P. H. Alfredsson

Experiments in a boundary layer subjected to free stream turbulence. Part 1. Boundary layer structure and receptivity

The modification of the mean and fluctuating characteristics of a flat-plate boundary layer subjected to nearly isotropic free stream turbulence (FST) is studied experimentally using hot-wire anemometry. The study is focussed on the region upstream of the transition onset, where the fluctuations inside the boundary layer are dominated by elongated flow structures which grow downstream both in amplitude and length. Their downstream development and scaling are investigated and the results are compared with those obtained by previous authors. This allows some conclusions about the parameters which are relevant for the modelling of the transition process. The mechanisms underlying the transition process and the relative importance of the Tollmien–Schlichting wave instability in this flow are treated in an accompanying paper (part 2 of the present report).

Transition induced by free-stream turbulence

Free-stream turbulence (FST) is perhaps the most important source inducing by-pass transition in boundary layer flows. The present study describes the initial energy growth of streamwise-oriented d ...

Pressure statistics and their scaling in high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layers

Pressure fluctuations are an important ingredient in turbulence, e.g. in the pressure strain terms which redistribute turbulence among the different fluctuating velocity components. The variation o ...

Experiments in a boundary layer subjected to free stream turbulence. Part 2. The role of TS-waves in the transition process

The natural occurrence of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves has so far only been observed in boundary layers subjected to moderate levels of free stream turbulence (Tu<1 %), owing to the difficulty in detecting small-amplitude waves in highly perturbed boundary layers. By introducing controlled oscillations with a vibrating ribbon, it is possible to study small-amplitude waves using phase-selective filtering techniques. In the present work, the effect of TS-waves on the transition is studied at Tu=1.5%. It is demonstrated that TS-waves can exist and develop in a similar way as in an undisturbed boundary layer

On the disturbance growth in an asymptotic suction boundary layer

Both experimental and theoretical studies have beenconsidered on flat plate boundary layers as well as on wakesbehind porous cylinders. The main thread in this work iscontrol, which is applied passively and actively on boundarylayers in order to inhibit or postpone transition toturbulence; and actively through the cylinder surface in orderto effect the wakecharacteristics. An experimental set-up for the generation of the asymptoticsuction boundary layer (ASBL) has been constructed. This studyis the first, ever, that report a boundary layer flow ofconstant boundary layer thickness over a distance of 2 metres.Experimental measurements in the evolution region, from theBlasius boundary layer (BBL) to the ASBL, as well as in theASBL are in excellent agreement with boundary layer analysis.The stability of the ASBL has experimentally been tested, bothto Tollmien-Schlichting waves as well as to free streamturbulence (FST), for relatively low Reynolds numbers (Re). For the former disturbances good agreement is foundfor the streamwise amplitude profiles and the phase velocitywhen compared with linear spatial stability theory. However,the energy decay factor predicted by theory is slightlyoverestimated compared to the experimental findings. The latterdisturbances are known to engender streamwise elongated regionsof high and low speeds of fluid, denoted streaks, in a BBL.This type of spanwise structures have been shown to appear inthe ASBL as well, with the same spanwise wavelength as in theBBL, despite the fact that the boundary layer thickness issubstantially reduced in the ASBL case. The spanwise wavenumberof the optimal perturbation in the ASBL has been calculated andis β = 0.53, when normalized with the displacementthickness. The spanwise scale of the streaks decreases withincreasing turbulence intensity (Tu) and approaches the scale given by optimalperturbation theory. This has been shown for the BBL case aswell. The initial energy growth of FST induced disturbances hasexperimentally been found to grow linearly as Tu2Rexin the BBL, the transitional Reynolds numberto vary as Tu-2, and the intermittency function to have a relativelywell-defined distribution, valid for all Tu. The wake behind a porous cylinder subject to continuoussuction or blowing has been studied, where amongst other thingsthe Strouhal number (St) has been shown to increase strongly with suction,namely, up to 50% for a suction rate of 2.5% of the free streamvelocity. In contrast, blowing shows a decrease ofStof around 25% for a blowing rate of 5% of the freestream velocity in the considered Reynolds number range. Keywords:Laminar-turbulent transition, asymptoticsuction boundary layer, free stream turbulence,Tollmien-Schlichting wave, stability, flow control, cylinderwake.

Experiments on localized disturbances in a flat plate boundary layer. Part 1. The receptivity and evolution of a localized free stream disturbance

Abstract The receptivity of a laminar boundary layer to free stream disturbances has been experimentally investigated through the introduction of deterministic localized disturbances upstream of a flat plate mounted in a wind tunnel. Hot-wire measurements indicate that the spanwise gradient of the normal velocity component (and hence the streamwise vorticity) plays an essential role in the transfer of disturbance energy into the boundary layer. Inside the laminar boundary layer the disturbances were found to give rise to the formation of longitudinal structures of alternating high and low streamwise velocity. Similar streaky structures exist in laminar boundary layers exposed to free stream turbulence, in which the disturbance amplitude increases in linear proportion to the displacement thickness. In the present study the perturbation amplitude of the streaks was always decaying for the initial amplitudes used, in contrast to the growing fluctuations that are observed in the presence of free stream turbulence. This points out the importance of the continuous influence from the free stream turbulence along the boundary layer edge.

Experimental and theoretical stability investigations of plane liquid jets

The present investigation has been undertaken in order to better understand the development of free, plane liquid jets. Both the development of the basic laminar flow as well as its stability have ...

Experiments on localized disturbances in a flat plate boundary layer. Part 2. Interaction between localized disturbances and TS-waves

Abstract Previous studies on boundary layer transition at moderate levels of free stream turbulence (FST) have shown that the transition process can be promoted by the introduction of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves. In the present work the interaction between localized boundary layer disturbances and controlled TS-waves is studied experimentally. The localized disturbances are generated either from a controlled free stream perturbation, or by means of suction or injection through a slot in the flat plate surface. Both methods result in boundary layer disturbances dominated by elongated streamwise streaks of high and low velocity in the streamwise component. A strong interaction is observed preferably for high frequency TS-waves, which are damped when generated separately, and the interaction starts as a local amplification of a wide band of low-frequency oblique waves. The later stages of the transition process can be identified as a non-linear interaction between the oblique structures, leading to regeneration of new and stronger streamwise streaks.

Laminar-Turbulent Transition at a High Level of a Free Stream Turbulence

Laminar-turbulent transition problem is one of the most significant and have not solved problem in fluid mechanics. The transition phenomenon investigation is important in both fundamental and application planes, in particular for controlling the boundary layer for drag reduction at vehicle elements, turbine blades etc.

Time-resolved measurements with a vortex flowmeter in a pulsating turbulent flow using wavelet analysis

Vortex flowmeters are commonly employed in technical applications and are obtainable in a variety of commercially available types. However their robustness and accuracy can easily be impaired by environmental conditions, such as inflow disturbances and/or pulsating conditions. Various post-processing techniques of the vortex signal have been used, but all of these methods are so far targeted on obtaining an improved estimate of the time-averaged bulk velocity. Here, on the other hand, we propose, based on wavelet analysis, a straightforward way to utilize the signal from a vortex shedder to extract the time-resolved and thereby the phase-averaged velocity under pulsatile flow conditions. The method was verified with hot-wire and laser Doppler velocimetry measurements.