The axisymmetric boundary layer beneath a Rankine-like vortex

 An experimental investigation of the three-dimensional boundary layer induced by a Rankine-like vortex with its axis normal to a stationary disk is described. The velocity field through the boundary layer was measured for Reynolds number Re (based on the tangential velocity and radius at the disk edge) ranging from 10 000 to 25 000 at various radial distances by means of a 4-beam, 2-component Laser Doppler Anemometer. Our results show that the nature of the boundary layer is affected by two factors: an inflexional instability caused by the crossflow velocity profile and a stability factor caused by the favorable pressure gradient. At lower Reynolds number, the radial pressure gradient has a very strong stabilizing effect on the boundary layer and acts to revert it to its laminar state upstream of the effusing core. At higher Re the inflexional instability caused by the crossflow velocity dominates while the stabilizing influence of the favorable pressure gradient recedes. As such, laminar reversion likely occurs closer to the effusion core. Thus, the point of laminar reversion moves closer to the effusion core as the Reynolds number is increased. Received 23 May 1996 / Accepted 29 July 1996     

Aerodynamics of end-wall boundary layer in a vortex chamber

The need for the inclusion of end-wall boundary layers in the study of the aerodynamics of vortex chambers has been frequently mentioned in the literature. However, owing to limited experimental data [1–3] with reliable information on the wall layers, the existing computational methods for end-wall boundary layers are not well-founded. The question of which parameters determine the formation of end-wall flow remains debatable. In some studies [4, 5], the vortex chambers are conditionally divided into short and long chambers. However, there is no unique opinion on the role of end-wall flows in vortex chambers of different lengths. It has also not been established for what geometric and flow parameters the chamber could be considered long or short. In the present study, as in [1, 5–8], solution is obtained for the end-wall boundary-layer equations using integral methods, considering the boundary layer in the radial direction in the form of a submerged wall jet. Such an approach made it possible to use the laws for the development of wall jets [9], and obtain fairly simple relations for integral parameters, skin friction, mass flow in the boundary layer, and other characteristics. Results are compared with available experimental data and computations of others authors; turbulent flow is considered; results for laminar boundary layer are given in [10].Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 5, pp. 117–126, September–October, 1986.     

Strong vortex/boundary layer interactions

Detailed measurements with hot-wires and pressure probes are presented for the interaction between a turbulent longitudinal vortex pair with common flow down, and a turbulent boundary layer. The interaction has a larger value of the vortex circulation parameter, and therefore better represents many aircraft/vortex interactions, than those studied previously. The vortices move down towards the boundary layer, but only the outer parts of the vortices actually enter the it. Beneath the vortices the boundary layer is thinned by lateral divergence to the extent that it almost ceases to grow. Outboard of the vortices the boundary layer is thickened by lateral convergence. The changes in turbulence structure parameters in the boundary layer appear to be due to the effects of extra-rate-of-strain produced by lateral divergence (or convergence) and by free-stream turbulence. The effect of the interaction on the vortices (other than the inviscid effect of the image vortices below the surface) is small. The flow constitutes a searching test case for prediction methods for three-dimensional turbulent flows.     

Nonlinear interaction of a large vortex with a boundary layer

The nonlinear problem of boundary layer instability under the influence of a plane vortex is investigated for high Reynolds numbers. The vortex occupies the entire thickness of the boundary layer and has a longitudinal dimension of the order of the Tollmien-Schlichting wavelength. The initial vortex is rapidly swept away by the flow, inducing a Stokes layer near the surface of the plate. Expanding, this layer reaches the dimensions of the viscous sublayer of free interaction theory, where wave packet generation takes place. In the case in question a feature of the nonlinear stage of development of the disturbances is the formation of a concentrated vortex, which arises in the Stokes layer and grows rapidly, whereas the wave packet propagated ahead of it remains linear. From the calculations there emerges a tendency for the new vortex to be formed above the wail, whereas the maximum vorticity of the vortex generated in the Stokes layer corresponds to the wall itself.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.1, pp. 70–77, January–February, 1993.The authors are grateful to V. V. Kozlov for his interest in their work.     

Strong vortex/boundary layer interactions

This is the second of two papers on the interaction between a longitudinal vortex pair, produced by a delta-wing at angle of attack, and a turbulent boundary layer developing on a flat plate. In the first paper only the outer parts of the vortices entered the boundary layer whereas in this paper the vortices merge with it. In the resultant interaction, the boundary layer between the vortices is kept thin by lateral divergence and a three-dimensional separation line is formed outboard of each vortex. Turbulent, momentum-deficient fluid containing longitudinal vorticity is entrained from the boundary layer along these lines and wrapped around the vortices. As a consequence, the turbulent region of the vortices increases in size and the circulation slowly decreases. It is shown that the flow near the separation line and in the vortices is complicated, and this interaction is expected to be more difficult to calculate than the first. Detailed mean flow and turbulence measurements are reported.     

The boundary layer on the free surface of a hollow vortex

Several problems are known which are associated with the circular motion of a viscous incompressible fluid with a rotating cylinder[l, 2]. In the present paper we consider the case of unsteady circular motion of a viscous fluid with a cavity in the fluid.     

Interaction of an oscillating vortex with a turbulent boundary layer

An oscillating vortex embedded within a turbulent boundary layer was generated experimentally by forcing a periodic lateral translation of a half-delta wing vortex generator. The objective of the experiment was to investigate the possibility that a natural oscillation, or meander, might be responsible for flattened vortex cores observed in previous work, which could also have contaminated previous turbulence measurements. The effect of this forced oscillation was characterized by comparison of measurements of the mean velocities and Reynolds stresses at two streamwise stations, for cases with and without forcing. The Reynolds stresses, especially w, were affected significantly by the forced oscillation, mainly through contributions from the individual production terms, provided the vortex was not too diffuse.List of Symbols a amplitude of forced vortex motion - f frequency of forced vortex generator motion - l vortex generator root chord - L flow length scale - R _Y , R _Z vortex core radial dimensions in vertical and spanwise directions, respectively - R_r vortex circulation Reynolds number R = / - u, v, w instantaneous velocity components in X, Y, Z directions - U, V, W mean velocities; shorthand notation for u, , w - X, Y, Z right-hand Cartesian streamwise, vertical, and spanwise coordinate directions - boundary-layer thickness - overall circulation - air kinematic viscosity - _x streamwise vorticity, _X = W/Y–V/d+t6Z - ( )₀ reference value (measured at X = 10 cm) - ( )c refers to vortex center - ( ) _max maximum value for a particular crossflow plane - ( ) (overbar) time average - ( ) (prime) fluctuating component, e.g., u=U+u     

Structure of turbulence in a boundary layer

The transient vortical model of turbulent flow introduced in a preceding article [1] on the basis of an idea originally proposed in [2] is used in order to derive an analytical expression for the longitudinal component of the liquid velocity due to primary turbulence (i.e., ejections) alone. Stepped functions are employed instead of continuous functions in solving the problem. This article is concerned with the problem of finding the field of pulsation velocities on the basis of the earlier model.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 8–13, January–February, 1975.     

Receptivity of the inclined-cylinder attachment-line boundary layer to vortex perturbations

The receptivity of the boundary layer in the neighborhood of the attachment line of a cylinder inclined to the flow with respect to periodic vortex perturbations frozen into the stream is investigated. The problem considered simulates the interaction between external turbulence and the leading-edge swept wing boundary layer. It is shown that if the direction of the external perturbation vector is almost parallel to the leading edge, then the external perturbations are considerably strengthened at the outer boundary layer edge. This effect can cause laminar-turbulent transition on the attachment line at subcritical Reynolds numbers.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Academii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, 2004, pp. 72–85. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Ustinov.     

PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean

Turbulence measurements were recently performed in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean using a submersible PIV system. The system consisted of two 2 KǶ K digital cameras, operating simultaneously. Optical fibers were used to transmit light from a surface mounted pulsed dye laser to the sample areas. The system was mounted on a seabed platform that allowed the sample areas to be aligned to the current, and measurements to be made up to 10 m above the bed. Sample profiles and time series of mean velocity as well as structure functions are presented. A method to calculate the Reynolds shear stress that is not contaminated by surface wave motion and instrument misalignment is also described.     

Receptivity of a flat plate boundary layer to a free stream axial vortex

A single free stream axial vortex of controlled strength and position was used to investigate a vortical receptivity of Blasius boundary layer. Excited boundary-layer disturbances were dominated by streamwise velocity perturbations, that grew downstream essentially linearly with the streamwise coordinate. It was shown that the disturbance characteristics are in agreement with data of previous experiments performed under natural and control conditions concerning the ‘by-pass’ transition initiated at high free stream disturbance levels. It was proved that the role of the leading edge in the receptivity process and disturbance growth under consideration is not dominant.     

Effect of the Ekman boundary layer on the evolution of vortex formations

In numerical calculations of vortex evolution the effect of nonlinear terms related with the parametrization of the Ekman bottom boundary layer in the barotropic vortex equation is demonstrated. It is shown that taking these terms into account can lead to the coalescence of mesovortices formed as a result of the barotropic-instability-induced breakdown of an annular vortex, as distinct from the conventional parametrization of the bottom friction by a linear term, when a symmetric system of mesovortices, or the so-named vortex crystal, is formed.     

Structure of the turbulent boundary layer over a rod-roughened wall

Turbulent coherent structures near a rod-roughened wall are scrutinized by analyzing instantaneous flow fields obtained from direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of a turbulent boundary layer (TBL). The roughness elements used are periodically arranged two-dimensional spanwise rods, and the roughness height is k/δ = 0.05 where δ is the boundary layer thickness. The Reynolds number based on the momentum thickness is varied in the range Re_θ = 300–1400. The effect of surface roughness is examined by comparing the characteristics of the TBLs over smooth and rough walls. Although introduction of roughness elements onto the smooth wall affects the Reynolds stresses throughout the entire boundary layer when scaled by the friction velocity, the roughness has little effect on the vorticity fluctuations in the outer layer. Pressure-strain tensors of the transport equation for the Reynolds stresses and quadrant analysis disclose that the redistribution of turbulent kinetic energy of the rough wall is similar to that of the smooth wall, and that the roughness has little effect on the relative contributions of ejection and sweep motions in the outer layer. To elucidate the modifications of the near-wall vortical structure induced by surface roughness, we used two-point correlations, joint weighted probability density function, and linear stochastic estimation. Finally, we demonstrate the existence of coherent structures in the instantaneous flow field over the rod-roughened surface.     

Structure of the disturbed boundary layer near a cold surface

A study is made of a laminar boundary layer near a cold plate in the regime of weak viscous -inviscid interaction in the limit in which the free-stream Mach number tends to infinity and the temperature factor to zero. Local disturbed flow regions formed due to the presence of small elements of roughness on the surface of the plate are investigated. It is found that thick regions of roughness elements induce disturbances of the frictional stresses and the heat flux of the same order as these quantities in the undisturbed boundary layer, while all thin regions of roughness elements induce only small, linear perturbations and, therefore, cannot cause separation of the boundary layer; the different regimes of flow past the roughness elements are described.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 19–27, January–February, 1991.     

The effect of a single vortex generator jet on the characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer

A flat plate experiment was performed in a water tunnel to determine the effects of a vortex generator jet on the characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer at various wall normal locations. The results show that the characteristic distributions of the turbulent fluctuation quantities are nearly unaffected by the induced vortex structures neither in the steady nor in the dynamic blowing case. The shear layer interaction between the turbulent main flow and the jet flow produces less turbulent fluctuations than it is expected from a turbulent free jet flow. Thus, the mixing process of this flow control strategy is based only on a large-scale momentum transport superimposed by the turbulent fluctuation quantities. This allows a separation of scales for physical interpretation and numerical simulations.     

Effect of air jet vortex generators on a shock wave boundary layer interaction

The effect of upstream injection by means of continuous air jet vortex generators (AJVGs) on a shock wave turbulent boundary layer interaction is experimentally investigated. The baseline interaction is of the impinging type, with a flow deflection angle of 9.5° and a Mach number M _e  = 2.3. Considered are the effects of the AJVGs on the upstream boundary layer flow topology and on the spatial and dynamical characteristics of the interaction. To this aim, Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry has been employed, in addition to hot-wire anemometry (HWA) for the investigation of the unsteady characteristics of the reflected shock. The AJVGs cause a reduction of the separation bubble length and height. In addition, the energetic frequency range of the reflected shock is increased by approximately 50%, which is in qualitative agreement with the smaller separation bubble size.     

Longitudinal vortex pair imbedded in a turbulent boundary layer: Comparative performances of several turbulence models

Four turbulence models, namely, the basic and nonlinear stress-transport models and the basic and anisotropick-ε models, have been tested in the case of interaction between a longitudinal vortex pair and a flat-plate boundary layer. The results of their predictions were compared with Mehta and Bradshaw's measurements. In this paper, part of the results involving those of the nonlinear stress-transport model and anisotropick-ε model are presented and discussed. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Contract No. 19132012