Diffusion in grid turbulence of isotropic macro-particles using a Lagrangian stochastic method: theory and validation.

International audienceThe prediction of solid bodies transport (such as algae, debris, sediment grains, or corrosion deposits) is a necessary requirement in many industrial or environmental processes. The physical processes involved cover a wide range of processes, from tidal flow to turbulent eddies and particle drag. A stochastic model was therefore developed to link the different scales of the physical processes where it was assumed that the particles are dilute enough that they do not affect the flow or the motion of other particles while being large enough that each particle does not follow exactly the fluid motions (i.e., macro-particles). The stochastic model is built in such a way that it uses Reynolds-averaged fluid properties to predict trajectories of individual particles. This model was then tested using experimental measurements obtained for isotropic particles released in semi-homogeneous turbulence. The turbulent flow was generated using a pair of oscillating grids and was characterized using particle image velocimetry measurements. The trajectories of the particles were measured using a pair of high resolution cameras. The comparison between the experimental data and different numerical models gives satisfactory results