Low-speed streak and internal shear layer motions in a turbulent boundary layer

Some features of the inner region of a flat plate turbulent boundary layer are investigated by a Digital Particle Image Velocimetry technique. Measurements in planes parallel to the wall are examined. The energetic spanwise modes of the streaky motions are analysed by spatial Fourier analysis at different distances from the wall. Internal shear layers are deduced by applying VISA technique at y⁺=20 and detected events are ensemble averaged. The deduced flow structure highlights the dominant spatial relationship between low-speed streak and internal shear layer motions.     

Taylor and Lagrange correlations in a turbulent free shear layer

 The objective of this research was to study the effect of various Lagrange-tracking correlation methods in estimating the eddy lifetime for a two-stream, turbulent, planar free shear layer. Zeroth-, first- and second-order Lagrange correlation methods were applied to the time-evolving velocity field data collected from a cinematic particle image velocimetry technique. A time scale associated with the eddy lifetime was obtained based on a 2/e correlation of either vorticity or streamwise velocity fluctuations. When based on vorticity, this time scale significantly increased as expected when the tracking was computed with a second-order Lagrangian tracking technique as compared to a (zeroth-order) Taylor hypothesis approach. However when based on streamwise velocity fluctuations, this time scale did not increase significantly for the higher order projection methods. The latter result is attributed to occurrences of “reverse correlation” of the instantaneous streamwise velocity fluctuations caused by eddy rotation. Received: 2 April 1997/Accepted: 3 September 1997     

The transmission of turbulent boundary layer unsteady pressure and shear stress through a viscoelastic layer

The transmission of unsteady pressure and shear stress, generated by a turbulent boundary layer in water, through a viscoelastic layer backed by a rigid plate is investigated. Analytical models are used to estimate the unsteady pressure and shear stress from 10 to 1000 Hz for a flat plate boundary layer with zero pressure gradient. Additionally, models for the transfer of the unsteady pressures and shear stress through the viscoelastic layer are developed. The models are used to predict the unsteady pressure fluctuations, or flow noise, which would be seen by a finite size sensor embedded under the elastomer layer. The unsteady pressure levels are found to be 20 dB greater than the unsteady shear stress levels across all frequency ranges computed, in agreement with recent measurements. The unsteady pressure transfer functions have a peak at the shear wavenumber and are larger than the shear stress transfer magnitudes from 10 to 50 Hz. The unsteady shear stress transfer functions have a peak at the acoustic wavenumber and are larger than the pressure transfer magnitudes from 50 to 1000 Hz. Over the frequency range examined, the unsteady pressures were found to be the dominant contributor to the sensor flow noise due to the considerably larger magnitude of the unsteady pressures on the top of the viscoelastic layer.     

The optical properties of the laser beam passed through a turbulent shear layer

The related fluid dynamic theory, experimental device and some preliminary results of the study of the optical properties of a laser beam passed through a turbulent shear layer are presented. The method of image processing for the determination of the optical density from a interferogram by means of a Microneye Bullet and a Microcomputer is also described.     

The structures of turbulent boundary layer in the vicinity of separation

Large coherent structures of turbulent boundary layer in the vicinity of separation were observed in a water channel by the hydrogen bubble method. Motion pictures of the de views were taken. The features of the instantaneous velocity profiles, the large transverse and streamwise vortices were discussed.     

Eigenmode decomposition of the turbulent shear layer above a square rib

1D, 2D and fully 3D structural information is extracted from a large-eddy simulation of turbulent flow over a square rib, using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. In this paper, we focus on the shear layer separating at the leading edge and developing above and behind the top face of the flow obstacle. The two-point correlation tensor, required for the solution of the related eigenvalue problem, is provided from a large-eddy simulation for a Reynolds number of about 50 000 (based on obstacle height and incoming bulk velocity). The results indicate that the eigenmode decomposition is a very useful tool to extract organized structures even from very complex turbulent velocity fields at high Reynolds numbers. A significant amount of turbulent energy can still be captured by a relatively small number of modes.     

Instability of the periodic flexure of a panel surface in a turbulent boundary layer

Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, No. 4, pp. 74–83, July–August, 1992.     

Nonlinear dynamics of large-scale vortex structures in a turbulent Ekman layer

Nonlinear regimes of roll structure development in the Ekman atmospheric boundary layer are considered. Within the framework of a turbulent boundary layer theory that takes the inherent helicity into account, the helicity effect on the stability and development of secondary vortices is studied. The stabilizing role of helicity in the Ekman layer dynamics is detected. With increasing nonlinearity the rolls become time-dependent self-oscillatory structures exchanging energy and helicity with the main flow. Multi-scale structure regimes are obtained, similar to those observable in the atmospheric boundary layer and the solitary vortex structures previously discovered in bench and numerical experiments for Ekman flows between disks rotating in opposite directions.     

Vorticity-based eduction of large-scale structures in turbulent shear flows

This paper is mainly concerned with a vorticity-based conditional sampling technique, which identifies large-scale vorticity-bearing flow events in turbulent shear flows using multiple X-wire probes. Basic ideas and procedures of the technique are described, and several examples of the results are presented. Advantages and limitations of the technique are also discussed from an experimental point of view.     

Analysis and reconstruction of a pulsed jet in crossflow by multi-plane snapshot POD

In this work, snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is used to study a pulsed jet in crossflow where the velocity fields are extracted from stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) results. The studied pulsed jet is characterized by a frequency f = 1 Hz, a Reynolds number Re _j  = 500 (based on the mean jet velocity ${\overline{U}_{j}}$  = 1.67 cm/s and a mean velocity ratio of R = 1). Pulsed jet and continuous jet are compared via mean velocity field trajectory and Q criterion. POD results of instantaneous, phase-averaged and fluctuating velocity fields are presented and compared in this paper. Snapshot POD applied on one plane allows us to distinguish an organization of the first spatial eigenmodes. A distinction between “natural modes” and “pulsed modes” is achieved with the results obtained by the pulsed and unforced jet. Secondly, the correlation tensor is established with four parallel planes (multi-plane snapshot POD) for the evaluation of volume spatial modes. These resulting modes are interpolated and the volume velocity field is reconstructed with a minimal number of modes for all the times of the pulsation period. These reconstructions are compared to orthogonal measurements to the transverse jet in order to validate the obtained three-dimensional velocity fields. Finally, this POD approach for the 3D flow field reconstruction from experimental data issued from planes parallel to the flow seems capable to extract relevant information from a complex three-dimensional flow and can be an alternative to tomo-PIV for large volume of measurement.     

On the eddy viscosity model of periodic turbulent shear flows

Physical argument shows that eddy viscosity is essentially different from molecular viscosity. By direct numerical simulation, it was shown that for periodic turbulent flows, there is phase difference between Reynolds stress and rate of strain. This finding posed great challenge to turbulence modeling, because most turbulence modeling, which use the idea of eddy viscosity, do not take this effect into account. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19732005) and Liu Hui Center for Applied Mathematics of Nankai & Tianjin University     

An experimental study of a turbulent shear layer at a clean and contaminated free-surface

An experimental study was performed to measure the flow properties of a vertically-orientated shear layer in the vicinity of a free-surface. The effect of surface contamination on the near surface flow field was also determined. Digital Particle Image Velocimetry was used to measure instantaneous and averaged velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds stresses. Results show that the presence of surfactants can cause directional shifts of the shear layer, as well as an overall damping of the turbulence in the vicinity of the free-surface, except in the vicinity of a Reynolds ridge where an increase in Reynolds stress was observed.     

Control of a three-dimensional turbulent shear layer by means of oblique vortices

The effect of local forcing on the separated, three-dimensional shear layer downstream of a backward-facing step is investigated by means of large-eddy simulation for a Reynolds number based on the step height of 10,700. The step edge is either oriented normal to the approaching turbulent boundary layer or swept at an angle of \(40^\circ \). Oblique vortices with different orientation and spacing are generated by wavelike suction and blowing of fluid through an edge parallel slot. The vortices exhibit a complex three-dimensional structure, but they can be characterized by a wavevector in a horizontal section plane. In order to determine the step-normal component of the wavevector, a method is developed based on phase averages. The dependence of the wavevector on the forcing parameters can be described in terms of a dispersion relation, the structure of which indicates that the disturbances are mainly convected through the fluid. The introduced vortices reduce the size of the recirculation region by up to 38%. In both the planar and the swept case, the most efficient of the studied forcings consists of vortices which propagate in a direction that deviates by more than \(50^\circ \) from the step normal. These vortices exhibit a spacing in the order of 2.5 step heights. The upstream shift of the reattachment line can be explained by increased mixing and momentum transport inside the shear layer which is reflected in high levels of the Reynolds shear stress \(-\rho \overline{u'v'}\). The position of the maximum of the coherent shear stress is found to depend linearly on the wavelength, similar to two-dimensional free shear layers.     

Comparison of four methods to measure wall shear stress in a turbulent boundary layer with separation

Three indirect methods of measuring skin friction (Preston tube, sublayer fence, and wall pulsed wire) were compared with a direct method (floating-element balance) in a boundary layer with a strong adverse pressure gradient. In one case skin-friction measurements were performed in a boundary layer with separation and reattachment. Agreement between the three methods and the balance was satisfactory, with differences between the indirect methods and the balance reading high in regions with a strong decrease of _w and low where _w increased in streamwise direction. There existed a tendency of the differences to increase with increasing h ⁺, but no general correlation with h ⁺ could be found.     

Visualization of flow structures in a turbulent boundary layer using a new technique

In this paper, an experimental investigation on the flow structures in a turbulent boundary layer employing a special laser light sheet-Hydrogen bubble flow visualization technique is described. It is observed that the high/low speed streaks are directly related to the hairpin or horseshoe-like vortices. This observation can give a better understanding of the physical mechanism in the turbulent boundary layer. Fluid Mechanic Institute, BUAA     

Quantitative schlieren measurements of coherent structures in a cavity shear layer

Quantitative flow-field data were obtained in a planar shear layer spanning an open cavity with an extension of the schlieren method. The technique is based on the measurement of light-intensity fluctuations in a real-time schlieren image. Data were collected using a fiber-optic sensor embedded in the imaging screen coupled to a photodetector. Time-resolved measurements of the instantaneous density gradient at a point in the two dimensional flow cross section were thus obtained. Detailed surveys were carried out with both the optical instrument as well as a hot wire at a Mach number of 0.25 and with the optical instrument alone at a Mach number of 0.6. A comparison of the results shows that the non-intrusive technique can accurately measure the growth rates of instability waves in the initial “linear” region of the shear layer. The density-gradient fluctuations measured at different locations (and times) were synchronized by using a microphone inside the cavity as a reference and integrated to yield profiles of the density fluctuations associated with the dominant large-scale structures in the shear layer. Such quantitative visualization is expected to clarify the mechanism of sound generation by shear-layer impingement at the cavity trailing edge and elucidate the nature of this sound source. Received: 28 December 1999/Accepted: 15 March 2000     

Tomographic PIV investigation of coherent structures in a turbulent boundary layer flow

Tomographic particle image velocimetry was used to quantitatively visualize the three-dimensional coherent structures in the logarithmic region of the turbulent boundary layer in a water tunnel.The Reynolds number based on momentum thickness is Reθ = 2 460.The instantaneous velocity fields give evidence of hairpin vortices aligned in the streamwise direction forming very long zones of low speed fluid,which is flanked on either side by highspeed ones.Statistical support for the existence of hairpins is given by conditional averaged eddy within an increasing spanwise width as the distance from the wall increases,and the main vortex characteristic in different wall-normal regions can be reflected by comparing the proportion of ejection and its contribution to Reynolds stress with that of sweep event.The pre-multiplied power spectra and two-point correlations indicate the presence of large-scale motions in the boundary layer,which are consistent with what have been termed very large scale motions(VLSMs).The three dimen-sional spatial correlations of three components of velocity further indicate that the elongated low-speed and highspeed regions will be accompanied by a counter-rotating roll modes,as the statistical imprint of hairpin packet structures,all of which together make up the characteristic of coherent structures in the logarithmic region of the turbulent boundary layer(TBL).     

Wall temperature effects on shock unsteadiness in a reattaching compressible turbulent shear layer

In this study, the effect of heat transfer on the compressible turbulent shear layer and shockwave interaction in a scramjet has been investigated. To this end, highly resolved Large Eddy Simulations (LES) are performed to explore the effect of wall thermal conditions on the behavior of a reattaching free shear layer interacting with an oblique shock in compressible turbulent flows. Various wall-to-recovery temperature ratios are considered, and results are compared to the adiabatic wall. It is found that the wall temperature affects the reattachment location and the shock behavior in the interaction region. Furthermore, fluctuating heat flux exhibits a strong intermittent behavior with severe heat transfer compared to the mean, characterized by scattered spots. The distribution of the Stanton number shows a strong heat transfer and complex pattern within the interaction, with the maximum thermal (heat transfer rates) and dynamic loads (root-mean-square wall pressure) found for the case of the cold wall. The analysis of LES data reveals that the thermal boundary condition can significantly impact the wall pressure fluctuations level. The primary mechanism for changes in the flow unsteadiness due to the wall thermal condition is linked to the reattaching shear layer, which agrees with the compressible turbulent boundary layer theory.