scholarly journals Large Eddy Simulation of Microvortex Generators in a Turbulent Boundary Layer

2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Heffron ◽  
John J. Williams ◽  
Eldad J. Avital

Abstract This study investigates the flow physics on microvortex generators (MVGs) in order to improve their performance in turbulent boundary layers (TBLs). TBLs can be a challenging environment for MVGs because of the streamwise length of the generated vortex and the increased parasitic drag of the MVGs. Large eddy simulation (LES) is used to properly resolve the turbulent boundary layer of a flat-plate with a zero-pressure gradient and MVG vane. Three different vane-types are investigated (e423-Mod, triangular, and rectangular vanes) and are studied in a single vane configuration. Important flow features such as a separation bubble on the leading edge of the rectangular vanes which introduced unsteadiness into the vortex formation and degraded the MVG's efficiency was observed. The e423-Mod and triangular vanes were observed to be more aerodynamically efficient. The triangular vane was found to be the most efficient when evaluated immediately downstream of the vane. However, the vortex from the triangular vane decayed very rapidly due to it being formed very close to the wall which degraded its efficiency further downstream. The e423-Mod vane avoided this problem but its drag was very high relative to the strength of the generated vortex and its vortex experienced a brief period of rapid decay immediately downstream decreasing its efficiency. Further downstream, the vortex of the rectangular vane at 16 deg became the most efficient through a combination of low vane drag and low vortex decay in the TBL, demonstrating the need to consider a range of issues when designing an MVG.

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sarkar ◽  
Harish Babu ◽  
Jasim Sadique

The unsteady flow physics and heat transfer characteristics due to interactions of periodic passing wakes with a separated boundary layer are studied using large-eddy simulation (LES). A series of airfoils of constant thickness with rounded leading edge are employed to obtain the separated boundary layer. Wake data extracted from precursor LES of flow past a cylinder are used to replicate a moving bar that generates wakes in front of a cascade (in this case, an infinite row of the model airfoils). This setup is a simplified representation of the rotor–stator interaction in turbomachinery. With a uniform inlet, the laminar boundary layer separates near the leading edge, undergoes transition due to amplification of disturbances, becomes turbulent, and finally reattaches forming a separation bubble. In the presence of oncoming wakes, the characteristics of the separated boundary layer have changed and the impinging wakes are found to be the mechanism affecting the reattachment. Phase-averaged results illustrate the periodic behavior of both flow and heat transfer. Large undulations in the phase-averaged skin friction and Nusselt number distributions can be attributed to the excitation of the boundary layer by convective wakes forming coherent vortices, which are being shed and convect downstream. Further, the transition of the separated boundary layer during the wake-induced path is governed by a mechanism that involves the convection of these vortices followed by increased fluctuations, where viscous effect is substantial.


Author(s):  
S. Katiyar ◽  
S. Sarkar

Abstract A large-eddy simulation (LES) is employed here to predict the flow field over the suction surface of a controlled-diffusion (C-D) compressor stator blade following the experiment of Hobson et al. [1]. When compared with the experiment, LES depicts a separation bubble (SB) in the mid-chord region of the suction surface, although discrepancies exist in Cp. Further, the LES resolves the growth of boundary layer over the mid-chord and levels of turbulence intensity with an acceptable limit. What is noteworthy that LES also resolves a tiny SB near the leading-edge at the designed inflow angle of 38.3°. The objective of the present study is to assess how this leading-edge bubble influences the transition and development of boundary layer on the suction surface before the mid-chord. It appears that the separation at leading-edge suddenly enhances the perturbation levels exciting development of boundary layer downstream. The boundary layer becomes pre-transitional followed by a decay of fluctuations up to 30% of chord attributing to the local flow acceleration. Further, the boundary layer appears like laminar after being relaxed from the leading edge excitation near the mid-chord. It separates again because of the adverse pressure gradient, depicting augmentation of turbulence followed by the breakdown at about 70% of chord.


Author(s):  
W. Andrew McMullan ◽  
Gary J. Page

A Controlled Diffusion cascade stator blade has been studied numerically using Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The aim of the study is to assess the performance of Large Eddy Simulation in predicting flow features on a highly-loaded blade, including leading-edge separation, transition and turbulent reattachment, particularly at off-design conditions. The need for LES to be performed on high resolution grids is highlighted by preliminary simulations on a mesh typically used in Reynolds-Averaged approaches. On a fine grid, the unsteady flow features captured by time-dependent simulation yield an improvement in surface pressure distributions and boundary layer profiles, although some weaknesses are apparent in the prediction of pressure-side boundary layer properties and wake profiles. The computed loss coefficients show potential for LES to be used to obtain loss-loop data over a wide range of incidence angles.


Author(s):  
Yunfei Wang ◽  
Xiuming Sui ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Xiaorong Xiang ◽  
Qingjun Zhao

The evolution mechanism of the boundary layer and coherent structures in a low-pressure turbine blade is discussed. Five different incidence angles over the T106A blade for a Mach number Ma = 0.404 and Reynolds number Re = 0.6 × 105 (based on the axial chord and outlet velocity) are performed using large eddy simulation method. The calculation results at +7.8 incidence angle are agreed well with the experimental and direct numerical simulation data. The influence of the incidence angle on the flow field is mainly shown at the front of the suction side and pressure side. As the incidence angle changes from positive to negative, the separation bubble near the leading edge disappears and the blade loading decreases gradually. When the incidence angle reduces to −5°, separation bubble appears near the leading edge of the pressure side. At the case of incidence angle equaling −10°, the length of time-averaged separation bubble on the pressure side grows to 39% axial chord and the evolution process of the coherent structures is extremely complex. The spanwise vortexes roll up near the leading edge and gradually evolve into streamwise vortexes. High-energy fluid in the main flow was driven to near-wall zone by the rotating effect of streamwise vortexes, which increases the fluid momentum inside the boundary layer. The streamwise vortexes are stretched by the strong acceleration of the flow until they transport to the trailing edge.


2018 ◽  
Vol 861 ◽  
pp. 860-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Benton ◽  
M. R. Visbal

Dynamic stall due to a ramp-type pitching motion is investigated on the NACA 0012 airfoil at chord Reynolds number of $Re_{c}=1.0\times 10^{6}$ through the use of wall-resolved large-eddy simulation. Emphasis is placed on the unsteady boundary-layer interactions that develop as the airfoil approaches stall. At this Reynolds number it is shown that turbulent separation moves upstream across much of the airfoil suction surface. When turbulent separation reaches the leading-edge separation bubble, a bursting event is initiated leading to a strong coherent leading-edge vortex structure. This vortex wraps up the turbulent shear layer to form a large dynamic stall vortex. The use of large-eddy simulation elucidates the roll of the laminar separation bubble in defining the onset of the dynamic stall process. Comparisons are made to identical simulations at lower Reynolds numbers of $Re_{c}=0.2\times 10^{6}$ and $0.5\times 10^{6}$. This comparison demonstrates trends in the boundary-layer mechanics that explain the sensitivity of the dynamic stall process to Reynolds number.


Author(s):  
Yunfei Wang ◽  
Huaping Liu ◽  
Yanping Song ◽  
Fu Chen

In order to predict the phenomenon of laminar flow separation, transition and reattachment in a high-lift low-pressure turbine (LPT), a self-developed large eddy simulation program to solve three dimensional compressible N-S equations was used to simulate the flow structures in T106A LPT blade passage. The outlet Mach number is 0.4 and the Reynolds number is 1.1×105 based on the exit isentropic velocity and the axial chord. The distributions of the time-averaged static pressure coefficient, kinetic loss coefficient and wall shear stress on the blade surface at +7.8° incidence angle agree well with the results of experiment and direct numerical simulation (DNS). The locations of laminar separation and reattachment point occur around 83.6% and 97% axial chord respectively. The evolutionary process of spanwise vorticity and large-scale coherent structure near the trailing edge on the suction side in one period indicates that the two-dimensional shear layer is gradually unstable as a result of spanwise fluctuation and Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability. The boundary layer separates from the suction surface and the hairpin vortex appears in succession, which leads to transition to turbulence. Analysis of the incidence angle effect on the boundary layer separation point as well as separation bubble scale was also performed. A small scale separation bubble exists around the leading edge at positive incidences. As the incidence angle changes from positive to negative, the separation bubble near the leading edge disappears and the boundary layer thickness reduces gradually. The separation point at the rear part of suction side moves downstream, yet the reattachment point barely changes. The Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy profiles change dramatically at zero and positive incidence. This illustrates that the incidence angle has great influence on the development of the boundary layer and the flow field structures.


PAMM ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10099-10102
Author(s):  
Nikolaus Peller ◽  
Michael Manhart

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