Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Incompressible boundary layer”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2

Incompressible boundary-layer stability analysis of LFC experimental data for sub-critical Mach numbers

An incompressible boundary-layer stability analysis of Laminar Flow Control (LFC) experimental data was completed and the results are presented. This analysis was undertaken for three reasons: to study laminar boundary-layer stability on a modern swept LFC airfoil; to calculate incompressible design limits of linear stability theory as applied to a modern airfoil at high subsonic speeds; and to verify the use of linear stability theory as a design tool. The experimental data were taken from the slotted LFC experiment recently completed in the NASA Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel. Linear stability theory was applied and the results were compared with transition data to arrive at correlated n-factors. Results of the analysis showed that for the configuration and cases studied, Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) amplification was the dominating disturbance influencing transition. For these cases, incompressible linear stability theory correlated with an n-factor for TS waves of approximately 10 at transition. The n-factor method correlated rather consistently to this value despite a number of non-ideal conditions which indicates the method is useful as a design tool for advanced laminar flow airfoils.

Berry, S. A.↗

Solutions for incompressible separated boundary layers including viscous-inviscid interaction

Numerical solutions are presented for the laminar and turbulent boundary-layer equations for incompressible flows with separation and reattachment. The separation angularity is avoided by using an inverse technique in which the displacement thickness is prescribed and the pressure is deduced from the resulting solution. The turbulent results appear qualitatively correct despite the use of a two-layer eddy-viscosity model which is generally assumed appropriate only for mild-pressure-gradient flows. A new viscous-inviscid interaction technique is presented in which the inviscid flow is solved inversely by prescribing the pressure from the boundary-layer solution and deducing the new displacement thickness from the solution of a Cauchy integral. Calculations are presented using this interaction procedure for a laminar flow in which separation and reattachment occur on a solid surface.

Carter, J. E.↗

Experimental measurements of large scale structures in an incompressible turbulent boundary layer using correlated X-probes

Hot-wire anemometry measurements in an incompressible turbulent boundary-layer flow over a flat plate, at zero pressure gradient were made using two X-probes simultaneously. The over seven meters long flat plate installed within the wind tunnel generated an approximately 20-cm thick boundary layer, and R(theta) of about 4,000. The mean velocity and turbulence intensity data very close to the wall were measured with a single-wire. Space-time velocity fluctuation and shear-product correlation measurements enabled the calculation of large-scale structure convection velocity, inclination-angle to the wall, and spatial extent in space. The shear-product correlation results are reported for the first time.

Strataridakis, Constantine J.↗

Study of the development of natural instabilities in a laminar boundary layer in incompressible flow

Natural instabilities which are created in a laminar boundary layer and which consist of intermittent wave trains were studied. The spectral analysis of these fluctuations makes it possible to localize them in terms of frequency and to isolate their spectrum of amplitude modulation. The variation in terms of abscissa value and ordinate value of these instabilities is compared with the results derived from the solution of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation.

Burnel, S.↗

Approximate method of integration of laminar boundary layer in incompressible fluid

A method is given for the approximate solution of the equations of the two-dimensional laminar boundary layer in an incompressible fluid. The method is based on the use of a system of equations of successive moments that is easily solved for simple supplementary assumptions. The solution obtained is given in closed form by simple formulas and is claimed to be no less accurate than the complicated solutions previously obtained, which were based on the use of special classes of flows.

BOUNDARY LAYER - WING SECTIONS↗

Experimental analysis and computation of the onset and development of the boundary layer transition

The transition of an incompressible boundary layer, with zero pressure gradient and low free-stream turbulence is studied. Mean velocity, turbulence and Reynolds shear stress profiles are presented. The development of the Tollmien-Schlichting waves is clearly shown until the turbulent spots appear. The intermittency phenomenon is studied by conditional sampling of the hotwire signal. The comparison with calculation results obtained by resolution of a set of transport equations shows a good agreement for the mean characteristics of the flow; discrepancies observed for the turbulent quantities evolution are due to the intermittency phenomenon.

Arnal, D.↗

The influence of free-stream turbulence on separation of turbulent boundary layers in incompressible, two-dimensional flow

Experiments were conducted to determine if free-stream turbulence scale affects separation of turbulent boundary layers. In consideration of possible interrelation between scale and intensity of turbulence, the latter characteristic also was varied and its role was evaluated. Flow over a 2-dimensional airfoil in a subsonic wind tunnel was studied with the aid of hot-wire anemometry, liquid-film flow visualization, a Preston tube, and static pressure measurements. Profiles of velocity, relative turbulence intensity, and integral scale in the boundary layer were measured. Detachment boundary was determined for various angles of attack and free-stream turbulence. The free-stream turbulence intensity and scale were found to spread into the entire turbulent boundary layer, but the effect decreased as the airfoil surface was approached. When the changes in stream turbulence were such that the boundary layer velocity profiles were unchanged, detachment location was not significantly affected by the variations of intensity and scale. Pressure distribution remained the key factor in determining detachment location.

Potter, J. Leith↗

A general integral form of the boundary-layer equation for incompressible flow with an application to the calculation of the separation point of turbulent boundary layers

A general integral form of the boundary-layer equation, valid for either laminar or turbulent incompressible boundary-layer flow, is derived. By using the experimental finding that all velocity profiles of the turbulent boundary layer form essentially a single-parameter family, the general equation is changed to an equation for the space rate of change of the velocity-profile shape parameter. The lack of precise knowledge concerning the surface shear and the distribution of the shearing stress across turbulent boundary layers prevented the attainment of a reliable method for calculating the behavior of turbulent boundary layers.

Tetervin, Neal↗

Inverse solutions for laminar boundary-layer flows with separation and reattachment

Numerical solutions of the laminar, incompressible boundary layer equations are presented for flows involving separation and reattachment. Regular solutions are obtained with an inverse approach in which either the displacement thickness or the skin friction is specified; the pressure is deduced from the solution. A vorticity-stream-function formulation of the boundary layer equations is used to eliminate the unknown pressure. Solutions of the resulting finite difference equations, in which the flow direction is taken into account, are obtained by several global iteration schemes which are stable and have unconditional diagonal dominance. Results are compared with Klineberg and Steger's separated boundary layer calculations, and with Briley's solution of Navier-Stokes equations for a separated region. In addition, an approximate technique is presented in which the streamwise convection of vorticity is set equal to zero in the reversed flow region; such a technique results in a quick forward marching procedure for separated flows.

Carter, J. E.↗

Longitudinal curvature and displacement speed effects on incompressible laminar boundary layers.

The title problem is considered for the case of flow past a circular cylinder placed normal to a uniform mainstream with Reynolds numbers from 40 to 200. Implicit finite difference numerical solutions are obtained for a set of boundary-layer equations that account for the second order effects associated with surface curvature and displacement speed. It was found that both of these contributors have a significant influence on the internal structure of the viscous region and that an accurate estimate of the surface pressure distribution is essential for estimating the surface shear stress.

Werle, M. J.↗

Computation of turbulent boundary layers on curved surfaces, 1 June 1975 - 31 January 1976

An accurate method was developed for predicting effects of streamline curvature and coordinate system rotation on turbulent boundary layers. A new two-equation model of turbulence was developed which serves as the basis of the study. In developing the new model, physical reasoning is combined with singular perturbation methods to develop a rational, physically-based set of equations which are, on the one hand, as accurate as mixing-length theory for equilibrium boundary layers and, on the other hand, suitable for computing effects of curvature and rotation. The equations are solved numerically for several boundary layer flows over plane and curved surfaces. For incompressible boundary layers, results of the computations are generally within 10% of corresponding experimental data. Somewhat larger discrepancies are noted for compressible applications.

Wilcox, D. C.↗

Wall region of a relaxing three-dimensional incompressible turbulent boundary layer

A three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer relaxing behind a transverse hump (shaped as a 30-deg swept 5-ft chord wing-type model) was studied in a low-speed wind tunnel. Data obtained with hot-wire probes showed that the apparent dimensionless velocity profiles in the viscous sublayer prevail universally; evidence for wall similarity in the relaxing flow field was confirmed in the form of a log law. An unusual region of slightly decreasing cross-flow angle was found in collateral regions, and a near-wall noncollateral flow was posited. Streamwise relaxation of the mean flow field was also investigated.

Hebbar, K. S.↗