scholarly journals Wind-Tunnel Simulation of Approximately Horizontally Homogeneous Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layers

Author(s):  
Philip E. Hancock ◽  
Paul Hayden

AbstractTwo cases of an overlying inversion imposed on a stable boundary layer are investigated, extending the work of Hancock and Hayden (Boundary-Layer Meteorol 168:29–57, 2018; 175:93–112, 2020). Vertical profiles of Reynolds stresses and heat flux show closely horizontally homogeneous behaviour over a streamwise fetch of more than eight boundary-layer heights. However, profiles of mean temperature and velocity show closely horizontally homogeneous behaviour only in the top two-thirds of the boundary layer. In the lower one-third the temperature decreases with fetch, directly as a consequence of heat transfer to the surface. A weaker effect is seen in the mean velocity profiles, curiously, such that the gradient Richardson number is invariant with fetch, while various other quantities are not. Stability leads to a ‘blocking’ of vertical influence. Inferred aerodynamic and thermal roughness lengths increase with fetch, while the former is constant in the neutral case, as expected. Favourable validation comparisons are made against two sets of local-scaling systems over the full depth of the boundary layer. Close concurrence is seen for all stable cases for z/L < 0.2, where z and L are the vertical height and local Obukhov length, respectively, and over most of the layer for some quantities.

1970 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Kendall

An experimental study of the interaction of a turbulent boundary layer with a wavy wall was conducted in a wind tunnel. A smooth neoprene rubber sheet comprising a portion of the floor of the tunnel was mechanically deformed into 12 sinusoidal waves which progressed upwind or down at controlled speed. The turbulent layer thickness was a little less than the wavelength. The mean velocity profile was linear on a semi-log plot over a substantial range of vertical height.The wall pressure was observed to be asymmetrical about the wave profile, resulting in a pressure drag. Flow separation was not the cause of the drag. The drag was found to be larger than that predicted by the inviscid wave generation theory. The measurements indicate that the waves strongly modulate the turbulent structure. The phase of the turbulent stresses with respect to the waves varies with wave speed, indicating that the dynamical reaction time of the turbulence is not negligible in comparison with the wave period.


Author(s):  
M. Agelinchaab ◽  
M. F. Tachie

A particle image velocimetry is used to study the characteristics of separated and reattached turbulent flow over two-dimensional transverse blocks of square, rectangular and semi-circular cross-sections fixed to the bottom wall of an open channel. The ratio of upstream boundary layer thickness to block height is considerably higher than in prior studies. The results show that the mean and turbulent statistics in the recirculation region and downstream of reattachment are significantly different from the upstream boundary layer. The variation of the Reynolds stresses along the separating streamlines is discussed within the context of vortex stretching, longitudinal strain rate and wall damping. It appears wall damping is a more dominant mechanism in the vicinity of reattachment. The levels of turbulence diffusion and production by the normal stresses are significantly higher than in classical turbulent boundary layers. The bulk of turbulence production occurs in mid-layer and transported into the inner and outer layers. The results also reveal that the curvature of separating streamline, separating bubble beneath it as well as the mean velocity and turbulent quantities depend strongly on block geometry.


2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rau´l Bayoa´n Cal ◽  
Xia Wang ◽  
Luciano Castillo

Applying similarity analysis to the RANS equations of motion for a pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer, Castillo and George [1] obtained the scalings for the mean deficit velocity and the Reynolds stresses. Following this analysis, Castillo and George studied favorable pressure gradient (FPG) turbulent boundary layers. They were able to obtain a single curve for FPG flows when scaling the mean deficit velocity profiles. In this study, FPG turbulent boundary layers are analyzed as well as relaminarized boundary layers subjected to an even stronger FPG. It is found that the mean deficit velocity profiles diminish when scaled using the Castillo and George [1] scaling, U∞, and the Zagarola and Smits [2] scaling, U∞δ*/δ. In addition, Reynolds stress data has been analyzed and it is found that the relaminarized boundary layer data decreases drastically in all components of the Reynolds stresses. Furthermore, it will be shown that the shape of the profile for the wall-normal and Reynolds shear stress components change drastically given the relaminarized state. Therefore, the mean velocity deficit profiles as well as Reynolds stresses are found to be necessary in order to understand not only FPG flows, but also relaminarized boundary layers.


1982 ◽  
Vol 119 ◽  
pp. 121-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo R. Müller

An experimental study of a steady, incompressible, three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer approaching separation is reported. The flow field external to the boundary layer was deflected laterally by turning vanes so that streamwise flow deceleration occurred simultaneous with cross-flow acceleration. At 21 stations profiles of the mean-velocity components and of the six Reynolds stresses were measured with single- and X-hot-wire probes, which were rotatable around their longitudinal axes. The calibration of the hot wires with respect to magnitude and direction of the velocity vector as well as the method of evaluating the Reynolds stresses from the measured data are described in a separate paper (Müller 1982, hereinafter referred to as II). At each measuring station the wall shear stress was inferred from a Preston-tube measurement as well as from a Clauser chart. With the measured profiles of the mean velocities and of the Reynolds stresses several assumptions used for turbulence modelling were checked for their validity in this flow. For example, eddy viscosities for both tangential directions and the corresponding mixing lengths as well as the ratio of resultant turbulent shear stress to turbulent kinetic energy were derived from the data.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Agelinchaab ◽  
Mark F. Tachie

A particle image velocimetry is used to study the mean and turbulent fields of separated and redeveloping flow over square, rectangular, and semicircular blocks fixed to the bottom wall of an open channel. The open channel flow is characterized by high background turbulence level, and the ratio of the upstream boundary layer thickness to block height is considerably higher than in prior experiments. The variation of the Reynolds stresses along the dividing streamlines is discussed within the context of vortex stretching, longitudinal strain rate, and wall damping. It appears that wall damping is a more dominant mechanism in the vicinity of reattachment. In the recirculation and reattachment regions, profiles of the mean velocity, turbulent quantities, and transport terms are used to document the salient features of block geometry on the flow. The flow characteristics in these regions strongly depend on block geometry. Downstream of reattachment, a new shear layer is formed, and the redevelopment of the shear layer toward the upstream open channel boundary layer is studied using the boundary layer parameters and Reynolds stresses. The results show that the mean flow rapidly redeveloped so that the Clauser parameter recovered to its upstream value at 90 step heights downstream of reattachment. However, the rate of development close to reattachment strongly depends on block geometry.


Author(s):  
Rau´l Bayoa´n Cal ◽  
Brian Brzek ◽  
Gunnar Johansson ◽  
Luciano Castillo

Laser-Doppler anemometry (LDA) measurements of the mean velocity and Reynolds stresses are carried out on a rough surface favorable pressure gradient (FPG) turbulent boundary layer. These data is compared with smooth FPG turbulent boundary layer data possessing with the same strength of pressure gradient and also with rough zero pressure gradient (ZPG) data. The scales for the mean velocity deficit and Reynolds stresses are obtained through means of equilibrium similarity analysis of the RANS equations [1]. The mean velocity deficit profiles collapse, but to different curves when normalized using the free-stream velocity. The effects of the pressure gradient and roughness are clearly distinguished and separated. However, these effects are removed from the outer flow when the profiles are normalized using the Zagarola and Smits [2] scaling. It is also found that there is a clear effect of the roughness and pressure gradient on the Reynolds stresses. The Reynolds stress profiles augment due to the rough surface. Furthermore, the strength of the pressure gradient imposed of the flow changes the shape of the Reynolds stress profiles especially on the < v2 > and < uv > components. The rough surface influence is mostly noticed on the < u2 > component of the Reynolds stress, where the shape of the profiles change entirely. The boundary layer parameter δ*/δ shows the effects of the roughness and a dependence on the Reynolds number for the smooth FPG case. The pressure parameter, A, describes a development of the turbulent boundary layer and no influence of the roughness is linked with the parameter, k+. The boundary layers grow differently and depict the influence of the studied effects in their development. These measurements are the first of their nature due to the extensive number in downstream locations (12) and the combination of the studied external conditions (i.e., the strength of the pressure gradient and the surface roughness).


2000 ◽  
Vol 422 ◽  
pp. 319-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID B. DE GRAAFF ◽  
JOHN K. EATON

Despite extensive study, there remain significant questions about the Reynolds-number scaling of the zero-pressure-gradient flat-plate turbulent boundary layer. While the mean flow is generally accepted to follow the law of the wall, there is little consensus about the scaling of the Reynolds normal stresses, except that there are Reynolds-number effects even very close to the wall. Using a low-speed, high-Reynolds-number facility and a high-resolution laser-Doppler anemometer, we have measured Reynolds stresses for a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer from Reθ = 1430 to 31 000. Profiles of u′2, v′2, and u′v′ show reasonably good collapse with Reynolds number: u′2 in a new scaling, and v′2 and u′v′ in classic inner scaling. The log law provides a reasonably accurate universal profile for the mean velocity in the inner region.


Author(s):  
Luciano Castillo ◽  
Junghwa Seo ◽  
T. Gunnar Johansson ◽  
Horia Hangan

A 2D turbulent boundary layer experiment in a zero pressure gradient (ZPG) has been carried out using two cross hot-wire probes. The mean velocity and all non-zero Reynolds stresses were measured in a number of positions, 14–28 m from the inlet of the wind tunnel over a rough and a smooth surface. Wind tunnel speeds of 10 m/s and 20 m/s were set up in order to test the effect of the upstream conditions on the downstream flow. The long test section allowed us to investigate the mean velocity and Reynolds stresses dependence on the local Reynolds number and the initial conditions at very high Reynolds number (i.e. Rθ ∼ 120,000). Furthermore, it will be shown that the mean velocity deficit profiles and some of the Reynolds stresses collapse when the upstream conditions are kept fixed for smooth and rough surface.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Schultz ◽  
Karen A. Flack

Flat-plate turbulent boundary layer measurements have been made on painted surfaces, smoothed by sanding. The measurements were conducted in a closed return water tunnel, over a momentum thickness Reynolds number Reθ range of 3000 to 16,000, using a two-component laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV). The mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles are compared with those for smooth and sandgrain rough walls. The results indicate an increase in the boundary layer thickness (δ) and the integral length scales for the unsanded, painted surface compared to a smooth wall. More significant increases in these parameters, as well as the skin-friction coefficient Cf were observed for the sandgrain surfaces. The sanded surfaces behave similarly to the smooth wall for these boundary layer parameters. The roughness functions ΔU+ for the sanded surfaces measured in this study agree within their uncertainty with previous results obtained using towing tank tests and similarity law analysis. The present results indicate that the mean profiles for all of the surfaces collapse well in velocity defect form. The Reynolds stresses also show good collapse in the overlap and outer regions of the boundary layer when normalized with the wall shear stress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-112
Author(s):  
Philip E. Hancock ◽  
Paul Hayden

AbstractFour cases of an overlying inversion imposed on a stable boundary layer are investigated, extending the earlier work of Hancock and Hayden (Boundary-Layer Meteorol 168:29–57, 2018), where no inversion was imposed. The inversion is imposed to one or other of two depths within the layer: midway or deep. Four cases of changed surface condition are also investigated, and it is seen that the surface and imposed conditions behave independently. A change of imposed inversion condition leaves the bottom 1/3 of the layer almost completely unaffected; a change of the surface condition leaves the top 2/3 unaffected. Comparisons are made against two sets of local-scaling systems over the full height of the boundary layer. Both show some influence of the inversion condition. The surface heat flux and the reduction in surface shear stress, and hence the ratio of the boundary-layer height to surface Obukhov length, are determined by the temperature difference across the surface layer (not the whole layer), bringing all cases together in single correlations as functions of a surface-layer bulk Richardson number.


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