Numerical Simulations of Unsteady Separation Bubbles over Turbine Blades

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier De Saint Victor
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Unsteady Separation ◽  
Separation Bubbles

scholarly journals Direct numerical simulations of forced and unforced separation bubbles on an airfoil at incidence

2008 ◽  
Vol 602 ◽  
pp. 175-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. JONES ◽  
R. D. SANDBERG ◽  
N. D. SANDHAM
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulations ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Absolute Instability ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Velocity Magnitude ◽  
Separation Bubbles

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of laminar separation bubbles on a NACA-0012 airfoil at Rec=5×104 and incidence 5° are presented. Initially volume forcing is introduced in order to promote transition to turbulence. After obtaining sufficient data from this forced case, the explicitly added disturbances are removed and the simulation run further. With no forcing the turbulence is observed to self-sustain, with increased turbulence intensity in the reattachment region. A comparison of the forced and unforced cases shows that the forcing improves the aerodynamic performance whilst requiring little energy input. Classical linear stability analysis is performed upon the time-averaged flow field; however no absolute instability is observed that could explain the presence of self-sustaining turbulence. Finally, a series of simplified DNS are presented that illustrate a three-dimensional absolute instability of the two-dimensional vortex shedding that occurs naturally. Three-dimensional perturbations are amplified in the braid region of developing vortices, and subsequently convected upstream by local regions of reverse flow, within which the upstream velocity magnitude greatly exceeds that of the time-average. The perturbations are convected into the braid region of the next developing vortex, where they are amplified further, hence the cycle repeats with increasing amplitude. The fact that this transition process is independent of upstream disturbances has implications for modelling separation bubbles.

scholarly journals Leading Edge Separation Bubbles on Turbomachine Blades

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Walraevens ◽  
N. A. Cumpsty
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Compressor Blades ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Quantitative Measurements ◽  
Small Influence ◽  
Separation Bubbles

Results are presented for separation bubbles of the type which can form near the leading edges of thin compressor or turbine blades. These often occur when the incidence is such that the stagnation point is not on the nose of the aerofoil. Tests were carried out at low speed on a single aerofoil to simulate the range of conditions found on compressor blades. Both circular and elliptic shapes of leading edge were tested. Results are presented for a range of incidence, Reynolds number and turbulence intensity and scale. The principal quantitative measurements presented are the pressure distributions in the leading edge and bubble region, as well as the boundary layer properties at a fixed distance downstream where most of the flows had reattached. Reynolds number was found to have a comparatively small influence, but a raised level of freestream turbulence has a striking effect, shortening or eliminating the bubble and increasing the magnitude of the suction spike. Increased freestream turbulence also reduces the boundary layer thickness and shape parameter after the bubble. Some explanations of the processes are outlined.

Direct numerical simulations of laminar separation bubbles: investigation of absolute instability and active flow control of transition to turbulence

2014 ◽  
Vol 747 ◽  
pp. 141-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Embacher ◽  
H. F. Fasel
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Secondary Instability ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulations ◽  
Absolute Instability ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Periodic Forcing ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Flow Response ◽  
Separation Bubbles

AbstractLaminar separation bubbles generated on a flat plate by an adverse pressure gradient are investigated using direct numerical simulations (DNSs). Two-dimensional periodic forcing is applied at a blowing/suction slot upstream of separation. Control of separation through forcing with various frequencies and amplitudes is examined. For the investigation of absolute instability mechanisms, baseflows provided by two-dimensional Navier–Stokes calculations are analysed by introducing pulse disturbances and computing the three-dimensional flow response using DNS. The primary instability of the time-averaged flow is investigated with a local linear stability analysis. Employing a steady flow solution as baseflow, the nonlinear and non-parallel effects on the self-sustained disturbance development are illustrated, and a feedback mechanism facilitated by the upstream flow deformation is identified. Secondary instability is investigated locally using spatially periodic baseflows. The flow response to pulsed forcing indicates the existence of an absolute secondary instability mechanism, and the results indicate that this mechanism is dependent on the periodic forcing. Results from three-dimensional DNS provide insight into the global instability mechanisms of separation bubbles and complement the local analysis. A forcing strategy was devised that suppresses the temporal growth of three-dimensional disturbances, and as a consequence, breakdown to turbulence does not occur. Even for a separation bubble that has transitioned to turbulence, the flow relaminarizes when applying two-dimensional periodic forcing with proper frequencies and amplitudes.

Leading Edge Separation Bubbles on Turbomachine Blades

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Walraevens ◽  
N. A. Cumpsty
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Compressor Blades ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Small Influence ◽  
Separation Bubbles

Results are presented for separation bubbles of the type that can form near the leading edges of thin compressor or turbine blades. These often occur when the incidence is such that the stagnation point is not on the nose of the aerofoil. Tests were carried out at low speed on a single aerofoil to simulate the range of conditions found on compressor blades. Both circular and elliptic shapes of leading edge were tested. Results are presented for a range of incidence, Reynolds number, and turbulence intensity and scale. The principal quantitative measurements presented are the pressure distributions in the leading edge and bubble region, as well as the boundary layer properties at a fixed distance downstream, where most of the flows had reattached. Reynolds number was found to have a comparatively small influence, but a raised level of free-stream turbulence has a striking effect, shortening or eliminating the bubble and increasing the magnitude of the suction spike. Increased free-stream turbulence also reduces the boundary layer thickness and shape parameter after the bubble. Some explanations of the processes are outlined.

Transition Mechanisms in Separation Bubbles Under Low and Elevated Freestream Turbulence

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. McAuliffe ◽  
M. I. Yaras
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Laminar Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Turbulent Spots ◽  
Separated Shear Layer ◽  
Separation Bubbles

Through numerical simulations, this paper examines the nature of instability mechanisms leading to transition in separation bubbles. The results of two direct numerical simulations are presented in which separation of a laminar boundary layer occurs over a flat surface in the presence of an adverse pressure gradient. The primary difference in the flow conditions between the two simulations is the level of freestream turbulence with intensities of 0.1% and 1.45% at separation. In the first part of the paper, transition under a low-disturbance environment is examined, and the development of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the separated shear layer is compared to the well-established instability characteristics of free shear layers. The study examines the role of the velocity-profile shape on the instability characteristics and the nature of the large-scale vortical structures shed downstream of the bubble. The second part of the paper examines transition in a high-disturbance environment, where the above-mentioned mechanism is bypassed as a result of elevated freestream turbulence. Filtering of the freestream turbulence into the laminar boundary layer results in streamwise streaks which provide conditions under which turbulent spots are produced in the separated shear layer, grow, and then merge to form a turbulent boundary layer. The results allow identification of the structure of the instability mechanism and the characteristic structure of the resultant turbulent spots. Recovery of the reattached turbulent boundary layer is then examined for both cases. The large-scale flow structures associated with transition are noted to remain coherent far downstream of reattachment, delaying recovery of the turbulent boundary layer to an equilibrium state.

Alternatives to Kelvin-Helmholtz Instabilities to Control Separation Bubbles

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Simens ◽  
Javier Jime´nez
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Adverse Pressure Gradient ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Unsteady Separation ◽  
Separation Bubbles ◽  
Frequency Regime

We study the control of two-dimensional laminar separation bubbles on a flat plate at low Reynolds numbers, using two-dimensional DNS. A range of steady separation bubbles is obtained varying the pressure gradient. They are forced by a zero-mass flow, oscillatory wall blowing with different perturbation amplitudes and frequencies. The reduction in bubble length as a function of frequency has two minima for sufficient high amplitudes. One of them is related to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability of the separated boundary layer, while the other, most effective one, is here denoted as the low-frequency regime. In this regime large vortices are created which are not a consequence of an instability of the original bubble. On the contrary the forcing creates an unsteady separation bubble which evolves into a large vortex. These vortices have large radii and attach to the wall due to their self-induced pressure field while convecting across the adverse pressure gradient zone. Scaling relations for the effect of the forcing are proposed and tested.

LP Turbine Laminar Separation With Actuated Transition: DNS, Experiment and Fluidic Oscillator CFD

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Ries ◽  
Frederick Mohr ◽  
Jenny Baumann ◽  
Martin Rose ◽  
Ulrich Rist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Experimental Simulation ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Separation Bubbles ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Lp Turbine ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubbles

Laminar separation bubbles form on the back surfaces of aero-engine LP turbine blades. In recent years significant weight and cost reductions and performance improvements have been achieved through a better understanding of the behavior of such separation bubbles. A project is underway at the Universita¨t Stuttgart to study a possible technique to suppress laminar separation bubbles using actuated transition. This paper reports on DNS results with and without actuation for different frequencies, amplitudes and Reynolds numbers, revealing the nature of the transitional process. Early results from an experimental simulation are included. In addition numerical simulations of fluidic oscillators which are capable to provide the required frequencies at a size which would fit into an LP turbine are presented.

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