The Effect of Free-Stream Turbulence on Turbulent Boundary Layers

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Hancock ◽  
P. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Normal Component ◽  
Skin Friction Coefficient ◽  
Nonlinear Dependence ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Stream Length ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence

Mean flow measurements, and some turbulence measurements, have been made in a two-dimensional incompressible constant-pressure (“flat plate”) turbulent boundary layer beneath a nearly homogeneous nearly-isotropic (grid-generated) turbulent free stream. An appreciably nonlinear dependence of the skin-friction coefficient and other boundary layer parameters on rms free-stream turbulence intensity has been confirmed. A much wider range of free-stream length scales has been studied than in previous work, and the results (which agree well with previous data where they overlap) clearly indicate the large effect of free-stream length scale on the response of the boundary layer. The decrease of free-stream turbulence effect with increasing length scale is at least partly attributable to simple reduction of normal-component velocity fluctuations by the solid surface; this would not be the case in free shear layers.

Reynolds Stress Calculations for Pre-Transition Boundary Layers With Turbulent Free Streams

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Mayle ◽  
A. Schulz ◽  
H.-J. Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Stress Component ◽  
Normal Component ◽  
Skin Friction Coefficient ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Initial Growth ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
A Value ◽  
Layer Increase

Equations are developed for calculating u′u′ and u′v′ in a laminar boundary layer when the free stream is turbulent. These equations are based on the ideas presented by the first two authors in their 1997 paper, where the crucial role of high frequency fluctuations in the free stream was first recognized. Solutions of these equations, which also include the effect of a variable free stream velocity, show that the intensity of the fluctuations in the boundary layer increase as separation is approached, that the initial growth rate of the shear stress component is substantially less than the normal component, that the maximum value of u′u′ near transition is about the same as that in a turbulent boundary layer, and that, as is well known, free-stream turbulence increases the skin-friction coefficient. Overall, the calculations agree reasonably well with experimental results for all free-stream turbulence levels and velocity variations. In addition, upon examining Liepmann’s transition hypothesis, we show that transition from laminar to turbulent flow seems to occur at the streamwise position where the maximum of u′v′/uτ2 first attains a value of about one-third. But other criteria also seem to apply.

Boundary Layer Transition Under High Free-Stream Turbulence and Strong Acceleration Conditions: Part 1—Mean Flow Results

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Volino ◽  
T. W. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Skin Friction ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence

Measurements from heated boundary layers along a concave-curved test wall subject to high (initially 8 percent) free-stream turbulence intensity and strong (K = (ν/U∞2) dU∞/dx) as high as 9 × 10−6) acceleration are presented and discussed. Conditions for the experiments were chosen to roughly simulate those present on the downstream half of the pressure side of a gas turbine airfoil. Mean velocity and temperature profiles as well as skin friction and heat transfer coefficients are presented. The transition zone is of extended length in spite of the high free-stream turbulence level. Transitional values of skin friction coefficients and Stanton numbers drop below flat-plate, low-free-stream-turbulence, turbulent flow correlations, but remain well above laminar flow values. The mean velocity and temperature profiles exhibit clear changes in shape as the flow passes through transition. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first detailed documentation of a high-free-stream-turbulence boundary layer flow in such a strong acceleration field.

Effects of Weak Free Stream Nonuniformity on Boundary Layer Transition (Keynote Paper)

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan H. Watmuff
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Tollmien Schlichting ◽  
Distorted Waves ◽  
Thickness Variations

Experiments are described in which well-defined FSN (Free Stream Nonuniformity) distributions are introduced by placing fine wires upstream of the leading edge of a flat plate. Large amplitude spanwise thickness variations are present in the downstream boundary layer resulting from the interaction of the laminar wakes with the leading edge. Regions of elevated background unsteadiness appear on either side of the peak layer thickness, which share many of the characteristics of Klebanoff modes, observed at elevated Free Stream Turbulence (FST) levels. However, for the low background disturbance level of the free stream, the layer remains laminar to the end of the test section (Rx ≈ l.4×106) and there is no evidence of bursting or other phenomena associated with breakdown to turbulence. A vibrating ribbon apparatus is used to demonstrate that the deformation of the mean flow is responsible for substantial phase and amplitude distortion of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves. Pseudo-flow visualization of hot-wire data shows that the breakdown of the distorted waves is more complex and occurs at a lower Reynolds number than the breakdown of the K-type secondary instability observed when the FSN is not present.

Effects of Weak Free Stream Nonuniformity on Boundary Layer Transition

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan H. Watmuff
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Thickness Variations

Experiments are described in which well-defined weak Free Stream Nonuniformity (FSN) is introduced by placing fine wires upstream of the leading edge of a flat plate. Large amplitude spanwise thickness variations form in the boundary layer as a result of the interaction between the steady laminar wakes from the wires and the leading edge. The centerline of a region of elevated layer thickness is aligned with the centerline of the wake in the freestream and the response is shown to be remarkably sensitive to the spanwise length-scale of the wakes. The region of elevated thickness is equivalent to a long narrow low speed streak in the layer. Elevated Free Stream Turbulence (FST) levels are known to produce randomly forming arrays of long narrow low speed streaks in laminar boundary layers. Therefore the characteristics of the streaks resulting from the FSN are studied in detail in an effort to gain some insight into bypass transition that occurs at elevated FST levels. The shape factors of the profiles in the vicinity of the streak appear to be unaltered from the Blasius value, even though the magnitude of the local thickness variations are as large as 60% of that of the undisturbed layer. Regions of elevated background unsteadiness appear on either side of the streak and it is shown that they are most likely the result of small amplitude spanwise modulation of the layer thickness. The background unsteadiness shares many of the characteristics of Klebanoff modes observed at elevated FST levels. However, the layer remains laminar to the end of the test section (Rx≈1.4×106) and there is no evidence of bursting or other phenomena associated with breakdown to turbulence. A vibrating ribbon apparatus is used to examine interactions between the streak and Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves. The deformation of the mean flow introduced by the streak is responsible for substantial phase and amplitude distortion of the waves and the breakdown of the distorted waves is more complex and it occurs at a lower Reynolds number than the breakdown of the K-type secondary instability that is observed when the FSN is not present.

scholarly journals A Theory for Predicting the Turbulent-Spot Production Rate

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Mayle
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Turbulence Level ◽  
Turbulent Spot ◽  
Boundary Layer Flows ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
New Correlation

A theory is presented for predicting the production rate of turbulent spots. The theory, based on that by Mayle-Schulz for bypass transition, leads to a new correlation for the spot production rate in boundary layer flows with a zero pressure gradient. The correlation, which agrees reasonably well with data, clearly shows the effects of both free-stream turbulence level and length scale. In addition, the theory provides an estimate for the lowest level of free-stream turbulence causing bypass transition.

scholarly journals Comparison of k-ε Models in Predicting Heat Transfer and Skin Friction Under High Free Stream Turbulence

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganesh R. Iyer ◽  
Savash Yavuzkurt
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Data ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Skin Friction ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Skin Friction Coefficient ◽  
Empirical Correlations ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Boundary Layer Equations

Calculations of the effects of high free stream turbulence (FST) on heat transfer and skin friction in a flat plate turbulent boundary layer using different k-ε models (Launder-Sharma, K-Y Chien, Lam-Bremhorsi and Jones-Launder) are presented. This study was carried out in order to investigate the prediction capabilities of these models under high FST conditions. In doing so, TEXSTAN, a partial differential equation solver which is based on the ideas of Patankar and Spalding and solves steady-flow boundary layer equations, was used. Firstly, these models were compared as to how they predicted very low FST (≤ 1% turbulence intensity) cases. These baseline cases were tested by comparing predictions with both experimental data and empirical correlations. Then, these models were used in order to determine the effect of high FST (>5% turbulence intensity) on heat transfer and skin friction and compared with experimental data. Predictions for heat transfer and skin friction coefficient for all the turbulence intensities tested by all the models agreed well (within 1–8%) with experimental data. However, all these models predicted poorly the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in the free stream and TKE profiles. Physical reasoning as to why the aforementioned models differ in their predictions and the probable cause of poor prediction of free-stream TKE and TKE profiles are given.

Boundary Layer Transition at High Levels of Free Stream Turbulence

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaharu Matsubara ◽  
P. Henrik Alfredsson ◽  
K. Johan A. Westin
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Flow Visualisation ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence

Transition to turbulence in laminar boundary layers subjected to high levels of free stream turbulence (FST) can still not be reliably predicted, despite its technical importance, e.g. in the case of boundary layers developing on gas turbine blades. In a series of experiments in the MTL-wind tunnel at KTH the influence of grid-generated FST on boundary layer transition has been studied, with FST-levels up to 6%. It was shown from both flow visualisation and hot-wire measurements that the boundary layer develops unsteady streaky structures with high and low streamwise velocity. This leads to large amplitude low frequency fluctuations inside the boundary layer although the mean flow is still close to the laminar profile. Breakdown to turbulence occurs through an instability of the streaks which leads to the formation of turbulent spots. Accurate physical modelling of these processes seems to be needed in order to obtain a reliable prediction method.

A Theory for Predicting the Turbulent-Spot Production Rate

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 588-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Mayle
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Turbulence Level ◽  
Turbulent Spot ◽  
Boundary Layer Flows ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
New Correlation

A theory is presented for predicting the production rate of turbulent spots. The theory, based on that by Mayle–Schulz for bypass transition, leads to a new correlation for the spot production rate in boundary layer flows with a zero pressure gradient. The correlation, which agrees reasonably well with data, clearly shows the effects of both free-stream turbulence level and length scale. In addition, the theory provides an estimate for the lowest level of free-stream turbulence causing bypass transition.

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