Flow separation on a spheroid at incidence

1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taeyoung Han ◽  
V. C. Patel
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Inviscid Flow ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Turbulent Separation

Surface streamline patterns on a spheroid have been examined at several angles of attack. Most of the tests were performed at low Reynolds numbers in a hydraulic flume using coloured dye to make the surface flow visible. A limited number of experiments was also carried out in a wind tunnel, using wool tufts, to study the influence of Reynolds number and turbulent separation. The study has verified some of the important qualitative features of three-dimensional separation criteria proposed earlier by Maskell, Wang and others. The observed locations of laminar separation lines on a spheroid at various incidences have been compared with the numerical solutions of Wang and show qualitative agreement. The quantitative differences are attributed largely to the significant viscous-inviscid flow interaction which is present, especially at large incidences.

Experimental characterization of three-dimensional corner flows at low Reynolds numbers

2012 ◽  
Vol 707 ◽  
pp. 37-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sznitman ◽  
L. Guglielmini ◽  
D. Clifton ◽  
D. Scobee ◽  
H. A. Stone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Channel Cross Section ◽  
Experimental Characterization ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Reynolds

AbstractWe investigate experimentally the characteristics of the flow field that develops at low Reynolds numbers ($\mathit{Re}\ll 1$) around a sharp $9{0}^{\ensuremath{\circ} } $ corner bounded by channel walls. Two-dimensional planar velocity fields are obtained using particle image velocimetry (PIV) conducted in a towing tank filled with a silicone oil of high viscosity. We find that, in the vicinity of the corner, the steady-state flow patterns bear the signature of a three-dimensional secondary flow, characterized by counter-rotating pairs of streamwise vortical structures and identified by the presence of non-vanishing transverse velocities (${u}_{z} $). These results are compared to numerical solutions of the incompressible flow as well as to predictions obtained, for a similar geometry, from an asymptotic expansion solution (Guglielmini et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 668, 2011, pp. 33–57). Furthermore, we discuss the influence of both Reynolds number and aspect ratio of the channel cross-section on the resulting secondary flows. This work represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental characterization of the three-dimensional flow features arising in a pressure-driven flow near a corner at low Reynolds number.

scholarly journals Modelling boundary-layer transition on wings operating in ground effect at low Reynolds numbers

2018 ◽  
Vol 233 (11) ◽  
pp. 2820-2837 ◽  
Author(s):  
LS Roberts ◽  
MV Finnis ◽  
K Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ground Effect ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Shear Stress Transport Model ◽  
Low Reynolds

The transition-sensitive, three-equation k- kL- ω eddy-viscosity closure model was used for simulations of three-dimensional, single-element and multi-element wing configurations operating in close proximity to the ground. The aim of the study was to understand whether the model correctly simulated the transitional phenomena that occurred in the low Reynolds number operating conditions and whether it offered an improvement over the classical fully turbulent k-ω shear stress transport model. This was accomplished by comparing the simulation results to experiments conducted in a 2.7 m × 1.7 m closed-return, three-quarter-open-jet wind tunnel. The model was capable of capturing the presence of a laminar separation bubble on the wing and predicted sectional forces and surface-flow structures generated by the wings in wind tunnel testing to within 2.5% in downforce and 4.1% in drag for a multi-element wing. It was found, however, that the model produced insufficient turbulent kinetic energy during shear-layer reattachment, predicted turbulent trailing-edge separation prematurely in areas of large adverse pressure gradients, and was found to be very sensitive to inlet turbulence quantities. Despite these deficiencies, the model gave results that were much closer to wind-tunnel tests than those given by the fully turbulent k-ω shear stress transport model, which tended to underestimate downforce. Significant differences between the transitional and fully turbulent models in terms of pressure field, wake thickness and turbulent kinetic energy production were found and highlighted the importance of using transitional models for wings operating at low Reynolds numbers in ground effect. The k- kL- ω model has been shown to be appropriate for the simulation of separation-induced transition on a three-dimensional wing operating in ground effect at low Reynolds number.

On High-Performance Airfoil at Very Low Reynolds Number

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-285
Author(s):  
Katsuya Hirata ◽  
◽  
Ryo Nozawa ◽  
Shogo Kondo ◽  
Kazuki Onishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flat Plate ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Reynolds Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Slow Flow ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Reynolds

[abstFig src='/00280003/02.jpg' width=""300"" text='Iso-Q surfaces of very-slow flow past an iNACA0015' ] The airfoil is often used as the elemental device for flying/swimming robots, determining its basic performances. However, most of the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil have been investigated at Reynolds numbers Re’s more than 106. On the other hand, our knowledge is not enough in low Reynolds-number ranges, in spite of the recent miniaturisation of robots. In the present study, referring to our previous findings (Hirata et al., 2011), we numerically examine three kinds of high-performance airfoils proposed for very-low Reynolds numbers; namely, an iNACA0015 (the NACA0015 placed back to front), an FPBi (a flat plate blended with iNACA0015 as its upper half) and an FPBN (a flat plate blended with the NACA0015 as its upper half), in comparison with such basic airfoils as a NACA0015 and an FP (a flat plate), at a Reynolds number Re = 1.0 × 102 using two- and three-dimensional computations. As a result, the FPBi shows the best performance among the five kinds of airfoils.

The steady flow due to a rotating sphere at low and moderate Reynolds numbers

1980 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. R. Dennis ◽  
S. N. Singh ◽  
D. B. Ingham
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Finite Set ◽  
Flow Variables ◽  
Theoretical Results ◽  
Radial Variable ◽  
Good Agreement

The problem of determining the steady axially symmetrical motion induced by a sphere rotating with constant angular velocity about a diameter in an incompressible viscous fluid which is at rest at large distances from it is considered. The basic independent variables are the polar co-ordinates (r, θ) in a plane through the axis of rotation and with origin at the centre of the sphere. The equations of motion are reduced to three sets of nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations in the radial variable by expanding the flow variables as series of orthogonal Gegenbauer functions with argument μ = cosθ. Numerical solutions of the finite set of equations obtained by truncating the series after a given number of terms are obtained. The calculations are carried out for Reynolds numbers in the range R = 1 to R = 100, and the results are compared with various other theoretical results and with experimental observations.The torque exerted by the fluid on the sphere is found to be in good agreement with theory at low Reynolds numbers and appears to tend towards the results of steady boundary-layer theory for increasing Reynolds number. There is excellent agreement with experimental results over the range considered. A region of inflow to the sphere near the poles is balanced by a region of outflow near the equator and as the Reynolds number increases the inflow region increases and the region of outflow becomes narrower. The radial velocity increases with Reynolds number at the equator, indicating the formation of a radial jet over the narrowing region of outflow. There is no evidence of any separation of the flow from the surface of the sphere near the equator over the range of Reynolds numbers considered.

Low Reynolds numbers flow past an ellipsoid of revolution of large aspect ratio

1965 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun-Yuan Shi
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Major Axis ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
The Body ◽  
Large Aspect Ratio ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Ellipsoid Of Revolution ◽  
Limiting Case

The results of Proudman & Pearson (1957) and Kaplun & Lagerstrom (1957) for a sphere and a cylinder are generalized to study an ellipsoid of revolution of large aspect ratio with its axis of revolution perpendicular to the uniform flow at infinity. The limiting case, where the Reynolds number based on the minor axis of the ellipsoid is small while the other Reynolds number based on the major axis is fixed, is studied. The following points are deduced: (1) although the body is three-dimensional the expansion is in inverse power of the logarithm of the Reynolds number as the case of a two-dimensional circular cylinder; (2) the existence of the ends and the variation of the diameter along the axis of revolution have no effect on the drag to the first order; (3) a formula for drag is obtained to higher order.

The Effect of Reynolds Number on the Performance of a Tangential-Flow Turbine

1965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Theoretical Determination ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Tangential Flow ◽  
Circulatory Flow ◽  
Reasonable Prediction

The tangential-flow turbine, which was developed from the drag turbine in an effort to take advantage of the circulatory flow in the drag-turbine passages, frequently has been proposed for use in power systems characterized by low specific speeds. Since such systems often operate with low exhaust pressures which lead to low Reynolds numbers in turbine passages, it is of interest to determine the effect of Reynolds number on the performance of this type of machine. Theoretical determination of the effect is made difficult by the complex three-dimensional nature of the flow in this type of turbine. This paper describes a program of tests which was run on a tangential-flow turbine to investigate the effect of Reynolds number, and presents a simplified theoretical approach to the Reynolds-number effect which is shown to give a reasonable prediction of the trend of the effect.

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.

Vortex shedding from slender cones at low Reynolds numbers

1992 ◽  
Vol 242 ◽  
pp. 299-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Papangelou
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Circular Cross Section ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel Experiments ◽  
Taper Angle ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Diffusive Coupling ◽  
Shedding Frequency

Wind-tunnel experiments on the flows created by a number of slightly tapered models of circular cross-section have shown the presence of spanwise cells (regions of constant shedding frequency) at Reynolds numbers of the order of 100. The experiments have also shown a number of other interesting features of these flows: the cellular flow configuration is dependent on the base Reynolds number and independent of the tip Reynolds number, the frequency jump between adjacent cells is a function of flow speed, taper angle and kinematic viscosity, but is constant along a cone's span, and the unsteady hot-wire anemometer signal is both amplitude and phase modulated. A mathematical model is proposed based on the complex Landau—Stuart equation with a spanwise diffusive coupling term. Numerical solutions of this equation have shown many of the qualitative features observed in the experiments.

Analysis of the Airfoil Stall With a Modification of Viscous-Inviscid Interaction Concept

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Amromin
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Inviscid Flow ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Laminar Boundary Layers ◽  
Integral Methods ◽  
Turbulent Transition ◽  
Turbulent Separation ◽  
Separation Zones

A modification of the viscous-inviscid interaction concept with the employment of coupled vortices around the airfoil wake is introduced for analyzing the airfoil stall. The analyzed flow includes the laminar boundary layers, laminar separation bubble, laminar-turbulent transition zone, turbulent boundary layers, turbulent separation zone, wake, and outer inviscid flow. Integral methods are employed for the boundary layers. The boundaries of separation zones are analyzed as free surfaces, however, their lengths and shapes depend on the Reynolds number. The described modification is validated by a comparison of the numerical results with the previously published experimental data for various airfoils and Reynolds numbers at low Mach numbers. This modification achieves a reasonably good agreement of the computed lift and moment coefficients with their measured values.

An Experimental Study of Perpendicular Acoustic Disturbances Effect on Flow Over an Aerofoil at Low Reynolds Numbers

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Serdar Genç ◽  
M. Tuğrul Akpolat ◽  
H. Hakan Açıkel ◽  
İlyas Karasu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Acoustic Excitation ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubble ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Acoustic Control ◽  
Maximum Coefficient

In this study, the effect of perpendicular acoustic excitation on laminar separation bubble over a NACA2415 aerofoil and stall characteristics of the aerofoil was investigated experimentally at low Reynolds numbers (50000 and 75000) and various angles of attack on the aerofoil using force measurement, pressure measurement and smoke-wire flow visualization techniques. The experiments of resonance characteristics of test section of the wind tunnel showed that the frequencies used for acoustic control were not equal to the peak (resonance) frequencies of the wind tunnel test section. The experimental results of acoustic control showed that when acoustic excitation of a certain frequency was applied, the length of the laminar separation bubble was shortened owing to the energy added to the flow by acoustic excitation. Because of the shortened laminar separation bubble, coefficient of lift was increased. Furthermore, at the stall angles the separated flow was forced to reattach to the surface of the aerofoil, so the stall angle was increased from 12° to 17° and maximum coefficient of lift was increased from 1.16 to 1.24 at Re = 50000 and from 13° to 18° and maximum coefficient of lift was increased from 1.18 to 1.34 at Re = 75000.

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