The Amazon river breeze and the local boundary layer: I. Observations

1993 ◽  
Vol 63 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 141-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amauri Pereira de Oliveira ◽  
David R. Fitzjarrald
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Amazon River ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Layer I

The Amazon river breeze and the local boundary layer: II. Linear analysis and modelling

1994 ◽  
Vol 67 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 75-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amauri Pereira De Oliveira ◽  
David R. Fitzjarrald
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Linear Analysis ◽  
Amazon River ◽  
Local Boundary

scholarly journals Boundary layer evolution over the central Himalayas from radio wind profiler and model simulations

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (16) ◽  
pp. 10559-10572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narendra Singh ◽  
Raman Solanki ◽  
Narendra Ojha ◽  
Ruud H. H. Janssen ◽  
Andrea Pozzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Wind Profiler ◽  
Pollution Transport ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. We investigate the time evolution of the Local Boundary Layer (LBL) for the first time over a mountain ridge at Nainital (79.5° E, 29.4° N, 1958 m a.m.s.l.) in the central Himalayan region, using a radar wind profiler (RWP) during November 2011 to March 2012, as a part of the Ganges Valley Aerosol Experiment (GVAX). We restrict our analysis to clear–sunny days, resulting in a total of 78 days of observations. The standard criterion of the peak in the signal-to-noise ratio (S ∕ N) profile was found to be inadequate in the characterization of mixed layer (ML) top at this site. Therefore, we implemented a criterion of S ∕ N > 6 dB for the characterization of the ML and the resulting estimations are shown to be in agreement with radiosonde measurements over this site. The daytime average (05:00–10:00 UTC) observed boundary layer height ranges from 440 ± 197 m in November (late autumn) to 766 ± 317 m above ground level (a.g.l.) in March (early spring). The observations revealed a pronounced impact of mountain topography on the LBL dynamics during March, when strong winds (> 5.6 m s−1) lead to LBL heights of 650 m during nighttime. The measurements are further utilized to evaluate simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. WRF simulations captured the day-to-day variations up to an extent (r2 = 0.5), as well as the mean diurnal variations (within 1σ variability). The mean biases in the daytime average LBL height vary from −7 % (January) to +30 % (February) between model and observations, except during March (+76 %). Sensitivity simulations using a mixed layer model (MXL/MESSy) indicated that the springtime overestimation of LBL would lead to a minor uncertainty in simulated surface ozone concentrations. However, it would lead to a significant overestimation of the dilution of black carbon aerosols at this site. Our work fills a gap in observations of local boundary layer over this complex terrain in the Himalayas, and highlights the need for year-long simultaneous measurements of boundary layer dynamics and air quality to better understand the role of lower tropospheric dynamics in pollution transport.

scholarly journals Influence of localised smooth steps on the instability of a boundary layer

2017 ◽  
Vol 817 ◽  
pp. 138-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Xu ◽  
Jean-Eloi W. Lombard ◽  
Spencer J. Sherwin
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Gaussian White Noise ◽  
Random Phase ◽  
Linear Analysis ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Neutral Stability ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Type Transition

We consider a smooth, spanwise-uniform forward-facing step defined by a Gauss error function of height 4 %–30 % and four times the width of the local boundary layer thickness $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{99}$. The boundary layer flow over a smooth forward-facing stepped plate is studied with particular emphasis on stabilisation and destabilisation of the two-dimensional Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) waves and subsequently on three-dimensional disturbances at transition. The interaction between TS waves at a range of frequencies and a base flow over a single or two forward-facing smooth steps is conducted by linear analysis. The results indicate that for a TS wave with a frequency ${\mathcal{F}}\in [140,160]$ (${\mathcal{F}}=\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}/U_{\infty }^{2}\times 10^{6}$, where $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}$ and $U_{\infty }$ denote the perturbation angle frequency and free-stream velocity magnitude, respectively, and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$ denotes kinematic viscosity), the amplitude of the TS wave is attenuated in the unstable regime of the neutral stability curve corresponding to a flat plate boundary layer. Furthermore, it is observed that two smooth forward-facing steps lead to a more acute reduction of the amplitude of the TS wave. When the height of a step is increased to more than 20 % of the local boundary layer thickness for a fixed width parameter, the TS wave is amplified, and thereby a destabilisation effect is introduced. Therefore, the stabilisation or destabilisation effect of a smooth step is typically dependent on its shape parameters. To validate the results of the linear stability analysis, where a TS wave is damped by the forward-facing smooth steps direct numerical simulation (DNS) is performed. The results of the DNS correlate favourably with the linear analysis and show that for the investigated frequency of the TS wave, the K-type transition process is altered whereas the onset of the H-type transition is delayed. The results of the DNS suggest that for the perturbation with the non-dimensional frequency parameter ${\mathcal{F}}=150$ and in the absence of other external perturbations, two forward-facing smooth steps of height 5 % and 12 % of the boundary layer thickness delayed the H-type transition scenario and completely suppressed for the K-type transition. By considering Gaussian white noise with both fixed and random phase shifts, it is demonstrated by DNS that transition is postponed in time and space by two forward-facing smooth steps.

Rayleigh number scaling in numerical convection

1996 ◽  
Vol 310 ◽  
pp. 139-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Fixed Temperature ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Velocity Boundary Layer

Using direct simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with rigid upper and lower boundaries at fixed temperature and periodic sidewalls, scaling with respect to Rayleigh number is determined. At large aspect ratio (6:6:1) on meshes up to 288 × 288 × 96, a single scaling regime consistent with the properties of ‘hard’ convective turbulence is found for Pr = 0.7 between Ra = 5 × 104 and Ra = 2 × 107. The properties of this regime include Nu ∼ RaβT with βT = 0.28 ≈ 2/7, exponential temperature distributions in the centre of the cell, and velocity and temperature scales consistent with experimental measurements. Two velocity boundary-layer thicknesses are identified, one outside the thermal boundary layer that scales as Ra−1/7 and the other within it that scales as Ra−3/7. Large-scale shears are not observed; instead, strong local boundary-layer shears are observed in regions between incoming plumes and an outgoing network of buoyant sheets. At the highest Rayleigh number, there is a decade where the energy spectra are close to k−5/3 and temperature variance spectra are noticeably less steep. It is argued that taken together this is good evidence for ‘hard’ turbulence, even if individually each of these properties might have alternative explanations.

On the propagation of disturbances in a laminar boundary layer. I

1973 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Brown ◽  
K. Stewartson
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Asymptotic Formula ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Laminar Boundary Layer ◽  
Numerical Results ◽  
Boundary Layer Equations ◽  
Displacement Thickness ◽  
Layer I

An analysis is made of the response of a laminar boundary layer to a perturbation, either in the mainstream, or of the boundary conditions at the wall. The disturbance propagates with the mainstream velocity, and the manner in which it decays at large distances downstream is determined by eigensolutions of the boundary-layer equations. The elucidation of the structure of these eigensolutions requires division of the boundary layer into three regions. Comparison of the asymptotic formula obtained for the displacement thickness is made with the numerical results of Ackerberg and Phillips (1).

On the Axisymmetric Vortex Flow Over a Flat Surface

1969 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 614-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Schwiderski
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Critical Reynolds Number ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Slow Motion ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Self Similar

The numerical study of the interaction of a potential vortex with a stationary surface recently published by Kidd and Farris [1] is extended through a transformation of the boundary-value problem to Volterra integral equations. The new calculations verified the results by Kidd and Farris and improved the bounds of the critical Reynolds number Nc, beyond which no self-similar vortex flows exist, to 5.5 < Nc < 5.6 The breakdown of the self-similar motions develops through an instability in the lower boundary layer, which is indicated by two inflection points in the tangential velocity profile. At the critical Reynolds number the lower inflection point reaches the surface and indicates the beginning of boundary-layer separation in the wake-type flow. If the Stokes linearization is applied, one arrives at a new Stokes paradox. However, this “paradox” can be resolved by correcting the free-stream pressure distortion of the Stokes approximation. The new slow-motion approximation is nonlinear and yields an integral which is also free of the Whitehead paradox. The properties of the new exact solution confirm the novel flow features previously detected in almost self-similar motions, which were constructed by adjustable local boundary-layer approximations.

scholarly journals Computational Modelling of Three Different Sub-Boundary Layer Vortex Generators on a Flat Plate

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Gutierrez-Amo ◽  
Unai Fernandez-Gamiz ◽  
Iñigo Errasti ◽  
Ekaitz Zulueta
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flat Plate ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Primary Vortex ◽  
Good Efficiency ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Passive Flow Control

Flow separation is the source of several problems in a wind turbine including load fluctuations, lift losses, and vibrations. Vortex generators (VGs) are passive flow control devices used to delay flow separation, but their implementation may produce overload drag at the blade section where they are placed. In the current work, a computational model of different geometries of vortex generators placed on a flat plate has been carried out throughout fully meshed computational simulations using Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations performed at a Reynolds number of R e θ = 2600 based on local boundary layer (BL) momentum thickness θ = 2.4 mm. A flow characterization of the wake behind the vortex generator has been done with the aim of evaluating the performance of three vortex generator geometries, namely Rectangular VG, Triangular VG, and Symmetrical VG NACA0012. The location of the primary vortex has been evaluated by the vertical and lateral trajectories and it has been found that for all analyzed VG geometries the primary vortex is developed below the boundary layer thickness δ = 20 mm for a similar vorticity level ( w x m a x ). Two innovative parameters have been developed in the present work for evaluating the vortex size and the vortex strength: Half-Life Surface S 05 and Mean Positive Circulation Γ 05 + . As a result, an assessment of the VG performance has been carried out by all analyzed parameters and the symmetrical vortex generator NACA0012 has provided good efficiency in energy transfer compared with the Rectangular VG.

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