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Results for “Turbulent 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.

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At least 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

The structure and development of streamwise vortex arrays embedded in a turbulent boundary layer

An investigation of the structure and development of streamwise vortices embedded in a turbulent boundary layer was conducted. The vortices were generated by a single spanwise row of rectangular vortex generator blades. A single embedded vortex was examined, as well as arrays of embedded counter rotating vortices produced by equally spaced vortex generators. Measurements of the secondary velocity field in the crossplane provided the basis for characterization of vortex structure. Vortex structure was characterized by four descriptors. The center of each vortex core was located at the spanwise and normal position of peak streamwise vorticity. Vortex concentration was characterized by the magnitude of the peak streamwise vorticity, and the vortex strength by its circulation. Measurements of the secondary velocity field were conducted at two crossplane locations to examine the streamwise development of the vortex arrays. Large initial spacings of the vortex generators produced pairs of strong vortices which tended to move away from the wall region while smaller spacings produced tight arrays of weak vortices close to the wall. A model of vortex interaction and development is constructed using the experimental results. The model is based on the structure of the Oseen Vortex. Vortex trajectories are modelled by including the convective effects of neighbors.

Wendt, Bruce J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer near a plane of symmetry

The asymptotic structure of the three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer near a plane of symmetry is considered in the limit of large Reynolds number. A self-consistent two-layer structure is shown to exist wherein the streamwise velocity is brought to rest through an outer defect layer and an inner wall layer in a manner similar to that in two-dimensional boundary layers. The cross-stream velocity distribution is more complex and two terms in the asymptotic expansion are required to yield a complete profile which is shown to exhibit a logarithmic region. The flow in the inner wall layer is demonstrated to be collateral to leading order; pressure-gradient effects are formally of higher order but can cause the velocity profile to skew substantially near the wall at the large but finite Reynolds numbers encountered in practice. The governing set of ordinary differential equations describing a self-similar flow is derived. The calculated numerical solutions of these equations are matched asymptotically to an inner wall-layer solution and the results show trends that are consistent with experimental observations.

Degani, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Skin friction and velocity profile family for compressible turbulent boundary layers

The paper presents a general approach to constructing mean velocity profiles for compressible turbulent boundary layers with isothermal or adiabatic walls. The theory is based on a density-weighted transformation that allows the extension of the incompressible similarity laws of the wall to the compressible regions. The velocity profile family is compared to a range of experimental data, and excellent agreement is obtained. A self-consistent skin friction law, which satisfies the proposed velocity profile family, is derived and compared with the well-known Van Driest II theory for boundary layers in zero pressure gradient. The results are found to be at least as good as those obtained by using the Van Driest II transformation.

Huang, P. G.↗
DOE OSTI2022

DNS Of the ignition process of n-heptane/air premixed combustion with low-temperature chemistry in turbulent boundary layer

In the present work, three-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) of n-heptane/air premixed combustion in turbulent boundary layer was performed to explore the near-wall ignition process with low -temperature chemistry. A reduced chemical mechanism with 58 species and 387 elementary reactions for n-heptane combustion was used in the DNS. The general characteristics of the ignition process near the wall were examined. Here, it was found that low-temperature ignition (LTI) dominates the upstream region, and high -temperature ignition (HTI) appears in the downstream region. The ignition process and the low-temperature chemistry pathways of the DNS are compared with those of a corresponding laminar case. It was found that the ignition process was affected by turbulence, which results in thickened reaction zones. However, the carbon flow analysis of low-temperature chemistry showed that turbulence rarely affects the low-temperature chemistry pathway. The combustion modes of various regions were scrutinized based on the budget terms of species transport equations and the chemical explosion mode analysis (CEMA). It was shown that the reaction term of RO 2 is significant during the LTI process of the upstream region, and the reaction terms of CH 2 O and CO 2 are evident in the downstream region, indicating the occurrence of HTI. It was also shown that auto-ignition is dominant in the upstream region. With increasing streamwise distance, the contribution of flame propagation increases, which takes over that of auto-ignition in the near-wall region.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1977

Supersonic separated turbulent boundary - layer over a wavy wall

A prediction method is developed for calculating distributions of surface heating rates, pressure and skin friction over a wavy wall in a two-dimensional supersonic flow. Of particular interest is the flow of thick turbulent boundary layers. The surface geometry and the flow conditions considered are such that there exists a strong interaction between the viscous and inviscid flow. First, using the interacting turbulent boundary layer equations, the problem is formulated in physical coordinates and then a reformulation of the governing equations in terms of Levy-Lees variables is given. Next, a numerical scheme for solving interacting boundary layer equations is adapted. A number of modifications which led to the improvement of the numerical algorithm are discussed. Finally, results are presented for flow over a train of up to six waves at various flow conditions.

Polak, A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Calculation of unsteady two-dimensional laminar and turbulent boundary layers with fluctuations in external velocity

A numerical method is proposed for calculating unsteady two-dimensional laminar and turbulent boundary layers with allowance for fluctuations in external flow velocity. An eddy-viscosity formulation is used to model the Reynolds shear stress term appropriate to turbulent flow, and the governing boundary layer equations are solved by a two-point finite-difference scheme. For illustration, the method is applied to the calculation of the phase angles between the shear stress at the wall and an oscillating external laminar boundary layer on a flat plate. The effectiveness of the method (for engineering purposes) is demonstrated by comparing calculations for turbulent flows with experimental data.

Cebeci, T.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Numerical investigation of supersonic turbulent boundary layers with high wall temperature

A direct numerical approach has been developed to simulate supersonic turbulent boundary layers. The mean flow quantities are obtained by solving the parabolized Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (globally). Fluctuating quantities are computed locally with a temporal direct numerical simulation approach, in which nonparallel effects of boundary layers are partially modeled. Preliminary numerical results obtained at the free-stream Mach numbers 3, 4.5, and 6 with hot-wall conditions are presented. Approximately 5 million grid points are used in all three cases. The numerical results indicate that compressibility effects on turbulent kinetic energy, in terms of dilatational dissipation and pressure-dilatation correlation, are small. Due to the hot-wall conditions the results show significant low Reynolds number effects and large streamwise streaks. Further simulations with a bigger computational box or a cold-wall condition are desirable.

Guo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Effect of low-frequency tones and turbulent-boundary-layer noise on annoyance

A laboratory study was conducted to examine annoyance to combinations of low-frequency tones and turbulent-boundary-layer noise. A total of 240 sounds, containing tones in the range from 80 to 315 Hz, were rated by 108 test subjects in an anechoic chamber. The results indicated that tone penalties (defines as the failure of a noise metric to account for the presence of pure tones) are highly dependent on the choice of noise metric. A-weighted sound pressure level underpredicted annoyance by as much as the equivalent of 5 db and unweighted sound pressure level overpredicted by as much as the equivalent of db. Tone penalties were observed to be dependent on the shape of the turbulent boundary-layer noise spectrum.

Shepherd, K. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A New View on Origin, Role and Manipulation of Large Scales in Turbulent Boundary Layers

The potential of passive 'manipulators' for altering the large scale turbulent structures in boundary layers was investigated. Utilizing smoke wire visualization and multisensor probes, the experiment verified that the outer scales could be suppressed by simple arrangements of parallel plates. As a result of suppressing the outer scales in turbulent layers, a decrease in the streamwise growth of the boundary layer thickness was achieved and was coupled with a 30 percent decrease in the local wall friction coefficient. After accounting for the drag on the manipulator plates, the net drag reduction reached a value of 20 percent within 55 boundary layer thicknesses downstream of the device. No evidence for the reoccurrence of the outer scales was present at this streamwise distance thereby suggesting that further reductions in the net drag are attainable. The frequency of occurrence of the wall events is simultaneously dependent on the two parameters, Re2 delta sub 2 and Re sub x. As a result of being able to independently control the inner and outer boundary layer characteristics with these manipulators, a different view of these layers emerged.

Corke, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Experimental and numerical study of a turbulent boundary layer with pressure gradients

Results are presented of an experimental and numerical study of a turbulent boundary layer with pressure gradients conducted using the recent 'fringe method' with its numerical advantages and good inflow quality. After an inflow transient good agreement is observed; the differences, of up to 13 percent, are discussed. Moderate deviations from the law of the wall are found in the velocity profiles of the simulation. They are fully correlated with the pressure gradient, are in fair quantitative agreement with the experimental results of Nagano et al. (1992), and are roughly the opposite of uncorrected mixing-length-model predictions. Large deviations from the wall scaling are observed for other quantities, notably for the turbulence dissipation rate. The a(1) structure parameter drops mildly in the upper layer with adverse pressure gradient.

Spalart, Philippe R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Random response of rectangular panels to the pressure field beneath a turbulent boundary layer in subsonic flows

The response of a rectangular panel under the excitation of a turbulent boundary layer with a zero longitudinal mean pressure gradient in a subsonic flow was studied in detail. The method of normal mode was used together with the technique of spectral analysis. Both simply supported and clamped edge conditions of a panel were considered, and the displacement power spectral density of the panel response was computed. The results for the clamped edge panel compare favorably with existing data. Charts of structural acceptance, which provide a framework for estimating the response of other rectangular panels, are presented, and the physical significances of structural acceptances discussed.

Chyu, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Glancing shock wave-turbulent boundary layer interaction with boundary layer suction

Tests conducted to ascertain the stagnation pressure and flow angularity profiles of a turbulent boundary layer subjected to boundary layer suction (BLS) as it crosses a glancing sidewall shock wave have determined that the boundary layer does not separate upon crossing the shock wave. Without BLS, the upstream influence of the shock wave-induced wall static pressure rise was extensive, of the order of four bloundary layer thicknesses; for the same case, with suction, the extent of upstream influence was 50 percent lower. In addition, flow angularities at the wall were found to be smaller with suction than without it.

Barnhart, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

An experimental investigation of a low Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer subject to an adverse pressure gradient

The evolution of a low Re(sub theta) turbulent boundary layer in an adverse pressure gradient (APG) is being studied for comparison with direct numerical simulations by Spalart. A short region of favorable pressure gradient (FPG) is applied first to establish a self preserving layer with Re(sub theta) equals approx. 600, which is a suitable initial condition for simulations. The APG is then applied rapidly such that beta equals approx. 2 at Re(sub theta) equals approx. 1500. The streamwise extent of the measurements exceeds the current capabilities of direct simulation so that the results should also serve as a useful data base for Reynolds averaged boundary layer prediction methods and in the future for direct simulation schemes as computer technology evolves.

Watmuff, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Computation of turbulent boundary layer flows with an algebraic stress turbulence model

An algebraic stress turbulence model is presented, characterized by the following: (1) the eddy viscosity expression is derived from the Reynolds stress turbulence model; (2) the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate equation is improved by including a production range time scale; and (3) the diffusion coefficients for turbulence equations are adjusted so that the kinetic energy profile extends further into the free stream region found in most experimental data. The turbulent flow equations were solved using a finite element method. Examples include: fully developed channel flow, fully developed pipe flow, flat plate boundary layer flow, plane jet exhausting into a moving stream, circular jet exhausting into a moving stream, and wall jet flow. Computational results compare favorably with experimental data for most of the examples considered. Significantly improved results were obtained for the plane jet flow, the circular jet flow, and the wall jet flow; whereas the remainder are comparable to those obtained by finite difference methods using the standard kappa-epsilon turbulence model. The latter seems to be promising with further improvement of the expression for the eddy viscosity coefficient.

Kim, Sang-Wook↗
NASA NTRS1987

Vortex unwinding in a turbulent boundary layer

The vortex unwinding method is used as a tool in performing vortex cancellation in a turbulent boundary layer. Sufficient reduction in the isotach variation was achieved to verify the usefulness of this technique, for the cases of both wall turbulence control and horseshoe vortex alleviation. More detailed measurements of vortex strength and position improve the optimization process and increase the amount of vortex unwinding.

Mcginley, Catherine B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Feasibility of generating an artificial burst in a turbulent boundary layer, phase 2

Various drag accounts for about half of the total drag on commercial aircraft at subsonic cruise conditions. Two avenues are available to achieve drag reduction: either laminar flow control or turbulence manipulation. The present research deals with the latter approach. The primary objective of Phase 2 research was to investigate experimentally the feasibility of substantially reducing the skin-friction drag in a turbulent boundary layer. The method combines the beneficial effects of suction and a longitudinally ribbed surface. At a sufficiently large spanwise separation, the streamwise grooves act as a nucleation site causing a focusing of low-speed streaks over the peaks. Suction is then applied intermittently through longitudinal slots located at selected locations along those peaks to obliterate the low-speed regions and to prevent bursting. Phase 2 research was divided into two tasks. In the first, selective suction from a single streamwise slot was used to eliminate either a single burst-like event or a periodic train of artificially generated bursts in laminar and turbulent boundary layers that develop on a flat plate towed in a water channel. The results indicate that equivalent values of the suction coefficient as low as 0.0006 were sufficient to eliminate the artificially generated bursts in a laminar boundary layer.

Gad-El-hak, Mohamed↗
NASA NTRS1996

Delay of Turbulent Boundary Layer Detachment by Mechanical Excitation: Application to Rearward-facing Ramp

A vane oscillating about a fixed point at the inlet to a two-dimensional 20 deg rearward-facing ramp proved effective in delaying the detachment of a turbulent boundary layer. Flow-field, surface static pressure, and smoke-wire flow visualization measurements were made. Surface pressure coefficient distributions revealed that two different effects occurred with axial distance along the ramp surface. The surface pressure coefficient varied as a complex function of the vane oscillation frequency and its trailing edge displacement amplitude; that is, it varied as a function of the vane oscillation frequency throughout the entire range of frequencies covered during the test, but it varied over only a limited range of the trailing edge displacement amplitudes covered.The complexity of these findings prompted a detailed investigation, the results of which revealed a combination of phenomena that explain qualitatively how the mechanically generated, periodic, sinusoidal perturbing signal produced by the oscillating vane reacts with the fluid flow to delay the detachment of a turbulent boundary layer experiencing transitory detachment.

McKinzie, Daniel J., Jr.↗