Direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows with consideration of the buoyancy effect of the bubble phase

Turbulent channel flows with consideration of the buoyancy effect of the bubble phase is investigated by means of the Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). This two-phase system is solved by a two-way coupling Lagrangian-Eulerian approach. The Reynolds number based on the friction velocity and the half-width of the channel is 194, and the gravitational acceleration varies from −0.5 to 0.5, ranging from the upflow to the downflow cases. This study aims to reveal the influence of buoyancy on the turbulence behavior and the bubble motion. Some typical statistical quantities, including the averaged velocities and velocity fluctuations for the fluid and bubble phases, as well as the flow structures of the turbulence fluctuations, are analyzed.