Three-Dimensional Vortex Structure in a Leading-Edge Separation Bubble at Moderate Reynolds Numbers

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyuro Sasaki ◽  
Masaru Kiya
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Plate Thickness ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Vortex Filaments ◽  
Separated Shear Layer ◽  
Hydrogen Bubbles ◽  
Edge Separation

This paper describes the results of a flow visualization study which concerns three-dimensional vortex structures in a leading-edge separation bubble formed along the sides of a blunt flat plate. Dye and hydrogen bubbles were used as tracers. Reynolds number (Re), based on the plate thickness, was varied from 80 to 800. For 80 < Re < 320, the separated shear layer remains laminar up to the reattachment line without significant spanwise distortion of vortex filaments. For 320 < Re < 380, a Λ-shaped deformation of vortex filaments appears shortly downstream of the reattachment and is arranged in-phase in the downstream direction. For Re > 380, hairpin-like structures are formed and arranged in a staggered manner. The longitudinal and spanwise distances of the vortex arrangement are presented as functions of the Reynolds number.

Leading Edge Separation From a Blunt Plate at Low Reynolds Number

1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Lane ◽  
R. I. Loehrke
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Plate Thickness ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubble ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Separated Shear Layer ◽  
Separation Zones ◽  
Edge Separation ◽  
Steady Laminar

The flow over a blunt plate aligned parallel to the stream was visualized using dye tracers. A leading edge separation bubble was observed to form at a Reynolds number based on plate thickness of 100. The steady, laminar separation bubble on a long plate, L/t ≥ 8, grows in size with increasing Reynolds number reaching a maximum streamwise length at Ret = 325. The separated shear layer becomes unsteady and the bubble shrinks in size with further increases in Reynolds number. The leading and trailing edge separation zones on short plates, L/t ≤ 4, may combine to form a large recirculation pocket.

scholarly journals The Effect of Reynolds Number on the Behaviour of a Leading Edge Separation Bubble

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birinchi K. Hazarika ◽  
Charles Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Separation Point ◽  
Separation Bubbles ◽  
Edge Separation

An experimental investigation of a separation bubble on a C4 leading edge plate at an incidence in a low turbulence free stream at six Reynolds numbers, is reported. The long separation bubble, formed at the leading edge, has a short laminar and transitional zone followed by a long turbulent zone. The increase in Reynolds number reduced the laminar and transitional part significantly, but its effect on the length of the separation bubble is marginal till the transition starts at the separation point. The peak intermittency factor, which occurs at the centre of the shear layer, follows the universal intermittency distribution curve. The spot production rate for the separated flows are several orders of magnitude higher than that for the attached boundary layers. The transition process is initiated by the amplification of the instability waves in the shear layer similar to the natural mode of transition. At high Reynolds numbers, the onset of transition is likely to take place at the separation point. At lower chord Reynolds numbers, the separation to onset Reynolds number and the spot production rate parameter are functions of the separation momentum thickness Reynolds number. The free stream turbulence intensity has a strong influence on the spot production rate. New correlations for transition in the leading edge separation bubbles are proposed based on all the available intermittency measurements in the leading edge separation bubbles.

An experimental investigation of a laminar separation bubble on the leading-edge of a modelled aerofoil for different Reynolds numbers

2015 ◽  
Vol 230 (13) ◽  
pp. 2208-2224 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Samson ◽  
S Sarkar
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Constant Thickness ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubble ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Separated Shear Layer

This paper describes the dynamics of a laminar separation bubble formed on the semi-circular leading edge of constant thickness aerofoil model. Detailed experimental studies are carried out in a low-speed wind tunnel, where surface pressure and time-averaged velocity in the separated region and as well as in the downstream are presented along with flow field visualisations through PIV for various Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 75,000 (based on the leading edge diameter). The results illustrate that the separated shear layer is laminar up to 20% of separation length and then the perturbations are amplified in the second half attributing to breakdown and reattachment. The bubble length is highly susceptible to change in Reynolds number and plays an important role in outer layer activities. Further, the transition of a separated shear layer is studied through variation of intermittency factor and comparing with existing correlations available in the literature for attached flow and as well as separated flow. Transition of the separated shear layer occurs through formation of K-H rolls, where the intermittency following spot propagation theory appears valid. The predominant shedding frequency when normalised with respect to the momentum thickness at separation remains almost constant with change in Reynolds number. The relaxation is slow after reattachment and the flow takes about five bubble lengths to approach a canonical layer.

Aerodynamic Measurements on the Interaction of Secondary Jets and Separation Bubble

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Samson ◽  
S. Sarkar
Keyword(s):  
Flat Plate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Bubble Interactions ◽  
Separated Shear Layer ◽  
Bubble Length ◽  
Flow Visualizations ◽  
Turbulence Generation

The dynamics of separation bubble under the influence of continuous jets ejected near the semi-circular leading edge of a flat plate is presented. Two different streamwise injection angles 30° and 60° and velocity ratios 0.5 and 1 for Re = 25000 and 55000 (based on the leading-edge diameter) are considered here. The flow visualizations illustrating jet and separated layer interactions have been carried out with PIV. The objective of this study is to understand the mutual interactions of separation bubble and the injected jets. It is observed that flow separates at the blending point of semi-circular arc and flat plate. The separated shear layer is laminar up to 20% of separation length after which perturbations are amplified and grows in the second-half of the bubble leading to breakdown and reattachment. Blowing has significantly affected the bubble length and thus, turbulence generation. Instantaneous flow visualizations supports the unsteadiness and development of three-dimensional motions leading to formation of Kelvin-Helmholtz rolls and shedding of large-scale vortices due to jet and bubble interactions. In turn, it has been seen that both the spanwise and streamwise dilution of injected air is highly influenced by the separation bubble.

Secondary instability and subcritical transition of the leading-edge boundary layer

2016 ◽  
Vol 792 ◽  
pp. 682-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael O. John ◽  
Dominik Obrist ◽  
Leonhard Kleiser
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Secondary Instability ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Wall Suction ◽  
Transition Mechanism

The leading-edge boundary layer (LEBL) in the front part of swept airplane wings is prone to three-dimensional subcritical instability, which may lead to bypass transition. The resulting increase of airplane drag and fuel consumption implies a negative environmental impact. In the present paper, we present a temporal biglobal secondary stability analysis (SSA) and direct numerical simulations (DNS) of this flow to investigate a subcritical transition mechanism. The LEBL is modelled by the swept Hiemenz boundary layer (SHBL), with and without wall suction. We introduce a pair of steady, counter-rotating, streamwise vortices next to the attachment line as a generic primary disturbance. This generates a high-speed streak, which evolves slowly in the streamwise direction. The SSA predicts that this flow is unstable to secondary, time-dependent perturbations. We report the upper branch of the secondary neutral curve and describe numerous eigenmodes located inside the shear layers surrounding the primary high-speed streak and the vortices. We find secondary flow instability at Reynolds numbers as low as$Re\approx 175$, i.e. far below the linear critical Reynolds number$Re_{crit}\approx 583$of the SHBL. This secondary modal instability is confirmed by our three-dimensional DNS. Furthermore, these simulations show that the modes may grow until nonlinear processes lead to breakdown to turbulent flow for Reynolds numbers above$Re_{tr}\approx 250$. The three-dimensional mode shapes, growth rates, and the frequency dependence of the secondary eigenmodes found by SSA and the DNS results are in close agreement with each other. The transition Reynolds number$Re_{tr}\approx 250$at zero suction and its increase with wall suction closely coincide with experimental and numerical results from the literature. We conclude that the secondary instability and the transition scenario presented in this paper may serve as a possible explanation for the well-known subcritical transition observed in the leading-edge boundary layer.

Three-dimensional dynamics and transition to turbulence in the wake of bluff objects

1992 ◽  
Vol 238 ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Em Karniadakis ◽  
George S. Triantafyllou
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Period Doubling ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Near Wake ◽  
Vortex Filaments ◽  
Average Flow ◽  
Time Average

The wakes of bluff objects and in particular of circular cylinders are known to undergo a ‘fast’ transition, from a laminar two-dimensional state at Reynolds number 200 to a turbulent state at Reynolds number 400. The process has been documented in several experimental investigations, but the underlying physical mechanisms have remained largely unknown so far. In this paper, the transition process is investigated numerically, through direct simulation of the Navier—Stokes equations at representative Reynolds numbers, up to 500. A high-order time-accurate, mixed spectral/spectral element technique is used. It is shown that the wake first becomes three-dimensional, as a result of a secondary instability of the two-dimensional vortex street. This secondary instability appears at a Reynolds number close to 200. For slightly supercritical Reynolds numbers, a harmonic state develops, in which the flow oscillates at its fundamental frequency (Strouhal number) around a spanwise modulated time-average flow. In the near wake the modulation wavelength of the time-average flow is half of the spanwise wavelength of the perturbation flow, consistently with linear instability theory. The vortex filaments have a spanwise wavy shape in the near wake, and form rib-like structures further downstream. At higher Reynolds numbers the three-dimensional flow oscillation undergoes a period-doubling bifurcation, in which the flow alternates between two different states. Phase-space analysis of the flow shows that the basic limit cycle has branched into two connected limit cycles. In physical space the period doubling appears as the shedding of two distinct types of vortex filaments.Further increases of the Reynolds number result in a cascade of period-doubling bifurcations, which create a chaotic state in the flow at a Reynolds number of about 500. The flow is characterized by broadband power spectra, and the appearance of intermittent phenomena. It is concluded that the wake undergoes transition to turbulence following the period-doubling route.

Experiments With Three-Dimensional Passive Flow Control Devices on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils

2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Bohl ◽  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Turbine Airfoils

The effectiveness of three-dimensional passive devices for flow control on low pressure turbine airfoils was investigated experimentally. A row of small cylinders was placed at the pressure minimum on the suction side of a typical airfoil. Cases with Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) were considered under low freestream turbulence conditions. Streamwise pressure profiles and velocity profiles near the trailing edge were documented. Without flow control a separation bubble was present, and at the lower Reynolds numbers the bubble did not close. Cylinders with two different heights and a wide range of spanwise spacings were considered. Reattachment moved upstream as the cylinder height was increased or the spacing was decreased. If the spanwise spacing was sufficiently small, the flow at the trailing edge was essentially uniform across the span. The cylinder size and spacing could be optimized to minimize losses at a given Reynolds number, but cylinders optimized for low Reynolds number conditions caused increased losses at high Reynolds numbers. The effectiveness of two-dimensional bars had been studied previously under the same flow conditions. The cylinders were not as effective for maintaining low losses over a range of Reynolds numbers as the bars.

Experimental Study of Flow Separation over NACA633018 Wing with Synthetic Jet Control at Low Reynolds Numbers

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.-Y. Lin ◽  
F.-B. Hsiao
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Synthetic Jet ◽  
Synthetic Jets ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Jet Control

AbstractThis paper experimentally studies flow separation and aerodynamic performance of a NACA633018 wing using a series of piezoelectric-driven disks, which are located at 12% chord length from the leading edge to generate a spanwise-distributed synthetic jets to excite the passing flow. The experiment is conducted in an open-type wind tunnel with Reynolds numbers (Re) of 8 × 104 and 1.2 × 105, respectively, based on the wing chord. The oscillations of the synthetic jet actuators (SJAs) disturb the neighboring passage flow on the upper surface of the wing before the laminar separation takes place. The disturbances of energy influence the downstream development of boundary layers to eliminate or reduce the separation bubble on the upper surface of the wing. Significant lift increase and drag decrease are found at the tested Reynolds number of 8 × 104 due to the actuators excitation. Furthermore, the effect of drag also reduces dominant with increasing Reynolds number, but the increase on lift is reduced with the Reynolds number increased.

The aerodynamic performance of paragliders

1999 ◽  
Vol 103 (1027) ◽  
pp. 421-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Babinsky
Keyword(s):  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Wing Section ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Performance Deterioration ◽  
Edge Separation

Abstract An analysis of paraglider performance has revealed that wing section drag is the most significant contribution to overall drag. Wind tunnel measurements performed on two-dimensional hollow models indicate that intake drag is less significant than previously thought. An experimental investigation into the characteristics of a ‘quasi ’ -two-dimensional flexible model consisting of solid ribs covered with a fabric skin was performed at realistic Reynolds numbers. The main cause of performance deterioration was found to be a significant reduction in section lift coefficient when compared to a similar solid wing section. This is believed to be mainly due to two factors: a large trailing edge separation and the deformation of the wing between ribs. The deformation was measured and it was shown that the deformed shape is less capable of generating high lift coefficients than the design section. It is thought that the extent of the trailing edge separation is increased due to the presence of streamwise grooves caused by the shape deformation of the wing. The shape of the separated region was found to be strongly three-dimensional with the separation point being about half a chord-length further upstream along the ribs. A small separation bubble was also observed immediately behind the lip of the intake, due to the fabric ‘flaring’ open. Based on the observations presented a number of suggestions for improved wings have been made.

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