Transverse instability and low-frequency flapping in incompressible separated boundary layer flows: an experimental study

2012 ◽  
Vol 703 ◽  
pp. 363-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Yves Passaggia ◽  
Thomas Leweke ◽  
Uwe Ehrenstein

AbstractThe unstable dynamics of a transitional laminar separation bubble behind a two-dimensional bump geometry is investigated experimentally using dye visualizations and particle image velocimetry measurements. For Reynolds numbers above a critical value, the initially two-dimensional recirculation bubble is subject to modulations in the spanwise direction which can trigger vortex shedding. Increasing the Reynolds number further, the unstable behaviour is dominated by a low-frequency flapping motion, well known in transonic flows, and here investigated for the first time experimentally in an incompressible flow regime. These phenomena are characterized by non-intrusive measurements of the spatial structure and the frequencies of the unsteady motion. The results are in excellent agreement with previous numerical and theoretical predictions for the same geometry.

Author(s):  
Mark P. Simens ◽  
Javier Jime´nez

We study the control of two-dimensional laminar separation bubbles on a flat plate at low Reynolds numbers, using two-dimensional DNS. A range of steady separation bubbles is obtained varying the pressure gradient. They are forced by a zero-mass flow, oscillatory wall blowing with different perturbation amplitudes and frequencies. The reduction in bubble length as a function of frequency has two minima for sufficient high amplitudes. One of them is related to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability of the separated boundary layer, while the other, most effective one, is here denoted as the low-frequency regime. In this regime large vortices are created which are not a consequence of an instability of the original bubble. On the contrary the forcing creates an unsteady separation bubble which evolves into a large vortex. These vortices have large radii and attach to the wall due to their self-induced pressure field while convecting across the adverse pressure gradient zone. Scaling relations for the effect of the forcing are proposed and tested.


2013 ◽  
Vol 728 ◽  
pp. 58-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Marxen ◽  
Matthias Lang ◽  
Ulrich Rist

AbstractThe convective primary amplification of a forced two-dimensional perturbation initiates the formation of essentially two-dimensional large-scale vortices in a laminar separation bubble. These vortices are then shed from the bubble with the forcing frequency. Immediately downstream of their formation, the vortices get distorted in the spanwise direction and quickly disintegrate into small-scale turbulence. The laminar–turbulent transition in a forced laminar separation bubble is dominated by this vortex formation and breakup process. Using numerical and experimental data, we give an in-depth characterization of this process in physical space as well as in Fourier space, exploiting the largely periodic character of the flow in time as well as in the spanwise direction. We present evidence that a combination of more than one secondary instability mechanism is active during this process. The first instability mechanism is the elliptic instability of vortex cores, leading to a spanwise deformation of the cores with a spanwise wavelength of the order of the size of the vortex. Another mechanism, potentially an instability of flow in between two consecutive vortices, is responsible for three-dimensionality in the braid region. The corresponding disturbances possess a much smaller spanwise wavelength as compared to those amplified through elliptic instability. The secondary instability mechanisms occur for both fundamental and subharmonic frequency, respectively, even in the absence of continuous forcing, indicative of temporal amplification in the region of vortex formation.


Author(s):  
A. D’Ovidio ◽  
J. A. Harkins ◽  
J. P. Gostelow

The study of turbulent spots in strong adverse pressure gradients is of current interest in turbomachinery research. The aim of this investigation is to use information gathered from boundary layer transition and laminar separation, in wind tunnel tests on flat plates, to predict the equivalent phenomena occurring on turbomachinery blade surfaces. In Part 1 turbulent spot behavior was documented for two Reynolds numbers, corresponding to a laminar separation bubble (LSB) and an incipient separation condition (IS). In Part 2 further results are reported characterizing typical spot propagation and spreading rates and serving to validate or modify existing correlations for predicting transition length.


Author(s):  
Jenny Baumann ◽  
Ulrich Rist ◽  
Martin Rose ◽  
Tobias Ries ◽  
Stephan Staudacher

The reduction of blade counts in the LP turbine is one possibility to cut down weight and therewith costs. At low Reynolds numbers the suction side laminar boundary layer of high lift LP turbine blades tends to separate and hence cause losses in turbine performance. To limit these losses, the control of laminar separation bubbles has been the subject of many studies in recent years. A project is underway at the University of Stuttgart that aims to suppress laminar separation at low Reynolds numbers (60,000) by means of actuated transition. In an experiment a separating flow is influenced by disturbances, small in amplitude and of a certain frequency, which are introduced upstream of the separation point. Small existing disturbances are therewith amplified, leading to earlier transition and a more stable boundary layer. The separation bubble thus gets smaller without need of a high air mass flow as for steady blowing or pulsed vortex generating jets. Frequency and amplitude are the parameters of actuation. The non-dimensional actuation frequency is varied from 0.2 to 0.5, whereas the normalized amplitude is altered between 5, 10 and 25% of the free stream velocity. Experimental investigations are made by means of PIV and hot wire measurements. Disturbed flow fields will be compared to an undisturbed one. The effectiveness of the presented boundary layer control will be compared to those of conventional ones. Phase-logged data will give an impression of the physical processes in the actuated flow.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 175682931983368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasir A ElAwad ◽  
Eltayeb M ElJack

High-fidelity large eddy simulation is carried out for the flow field around a NACA-0012 aerofoil at Reynolds number of [Formula: see text], Mach number of 0.4, and various angles of attack around the onset of stall. The laminar separation bubble is formed on the suction surface of the aerofoil and is constituted by the reattached shear layer. At these conditions, the laminar separation bubble is unstable and switches between a short bubble and an open bubble. The instability of the laminar separation bubble triggers a low-frequency flow oscillation. The aerodynamic coefficients oscillate accordingly at a low frequency. The lift and the drag coefficients compare very well to recent high-accuracy experimental data, and the lift leads the drag by a phase shift of [Formula: see text]. The mean lift coefficient peaks at the angle of attack of [Formula: see text], in total agreement with the experimental data. The spectra of the lift coefficient does not show a significant low-frequency peak at angles of attack lower than or equal the stall angle of attack ([Formula: see text]). At higher angles of attack, the spectra show two low-frequency peaks and the low-frequency flow oscillation is fully developed at the angle of attack of [Formula: see text]. The behaviour of the flow-field and changes in the turbulent kinetic energy over one low-frequency flow oscillation cycle are described qualitatively.


Author(s):  
Dongli Ma ◽  
Guanxiong Li ◽  
Muqing Yang ◽  
Shaoqi Wang

Laminar separation and transition have significant effects on aerodynamic characteristics of the wing under the condition of low Reynolds numbers. Using the flow control methods to delay and eliminate laminar separation has great significance. This study uses the method combined with water tunnel test and numerical calculation to research the effects of suction flow control on the flow state and aerodynamic force of the wing at low Reynolds numbers. The effects of suction flow rate and suction location on laminar separation, transition and aerodynamic performance of the wing are further researched. The results of the research show that, the suction can control laminar separation and transition effectively, when the suction holes are in the interior of the separation bubble, and close to the separation point, the suction has the best control effect. When the Reynolds number is Re = 3.0 × 105, the suction flow control can make the lift-to-drag ratio of the wing increase by 8.62%, and the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing are improved effectively.


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