On the Separation, Reattachment, and Redevelopment of Incompressible Turbulent Shear Flow

1964 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Mueller ◽  
H. H. Korst ◽  
W. L. Chow
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Flow ◽  
Roughness Element ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Parameter Family ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
The Mean

An experimental and theoretical investigation is presented which describes the character of the mean motion and the structure of turbulence for the separation, reattachment, and redevelopment of the incompressible turbulent shear flow downstream of a single step-type roughness element. For the redeveloping turbulent boundary layer downstream of reattachment, it is shown that the mean velocity profiles constitute a one-parameter family and that as far as the shape parameters are concerned, this one-parameter family is essentially the same as for a boundary layer developing toward separation. This similarity between developing (toward separation) and redeveloping (after reattachment) turbulent shear layers is utilized to establish an integral method for calculating the redeveloping turbulent boundary layer at essentially zero pressure gradient.

Lagrangian similarity hypothesis applied to diffusion in turbulent shear flow

1963 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Cermak
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Layer ◽  
Shear Flow ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Solid Boundary ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Similarity Hypothesis ◽  
Neutral Boundary Layer ◽  
Continuous Point

The concept suggested by Batchelor that motion of a marked particle in turbulent shear flow may be similar at stations downstream from the point of release is applied to a variety of diffusion data obtained in the laboratory and in the surface layer of the atmosphere. Two types of shear flow parallel to a plane solid boundary are considered. In the first case mean velocity is a linear function of logz(neutral boundary layer) and in the second case the mean velocity is slightly perturbed from the logarithmic relationship by temperature variation in thez-direction (diabatic boundary layer). Besides the parameters introduced in previous applications of the Lagrangian similarity hypothesis to turbulent diffusion, the ratio of source height to roughness lengthh/z0is shown to be of major importance. Predictions of the variation of maximum ground-level concentration for continuous point and line sources and the variation of plume width for a continuous point source with distance downstream from the source agree with the assorted data remarkably well for a range of length scales extending over three orders-of-magnitude. It is concluded that results from application of the Lagrangian similarity hypothesis are significant for the laboratory modelling of diffusion in the atmospheric surface layer.

Outline of a theory of turbulent shear flow

1956 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. V. R. Malkus
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Momentum Transport ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Spectral Structure ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
The Mean

In this paper the spatial variations and spectral structure of steady-state turbulent shear flow in channels are investigated without the introduction of empirical parameters. This is made possible by the assumption that the non-linear momentum transport has only stabilizing effects on the mean field of flow. Two constraints on the possible momentum transport are drawn from this assumption: first, that the mean flow will be statistically stable if an Orr-Sommerfeld type equation is satisfied by fluctuations of the mean; second, that the smallest scale of motion that can be present in the spectrum of the momentum transport is the scale of the marginally stable fluctuations of the mean. Within these two constraints, and for a given mass transport, an upper limit is sought for the rate of dissipation of potential energy into heat. Solutions of the stability equation depend upon the shape of the mean velocity profile. In turn, the mean velocity profile depends upon the spatial spectrum of the momentum transport. A variational technique is used to determine that momentum transport spectrum which is both marginally stable and produces a maximum dissipation rate. The resulting spectrum determines the velocity profile and its dependence on the boundary conditions. Past experimental work has disclosed laminar, ‘transitional’, logarithmic and parabolic regions of the velocity profile. Several experimental laws and their accompanying constants relate the extent of these regions to the boundary conditions. The theoretical profile contains each feature and law that is observed. First approximations to the constants are found, and give, in particular, a value for the logarithmic slope (von Kármán's constant) which is within the experimental error. However, the theoretical boundary constant is smaller than the observed value. Turbulent channel flow seems to achieve the extreme state found here, but a more decisive quantitative comparison of theory and experiment requires improvement in the solutions of the classical laminar stability problem.

The effect of contraction on a homogeneous turbulent shear flow

1985 ◽  
Vol 154 ◽  
pp. 187-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. Sreenivasan
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Shear Strain Rate ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Turbulent Stress ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
The Mean

A homogeneous turbulent shear flow in its asymptotic stage of development was subjected to an additional (longitudinal) strain by passing the flow through gradual contraction in the direction perpendicular to that of the mean shear. Two contractions, of area ratio 1.4 and 2.6, were used. Mean velocity and turbulent stress (both normal and shear) distributions were measured at several streamwise locations in the contraction region. The mean velocity distributions agree quite well with calculations based on the (inviscid) Bernoulli equation. Until at least half-way down the contraction with the larger area ratio, the rapid-distortion calculations considering only the streamwise acceleration were found to be reasonably successful in predicting the turbulent intensities. For the smaller-area-ratio contraction, corrections for the ‘natural development’ of the shear flow become important nearly everywhere. Similar calculations considering the shear as the only straining mechanism are generally less successful, although the shear strain rate is at least as rapid as, or even more so than, the longitudinal one. The pressure-rate-of-strain covariance terms estimated from the approximate component energy balance were used to test the adequacy of three models with varying degrees of complexity. Although none of these models appears general enough, their performance is generally adequate for the lower-area-ratio contraction; perhaps not surprisingly, the more complex the model the better its performance.

Measurements in a three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer induced by a swept, forward-facing step

1970 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Stress Vector ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Vector Direction ◽  
The Mean

An experiment is reported, in which turbulent shear-stresses as well as mean velocities have been measured in a three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer approaching separation. It is shown that even very close to the wall the stress vector does not align itself with the mean velocity gradient vector, as would be required by a scalar ‘eddy viscosity’ or ‘mixing length’ type assumption. The calculation method of Bradshaw (1969) is tested against the data, and found to give good results, except for the prediction of shear-stress vector direction.

The maintenance of Reynolds stress in turbulent shear flow

1967 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. M. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Reynolds Stress ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
The Mean

A mechanism is proposed for the manner in which the turbulent components support Reynolds stress in turbulent shear flow. This involves a generalization of Miles's mechanism in which each of the turbulent components interacts with the mean flow to produce an increment of Reynolds stress at the ‘matched layer’ of that particular component. The summation over all the turbulent components leads to an expression for the gradient of the Reynolds stress τ(z) in the turbulence\[ \frac{d\tau}{dz} = {\cal A}\Theta\overline{w^2}\frac{d^2U}{dz^2}, \]where${\cal A}$is a number, Θ the convected integral time scale of thew-velocity fluctuations andU(z) the mean velocity profile. This is consistent with a number of experimental results, and measurements on the mixing layer of a jet indicate thatA= 0·24 in this case. In other flows, it would be expected to be of the same order, though its precise value may vary somewhat from one to another.

A theory of turbulence in stratified fluids

1970 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert R. Long
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Density Profile ◽  
Richardson Number ◽  
Mixed Volume ◽  
Volume Of Fluid ◽  
Velocity Shear ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Large Wave ◽  
The Mean

An effort is made to understand turbulence in fluid systems like the oceans and atmosphere in which the Richardson number is generally large. Toward this end, a theory is developed for turbulent flow over a flat plate which is moved and cooled in such a way as to produce constant vertical fluxes of momentum and heat. The theory indicates that in a co-ordinate system fixed in the plate the mean velocity increases linearly with heightzabove a turbulent boundary layer and the mean density decreases asz3, so that the Richardson number is large far from the plate. Near the plate, the results reduce to those of Monin & Obukhov.Thecurvatureof the density profile is essential in the formulation of the theory. When the curvature is negative, a volume of fluid, thoroughly mixed by turbulence, will tend to flatten out at a new level well above the original centre of mass, thereby transporting heat downward. When the curvature is positive a mixed volume of fluid will tend to fall a similar distance, again transporting heat downward. A well-mixed volume of fluid will also tend to rise when the density profile is linear, but this rise is negligible on the basis of the Boussinesq approximation. The interchange of fluid of different, mean horizontal speeds in the formation of the turbulent patch transfers momentum. As the mixing in the patch destroys the mean velocity shear locally, kinetic energy is transferred from mean motion to disturbed motion. The turbulence can arise in spite of the high Richardson number because the precise variations of mean density and mean velocity mentioned above permit wave energy to propagate from the turbulent boundary layer to the whole region above the plate. At the levels of reflexion, where the amplitudes become large, wave-breaking and turbulence will tend to develop.The relationship between the curvature of the density profile and the transfer of heat suggests that the density gradient near the level of a point of inflexion of the density curve (in general cases of stratified, shearing flow) will increase locally as time goes on. There will also be a tendency to increase the shear through the action of local wave stresses. If this results in a progressive reduction in Richardson number, an ultimate outbreak of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability will occur. The resulting sporadic turbulence will transfer heat (and momentum) through the level of the inflexion point. This mechanism for the appearance of regions of low Richardson number is offered as a possible explanation for the formation of the surfaces of strong density and velocity differences observed in the oceans and atmosphere, and for the turbulence that appears on these surfaces.

Intermittency measurements in the turbulent boundary layer

1966 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 719-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Fiedler ◽  
M. R. Head
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Pressure Gradients ◽  
Narrow Beam ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Characteristic Parameters ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Form Parameter ◽  
The Mean

An improved version of Corrsin & Kistler's method has been used to measure intermittency in favourable and adverse pressure gradients, and the characteristic parameters of the intermittency have been related to the form parameterHof the mean velocity profiles.It is found that with adverse pressure gradients the centre of intermittency moves outward from the surface while the width of the intermittent zone decreases. The converse is true of favourable pressure gradients, and it seems likely that at sufficiently low values ofHthe flow over the full depth of the layer is only intermittently turbulent.A new method of intermittency measurement is presented which makes use of a photo-electric probe. Smoke is introduced into the boundary layer and illuminated by a narrow beam of parallel light normal to the surface. The photoelectric probe is focused on the illuminated region and a signal is generated when smoke passes through the focal point of the probe lens. Comparison of this signal with the output from a hot-wire at very nearly the same point shows the identity of smoke and turbulence distributions.

A three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer

1965 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Perry ◽  
P. N. Joubert
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Outer Region ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Polar Plot ◽  
Law Of The Wall ◽  
The Mean

The purpose of this paper is to provide some possible explantions for certain observed phenomena associated with the mean-velocity profile of a turbulent boundary layer which undergoes a rapid yawing. For the cases considered the yawing is caused by an obstruction attached to the wall upon which the boundary layer is developing. Only incompressible flow is considered.§1 of the paper is concerned with the outer region of the boundary layer and deals with a phenomenon observed by Johnston (1960) who described it with his triangular model for the polar plot of the velocity distribution. This was also observed by Hornung & Joubert (1963). It is shown here by a first-approximation analysis that such a behaviour is mainly a consequence of the geometry of the apparatus used. The analysis also indicates that, for these geometries, the outer part of the boundary-layer profile can be described by a single vector-similarity defect law rather than the vector ‘wall-wake’ model proposed by Coles (1956). The former model agrees well with the experimental results of Hornung & Joubert.In §2, the flow close to the wall is considered. Treating this region as an equilibrium layer and using similarity arguments, a three-dimensional version of the ‘law of the wall’ is derived. This relates the mean-velocity-vector distribution with the pressure-gradient vector and wall-shear-stress vector and explains how the profile skews near the wall. The theory is compared with Hornung & Joubert's experimental results. However at this stage the results are inconclusive because of the lack of a sufficient number of measured quantities.

Zero and negative entrainment in turbulent shear flow

1971 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Head ◽  
P. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Flow ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
The Other ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Turbulence Structure ◽  
Turbulent Shear Flow ◽  
Flow Boundary ◽  
Other Hand

In certain accelerated flows the entrainment in the boundary layer, as normally defined, may be either zero or negative; on the other hand, there is no reason to suppose, on physical grounds, that the spread of mean or fluctuating vorticity should cease or become negative in such flows. This paradox is resolved in the present paper. It is also shown that in the equilibrium turbulent sink-flow boundary layer, where the entrainment as normally defined is zero, the reduced advection along streamlines in the outer part of the layer comes about mainly through increased dissipation: there is no reason to assume any radical change in the turbulence structure.

The Effects of Surface Roughness on the Mean Velocity Profile in a Turbulent Boundary Layer

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 664-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald J. Bergstrom ◽  
Nathan A. Kotey ◽  
Mark F. Tachie
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Friction Velocity ◽  
Outer Region ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Outer Flow ◽  
The Mean

Experimental measurements of the mean velocity profile in a canonical turbulent boundary layer are obtained for four different surface roughness conditions, as well as a smooth wall, at moderate Reynolds numbers in a wind tunnel. The mean streamwise velocity component is fitted to a correlation which allows both the strength of the wake, Π, and friction velocity, Uτ, to vary. The results show that the type of surface roughness affects the mean defect profile in the outer region of the turbulent boundary layer, as well as determining the value of the skin friction. The defect profiles normalized by the friction velocity were approximately independent of Reynolds number, while those normalized using the free stream velocity were not. The fact that the outer flow is significantly affected by the specific roughness characteristics at the wall implies that rough wall boundary layers are more complex than the wall similarity hypothesis would allow.

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