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At least 217 records · Page 12

Measurements of the Free-Stream Fluctuations above a Turbulent Boundary Layer

In this paper an investigation of the velocity fluctuations in the free stream above an incompressible turbulent boundary layer developing at constant pressure is described. It is assumed that the fluctuations receive contributions from three statistically independent sources: (1) one-dimensional unsteadiness, (2) free-stream turbulence, and (3) the irrotational motion induced by the turbulent boundary layer. Measurements were made in a wind tunnel with a root-mean-square level of the axial velocity fluctuations of about 0.2%. All three velocity components were measured using an X-wire probe. The unsteadiness was determined from the spanwise covariance of the axial velocity fluctuations, measured using two single-wire probes. The results show that it is possible to separate the contributions to the rms level of the velocity fluctuations without resorting to the dubious technique of high-pass filtering. This separation could be extended to the spectral densities of the contributions if measurements of sufficient accuracy were available.

Wood, D. H.↗

Space-time correlation measurements in a compressible turbulent boundary layer

Single and dual hot-wire probes have been used to accomplish a first look at the large-eddy structure of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer. The investigation was performed in an axisymmetric turbulent boundary layer in the Ames High Reynolds Number wind tunnel. Freestream Mach number was 2.97, the boundary layer was approximately 1.2 cm thick, and Reynolds number = 15,000. Quantities measured were streamwise turbulence intensity and higher order statistics of mass-flow fluctuations, and space-time correlations of instantaneous streamwise velocity at two locations. Conditional sampling of the hot-wire signals was performed to detect the passage and describe the character of the large turbulent eddies. Results indicate that the large scale structure in compressible turbulence is similar to that at low subsonic flow speeds except at the boundary layer edge, where the intermittency region is narrowed in compressible flow.

Robinson, S. K.↗

Split-Step Simulations to Assess the Effects of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Turbulence on the Dose Variability of N-Waves and Shaped Booms

The effects of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence on the loudness variability of a sonic boom N-wave and shaped boom are examined with split-step simulations. The shaped boom is representative of a design iteration of the NASA X-59 aircraft. Inhomogeneous atmospheric boundary layer turbulence is generated in the computational domain by a Fourier synthesis method. The N-wave and shaped boom are propagated through turbulent fields representing eight different convection levels measured at the NASA Kennedy Space Center and the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. Probability density functions of the formation of caustic regions along the propagation direction are computed from the N-wave results, and a parameter to collapse the caustic PDFs that accounts for both fluctuation intensities and length scales is proposed. Statistical results concerning loudness metric variability are presented, and the standard deviations of several metrics are shown to collapse across different convection levels of turbulence for small nondimensional propagation distances. The loudness metric distributions are observed to be well approximated by a normal distribution for a given range of propagation distances, and become increasingly skewed as distance increases. A model function for the dose variability is proposed, and the function parameters are found to be related to the convection level of the turbulence. The model for the dose variability distribution is compared to simulation data that were not used to find the regression parameters of the model. At several nondimensional propagation distances, agreement is observed between the model and the simulation data. These results indicate that the model may be suitable for providing quick estimates of noise dose variability in the primary carpet region across a wide range of atmospheric boundary layer conditions.

Sonic boom↗

Simulation and Modeling of Cold-Wall Hypersonic Turbulent Boundary Layers on Flat Plate

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of flat-plate, zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers are presented for nominal freestream Mach numbers of 11 and 14 and a highly cooled wall (wall-to-recovery temperature of approximately 0.2). The flow conditions of the DNS are representative of the experimental data for a Mach 11.1 turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate that was tested at Calspan–University of Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC) and the operational conditions of the AEDC Hypervelocity Tunnel No. 9 at Mach 14. The wall shear stress and turbulent heat flux predicted by DNS show good comparisons with those measured at CUBRC and those modeled with a Baldwin-Lomax model. The generated DNS database extends the range of Reynolds numbers from those typical of previous DNS studies for hypersonic boundary-layer flows and confirms the validity of Morkovin’s hypothesis within the relatively broader range of Reynolds numbers considered in this study. A priori assessment of turbulent heat flux models with DNS data shows that the algebraic energy flux (AEF) formulation gives better predictions of the streamwise turbulent heat flux than the commonly used constant turbulent Prandtl number model while both models give similarly good predictions of the wall-normal turbulent heat flux. A posteriori assessment shows that the AEF model improves the prediction of the temperature profiles while keeping a good prediction of the velocity field.

Junji Huang↗

Acoustic Radiation from High-Speed Turbulent Boundary Layers in a Tunnel-Like Environment

Direct numerical simulation of acoustic radiation from a turbulent boundary layer in a cylindrical domain will be conducted under the flow conditions corresponding to those at the nozzle exit of the Boeing/AFOSR Mach-6 Quiet Tunnel (BAM6QT) operated under noisy-flow conditions with a total pressure p(sub t) of 225 kPa and a total temperature of T(sub t) equal to 430 K. Simulations of acoustic radiation from a turbulent boundary layer over a flat surface are used as a reference configuration to illustrate the effects of the cylindrical enclosure. A detailed analysis of acoustic freestream disturbances in the cylindrical domain will be reported in the final paper along with a discussion pertaining to the significance of the flat-plate acoustic simulations and guidelines concerning the modeling of the effects of an axisymmetric tunnel wall on the noise field.

Duan, Lian↗

Measurements of Skin Friction of the Compressible Turbulent Boundary Layer on a Cone with Foreign Gas Injection

Measurements of average skin friction of the turbulent boundary layer have been made on a 15deg total included angle cone with foreign gas injection. Measurements of total skin-friction drag were obtained at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.3, 0.7, 3.5, and 4.7 and within a Reynolds number range from 0.9 x 10(exp 6) to 5.9 x 10(exp 6) with injection of helium, air, and Freon-12 (CCl2F2) through the porous wall. Substantial reductions in skin friction are realized with gas injection within the range of Mach numbers of this test. The relative reduction in skin friction is in accordance with theory-that is, the light gases are most effective when compared on a mass flow basis. There is a marked effect of Mach number on the reduction of average skin friction; this effect is not shown by the available theories. Limited transition location measurements indicate that the boundary layer does not fully trip with gas injection but that the transition point approaches a forward limit with increasing injection. The variation of the skin-friction coefficient, for the lower injection rates with natural transition, is dependent on the flow Reynolds number and type of injected gas; and at the high injection rates the skin friction is in fair agreement with the turbulent boundary layer results.

Pappas, Constantine C.↗

Turbulent boundary layer over solid and porous surfaces with small roughness

The turbulent boundary layer over a smooth, solid wall is examined along with a sandpaper-roughened, solid wall, and a porous wall. Suitable results are obtained with the smooth, solid wall for the Law of the Wall, the Defect Law, and the axial and turbulence intensities. The logarithmic portion of the Wall Law is shifted in the sandpaper-roughened, solid wall and an increase in the normal turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress is observed. An increase in the local skin friction values and all the turbulence values is found with the porous wall. The influence of a slightly rough, porous wall of sintered metal on the boundary layer is compared with a solid sandpaper-roughened wall in the same nominal K(+) range.

Kong, F. Y.↗

Measurements of time-dependent boundary layer turbulence in an oscillating flow

Changes in the time-dependent boundary-layer turbulence in an oscillating flow were investigated using the oscillating-flow facility described by Cook et al. (1985). Hot wire measurements were made across the boundary layer for frequencies ranging from 4 to 21 Hz at various positions from the boundary layer origin and with different amplitudes of velocity oscillation. The results clearly demonstrate that the turbulence level is influenced by the imposed oscillation. The variation of the turbulence level is not predicted well by the variation in boundary-layer thickness alone, indicating that the interaction between the imposed oscillation and the turbulence structure is more complex. It is suggested that turbulence models developed for steady flow may not be adequate for periodic turbulent flows.

Cook, William J.↗

The effects of anisotropic free-stream turbulence on turbulent boundary layer behavior

The effects of near-isotropic and highly anisotropic free-stream turbulence on mean flow properties of the turbulence structure of turbulent boundary layers in a near zero pressure gradient flow has been experimentally evaluated. Turbulence levels vary from 0.5% to 8.0% and the momentum thickness Reynolds number varies from 800 to 1100. The results indicate that the effects of free-stream turbulence on the classical boundary layer properties for near-isotropic turbulence which have been published by other investigators are similar to the case of highly anisotropic turbulence fields, while the effects of free-stream turbulence on the properties of the turbulent structure within the boundary layer for the case of near-isotropic turbulence are quite different compared to the highly anisotropic case.

Liang-Wei, F.↗

Calculation of eddy viscosity in a compressible turbulent boundary layer with mass injection and chemical reaction, volume 1

The turbulent kinetic energy equation is coupled with boundary layer equations to solve the characteristics of compressible turbulent boundary layers with mass injection and combustion. The Reynolds stress is related to the turbulent kinetic energy using the Prandtl-Wieghardt formulation. When a lean mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen is injected through a porous plate into the subsonic turbulent boundary layer of air flow and ignited by external means, the turbulent kinetic energy increases twice as much as that of noncombusting flow with the same mass injection rate of nitrogen. The magnitudes of eddy viscosity between combusting and noncombusting flows with injection, however, are almost the same due to temperature effects, while the distributions are different. The velocity profiles are significantly affected by combustion; that is, combustion alters the velocity profile as if the mass injection rate is increased, reducing the skin-friction as a result of a smaller velocity gradient at the wall. If pure hydrogen as a transpiration coolant is injected into a rocket nozzle boundary layer flow of combustion products, the temperature drops significantly across the boundary layer due to the high heat capacity of hydrogen. At a certain distance from the wall, hydrogen reacts with the combustion products, liberating an extensive amount of heat. The resulting large increase in temperature reduces the eddy viscosity in this region.

Omori, S.↗

On the Coupling Between a Supersonic Turbulent Boundary Layer and a Flexible Structure

A mathematical model and a computer code have been developed to fully couple the vibration of an aircraft fuselage panel to the surrounding flow field, turbulent boundary layer and acoustic fluid. The turbulent boundary layer model is derived using a triple decomposition of the flow variables and applying a conditional averaging to the resulting equations. Linearized panel and acoustic equations are used. Results from this model are in good agreement with existing experimental and numerical data. It is shown that in the supersonic regime, full coupling of the flexible panel leads to lower response and radiation from the panel. This is believed to be due to an increase in acoustic damping on the panel in this regime. Increasing the Mach number increases the acoustic damping, which is in agreement with earlier work.

Frendi, Abdelkader↗

Calculation of laminar and turbulent boundary layers for two-dimensional time-dependent flows

A general method for computing laminar and turbulent boundary layers for two-dimensional time-dependent flows is presented. The method uses an eddy-viscosity formulation to model the Reynolds shear-stress term and a very efficient numerical method to solve the governing equations. The model was applied to steady two-dimensional and three-dimensional flows and was shown to give good results. A discussion of the numerical method and the results obtained by the present method for both laminar and turbulent flows are discussed. Based on these results, the method is efficient and suitable for solving time-dependent laminar and turbulent boundary layers.

Cebeci, T.↗

Effects of free-stream turbulence on turbulent boundary layers with mild adverse pressure gradients

The influence of near isotropic free-stream turbulence on the shape factors and skin friction coefficients of turbulent boundary layers is presented for the cases of zero and mild adverse pressure gradients. With free-stream turbulence, improved fluid mixing occurs in boundary layers with adverse pressure gradients relative to the zero pressure gradient condition, with the same free-stream turbulence intensity and length scale. Stronger boundary layers with lower shape factors occur as a result of a lower ratio of the integral scale of turbulence to the boundary layer thickness, and to vortex stretching of the turbulent eddies in the free-stream, both of which act to improve the transmission of momentum from the free-stream to the boundary layers.

Hoffmann, J. A.↗

The influence of free-stream turbulence on turbulent boundary layers with mild adverse pressure gradients

The influence of near isotropic free-stream turbulence on the shape factors and skin friction coefficients of turbulent boundary layers is presented for the cases of zero and mild adverse pressure gradients. With free-stream turbulence, improved fluid mixing occurs in boundary layers with adverse pressure gradients relative to the zero pressure gradient condition, with the same free-stream turbulence intensity and length scale. Stronger boundary layers with lower shape factors occur as a result of a lower ratio of the integral scale of turbulence to the boundary layer thickness, and to vortex stretching of the turbulent eddies in the free-stream, both of which act to improve the transmission of momentum from the free-stream to the boundary layers.

Hoffmann, J. A.↗

Implicit Large-Eddy Simulations of Zero-Pressure Gradient, Turbulent Boundary Layer

A set of direct simulations of zero-pressure gradient, turbulent boundary layer flows are conducted using various span widths (62-630 wall units), to document their influence on the generated turbulence. The FDL3DI code that solves compressible Navier-Stokes equations using high-order compact-difference scheme and filter, with the standard recycling/rescaling method of turbulence generation, is used. Results are analyzed at two different Re values (500 and 1,400), and compared with spectral DNS data. They show that a minimum span width is required for the mere initiation of numerical turbulence. Narrower domains ((is) less than 100 w.u.) result in relaminarization. Wider spans ((is) greater than 600 w.u.) are required for the turbulent statistics to match reference DNS. The upper-wall boundary condition for this setup spawns marginal deviations in the mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles, particularly in the buffer region.

Turblent boundary layer↗

Numerical Study of Pressure Fluctuations due to High-Speed Turbulent Boundary Layers

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are used to examine the pressure fluctuations generated by fully developed turbulence in supersonic turbulent boundary layers with an emphasis on both pressure fluctuations at the wall and the acoustic fluctuations radiated into the freestream. The wall and freestream pressure fields are first analyzed for a zero pressure gradient boundary layer with Mach 2.5 and Reynolds number based on momentum thickness of approximately 2835. The single and multi-point statistics reported include the wall pressure fluctuation intensities, frequency spectra, space-time correlations, and convection velocities. Single and multi-point statistics of surface pressure fluctuations show good agreement with measured data and previously published simulations of turbulent boundary layers under similar flow conditions. Spectral analysis shows that the acoustic fluctuations outside the boundary layer region have much lower energy content within the high-frequency region. The space-time correlations reflect the convective nature of the pressure field both at the wall and in the freestream, which is characterized by the downstream propagation of pressure-carrying eddies. Relative to those at the wall, the pressure-carrying eddies associated with the freestream signal are larger and convect at a significantly lower speed. The preliminary DNS results of a Mach 6 boundary layer show that the pressure rms in the freestream region is significantly higher than that of the lower Mach number case.

Duan, Lian↗