C. R. Smith

The characteristics of low-speed streaks in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer

Employing a high-speed video system and hydrogen bubble-wire flow visualization, the characteristics of the low-speed streaks which occur in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers have been examined for a Reynolds-number range of 740 [les ] Re θ

A study of hairpin vortices in a laminar boundary layer. Part 1. Hairpin vortices generated by a hemisphere protuberance

\overline{\lambda^{+}} \approx 100

The impact of a vortex ring on a wall

and remarkably similar probability distributions conforming to lognormal behaviour. Further studies show that streak spacing increases with distance from the wall owing to a merging and intermittency process which occurs for y + [simg ] 5. An additional observation is that, although low-speed streaks are not fixed in time and space, they demonstrate a tremendous persistence, often maintaining their integrity and reinforcing themselves for time periods up to an order of magnitude longer than the observed bursting times associated with wall region turbulence production. A mechanism for the formation of low-speed streaks is suggested which may explain both the observed merging behaviour and the streak persistence.

A study of hairpin vortices in a laminar boundary layer. Part 2. Hairpin vortices generated by fluid injection

It has been suggested that hairpin vortices may play a key role in developing and sustaining the turbulence process in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers. To examine this suggestion, a study was done of the hairpin vortices generated by the interaction of a hemisphere protuberancee within a developing laminar boundary layer. Under the proper conditions, hairpin vortices are shed extremely periodically, which allows detailed examination of their behaviour. Shedding characteristics of the hemispheres were determined using hot-film-anemometry techniques. The flow patterns created by the presence of the hairpin vortices have been documented using flow visualization and hot-film-anemometry techniques, and cross-compared with the patterns observed in the near-wall of a fully turbulent boundary layer. In general, it has been observed that many of the visual patterns observed in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer can also be observed in the wake of the hairpin-shedding hemisphere, which appears supportive of the importance of hairpin vortices in the near-wall turbulence production process. Furthermore, velocity measurements indicate the presence of strong inflexional profiles just downstream of the hairpin-vortex generation region which evolve into fuller profiles with downstream distance, eventually developing a remarkable similarity to a turbulent-boundary-layer velocity profile.It has been suggested that hairpin vortices may play a key role in developing and sustaining the turbulence process in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers. To examine this suggestion, a study was done of the hairpin vortices generated by the interaction of a hemisphere protuberancee within a developing laminar boundary layer. Under the proper conditions, hairpin vortices are shed extremely periodically, which allows detailed examination of their behaviour. Shedding characteristics of the hemispheres were determined using hot-film-anemometry techniques. The flow patterns created by the presence of the hairpin vortices have been documented using flow visualization and hot-film-anemometry techniques, and cross-compared with the patterns observed in the near-wall of a fully turbulent boundary layer. In general, it has been observed that many of the visual patterns observed in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer can also be observed in the wake of the hairpin-shedding hemisphere, which appears supportive of the importance of hairpin vortices in the near-wall turbulence production process. Furthermore, velocity measurements indicate the presence of strong inflexional profiles just downstream of the hairpin-vortex generation region which evolve into fuller profiles with downstream distance, eventually developing a remarkable similarity to a turbulent-boundary-layer velocity profile.

The generation and regeneration of single hairpin vortices

The flow induced by a vortex ring approaching a plane wall on a trajectory normal to the wall is investigated for an incompressible fluid which is otherwise stagnant. The detailed characteristics of the interaction of the ring with the flow near the surface have been observed experimentally for a wide variety of laminar rings, using dye in water to visualize the flow in the ring as well as near the plane surface. Numerical solutions are obtained for the trajectory of the ring as well as for the unsteady boundary-layer flow that develops on the wall. The experimental and theoretical results show that an unsteady separation develops in the boundary-layer flow, in the form of a secondary ring attached to the wall. A period of explosive boundary-layer growth then ensues and a strong viscous-inviscid interaction occurs in the form of the ejection of the secondary vortex ring from the boundary layer. The primary ring then interacts with the secondary ring and in some cases was observed to induce the formation of a third, tertiary, ring near the wall. The details of this process are investigated over a wide Reynolds number range. The results clearly show how one vortex ring can produce another, through an unsteady interaction with a viscous flow near the wall.

Image processing of hydrogen bubble flow visualization for determination of turbulence statistics and bursting characteristics

It has been suggested that hairpin vortices are a major sustaining flow structure involved in the perpetuation of turbulent boundary layers, although their origin within the boundary layer is unclear. One hypothesis is that hairpin structures are formed by the breakdown of the low-speed streak structures which develop adjacent to the surface beneath turbulent boundary layers. To examine this hypothesis, a water-channel study has been done which utilizes injection through surface slots in a flat plate to create artificial low-speed streak-type regions beneath a laminar boundary layer. Under appropriate conditions, these synthesized low-speed streaks develop a three-dimensional, shear-layer instability which breaks down to form a hairpin-vortex street. Employing both flow visualization and anemometry measurements, the characteristics of these hairpin structures and the parameters influencing their generation have been examined. The hairpin streets were determined to develop in a very periodic and repeatable manner within a definite range of flow parameters. Detailed flow patterns obtained using dye and hydrogen bubbles, both individually and collectively, indicate a remarkable similarity with previously observed patterns in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers. In addition, the development of the hairpin structures is observed to be quite sensitive to external forcing, as well as exhibiting a tendency for organized development of larger, more complex structures through a pairing-type process. Velocity measurements indicate the initial presence of strong inflexional profiles which evolve rapidly to velocity and turbulence-intensity profiles commensurate with those associated with turbulent boundary layers, but which do not exhibit the marked spreading associated with turbulence.

Use of flow visualization data to examine spatial- temporal velocity and burst-type characteristics in a turbulent boundary layer

The generation and growth of single hairpin vortices created by controlled surface fluid injection were examined experimentally within a laminar boundary layer over a range of Reynolds numbers. Flow visualization, using both dye and hydrogen bubbles, was employed in conjunction with hot-film anemometry to investigate the growth characteristics and evolution of these single hairpin vortices. Hydrogen-bubble visualization results reveal that the passage of a hairpin vortex can give rise to a low-speed streak pattern adjacent to the surface, and a turbulent pocket-like pattern farther removed from the surface. When the displacement and injection Reynolds numbers exceed critical levels, regeneration processes occur, which result in the development of new hairpin-like vortices by both (i) lateral deformation of the vortex lines comprising the initial hairpin vortex and (ii) a process of vortex-surface interaction, which causes the ejection of surface fluid and subsequent hairpin formation by viscous-inviscid interactions. The combination of these processes results in both lateral and streamwise growth of the initial hairpin-vortex structure, yielding a symmetric turbulent-spot type of behaviour.

A Technique for Evaluation of Three-dimensional Behavior in Turbulent Boundary Layers Using Computer Augmented Hydrogen Bubble-wire Flow Visualization

A technique is described which employs automated image processing of hydrogen-bubble flow visualization pictures to establish local, instantaneous velocity profile information. Hydrogen bubble flow visualization sequences are recorded using a high-speed video system and then digitized, stored, and evaluated by a VAX 11/780 computer. Employing special smoothing and gradient detection algorithms, individual bubble-lines are computer identified, which allows local velocity profiles to be constructed using time-of-flight techniques. It is demonstrated how this techniques may be used to 1) determine local velocity behavior as a function of position and time, 2) evaluate time-averaged turbulence properties, and 3) correlate probe-type turbulent burst detection techniques with the corresponding visualization data.

Visualization of a mechanism for three-dimensional interaction and near-wall eruption

It is well known that turbulence production in turbulent boundary layers occurs in short, energetic bursts; however, the relationship between the results of pointwise burst detection techniques and the spatial flow structure associated with such burst-type events has not been clearly established. To address this point, a study using VITA detection of burst-type events was done which allows the direct comparison between flow visualisation results and quantitative, temporal velocity profile data for a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer. Using automated image processing of hydrogen-bubble flow visualisation pictures, temporal velocity profile data are established using a corrected time-of-flight technique for velocity extraction. Using the visualisation-derived data, spatial-temporal velocity-derived properties, as well as probe-type burst detection properties are established. In addition, temporal and ensemble-averaged burst-type characteristics are shown to be essentially identical to previous VITA-detected velocity probe results. The VITA approach is extended to establish the spatial extent of burst-type events and the ensemble-averaged spatial-temporal properties associated with VITA-based de-ensemble-averaged spatial-temporal properties associated with VITA-based detection. By use of a regionalised detection procedure, the types of burst-type patterns are categorised and compared with the associated visualisation sequences.

Boundary Layer Influence on the Unsteady Horseshoe Vortex Flow and Surface Heat Transfer

A system is described which allows the recreation of the three-dimensional motion and deformation of a single hydrogen bubble time-line in time and space. By digitally interfacing dualview video sequences of a bubble time-line with a computer-aided display system, the Lagrangian motion of the bubble-line can be displayed in any viewing perspective desired. The u and v velocity history of the bubble-line can be rapidly established and displayed for any spanwise location on the recreated pattern. The application of the system to the study of turbulent boundary layer structure in the near-wall region is demonstrated.