Laser-Doppler measurements of velocity distribution and reattachment length are reported downstream of a single backward-facing step mounted in a two-dimensional channel. Results are presented for laminar, transitional and turbulent flow of air in a Reynolds-number range of 70 < Re < 8000. The experimental results show that the various flow regimes are characterized by typical variations of the separation length with Reynolds number. The reported laser-Doppler measurements do not only yield the expected primary zone of recirculating flow attached to the backward-facing step but also show additional regions of flow separation downstream of the step and on both sides of the channel test section. These additional separation regions have not been previously reported in the literature.Although the high aspect ratio of the test section (1:36) ensured that the oncoming flow was fully developed and two-dimensional, the experiments showed that the flow downstream of the step only remained two-dimensional at low and high Reynolds numbers.The present study also included numerical predictions of backward-facing step flow. The two-dimensional steady differential equations for conservation of mass and momentum were solved. Results are reported and are compared with experiments for those Reynolds numbers for which the flow maintained its two-dimensionality in the experiments. Under these circumstances, good agreement between experimental and numerical results is obtained.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112083002839

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Backward-Facing Step Flow

Flow visualization and laser-Doppler anemometry have been used to provide a detailed description of the velocity characteristics of the asymmetric flows which form in symmetric, two-dimensional, plane, sudden-expansion geometries. The flow and geometry boundary conditions which give rise to asymmetric flow are indicated, and the reason for the phenomenon is shown to lie in disturbances generated at the edge of the expansion and amplified in the shear layers. The spectral distributions of the fluctuations in velocity are quantitatively related to the dimensions of the two unequal regions of flow recirculation. It is also shown that the intensity of fluctuating energy in these low Reynolds number flows can be larger than that in corresponding turbulent flows.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112078000026

Asymmetric flows and instabilities in symmetric ducts with sudden expansions

Flow visualization and laser-anemometry measurements are reported in the flow downstream of a plane 3: 1 symmetric expansion in a duct with an aspect ratio of 9·2: 1 downstream of the expansion. The flow was found to be markedly dependent on Reynolds number, and strongly three-dimensional even well away from the channel corners except at the lowest measurable velocities. The measurements at a Reynolds number of 56 indicated that the separation regions behind each step were of equal length. Symmetric velocity profiles existed from the expansion to a fully developed, parabolic profile far downstream, although there were substantial three-dimensional effects in the vicinity of the separation regions. The velocity profiles were in good agreement with those obtained by solving the two-dimensional momentum equation. At a Reynolds number of 114, the two separation regions were of different lengths, leading to asymmetric velocity profiles; three dimensional effects were much more pronounced. At a Reynolds number of 252, a third separation zone was found on one wall, downstream of the smaller of the two separation zones adjacent to the steps. As at the lower Reynolds numbers, the flow was very stable. At higher Reynolds numbers the flow became less stable and periodicity became increasingly important in the main stream; this was accompanied by a highly disturbed fluid motion in the separation zones, as the flow tended towards turbulence.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112074002035

Low Reynolds number flow over a plane symmetric sudden expansion

Turbulence models and their applications to the prediction of internal flows: a review

A numerical study of laminar incompressible flows in symmetric plane sudden expansions was carried out. Computations were performed for various Reynolds number and expansion ratios. The results revealed that the flow remains symmetric up to a certain Reynolds number depending on the expansion ratio, while asymmetries appear at higher Reynolds numbers. The computations indicated that the critical Reynolds number of the symmetry‐breaking bifurcation reduces when increasing the expansion ratio while the flow regains symmetry downstream of an initial channel length. The flow asymmetries were verified by comparing several discretization schemes up to fourth order of accuracy as well as various iterative solvers.

E. J. Roschke

Papers

Shear-Layer Flow Regimes and Wave Instabilities and Reattachment Lengths Downstream of an Abrupt Circular Channel Expansion