The Behaviour and Effects of Laminar Separation Bubbles on Aerofoils in Incompressible Flow

1963 ◽  
Vol 67 (636) ◽  
pp. 783-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian W. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Separation Bubbles ◽  
Model Aircraft ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubbles

SummaryA survey of information on laminar separation bubbles and their effect on the stalling characteristics of aerofoils is presented. It is shown that there are two principal kinds of bubbles and that their existence can be predicted. It is believed that their behaviour may be related to the kind of boundary layer transition process present.It is intended that a second part of this paper will describe the characteristics of aerofoils at Reynolds numbers typical of model aircraft and show how the observed phenomena are related to the behaviour of laminar separation bubbles.

Numerical Investigation of Low-Reynolds Number Airfoil Flows Using Transition-Sensitive and Fully Turbulent RANS Models

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun Chitta ◽  
Tausif Jamal ◽  
D. Keith Walters
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Transition Flow ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Viscosity Models ◽  
Separation Bubbles ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubbles

A numerical analysis is performed to study the pre-stall and post-stall aerodynamic characteristics over a group of six airfoils using commercially available transition-sensitive and fully turbulent eddy-viscosity models. The study is focused on a range of Reynolds numbers from 6 × 104 to 2 × 106, wherein the flow around the airfoil is characterized by complex phenomena such as boundary layer transition, flow separation and reattachment, and formation of laminar separation bubbles on either the suction, pressure or both surfaces of airfoil. The predictive capability of the transition-sensitive k-kL-ω model versus the fully turbulent SST k-ω model is investigated for all airfoils. The transition-sensitive k-kL-ω model used in this study is capable of predicting both attached and separated turbulent flows over the surface of an airfoil without the need for an external linear stability solver to predict transition. The comparison between experimental data and results obtained from the numerical simulations is presented, which shows that the boundary layer transition and laminar separation bubbles that appear on the suction and pressure surfaces of the airfoil can be captured accurately by the use of a transition-sensitive model. The fully turbulent SST k-ω model predicts a turbulent boundary layer on both surfaces of the airfoil for all angles of attack and fails to predict boundary layer transition or separation bubbles. Discrepancies are observed in the predictions of airfoil stall by both the models. Reasons for the discrepancies between computational and experimental results, and also possible improvements in eddy-viscosity models, are discussed.

The Development of Intermittent Turbulence on a Swept Attachment Line Including the Effects of Compressibility

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.I.A. Poll
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Compressible Flow ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Intermittent Turbulence ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
New Criterion ◽  
Attachment Line

SummaryA model of the boundary layer transition process at an infinite swept attachment line under incompressible flow conditions and in the presence of a gross upstream disturbance is developed. The approach adopted is based upon the spot concepts of Emmons which are well established for transition on a flat plate. An extension to compressible flow situations is made by means of a simple transformation which reduces the process to an equivalent incompressible form. A new criterion for predicting the onset of attachment-line transition is proposed.

Effect of Reduced Frequency on the Boundary Layer of a Plunging Airfoil

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Rasi Marzabadi ◽  
M. R. Soltani ◽  
M. Masdari
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Unsteady Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
Hot Film

This investigation addresses the boundary layer study of a plunging airfoil. It specifically concerns the effect of reduced frequency on transition and separation/reattachment of the unsteady boundary layer. The wind tunnel measurements were conducted using multiple hot-film sensors, pressure transducers and a boundary-layer rake, at Reynolds numbers of 0.42 to 0.84 million, and over reduced frequencies from 0.05 to 0.11. It was observed the boundary layer transition occurs by a laminar separation bubble. The unsteady laminar separation is promoted (delayed) by the increase of the reduced frequency in upstroke (downstroke) portion of the equivalent angle of attack.

scholarly journals Transitional separation bubbles and unsteady aspects of aerofoil stall

2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (1133) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Sandham
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Potential Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Accurate Solution ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Integral Boundary ◽  
Separation Bubbles

AbstractA time-accurate solution method for the coupled potential flow and integral boundary-layer equations is used to study aerofoils near stall, where laboratory experiments have shown high-amplitude low-frequency oscillations. The laminar-turbulent transition model incorporates an absolute instability formulation, which allows the transition process in separation bubbles to be sustained in the absence of upstream disturbances, in agreement with recent direct numerical simulations. The method is demonstrated to capture large scale flow oscillations with Strouhal numbers and amplitudes comparable to experiments. The success of this particular physical model suggests that bubble bursting is primarily due to a potential-flow/boundary-layer interaction effect, in which relatively simple models of boundary layer transition and turbulence suffice to describe the key phenomena.

Modelling Vortex Generating Jet-Induced Transition in Low-Pressure Turbines

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Herbst ◽  
Andreas Fiala ◽  
Joerg R. Seume
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Transition Model ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Wall Flows

The current design of low-pressure turbines (LPTs) with steady-blowing vortex generating jets (VGJ) uses steady computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The present work aims to support this design approach by proposing a new semi-empirical transition model for injection-induced laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition. It is based on the detection of cross-flow vortices in the boundary layer which cause inflectional cross-flow velocity profiles. The model is implemented in the CFD code TRACE within the framework of the γ-Reθ transition model and is a reformulated, re-calibrated, and extended version of a previously presented model. It is extensively validated by means of VGJ as well as non-VGJ test cases capturing the local transition process in a physically reasonable way. Quantitative aerodynamic design parameters of several VGJ configurations including steady and periodic-unsteady inflow conditions are predicted in good accordance with experimental values. Furthermore, the quantitative prediction of end-wall flows of LPTs is improved by detecting typical secondary flow structures. For the first time, the newly derived model allows the quantitative design and optimization of LPTs with VGJs.

Effects of Reynolds Number and Free-Stream Turbulence on Boundary Layer Transition in a Compressor Cascade

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz-Adolf Schreiber ◽  
Wolfgang Steinert ◽  
Bernhard Küsters
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
High Reynolds Numbers ◽  
High Turbulence ◽  
High Reynolds

An experimental and analytical study has been performed on the effect of Reynolds number and free-stream turbulence on boundary layer transition location on the suction surface of a controlled diffusion airfoil (CDA). The experiments were conducted in a rectilinear cascade facility at Reynolds numbers between 0.7 and 3.0×106 and turbulence intensities from about 0.7 to 4%. An oil streak technique and liquid crystal coatings were used to visualize the boundary layer state. For small turbulence levels and all Reynolds numbers tested the accelerated front portion of the blade is laminar and transition occurs within a laminar separation bubble shortly after the maximum velocity near 35–40% of chord. For high turbulence levels (Tu > 3%) and high Reynolds numbers transition propagates upstream into the accelerated front portion of the CDA blade. For those conditions, the sensitivity to surface roughness increases considerably and at Tu = 4% bypass transition is observed near 7–10% of chord. Experimental results are compared to theoretical predictions using the transition model which is implemented in the MISES code of Youngren and Drela. Overall the results indicate that early bypass transition at high turbulence levels must alter the profile velocity distribution for compressor blades that are designed and optimized for high Reynolds numbers.

scholarly journals Compressible Direct Numerical Simulation of Low-Pressure Turbines: Part I — Methodology

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D. Sandberg ◽  
Richard Pichler ◽  
Liwei Chen ◽  
Roderick Johnstone ◽  
Vittorio Michelassi
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulation ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Background Turbulence

Modern low pressure turbines (LPT) feature high pressure ratios and moderate Mach and Reynolds numbers, increasing the possibility of laminar boundary-layer separation on the blades. Upstream disturbances including background turbulence and incoming wakes have a profound effect on the behavior of separation bubbles and the type/location of laminar-turbulent transition and therefore need to be considered in LPT design. URANS are often found inadequate to resolve the complex wake dynamics and impact of these environmental parameters on the boundary layers and may not drive the design to the best aerodynamic efficiency. LES can partly improve the accuracy, but has difficulties in predicting boundary layer transition and capturing the delay of laminar separation with varying inlet turbulence levels. Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) is able to overcome these limitations but has to date been considered too computationally expensive. Here a novel compressible DNS code is presented and validated, promising to make DNS practical for LPT studies. Also, the sensitivity of wake loss coefficient with respect to freestream turbulence levels below 1% is discussed.

Velocity and Pressure Measurements Along a Row of Confined Cylinders

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barton L. Smith ◽  
Jack J. Stepan ◽  
Donald M. McEligot
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Symmetry Plane ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Pressure Measurements ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Flow Experiments

The results of flow experiments performed in a cylinder array designed to mimic a VHTR Nuclear Plant lower plenum design are presented. Pressure drop and velocity field measurements were made. Based on these measurements, five regimes of behavior are identified that are found to depend on Reynolds number. It is found that the recirculation region behind the cylinders is shorter than that of half cylinders placed on the wall representing the symmetry plane. Unlike a single cylinder, the separation point is found to always be on the rear of the cylinders, even at very low Reynolds number. Boundary layer transition is found to occur at much lower Reynolds numbers than previously reported.

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