Turbulent Boundary Layers in Low Reynolds Number Shallow Open Channel Flows

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 684-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram Balachandar ◽  
Shyam S. Ramachandran

The results of an experimental investigation of turbulent boundary layers in shallow open channel flows at low Reynolds numbers are presented. The study was aimed at extending the database toward lower values of Reynolds number. The data presented are primarily concerned with the longitudinal mean velocity, turbulent-velocity fluctuations, boundary layer shape parameter and skin friction coefficient for Reynolds numbers based on the momentum thickness (Reθ) ranging from 180 to 480. In this range, the results of the present investigation in shallow open channel flows indicate a lack of dependence of the von Karman constant κ on Reynolds number. The extent to which the mean velocity data overlaps with the log-law decreases with decreasing Reθ. The variation of the strength of the wake with Reθ is different from the trend proposed earlier by Coles.

1983 ◽  
Vol 27 (03) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Smits ◽  
N. Matheson ◽  
P. N. Joubert

This paper reports the results of an extensive experimental investigation into the mean flow properties of turbulent boundary layers with momentum-thickness Reynolds numbers less than 3000. Zero pressure gradient and favorable pressure gradients were studied. The velocity profiles displayed a logarithmic region even at very low Reynolds numbers (as low as Rθ = 261). The results were independent of the leading-edge shape, and the pin-type turbulent stimulators performed well. It was found that the shape and Clauser parameters were a little higher than the correlation proposed by Coles [10], and the skin friction coefficient was a little lower. The skin friction coefficient behavior could be fitted well by a simple power-law relationship in both zero and favorable pressure gradients.


2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 394-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram Balachandar ◽  
D. Blakely ◽  
M. Tachie ◽  
G. Putz

An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the characteristics of turbulent boundary layers developing on smooth flat plate in an open channel flow at moderately high Froude numbers (0.25<Fr<1.1) and low momentum thickness Reynolds numbers 800<Reθ<2900. The low range of Reynolds numbers and the high Froude number range make the study important, as most other studies of this type have been conducted at high Reynolds numbers and lower Froude numbers (∼0.1). Velocity measurements were carried out using a laser-Doppler anemometer equipped with a beam expansion device to enable measurements close to the wall region. The shear velocities were computed using the near-wall measurements in the viscous subregion. The variables of interest include the longitudinal mean velocity, the turbulence intensity, and the velocity skewness and flatness distributions across the boundary layer. The applicability of a constant Coles’ wake parameter (Π=0.55) to open channel flows has been discounted. The effect of the Froude number on the above parameters was also examined.


2018 ◽  
Vol 851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivsai Ajit Dixit ◽  
O. N. Ramesh

High Reynolds number is thought to be a fundamental condition essential for the occurrence of log scaling in turbulent boundary layers. However, while log variation of mean velocity is seen to occur at moderate Reynolds numbers in the traditional boundary layer literature, log variations of higher-order moments are evident only at much higher Reynolds numbers, as reported in recent experiments. This observation suggests that, underlying the occurrence of log scaling in turbulent boundary layers, there exists a more fundamental condition (apart from the largeness of Reynolds number) – the requirement of self-similar evolution of a mean-flow quantity of interest along a mean-flow streamline, i.e. the mean advection of the scaled mean quantity of interest is required to be zero. Experimental data from the literature provide strong support for this proposal.


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