Investigation of cycle-to-cycle variations in an engine-like geometry

The multiple-cycle direct numerical simulation data of the flow in the valve/piston assembly investigated in Schmitt et al. [“Direct numerical simulation of multiple cycles in a valve/piston assembly,” Phys. Fluids 26, 035105 (2014)] is revisited to identify the relevant flow features leading to the observed cyclic variations. These are found to be the radial velocity at top dead center (TDC) remaining from the previous cycle, the location of the center of the hollow jet during intake and the strength and orientation of the vortex ring at bottom dead center. Comparisons between these features showed strong correlations in the flow field within a cycle and between two consecutive cycles. The trajectory of the hollow jet during intake is strongly influenced by the remaining radial velocity from the previous cycle. Subsequently, the hollow jet forms a vortex ring whose orientation and strength influences the radial velocity at TDC of the next cycle. This has in turn an effect on the jet trajectory of the following cycle. The results in this simplified geometry are a first attempt to understand the origin of cause-and-effect relationships of cycle-to-cycle variations (CCVs) in the flow field and can serve as a base for investigating CCVs in more realistic engine geometries. Moreover, the reported correlations are a useful validation platform for large Eddy simulation models.