Development of a turbulent boundary layer after a step from smooth to rough surface

The flow developing downstream of a step change from smooth to rough surface condition is studied in the light of Townsend’s wall similarity hypothesis. Previous studies seem to support the hypothesis for channel and pipe flows, but there are considerable controversies about its application to boundary layers and in particular to surface roughness formed by spanwise bars. It has been suggested that this controversy arises from insufficient separation of scales between the boundary layer thickness and the roughness length scale. An experimental investigation has therefore been undertaken where the flow evolves from a fully developed smooth wall boundary layer at high Reynolds numbers over a step in surface roughness (Re _θ = 13,400 at the step). The flow is mapped through the development of the internal layer until the flow is fully developed over the rough wall. The internal layer is found to grow as δ ∼ X ^0.73, and after about 15 boundary layer thicknesses at the step, the internal layer has reached the outer edge of the incoming layer. At the last rough wall measurement station, the Reynolds number has grown to Re _θ ≈ 32,600 and the ratio of boundary layer to roughness length scales is δ/k ≈ 140. The outer layer differences between the smooth and the rough wall data were found to be sufficiently small to conclude that for this setup the Townsend’s wall similarity hypothesis appears to hold.     

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     

Measurements of wave-variance and velocity spectra in breaking waves

Displacements of mechanical waves superposed onto wind waves were measured with a laser displacement gauge in a wind-wave tank. The effects of wave breaking, especially the spilling breaking type, on the wave-variance spectra are investigated. In the absence of wave breaking, the quasi-equilibrium spectrum consists of an f ^–7/3 subrange in the capillary regime, and its spectral density increases with increasing wind speed. When intense spilling breaking occurs, the water surface is saturated with small-scale features that cause not only an increase in the spectral density but also a reduction in the slope of the spectrum at high frequencies. Velocity components under the water surface were measured with a laser Doppler velocimeter. The energy spectra of the vertical and longitudinal velocity components in breaking waves are practically identical in the frequency range near the dominant wave frequency. At higher frequencies, the spectra generally follow Kolmogorov's –5/3 law. In the intermediate frequency range, we observed a higher spectral density for the vertical velocity component than for its longitudinal counterpart. These results suggest that turbulence energy is transferred from the vertical component to the longitudinal component in breaking waves. The acceleration of the water motion becomes as large as gravitational acceleration when intense wave breaking takes place. The flow field in breaking waves is highly dissipative.     

Near-wall flow in a three-dimensional boundary layer on the endwall of a 30° bend

 Turbulence measurements are reported on the three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer along the centerline of the flat endwall in a 30° bend. Profiles of mean velocities and Reynolds stresses were obtained down to y ⁺≈2 for the mean flow and y ⁺≈8 for the turbulent stresses. Mean velocity data collapsed well on a simple law-of-the-wall based on the magnitude of the resultant velocity. The turbulence intensity and turbulent shear stress magnitude both increased with increased three-dimensionality. The ratio of these two quantities, the a ₁ structure parameter, decreased in the central regions of the boundary layer and showed profile similarity for y ⁺<50. The shear stress vector angle lagged behind the velocity gradient vector angle in the outer region of the boundary layer, however there was an indication that the shear stress vector tends to lead the velocity gradient vector close to the wall. Received: 16 July 1996/Accepted: 14 July 1997     

Effect of surface steps on boundary layer transition

An experimental study has been carried out to examine the effect of a sharp-edged step on boundary layer transition. The transition position and disturbance spectra in the boundary layer for different step heights and free-stream velocities were measured by hot-wire anemometry. A correlation between the transition Reynolds number and the relative step height has been established for both backward-facing and forward-facing steps. The transition position is associated with the “N-factor” that defines the integrated growth of instability waves at transition. The boundary layer over a step has an earlier transition position than that on a smooth plate, since the instability waves amplify more rapidly than those on a smooth surface. The transition N-factor for the flow containing a step, calculated using the amplification rates on a smooth plate, will, therefore, be smaller than that on surfaces without a step. The observed reduction of the N-factor occurring with a step has been shown to correlate with the height of the step, thus, providing an empirical tool that can be used to estimate the transition position when steps occur. An appropriate value of N can be determined from knowledge of the step height.     

A new approach on MHD natural convection boundary layer flow past a flat plate of finite dimensions

A new approach on MHD natural convection boundary layer flow from a finite flat plate of arbitrary inclination in a rotating environment, is presented. This problem plays a significant role on boundary layer flow control. It is shown that taking into account the pressure rise region at the leading edge of the plate leads to avoid separation and the back flow is reduced by the strong magnetic field. It is also shown that the frictional drag at the leading edge of the plate is reduced when the inclination angle α=π/4. In the case of isothermal flat plate, the bulk temperature becomes identical for any value of Gr (Grashof number) when the value of M ² (Hartmann number) and K ² (rotation parameter) are kept fixed.     

Conditions for pressure build-up due to buoyancy effects on forced convection in vertical eccentric annuli under thermal boundary condition of first kind

This paper presents a numerical investigation for the conditions at which the buoyancy effects (represented by the buoyancy parameter (Gr/Re)) result in pressure build-up due to mixed convection in vertical eccentric annuli under thermal boundary conditions of first kind. In this regard, the critical values of buoyancy parameter (Gr/Re)_crt at which the pressure gradient vanishes and starts to become positive leading to the pressure build-up are obtained numerically for radius ratio N=0.5 and eccentricity E=0.1–0.7. Results of practical applications such as the locations at which the negative pressure gradient becomes zero changing its sign to be positive, the locations of zero pressure defect and the fully developed length under different operating conditions are drawn and presented. For sufficiently large values of Gr/Re≫(Gr/Re)_crt, possibilities and locations of flow reversal incipient are determined. Information of technical relevance is presented.     

自然对流边界层中湍流的发生

自然对流边界层中从层流到湍流的转捩经历了浮力振型、无摩擦振型和黏性振型的三重流动不稳定性相继产生的前转捩过程,以及近壁迅速出现强湍流源,随之平缓地向自模拟的湍流边界层过渡的热转捩过程.浮力振型在修正Grashof数G>40时开始失稳并成为主要振型,在振幅分布中3种振型的临界层位置处出现3个峰值;在G>100时浮力振型消失,无摩擦振型失稳并成为主要振型,振幅分布中在近壁区还出现黏性振型的峰值;在G>170时无摩擦振型经非线性演化在外层形成较弱的湍流,但内层黏性应力仍远高于湍流应力,振幅分布中仅有与黏性振型相应的峰值,在频谱中黏性振型的基频、第一、第二、第三阶亚谐频随G的增加相继出现,此时黏性不稳定波的高频成分已转化为湍流,但低频成分仍按线性规律增长,直至湍流惯性子区开始形成;至G>800时黏性振型消失,并在G=850附近时近壁区出现强湍流源,湍流应力、湍能产生项和近壁湍流热流率剧增.在热转捩后期,湍流应力和湍能产生项明显下降,流动在内外层趋于平衡.     

Effect of local forcing on a turbulent boundary layer

An experimental study is performed to analyze flow structures behind local suction and blowing in a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer. The local forcing is given to the boundary layer flow by means of a sinusoidally oscillating jet issuing from a thin spanwise slot at the wall. The Reynolds number based on the momentum thickness is about Re _θ =1700. The effects of local forcing are scrutinized by altering the forcing frequency (0.011 ≤ f ⁺≤ 0.044). The forcing amplitude is fixed at A ₀=0.4. It is found that a small local forcing reduces the skin friction and the skin friction reduction increases with the forcing frequency. A phase-averaging technique is employed to capture the large-scale vortex evolution. An organized spanwise vortical structure is generated by the local forcing. The cross-sectional area of vortex and the time fraction of vortex are examined by changing the forcing frequency. An investigation of the random fluctuation components reveals that turbulent energy is concentrated near the center of vortical structures. Received: 17 March 2000/Accepted: 3 April 2001     

Numerical study of transient laminar natural convection heat transfer over a sphere subjected to a constant heat flux

Transient laminar natural convection over a sphere which is subjected to a constant heat flux has been studied numerically for high Grashof numbers (10⁵ ≤ Gr ≤ 10⁹) and a wide range of Prandtl numbers (Pr = 0.02, 0.7, 7, and 100). A plume with a mushroom-shaped cap forms above the sphere and drifts upward continuously with time. The size and the level of temperature of the transient cap and plume stem decrease with increasing Gr and Pr. Flow separation and an associated vortex may appear in the wake of the sphere depending on the magnitude of Gr and Pr. A recirculation vortex which appears and grows until “steady state” is attained was found only for the very high Grashof numbers (10⁵ ≤ Gr ≤ 10⁹) and the lowest Prandtl number considered (Pr = 0.02). The appearance and subsequent disappearance of a vortex was observed for Gr = 10⁹ and Pr = 0.7. Over the lower hemisphere, the thickness of both the hydrodynamic (δ_H) and the thermal (δ_T) boundary layers remain nearly constant and the sphere surface is nearly isothermal. The surface temperature presents a local maximum in the wake of the sphere whenever a vortex is established in the wake of the sphere. The surface pressure recovery in the wake of the sphere increases with decreasing Pr and with increasing Gr. For very small Pr, unlike forced convection, the ratio δ_T/δ_H remains close to unity. The results are in good agreement with experimental data and in excellent agreement with numerical results available in the literature. A correlation has also been presented for the overall Nusselt number as a function of Gr and Pr.     

Turbulence in rough-wall boundary layers: universality issues

Wind tunnel measurements of turbulent boundary layers over three-dimensional rough surfaces have been carried out to determine the critical roughness height beyond which the roughness affects the turbulence characteristics of the entire boundary layer. Experiments were performed on three types of surfaces, consisting of an urban type surface with square random height elements, a diamond-pattern wire mesh and a sand-paper type grit. The measurements were carried out over a momentum thickness Reynolds number (Re _θ) range of 1,300–28,000 using two-component Laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) and hot-wire anemometry (HWA). A wide range of the ratio of roughness element height h to boundary layer thickness δ was covered (0.04 ￡ h/d ￡ 0.400.04 \leq h/\delta \leq 0.40). The results confirm that the mean profiles for all the surfaces collapse well in velocity defect form up to surprisingly large values of h/δ, perhaps as large as 0.2, but with a somewhat larger outer layer wake strength than for smooth-wall flows, as previously found. At lower h/δ, at least up to 0.15, the Reynolds stresses for all surfaces show good agreement throughout the boundary layer, collapsing with smooth-wall results outside the near-wall region. With increasing h/δ, however, the turbulence above the near-wall region is gradually modified until the entire flow is affected. Quadrant analysis confirms that changes in the rough-wall boundary layers certainly exist but are confined to the near-wall region at low h/δ; for h/δ beyond about 0.2 the quadrant events show that the structural changes extend throughout much of the boundary layer. Taken together, the data suggest that above h/δ ≈ 0.15, the details of the roughness have a weak effect on how quickly (with rising h/δ) the turbulence structure in the outer flow ceases to conform to the classical boundary layer behaviour. The present results provide support for Townsend’s wall similarity hypothesis at low h/δ and also suggest that a single critical roughness height beyond which it fails does not exist. For fully rough flows, the data also confirm that mean flow and turbulence quantities are essentially independent of Re _θ; all the Reynolds stresses match those of smooth-wall flows at very high Re _θ. Nonetheless, there is a noticeable increase in stress contributions from strong sweep events in the near-wall region, even at quite low h/δ.     

Tomographic and time resolved PIV measurements on a finite cylinder mounted on a flat plate

Tomographic and time resolved PIV measurements were performed to examine the 3D flow topology and the flow dynamic above the upper surface of a low-aspect ratio cylinder at Re ≈ 1 ×  10⁵. This generic experiment is of fundamental interest because it represents flow features which are relevant to many applications such as laminar separation bubbles and turbulent reattachment. At Re  ≈ 1 × 10⁵, laminar separation bubbles arise on the side of the cylinder. Furthermore, on the top of the cylinder a separation with reattachment is of major interest. The tomographic PIV measurement, which allows to determine all three velocity components in a volume instantaneously, was applied to examine the flow topology and interaction between the boundary layer and wake structures on the top of the finite cylinder. In the instantaneous flow fields the tip vortices and the recirculation region becomes visible. However, it is also observed that the flow is quite unsteady due to the large separation occurring on the top of the cylinder. In order to study the temporal behaviour of the separation, time resolved PIV was applied. This technique allows capturing the dynamic processes in detail. The development of vortices in the separated shear layer is observed and in addition regions with different dominant frequencies are identified.     

A DPIV study of a starting flow downstream of a backward-facing step

 In this paper an experimental investigation of a starting water flow downstream of a backward-facing step is described. The Reynolds number of the asymptotic steady flow is Re≈4300 based on the step height of s=2 cm and the free stream velocity of U=21.4 cm/s. Velocity measurements were performed with video-based DPIV (Digital Particle Image Velocimetry) at a sampling frequency of 25 Hz. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the temporal development of global structures which could not be analyzed with single-point probes. It was found that at initialization of the flow a regular vorticity street is formed, which collapses at a normalized time t ^* =U t/s≈17 due to vorticity interactions. After this the flow is dominated by complicated vorticity roll-up and shedding dynamics in the recirculation region. The starting phase is terminated for t ^* >40. Prior to the collapse of the vorticity street values of 9 times the steady state asymptotic wall normal stress and of twice the steady state negative wall shear stress were observed. The early increasing slope of the reattachment length is constant over a time of approximately t ^* =8. The collapse of the vorticity street and the vorticity interactions thereafter cause fluctuations both in the velocity in the free shear layer and in the reattachment length. The fully developed flow has a dominant frequency corresponding to a Strouhal number St=fs/U≈0.04. Received: 20 September 1996/Accepted: 1 April 1997     

Turbulent boundary layers on axially-inclined cylinders. II. Circumferentially averaged wall-pressure wavenumber–frequency spectra

The boundary layer on a long cylinder with its axis at small inclinations to the freestream (an idealisation of “streamers” used in underwater seismic surveys) has been studied experimentally. For the range of incidence 0–6°, there is no evidence of vortex shedding at typical Reynolds numbers. The circumferentially averaged fluctuating wall pressure decreases with increasing incidence, showing that increases in extraneous noise in seismic measurements when the streamer is at incidence are not caused by the changes in boundary layer structure. Wavenumber–frequency spectra of the circumferentially averaged wall pressure show a convective ridge that persists for the range of incidences studied. Received: 10 June 2000/Accepted: 4 July 2001     

A study of the three-dimensional spectral energy distribution in a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer

Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements performed in wall parallel planes at three wall normal locations, y ⁺ = 34, 108, and 278, in a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer at Re _τ = 470 are used to illuminate the distribution of streamwise velocity fluctuations in a three-dimensional energy spectrum (2D in space and 1D in time) over streamwise, spanwise, and temporal wavelengths. Two high-speed cameras placed side by side in the streamwise direction give a 10δ × 5δ streamwise by spanwise field of view with a vector spacing of _boxclose = z^+ 37\Updelta x^+ = \Updelta z^+ \approx 37 and a time step of \Updelta t⁺=0.5\Updelta t^+=0.5. Although 3D wavenumber--frequency spectra have been calculated in acoustics studies, to the authors’ knowledge this is the first time they has been calculated and presented for a turbulent boundary layer. The calculation and normalization of this spectrum, its relation to 2D and 1D spectra, and the effects of the PIV algorithm on its shape are carefully analyzed and outlined.     

Resonant interactions of Tollmien-Schlichting waves in the boundary layer on a flat plate

Resonant interaction phenomena of Tollmien-Schlichting waves (T.-S. waves) are examined experimentally by spectral analysis method. Results demonstrate that, in the spectra measured in the vicinity of the critical layer of the unstable boundary layer, the energy of T.-S. waves concentrates in a narrow band of frequency with one to three peaks in the power spectra corresponding to the eigenfrequencies of T.-S. waves and the frequency with maximum growth rate located between the upper and lower branches of the neutral curve. The resonant interactions transfer the energy of these eigencomponents to their subsequent subharmonics in a range ofR _δ* where their growth rates increase from zero to a maximum value, and the boundary layer becomes turbulent after the third resonant interaction.     

A numerical bifurcation study of friction effects in a slip-controlled torque converter clutch

Friction plays a key role in the efficiency and stability of the slip-controlled torque converter clutches. The effects of friction on the dynamics and stability of a slip-controlled torque converter clutch system using a bifurcation-analysis-based approach is presented in this paper. A three degree-of-freedom nonlinear driveline model with integral feedback action to control the clutch slip speed has been utilized for this study. The clutch interface friction is dependent on the slip speed and is a function of the static friction constant, μ ₀, the low velocity friction constant μ ₁, and the low velocity exponential rate, γ. Using one-parameter numerical continuation, local Hopf bifurcations of the subcritical type are observed as the friction parameters μ ₁ and γ were varied at low slip speeds. The continuation results are verified using simulations of the full nonlinear model. Stick-slip and undesirable oscillations of the model inertia elements are observed for certain parameter values. As the slip speed is increased, the bifurcation instability occurs at an increasingly higher value of μ ₁ signifying an improved tolerance of negative friction gradient at higher slip speeds. Smaller exponential rates γ are tolerated at higher slip speeds before the bifurcation instability occurs. For the range of parameter values considered, no bifurcations occur for a slip speeds higher than 3.4 and 4.5 rad/s with μ ₁ and γ as the continuation parameters, respectively. These values of slip speeds are much lower than the system’s first mode of torsional vibration of 16 Hz (≈100 rad/s).     

On the use of the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot function to describe the fractal component of turbulent velocity

It is shown that the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot function simulates the irregularity in a turbulent velocity record and yields correct forms for the energy and dissipation spectra. In particular, the universal properties of a corresponding multi-fractal function are demonstrated by showing its ability to reproduce and explain turbulent flow spectra measured near the walls of straight and curved channels and in the obstructed space between a pair of disks corotating in an axisymmetric enclosure. The simulation capabilities of the multi-fractal function strongly suggest that turbulence is fractal in the frequency range of the turbulent energy spectrum where the slope of the logarithm of the spectrum, G, is −3 < G < −1. The scale-independent frequency range of the energy spectrum correctly represented by the multi-fractal function includes the isotropic dissipation subrange (−3 < G < −5/3), the inertial subrange (G = −5/3), and the “inner” portion of the anisotropic large-scale subrange (−5/3 < G < −1).     

Flow past a cylinder: shear layer instability and drag crisis

Flow past a circular cylinder for Re=100 to 10⁷ is studied numerically by solving the unsteady incompressible two‐dimensional Navier–Stokes equations via a stabilized finite element formulation. It is well known that beyond Re ～ 200 the flow develops significant three‐dimensional features. Therefore, two‐dimensional computations are expected to fall well short of predicting the flow accurately at high Re. It is fairly well accepted that the shear layer instability is primarily a two‐dimensional phenomenon. The frequency of the shear layer vortices, from the present computations, agree quite well with the Re^0.67 variation observed by other researchers from experimental measurements. The main objective of this paper is to investigate a possible relationship between the drag crisis (sudden loss of drag at Re ～ 2 × 10⁵) and the instability of the separated shear layer. As Re is increased the transition point of shear layer, beyond which it is unstable, moves upstream. At the critical Reynolds number the transition point is located very close to the point of flow separation. As a result, the shear layer eddies cause mixing of the flow in the boundary layer. This energizes the boundary layer and leads to its reattachment. The delay in flow separation is associated with narrowing of wake, increase in Reynolds shear stress near the shoulder of the cylinder and a significant reduction in the drag and base suction coefficients. The spatial and temporal power spectra for the kinetic energy of the Re=10⁶ flow are computed. As in two‐dimensional isotropic turbulence, E(k) varies as k^?5/3 for wavenumbers higher than energy injection scale and as k^?3 for lower wavenumbers. The present computations suggest that the shear layer vortices play a major role in the transition of boundary layer from laminar to turbulent state. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stability of double-diffusive convection induced by selective absorption of radiation in a fluid layer

Linear and nonlinear stability analyses were performed on a fluid layer with a concentration-based internal heat source. Clear bimodal behaviour in the neutral curve (with stationary and oscillatory modes) is observed in the region of the onset of oscillatory convection, which is a previously unobserved phenomenon in radiation-induced convection. The numerical results for the linear instability analysis suggest a critical value γ _c of γ, a measure for the strength of the internal heat source, for which oscillatory convection is inhibited when γ > γ _c . Linear instability analyses on the effect of varying the ratio of the salt concentrations at the upper and lower boundaries conclude that the ratio has a significant effect on the stability boundary. A nonlinear analysis using an energy approach confirms that the linear theory describes the stability boundary most accurately when γ is such that the linear theory predicts the onset of mostly stationary convection. Nevertheless, the agreement between the linear and nonlinear stability thresholds deteriorates for larger values of the solute Rayleigh number for any value of γ.