-based methods prove inefficient in capturing them. Instead, this paper uses wavelet-based methods to understand the underlying patterns in a forced flow over a 2-torus which has intermittent high-energy burst events interrupting an ambient low-energy ‘quiet’ flow. Two wavelet-based methods are examined to predict burst events: (i) a wavelet proper orthogonal decomposition (WPOD) based method which uncovers and utilises the key flow patterns seen in the quiet regions and the bursting episodes; and (ii) a wavelet resolvent analysis (WRA) based method that relies on the forcing structures which amplify the underlying flow patterns. These methods are compared with a straightforward energy tracking approach which acts as a benchmark. Both the wavelet-based approaches succeed in producing better predictions than a simple energy criterion, i.e. earlier prediction times and/or fewer false positives and the WRA-based technique always performs better than WPOD. However, the improvement of WRA over WPOD is not as substantial as anticipated. We conjecture that this is because the mechanism for the bursts in the flow studied is found to be largely modal, associated with the unstable eigenfunction of the Navier–Stokes operator linearised around the mean flow. The WRA approach should deliver much better improvement over the WPOD approach for generically non-modal bursting mechanisms where there is a lag between the imposed forcing and the final response pattern.

The three-dimensional stability of two-dimensional natural convection flows in a heated, square enclosure inclined to the horizontal is investigated numerically. First, the computational procedure is validated by comparison of base flow solutions to results reported in literature across a range of inclinations. A bi-global linear stability analysis is then conducted to investigate the stability of these two-dimensional base flows to infinitesimal three-dimensional perturbations, and the effect that buoyancy forces (defined by a buoyancy number $R_N$) and enclosure inclination $\theta$ have on these stability characteristics. The flow is first observed to become three-dimensionally unstable at buoyancy number $R_N = 213.8$ when $\theta$ is $180^\circ$; this increases to $R_N = 2.54 \times 10^4$ at inclination $\theta =58^\circ$. It is found that the two-dimensional base flow is more unstable to three-dimensional perturbations with the critical $R_N$ corresponding to three-dimensional instability being significantly lower than its two-dimensional counterpart across all considered inclinations except $83^\circ \leq \theta \leq 88^\circ$, where the most unstable mode is a two-dimensional oscillatory mode that develops in the boundary layers along the conducting walls. Eight different leading three-dimensional instability modes are identified, with inclinations $58^\circ \leq \theta < 88^\circ$ transitioning through an oscillatory mode, and inclinations $88^\circ \leq \theta \leq 180^\circ$ transitioning through a stationary mode. The characteristics of the primary instability modes corresponding to inclinations $88^\circ \leq \theta \leq 179^\circ$ indicate the presence of a Taylor–Görtler instability.

Water is essential for sustaining life and required for carrying out basic daily activities. Even though water covers the vast majority of the earth’s surface, the availability of fresh water, which is necessary to maintain human activities, is limited, making it a scarce resource. Climate change, overexploitation of groundwater, and population growth are all putting significant pressure on natural water sources, which pose a serious threat to various sectors of society, especially in agriculture. Future projections of freshwater availability indicate agriculture production will suffer a significant shock globally, including in India, leading to a threat to food security and sustainability. To ensure the sustainability of this vital resource, it is crucial to use water sensibly. Moreover, it is essential to adopt certain strategies to manage agricultural water use effectively. This includes adopting various water-efficient techniques such as ‘micro-irrigation’, ‘irrigation scheduling’, ‘conservation agriculture’, ‘crop switching’ and so on. In this review, firstly, we discuss water scarcity and its types, causes, crisis for water shortages and hindrance to sustainable development from a global perspective emphasizing the Indian scenario as a developing nation. Secondly, we elaborated our discussion on water scarcity in agriculture including the impacts of water scarcity on agricultural production and its connection to climate change, population growth, and overexploitation of natural resources globally focusing on the Indian scenario. In addition, innovative water management practices and adaptation strategies to manage agricultural water use, constraints, and the need for further research are also covered. It is anticipated that this review will benefit researchers and policymakers by providing useful information on the impacts of water limitation and adoption strategies.

We undertake an experimental investigation into the instabilities that emerge when a shear-thinning fluid intrudes a less viscous Newtonian fluid axisymmetrically in a lubricated Hele-Shaw cell. Pre-formed lubrication layers of Newtonian fluid that separate the shear-thinning fluid from the cell walls are incorporated into the experimental design. Provided the lubrication layers remain effective at reducing shear stress, so that extensional stresses dominate the flow of the intruding fluid, the instabilities evolve to form branch-like structures, which exhibit fracturing or tearing behaviour at their troughs. Thicker lubrication layers enable the branches to propagate radially outwards, whilst thinner, less effective ones hinder their development and progression. In the absence of lubrication layers, the shear-thinning fluid spreads radially and remains axisymmetric. For lubricated flows, we show that the number of branches is dependent primarily on the strain rate at the radial distance where they first emerge, and that the number of branches decreases with increasing strain rate.

The manipulation of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability growth at a heavy–light interface via successive shocks is theoretically analysed and experimentally realized in a specific shock-tube facility. An analytical model is developed to forecast the interface evolution before and after the second shock impact, and the possibilities for the amplitude evolution pattern are systematically discussed. Based on the model, the parameter conditions for each scenario are designed, and all possibilities are experimentally realized by altering the time interval between two shock impacts. These findings may enhance the understanding of how successive shocks influence hydrodynamic instabilities in practical applications.

Mangroves are a natural defence of the coastal strip against extreme waves. Furthermore, innovative techniques of naturally based coast defence are used increasingly, according to the canons of eco-hydraulics. Therefore, it is important to correctly evaluate the transmission of waves through cylinder arrays. In the present paper, the attenuation of solitary waves propagating through an array of rigid emergent and submerged cylindrical stems on a horizontal bottom is investigated theoretically, numerically and experimentally. The results of the theoretical model are compared with the numerical simulations obtained with the smoothed particle hydrodynamics meshless Lagrangian numerical code and with experimental laboratory data. In the latter case, solitary waves were tested on a background current, in order to reproduce more realistic sea conditions, since the absence of circulation currents is very rare in the sea. The comparison confirmed the validity of the theoretical model, allowing its use for the purposes indicated above. Furthermore, the present study allowed for an evaluation of the bulk drag coefficient of the rigid stem arrays used, as a function of their density, the stem diameter, and their submergence ratio.

Numerical simulations are conducted to investigate particle suspension and deposition within turbidity currents. Utilizing Lagrangian particle tracking and a discrete element model, our numerical approach enables a detailed examination of autosuspension, deposition and bulk behaviours of turbidity current. We specifically focus on flow regimes where particle settling and buoyancy-induced hydrodynamics play equally important roles. Our discussion is divided into three parts. Firstly, we examine the main body of the current formed by suspended particles, revealing a temporal evolution consisting of initial slumping, propagation and dissipation stages. Our particle calculation allows for the tracking of autosuspended particles, enabling a deeper understanding of the connection between autosuspension and current propagation through energy budget analysis. In the second part, we delve into particle deposition, highlighting transverse and longitudinal variations. Transverse variations arise from lobe-and-cleft (LC) flow features, while longitudinal variations result from vortex detachment, particularly notable with large-sized particles. We observe that as particle size increases, leading to a particle Stokes number greater than 0.1, rapid particle settling suppresses the LC flow structure, resulting in wider lobes at the deposition height. Lastly, we propose a new scaling law for the propagation speed and current length. Our simulation results demonstrate close agreement with this new scaling law, providing valuable insights into turbidity current dynamics.