Numerical study of a turbulent separation bubble with sweep

2019 ◽  
Vol 880 ◽  
pp. 684-706
Author(s):  
G. N. Coleman ◽  
C. L. Rumsey ◽  
P. R. Spalart

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to study a separated and rapidly reattached turbulent boundary layer over an idealized $35^{\circ }$ infinite swept wing. The separation and reattachment are induced by a transpiration profile at fixed distance above the layer, with the pressure gradient applied to a well-defined, fully developed, zero-pressure-gradient (ZPG) collateral state. To isolate the influence of the sweep, results are compared with one of our earlier DNS of an unswept flow, with the same chordwise transpiration distribution and appropriate upstream momentum thickness. The independence principle (IP) traditionally proposed for swept wings, which is exact for laminar flows, is found to be close to valid in some regions (bridging the separation/reattachment zone) and to fail in others (in the ZPG layers upstream and downstream of the separation). This is assessed primarily through the skin friction and integral thicknesses. The regions in which the IP is approximately valid correspond to regions of diminished Reynolds-stress divergence, compared to the pressure-gradient magnitude. The mean-velocity profiles exhibit significant skewing as the flow develops, while the velocity magnitude departs only slightly from the ZPG logarithmic profile, even above the separation zone. Implications for Reynolds-averaged turbulence modelling are discussed.

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 1956-1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Alving ◽  
H. H. Fernholz

Author(s):  
R. B. Rivir ◽  
J. P. Johnston ◽  
J. K. Eaton

Fluid dynamics and heat transfer measurements were performed for a separation bubble formed on a smooth, flat, constant-heat-flux plate. The separation was induced by an adverse pressure gradient created by deflection of the opposite wall of the wind tunnel. The heat transfer rate was found to decline monotonically approaching the separation point and reach a broad minimum approximately 60% below zero-pressure-gradient levels. The heat transfer rate increased rapidly approaching reattachment with a peak occuring slightly downstream of the mean reattachment point. The opposite wall shape was varied to reduce the applied adverse pressure gradient. The heat transfer results were similar as long as the pressure gradient was sufficient to cause full separation of the boundary layer.


1994 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Rivir ◽  
J. P. Johnston ◽  
J. K. Eaton

Fluid dynamics and heat transfer measurements were performed for a separation bubble formed on a smooth, flat, constant-heat-flux plate. The separation was induced by an adverse pressure gradient created by deflection of the opposite wall of the wind tunnel. The heat transfer rate was found to decline monotonically approaching the separation point and reach a broad minimum approximately 60 percent below zero-pressure-gradient levels. The heat transfer rate increased rapidly approaching reattachment with a peak occurring slightly downstream of the mean reattachment point. The opposite wall shape was varied to reduce the applied adverse pressure gradient. The heat transfer results were similar as long as the pressure gradient was sufficient to cause full separation of the boundary layer.


2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Lennart S. Hultgren

Detailed velocity measurements were made along a flat plate subject to the same dimensionless pressure gradient as the suction side of a modern low-pressure turbine airfoil. Reynolds numbers based on wetted plate length and nominal exit velocity were varied from 50,000 to 300,000, covering cruise to takeoff conditions. Low and high inlet free-stream turbulence intensities (0.2 and 7 percent) were set using passive grids. The location of boundary-layer separation does not depend strongly on the free-stream turbulence level or Reynolds number, as long as the boundary layer remains nonturbulent prior to separation. Strong acceleration prevents transition on the upstream part of the plate in all cases. Both free-stream turbulence and Reynolds number have strong effects on transition in the adverse pressure gradient region. Under low free-stream turbulence conditions, transition is induced by instability waves in the shear layer of the separation bubble. Reattachment generally occurs at the transition start. At Re=50,000 the separation bubble does not close before the trailing edge of the modeled airfoil. At higher Re, transition moves upstream, and the boundary layer reattaches. With high free-stream turbulence levels, transition appears to occur in a bypass mode, similar to that in attached boundary layers. Transition moves upstream, resulting in shorter separation regions. At Re above 200,000, transition begins before separation. Mean velocity, turbulence, and intermittency profiles are presented.


Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Lennart S. Hultgren

Detailed velocity measurements were made along a flat plate subject to the same dimensionless pressure gradient as the suction side of a modern low-pressure turbine airfoil. Reynolds numbers based on wetted plate length and nominal exit velocity were varied from 50, 000 to 300, 000, covering cruise to takeoff conditions. Low and high inlet free-stream turbulence intensities (0.2% and 7%) were set using passive grids. The location of boundary-layer separation does not depend strongly on the free-stream turbulence level or Reynolds number, as long as the boundary layer remains non-turbulent prior to separation. Strong acceleration prevents transition on the upstream part of the plate in all cases. Both free-stream turbulence and Reynolds number have strong effects on transition in the adverse pressure gradient region. Under low free-stream turbulence conditions transition is induced by instability waves in the shear layer of the separation bubble. Reattachment generally occurs at the transition start. At Re = 50, 000 the separation bubble does not close before the trailing edge of the modeled airfoil. At higher Re, transition moves upstream, and the boundary layer reattaches. With high free-stream turbulence levels, transition appears to occur in a bypass mode, similar to that in attached boundary layers. Transition moves upstream, resulting in shorter separation regions. At Re above 200,000, transition begins before separation. Mean velocity, turbulence and intermittency profiles are presented.


2018 ◽  
Vol 847 ◽  
pp. 28-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Coleman ◽  
C. L. Rumsey ◽  
P. R. Spalart

A family of cases each containing a small separation bubble is treated by direct numerical simulation (DNS), varying two parameters: the severity of the pressure gradients, generated by suction and blowing across the opposite boundary, and the Reynolds number. Each flow contains a well-developed entry region with essentially zero pressure gradient, and all are adjusted to have the same value for the momentum thickness, extrapolated from the entry region to the centre of the separation bubble. Combined with fully defined boundary conditions this will make comparisons with other simulations and turbulence models rigorous; we present results for a set of eight Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes turbulence models. Even though the largest Reynolds number is approximately 5.5 times higher than in a similar DNS study we presented in 1997, the models have difficulties matching the DNS skin friction very closely even in the zero pressure gradient, which complicates their assessment. In the rest of the domain, the separation location per se is not particularly difficult to predict, and the most definite disagreement between DNS and models is near reattachment. Curiously, the better models tend to cluster together in their predictions of pressure and skin friction even when they deviate from the DNS, although their eddy-viscosity levels are widely different in the outer region near the bubble (or they do not rely on an eddy viscosity). Stratford’s square-root law is satisfied by the velocity profiles, both at separation and reattachment. The Reynolds-number range covers a factor of two, with the Reynolds number based on the extrapolated momentum thickness equal to approximately 1500 and 3000. This allows tentative estimates of the improvements that even higher values will bring to the model comparisons. The solutions are used to assess models through pressure, skin friction and other measures; the flow fields are also used to produce effective eddy-viscosity targets for the models, thus guiding turbulence-modelling work in each region of the flow.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelouahab T. Mohammed-Taifour ◽  
Arnaud Le Floc'h ◽  
Julien Weiss

Author(s):  
K Anand ◽  
KT Ganesh

The effect of pressure gradient on a separated boundary layer past the leading edge of an airfoil model is studied experimentally using electronically scanned pressure (ESP) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) for a Reynolds number ( Re) of 25,000, based on leading-edge diameter ( D). The features of the boundary layer in the region of separation and its development past the reattachment location are examined for three cases of β (−30°, 0°, and +30°). The bubble parameters such as the onset of separation and transition and the reattachment location are identified from the averaged data obtained from pressure and velocity measurements. Surface pressure measurements obtained from ESP show a surge in wall static pressure for β = −30° (flap deflected up), while it goes down for β = +30° (flap deflected down) compared to the fundamental case, β = 0°. Particle image velocimetry results show that the roll up of the shear layer past the onset of separation is early for β = +30°, owing to higher amplification of background disturbances compared to β = 0° and −30°. Downstream to transition location, the instantaneous field measurements reveal a stretched, disoriented, and at instances bigger vortices for β = +30°, whereas a regular, periodically shed vortices, keeping their identity past the reattachment location, is observed for β = 0° and −30°. Above all, this study presents a new insight on the features of a separation bubble receiving a disturbance from the downstream end of the model, and these results may serve as a bench mark for future studies over an airfoil under similar environment.


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