Polymer drag reduction with surface roughness in flat-plate turbulent boundary layer flow

Experimental results from a study of surface roughness effects on polymer drag reduction in a zero-pressure gradient flat-plate turbulent boundary layer are presented. Both slot-injected polymer and homogeneous polymer ocean cases were considered over a range of flow conditions and surface roughness. Balance measurements of skin friction drag reduction are presented. Drag reductions over 60% were measured for both the injected and homogeneous polymer cases even with fully rough surfaces. As the roughness increased, higher polymer concentration was required to achieve a given level of drag reduction for the homogeneous case. With polymer injection, increasing surface roughness caused the drag reduction to decrease to low levels more quickly when the polymer expenditure was decreased or the freestream velocity was increased. However, the percent drag reductions on the rough surfaces with polymer injection were often substantially larger than on the smooth surface. Remarkably, in some cases, the skin friction drag force on a rough surface with polymer injection was less than the drag force observed on a smooth surface at comparable conditions. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Three-component LDA measurements in a turbulent boundary layer

An experimental study of a three-dimensional, pressuredriven, attached turbulent boundary-layer flow was made at Mach 0.4. Both the mean velocities and the full Reynolds stress tensor were measured simultaneously by a three-component LDA system. Value of the resultant shear stress to turbulent kinetic energy ratio varied between 0.1 and 0.2 and did not remain constant across the boundary-layer. Slopes of the streamwise and azimuthal mixing length distributions in the wall region were around 0.4 and 1.2, respectively. Skew angle of the turbulent shear stress was larger than skew angle of the velocity gradient.     

RMS spanwise vorticity measurements in a turbulent boundary layer

Turbulent boundary layer measurements of the rms spanwise vorticity t_z with a four hot-wire probe are in reasonable agreement with direct numerical simulations and other published measurements at comparable Reynolds numbers. It is shown that a reasonable accurate approximation for _z can be obtained with only two parallel hot wires.     

Flow structures behind a vertically oscillating fence immersed in a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer

A phase-averaging technique was employed to study the evolution of flow behind an oscillating bluff plate immersed in a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer. The experiments were performed for a reduced frequency of 0.0044. The large-scale disturbance generated by the plate developed to an organized form over 20 maximum plate height and then diffused rapidly, as quantified by the ratio of Reynolds stress of the phase-averaged fluctuation to that of the total fluctuation. The small-scale fluctuations embedded in the large-scale disturbance were almost removed by phase averaging. However, their contributions in Reynolds stress and kinetic energy were pronounced along the path of the core of the large-scale structure.A version of this paper was presented at the 11^th Symposium on Turbulence, University of Missouri-Rolla, Sept. 1988     

Modification of near-wall turbulence structure in a shear-driven three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer

 Most high Reynolds number flows of engineering interest are three-dimensional in nature. Key features of three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers (3DTBLs) include: non-colateral shear stress and strain rate vectors, and decreasing ratio of the shear stresses to the turbulent kinetic energy with increasing three-dimensionality. These are indicators that the skewing has a significant effect on the structure of turbulence. In order to further investigate the flow physics and turbulence structure of these complex flows, an innovative method for generating a planar shear-driven 3DTBL was developed. A specialized facility incorporating a relatively simple geometry and allowing for varying strengths of crossflow was constructed to facilitate studies where the skewing is decoupled from the confounding effects of streamwise pressure gradient and curvature. On-line planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements and flow visualization results indicate that the experimental configuration generates the desired complex flow, which exhibits typical characteristics associated with 3DTBLs. Furthermore, spanwise shear results in modification of the near-wall turbulence structure. Analysis of near-wall flow visualization photographs revealed a reduction of mean streak length with increasing spanwise shear, while streak spacing remained relatively constant. In the most strongly sheared case, where the belt velocity is twice that of the freestream velocity, the mean streak length was reduced by approximately 50%. Received: 28 October 1997/Accepted: 4 February 1998     

Maximization of the lift/drag ratio of airfoils with a turbulent boundary layer

The problem of seeking the maximum life/drag ratio for airfoils in an incompressible separationless high-Re flow is considered in the turbulent boundary layer approximation. Within the framework of this model, the maximization of the L/D ratio is redwed to the determination of a conditional extremum for a convex functional. An explicit analytical expression for the extremal solution is obtained. The angle-of-attack dependence of the L/D ratio is demonstrated. The global maximum of the L/D ratio is determined. The results are compared with the known data of numerical optimization. Kazan’. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 177–184, May–June, 1998.     

Effect of free-stream turbulence on surface friction in a turbulent boundary layer

The combined effect of the turbulence intensity , the turbulence scaleL, and the Reynolds number Re^** on the surface friction coefficientc _f in a turbulent boundary layer is studied. The dependence of the relative friction increment on the equivalent turbulence level _cq, which takes into account the simultaneous variation in ,L and Re^**, is determined. The threshold value _cq ^* below which the value ofc _f does not depend on _cq is found.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 65–75, March–April, 1995.     

Freestream turbulence effect on flow and heat transfer in the flat-plate boundary layer

Flow and heat transfer in the flat-plate boundary layer is numerically investigated using a differential three-equation turbulence model for the initial freestream turbulence intensity ranging from 1.5 to 9%. An increase in the local friction coefficient and the Stanton number obtained in the calculations is in agreement with the most representative experimental data.     

PIV measurements in a weakly separating and reattaching turbulent boundary layer

A high Reynolds number flat plate turbulent boundary layer was studied in a wind-tunnel experiment using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The flow is subjected to an adverse pressure gradient (APG) which is designed such that the boundary layer separates and reattaches, forming a weak separation bubble. With PIV we are able to get a more complete picture of this complex flow phenomenon. The view of a separation bubble being composed of large scale coherent regions of instantaneous backflow occurring randomly in a three-dimensional manner in space and time is verified by the present PIV measurements. The PIV database was used to test the applicability of various velocity scalings around the separation bubble. We found that the mean velocity profiles in the outer part of the boundary layer, and to some extent also the Reynolds shear-stress, are self-similar when using a velocity scale based on the local pressure gradient. The same can be said for the so called Perry–Schofield scaling, which suggests that the two velocity scales are connected. This can also be interpreted as an experimental evidence of the claimed relation between the latter velocity scale and the maximum Reynolds shear-stress.     

Two-phase measurements of saltating turbulent boundary layer flow

Mean wind and particle speed measurements as functions of heigh were made for a saltating turbulent boundary layer flow. An exponential dependence of particle flux with height above the surface was found independent of windspeed and particle size. Particle-speed distributions as functions of height above the surface were measured for experiments conducted at two ambient pressures: atmospheric pressure and approximately 1% atmospheric pressure. The wind was shown to be a more efficient mover of particles at atmospheric pressure.High-speed motion pictures of saltating ground walnut shells (of diameter 500–1500 μm and density 1.1 g/cm³) were taken in an environmental wind tunnel to simulate the planetary boundary layer. These experiments verify the existence and magnitude of particle spin rates proposed by White & Schulz (1977). There was remarkable agreement between numerical trajectory solutions, including the spin effect, and the filmed trajectories. An observation was made that not all particles spin exclusively in the vertical longitudinal plane (in the direction of flow). At low pressures (0.6 kPa) the effect of spin forces on the particle's trajectory was shown to have little influence and was verified by a theoretical force ration balance of spin to drag force.     

LDA measurements in low Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer

LDA measurements of the mean velocity in a low Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer allow a direct estimate of the friction velocity U from the value of /y at the wall. The trend of the Reynolds number dependence of / is similar to the direct numerical simulations of Spalart (1988).     

Stereoscopic PIV measurements of a turbulent boundary layer with a large spatial dynamic range

The flow in a streamwise/wall-normal plane of a turbulent boundary layer at moderate Reynolds number (Re _θ = 2,200) is characterized using two stereo PIV systems just overlapping in the streamwise direction. The aim is to generate SPIV data for near-wall turbulence with enough spatial dynamic range to resolve most of the coherent structures present in the flow and to facilitate future comparisons with direct numerical simulations. This is made possibly through the use of four cameras with large CCD arrays (4,008 px × 2,672 px) and through a rigorous experimental procedure designed to minimize the impact of measurement noise on the resolution of the small scales. For the first time, both a large field of view [S _x ; S _y ] = [2.6δ; 0.75δ] and a high spatial resolution (with an interrogation window size of 13.6⁺) have been achieved. The quality of the data is assessed through an analysis of some of the statistical results such as the mean velocity profile, the rms and the PDF of the fluctuations, and the power spectra.     

The effect of particles on fluid turbulence in a turbulent boundary layer over a cylinder

The turbulent fluid and particle interaction in the turbulent boundary layer for cross flow over a cylinder has been experimentally studied. A phase-Doppler anemometer was used to measure the mean and fluctuating velocities of both phases. Two size ranges of particles (30μm–60μm and 80μm–150μm) at certain concentrations were used for considering the effects of particle sizes on the mean velocity profiles and on the turbulent intensity levels. The measurements clearly demonstrated that the larger particles damped fluid turbulence. For the smaller particles, this damping effect was less noticeable. The measurements further showed a delay in the separation point for two phase turbulent cross flow over a cylinder. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Skin-friction drag reduction in a high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layer via real-time control of large-scale structures

While large-scale motions are most energetic in the logarithmic region of a high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layer, they also have an influence in the inner-region. In this paper we describe an experimental investigation of manipulating the large-scale motions and reveal how this affects the turbulence and skin-friction drag. A boundary layer with a friction Reynolds number of 14 400 is controlled using a spanwise array of nine wall-normal jets operated in an on/off mode and with an exit velocity that causes the jets in cross-flow to penetrate within the log-region. Each jet is triggered in real-time with an active controller, driven by a time-resolved footprint of the large-scale motions acquired upstream. Nominally, the controller injects air into large-scale zones with positive streamwise velocity fluctuations; these zones are associated with positive wall-shear stress fluctuations. This control scheme reduced the streamwise turbulence intensity in the log-region up to a downstream distance of more than five times the boundary layer thickness, δ, from the point of actuation. The highest reduction in spectral energy—more than 30%—was found for wavelengths larger than 5δ in the log-region at 1.7δ downstream of actuation, while scales larger than 2δ still comprised more than 15% energy reduction in the near-wall region. In addition, a 3.2% reduction in mean skin-friction drag was achieved at 1.7δ downstream of actuation. Our reductions of the streamwise turbulence intensity and mean skin-friction drag exceed a base line control-case, for which the jet actuators were operated with the same temporal pattern, but not synchronised with the incoming large-scale zones of positive fluctuating velocity.     

High Reynolds number thick axisymmetric turbulent boundary layer measurements

Experimental measurements of the wall shear stress and momentum thickness for thick axisymmetric turbulent boundary layers are presented. The use of a full-scale towing tank allowed zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers to be developed on cylinders with diameters of 0.61, 0.89, and 2.5 mm and lengths ranging from 30 m to 150 m. Moderate to high Reynolds numbers (10⁴<Re <10⁵, 10⁸<Re _L<10⁹) are considered. The relationship between the mean wall shear stress, cylinder diameter, cylinder length, and speed was investigated, and the spatial growth of the momentum thickness was determined. The wall shear stress is significantly higher, and the spatial growth of the boundary layers is shown to be lower than for a comparable flat-plate case. The mean wall shear stress exhibits variations with length that are not seen in zero pressure gradient flat plate turbulent boundary layers. The ratio of outer to inner boundary layer length scales is found to vary linearly with Re , which is qualitatively similar to a flat plate turbulent boundary layer. The quantitative effect of a riblet cylindrical cross-sectional geometry scaled for drag reduction based on flat plate criteria was also measured. The flat plate criteria do not lead to drag reduction for this class of boundary layer shear flows.List of symbols a cylinder radius, mm - A _s total cylindrical surface area, m² - C _d tangential drag coefficient - D drag force, Newtons - boundary layer thickness, mm - * displacement thickness, mm - h riblet height, mm - L cylinder length, m - kinematic viscosity, m²/s - momentum thickness, mm - fluid density, kg/m³ - r radial coordinate, mm - Re _L Reynolds number based on length= - Re Reynolds number based on momentum thickness= - s riblet spacing, mm - _w mean wall shear stress, N/m² - u(r) mean streamwise velocity, m/s - u friction velocity= - U _o tow speed, m/s - x streamwise coordinate, m     

Pressure field due to drag reducing outer layer devices in turbulent boundary layers

The wall static pressure in the vicinity of drag reducing outer layer devices in flat wall turbulent boundary layers has been measured and compared with an inviscid theory. Symmetric and cambered airfoil devices have been examined at small angles of attack and very low chord Reynolds numbers. Airfoil devices impose a sequence of strong favorable and adverse pressure gradients on the boundary layer whose drag is to be reduced. At very small angles of attack (± 2°), this pressure field extends up to about three chord lengths downstream of the trailing edge of an airfoil device. Also examined are the pressures on the upper and lower surfaces of a symmetric airfoil device in the freestream and near the wall. The freestream pressure distribution around an airfoil section is altered by the wall proximity. The relevance of lift enhancement caused by wall proximity to drag reduction has been discussed. The pressure distributions on the flat wall beneath the symmetric airfoil devices are predicted well by the inviscid theory. However, the remaining pressure distributions are predicted only qualitatively, presumably because of strong viscous effects.