Turbulence in ferrofluids in channel flow with steady and oscillating magnetic fields.

The turbulent flow of a ferrofluid in channel flow is studied using direct numerical simulation. The method of analysis is an extension of that used for Newtonian fluids, with additional features necessary to model the ferrofluid. The analysis is applied to low Reynolds number turbulence in the range of existing experimental data in a capillary. For steady and oscillating magnetic fields, comparisons are made between a Newtonian fluid and a ferrofluid by comparing the pressure drop, turbulent Reynolds number, turbulent kinetic energy (k), Reynolds stress, velocity, and spin profiles. The results are also compared with predictions of a k-ɛ model to show the accuracy of that model when applied to ferrofluids, where ɛ is the rate of viscous dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy.