An Experimental Investigation of the Flow Structure of the Turbulent Boundary Layer

An Experimental Investigation of the Flow Structure of the Turbulent Boundary Layer
Author: Peter W. Runstadler
Publisher:
Total Pages: 326
Release: 1963
Genre: Boundary layer
ISBN:

A combination of visual and quantitative measurements is presented, providing a physical picture of the turbulent boundary layer flow structure on a flat plate. The flow structure is shown to consist of three zones, each zone has a one to one correspondence to the well known regions of the u+, y+ mean velocity profile. A wall layer region is shown to exist below y+ = 10. An apparently fully turbulent region exists corresponding to the logarithmic ''law of the wall'' and the ''buffer'' region. An intermittent zone appears to agree closely with the ''wake'' deviation region. An entirely new result of the investigation is the delineation of the structure of the wall layer region. This region is shown to contain a relatively regular structure of low and high velocity fluid streaks alternating in the span direction, together with the ejection of low momentum fluid into the outer flow. Correlations are given for the rate of ejection and the streak spacing. A qualitative description of other features of the wall layer region and the character of the remainder of the boundary layer flow structure is presented. (Author).

An Experimental Investigation of the Flow Structure of the Turbulent Boundary Layer

An Experimental Investigation of the Flow Structure of the Turbulent Boundary Layer
Author: P. W. Runstadler
Publisher:
Total Pages: 346
Release: 1963
Genre: Boundary layer
ISBN:

A combination of visual and quantitative measurements is presented, providing a physical picture of the turbulent boundary layer flow structure on a flat plate. The flow structure is shown to consist of three zones, each zone has a one to one correspondence to the well known regions of the u+, y+ mean velocity profile. A wall layer region is shown to exist below y+ = 10. An apparently fully turbulent region exists corresponding to the logarithmic ''law of the wall'' and the ''buffer'' region. An intermittent zone appears to agree closely with the ''wake'' deviation region. An entirely new result of the investigation is the delineation of the structure of the wall layer region. This region is shown to contain a relatively regular structure of low and high velocity fluid streaks alternating in the span direction, together with the ejection of low momentum fluid into the outer flow. Correlations are given for the rate of ejection and the streak spacing. A qualitative description of other features of the wall layer region and the character of the remainder of the boundary layer flow structure is presented. (Author).

Experimental Investigation of the Turbulence Production Mechanism in Boundary Layers

Experimental Investigation of the Turbulence Production Mechanism in Boundary Layers
Author: R. E. Falco
Publisher:
Total Pages: 41
Release: 1986
Genre:
ISBN:

Over the past year we have discovered the mechanism of production of the long streaks and a mechanism for creation of vortex ring-like typical eddies, and have demonstrated the occurrence of both within a real turbulent boundary layer. These aspects were the missing links needed to complete the conceptual structural model. This model de-emphasizes the importance of hairpin vortices in wall layer transport. However, experimental determination of the relative importance of each of the elements of the model in low Reynolds number layers is far from complete, and we know very little of the Reynolds number dependence or pressure gradient dependence of the model. What we have learned so far suggests several critical parameters that can be manipulated to control the production of turbulence and hence reduce drag. In the proposed research we want to focus on acquiring additional data to support the rational theory that has been formed so as to provide the basis for determining how much leverage we have in our efforts to control boundary layer turbulence.