Conditional Sampling in a Transitional Boundary Layer Under High Free-Stream Turbulence Conditions

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Michael P. Schultz ◽  
Christopher M. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Conditional Sampling ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Transitional Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

Conditional sampling has been performed on data from a transitional boundary layer subject to high (initially 9%) free-stream turbulence and strong K=ν/U∞2dU∞/dxas high as9×10-6 acceleration. Methods for separating the turbulent and non-turbulent zone data based on the instantaneous streamwise velocity and the turbulent shear stress were tested and found to agree. Mean velocity profiles were clearly different in the turbulent and non-turbulent zones, and skin friction coefficients were as much as 70% higher in the turbulent zone. The streamwise fluctuating velocity, in contrast, was only about 10% higher in the turbulent zone. Turbulent shear stress differed by an order of magnitude, and eddy viscosity was three to four times higher in the turbulent zone. Eddy transport in the non-turbulent zone was still significant, however, and the non-turbulent zone did not behave like a laminar boundary layer. Within each of the two zones there was considerable self-similarity from the beginning to the end of transition. This may prove useful for future modeling efforts.

Conditional Sampling in a Transitional Boundary Layer Under High Freestream Turbulence Conditions

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Michael P. Schultz ◽  
Christopher M. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Conditional Sampling ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Transitional Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Conditional sampling has been performed on data from a transitional boundary layer subject to high (initially 9%) freestream turbulence and strong (K=ν/U∞2dU∞/dx as high as 9×10−6) acceleration. Methods for separating the turbulent and nonturbulent zone data based on the instantaneous streamwise velocity and the turbulent shear stress were tested and found to agree. Mean velocity profiles were clearly different in the turbulent and nonturbulent zones, and skin friction coefficients were as much as 70% higher in the turbulent zone. The streamwise fluctuating velocity, in contrast, was only about 10% higher in the turbulent zone. Turbulent shear stress differed by an order of magnitude, and eddy viscosity was three to four times higher in the turbulent zone. Eddy transport in the nonturbulent zone was still significant, however, and the nonturbulent zone did not behave like a laminar boundary layer. Within each of the two zones there was considerable self-similarity from the beginning to the end of transition. This may prove useful for future modeling efforts.

Separated Flow Transition Under Simulated Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions—Part 2: Turbulence Spectra

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

Spectral analysis was used to investigate boundary layer separation, transition and reattachment under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. Cases with Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) have been considered at low (0.5%) and high (9% inlet) free-stream turbulence levels. Spectra of the fluctuating streamwise velocity and the turbulent shear stress are presented. The spectra for the low free-stream turbulence cases are characterized by sharp peaks. The high free-stream turbulence case spectra exhibit more broadband peaks, but these peaks are centered at the same frequencies observed in the corresponding low turbulence cases. The frequencies of the peaks suggest that a Tollmien-Schlichting instability mechanism drives transition, even in the high turbulence cases. The turbulent shear stress spectra proved particularly valuable for detection of the early growth of the instability. The predictable nature of the instability may prove useful for future flow control work.

Separated Flow Transition Under Simulated Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions—Part 1: Mean Flow and Turbulence Statistics

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

Boundary layer separation, transition and reattachment have been studied experimentally under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. Cases with Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) have been considered at low (0.5%) and high (9% inlet) free-stream turbulence levels. Mean and fluctuating velocity and intermittency profiles are presented for streamwise locations all along the airfoil, and turbulent shear stress profiles are provided for the downstream region where separation and transition occur. Higher Re or free-stream turbulence level moves transition upstream. Transition is initiated in the shear layer over the separation bubble and leads to rapid boundary layer reattachment. At the lowest Re, transition did not occur before the trailing edge, and the boundary layer did not reattach. Turbulent shear stress levels can remain low in spite of high free-stream turbulence and high fluctuating streamwise velocity in the shear layer. The beginning of a significant rise in the turbulent shear stress signals the beginning of transition. A slight rise in the turbulent shear stress near the trailing edge was noted even in those cases which did not undergo transition or reattachment. The present results provide detailed documentation of the boundary layer and extend the existing database to lower Re. The present results also serve as a baseline for an investigation of turbulence spectra in Part 2 of the present paper, and for ongoing work involving transition and separation control.

Separated Flow Transition Under Simulated Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions: Part 1 — Mean Flow and Turbulence Statistics

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

Boundary layer separation, transition and reattachment have been studied experimentally under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. Cases with Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) have been considered at low (0.5%) and high (9% inlet) free-stream turbulence levels. Mean and fluctuating velocity and intermittency profiles are presented for streamwise locations all along the airfoil, and turbulent shear stress profiles are provided for the downstream region where separation and transition occur. Higher Re or free-stream turbulence level moves transition upstream. Transition is initiated in the shear layer over the separation bubble and leads to rapid boundary layer reattachment. At the lowest Re, transition did not occur before the trailing edge, and the boundary layer did not reattach. Turbulent shear stress levels can remain low in spite of high free-stream turbulence and high fluctuating streamwise velocity in the shear layer. The beginning of a significant rise in the turbulent shear stress signals the beginning of transition. A slight rise in the turbulent shear stress near the trailing edge was noted even in those cases which did not undergo transition or reattachment. The present results provide detailed documentation of the boundary layer and extend the existing database to lower Re. The present results also serve as a baseline for an investigation of turbulence spectra in Part 2 of the present paper, and for ongoing work involving transition and separation control.

Separated Flow Transition Under Simulated Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions: Part 2 — Turbulence Spectra

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

Spectral analysis was used to investigate boundary layer separation, transition and reattachment under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. Cases with Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) have been considered at low (0.5%) and high (9% inlet) free-stream turbulence levels. Spectra of the fluctuating streamwise velocity and the turbulent shear stress are presented. The spectra for the low free-stream turbulence cases are characterized by sharp peaks. The high free-stream turbulence case spectra exhibit more broadband peaks, but these peaks are centered at the same frequencies observed in the corresponding low turbulence cases. The frequencies of the peaks suggest that a Tollmien-Schlichting instability mechanism drives transition, even in the high turbulence cases. The turbulent shear stress spectra proved particularly valuable for detection of the early growth of the instability. The predictable nature of the instability may prove useful for future flow control work.

Effects of Concave Curvature on Boundary Layer Transition Under High Free-Stream Turbulence Conditions

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Schultz ◽  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Transitional Flow ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Radius Of Curvature ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

An experimental investigation has been carried out on a transitional boundary layer subject to high (initially 9%) free-stream turbulence, strong acceleration K=ν/Uw2dUw/dxas high as9×10-6, and strong concave curvature (boundary layer thickness between 2% and 5% of the wall radius of curvature). Mean and fluctuating velocity as well as turbulent shear stress are documented and compared to results from equivalent cases on a flat wall and a wall with milder concave curvature. The data show that curvature does have a significant effect, moving the transition location upstream, increasing turbulent transport, and causing skin friction to rise by as much as 40%. Conditional sampling results are presented which show that the curvature effect is present in both the turbulent and non-turbulent zones of the transitional flow.

Measurements in a Transitional Boundary Layer With Görtler Vortices

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Terrence W. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Görtler Vortices ◽  
Concave Wall ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Gortler Vortices

The laminar-turbulent transition process has been documented in a concave-wall boundary layer subject to low (0.6%) free-stream turbulence intensity. Transition began at a Reynolds number, Rex (based on distance from the leading edge of the test wall), of 3.5×105 and was completed by 4.7×105. The transition was strongly influenced by the presence of stationary, streamwise, Görtler vortices. Transition under similar conditions has been documented in previous studies, but because concave-wall transition tends to be rapid, measurements within the transition zone were sparse. In this study, emphasis is on measurements within the zone of intermittent flow. Twenty-five profiles of mean streamwise velocity, fluctuating streamwise velocity, and intermittency have been acquired at five values of Rex, and five spanwise locations relative to a Görtler vortex. The mean velocity profiles acquired near the vortex downwash sites exhibit inflection points and local minima. These minima, located in the outer part of the boundary layer, provide evidence of a “tilting” of the vortices in the spanwise direction. Profiles of fluctuating velocity and intermittency exhibit peaks near the locations of the minima in the mean velocity profiles. These peaks indicate that turbulence is generated in regions of high shear, which are relatively far from the wall. The transition mechanism in this flow is different from that on flat walls, where turbulence is produced in the near-wall region. The peak intermittency values in the profiles increase with Rex, but do not follow the “universal” distribution observed in most flat-wall, transitional boundary layers. The results have applications whenever strong concave curvature may result in the formation of Görtler vortices in otherwise 2-D flows. Because these cases were run with a low value of free-stream turbulence intensity, the flow is not a replication of a gas turbine flow. However, the results do provide a base case for further work on transition on the pressure side of gas turbine airfoils, where concave curvature effects are combined with the effects of high free-stream turbulence and strong streamwise pressure gradients, for they show the effects of embedded streamwise vorticity in a flow that is free of high-turbulence effects.

Effects of an Upstream Circular Manipulator on the Flow Past a Cylinder-Flat Plate Junction

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Dow ◽  
George Elizarraras ◽  
Hamid R. Rahai ◽  
Hamid Hefazi
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Flat Plate ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Plate Surface ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress ◽  
Flow Past A Cylinder

Measurements of three components of mean velocity and simultaneous time-resolved measurements of axial and vertical turbulent velocities and their cross moment were made at three perpendicular planes slightly upstream of the corner and in the downstream interaction region of a cylinder-flat plate junction with and without an upstream circular manipulator. The circular manipulator was a smooth circular cylinder of 1.25 mm diameter, which was placed upstream of the cylinder at X/D = 1.2, within the boundary layer above the flat plate surface. Results show that when the manipulator is in place, there is a decrease in the axial mean velocity and increases in the axial mean squared turbulent velocity and turbulent shear stress at the first plane. There is an expanded region of secondary flow with reduced circulation, indicating that the manipulator has reduced the strength of the horseshoe vortex in this region.

Characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer with an external turbulent uniform shear flow

1976 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. A. Ahmad ◽  
R. E. Luxton ◽  
R. A. Antonia
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Shear Flow ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Reynolds Shear Stress ◽  
Wall Layer ◽  
Turbulence Level ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
The Mean

Measurements are presented of both mean and fluctuating velocity components in a turbulent boundary layer subjected to a nearly homogeneous external turbulent shear flow. The Reynolds shear stress in the external shear flow is small compared with the wall shear stress. Its transverse mean velocity gradient λ (≃ 6 s−l) is also small compared with typical gradients based on outer variables (say Uw/δ, where Uwis the value of the linear velocity profile extrapolated to the wall and δ is the boundary-layer thickness), but is of the same order as Ut/δ (Ur is the friction velocity). The influence of both positive and negative transverse velocity gradients on the turbulent wall layer is investigated over a streamwise region where the normal Reynolds stresses in the external flow are approximately equal and constant in the streamwise direction. In this region, the integral length scale of the external flow is of the same order of magnitude as that of the wall layer. Measurements in the boundary layer are also given for an un-sheared external turbulent flow (λ = 0) with a turbulence level Tu of 1.5%, approximately the same as that for h = ± 6 s−1. (Tu, is defined as the ratio of the r.m.s. longitudinal velocity fluctuation to Uw.) The measurements are in good agreement with those available in the literature for a similar free-stream turbulence level and show that the external turbulence level and length scale exert a large influence on the turbulence structure in the boundary layer. The additional effect of the external shear on the mean velocity and turbulent energy budget distributions in the inner region of the boundary layer is found to be small. In the outer region, the ‘wake’ component of the mean velocity defect is lowered by the presence of free-stream turbulence and one extra effect due to the external shear is an increase in the Reynolds shear stress when h is positive and a decrease when h is negative. Another interesting effect due to the shear is the appearance near the edge of the layer of a small but distinct region where the local mean velocity is constant and the Reynolds shear stress is negligible.

scholarly journals Wavelet Analysis of Transitional Flow Data Under High Free-Stream Turbulence Conditions

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Wavelet Analysis ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Transitional Flow ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Flow Data ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Turbulent Shear Stress

Transitional flow data from boundary layers subject to strong acceleration (K as high as 9×10−6) and high free-stream turbulence (∼8%) were analyzed using wavelet transforms. Wavelet analysis provides the energy content of a signal on both a frequency and instantaneous time basis. It differs from traditional Fourier spectral analysis, which can only provide the spectral energy on a time averaged basis. Instantaneous velocity data from intermittent, transitional boundary layers were segregated into turbulent and non-turbulent zones through conditional sampling. Wavelet analysis was used to determine the frequency content of the velocity fluctuations and turbulent shear stress in the two zones separately. The streamwise velocity fluctuations in the turbulent and non-turbulent zones appeared similar. This was attributed to the effect of the free-stream turbulence, which had the same effects on both zones. The wall-normal fluctuations and turbulent shear stress were of significantly higher magnitude and frequency in the turbulent zone. These results suggest that turbulence models should be based on transport quantities rather than turbulent kinetic energy. The regions just upstream and just downstream of turbulent zones were also analyzed, to check for possible important frequencies leading to the initiation of turbulence or characteristic of the “calm” zone trailing a turbulent spot. No distinct behavior was observed in either of these zones. Uncertainty values associated with the wavelet spectra are high due to the short data records available. Results are shown to be valid in spite of these uncertainties, however longer data records should be acquired in future studies.

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