Freestream

About: Freestream is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3428 publications have been published within this topic receiving 56147 citations.

Boundary-layer stability measurements in a hypersonic quiet tunnel

Abstract: Hypersonic boundary-layer measurements were conducted over a flared cone in a quiet wind tunnel. The flared cone was tested at a freestream unit Reynolds number of 2.82 x 10 6 /ft in a Mach 6 flow. This Reynolds number provided laminar-to-transitional flow over the model in a low-disturbance environment. Point measurements with a single hot wire using a novel constant voltage anemometry system were used to measure the boundary-layer disturbances. Surface temperature and schlieren measurements were also conducted to characterize the laminar-to-transitional state of the boundary layer and to identify instability modes. Results suggest that the second mode is the dominant mode of instability. The integrated growth rates of the second mode compared well with linear stability theory in the linear stability regime. Furthermore, the existence of higher harmonics of the fundamental suggests that nonlinear disturbances are not associated with high freestream disturbance levels.

Boundary layer receptivity to freestream turbulence

Abstract: Freestream turbulence of weak but adjustable intensity incident upon a flat plate test model induced Tollmien-Schichting (TS) waves and wave packets. These were studied using a newly-developed sensor by which the packets could be followed from a station nearly as far forward as the minimum critical Reynolds number to the onset of transition. Conclusions reached from these studies were: (1) weak freestream turbulence induced TS wave packets in a Blasius boundary-layer, (2) packets gained strength during propagation through expansion of lateral and longitudinal scales, and through an increase in peak amplitude, (3) the average wave strength at stations of observation was not related to the freestream velocity fluctuation in a linear manner, and (4) packets typically evolved into turbulent spots.

The Effect of High Freestream Turbulence on Film Cooling Effectiveness

Abstract: This study investigated the adiabatic wall cooling effectiveness of a single row of film cooling holes injecting into a turbulent flat plate boundary layer below a turbulent, zero pressure gradient free stream. Levels of free-stream turbulence (Tu) up to 17.4 percent were generated using a method that simulates conditions at a gas turbine combustor exit. Film cooling was injected from a single row of five 35 deg slant-hole injectors (length/diameter = 3.5, pitch/diameter = 3.0) at blowing ratios from 0.55 to 1.85 and at a nearly constant density ratio (coolant density/free-stream density) of 0.95. Film cooling effectiveness data are presented for Tu levels ranging from 0.9 to 17 percent at a constant free-stream Reynolds number based on injection hole diameter of 19,000. Results show that elevated levels of free-stream turbulence reduce film cooling effectiveness by up to 70 percent in the region directly downstream of the injection hole due to enhanced mixing. At the same time, high free-stream turbulence also produces a 50--100 percent increase in film cooling effectiveness in the region between injection holes. This is due to accelerated spanwise diffusion of the cooling fluid, which also produces an earlier merger of the coolant jets from adjacent holes.

Aerobreakup in Rarefied Supersonic Gas Flows

Abstract: We present new experimental results on the interfacial instabilities and breakup of Newtonian liquid drops suddenly exposed to rarefied, high-speed (Mach 3) air flows. The experimental approach allows for the first time detailed observation of interfacial phenomena and mixing throughout the breakup cycle over a wide range of Weber numbers. Key findings are that Rayleigh-Taylor instability alone is the active mechanism for freestream Weber numbers as low as 28 for low viscosity liquids and that stripping rather than piercing is the asymptotic regime as We→∞. This and other detailed visual evidence over 26

An Experimental Investigation of an Airfoil Undergoing Large-Amplitude Pitching Motions

Abstract: FLOW visualization and near-surface hot-wire experiments were performed in the U.S.A.F Academy Aeronautics Laboratory subsonic wind tunnel on an airfoil undergoing large-amplitude pitching motions about its quarter chord. The experiments were conducted using a NACA 0015 airfoil at an airfoil Reynolds number of 45,000. Two cases are presented in which the angular pitching rate a is maintained constant during the motion. These two cases represent two different nondimensional pitching rates a+, where ot+ is equal to 6; nondimensionalized by the chord c and the freestream velocity U^ (a + ^ac/U^). Data for the two cases where values of a+ are equal to 0.2 and 0.6 show the dramatic effect of pitch rate on flow structure. Largescale vortical structures are seen in both cases at high angles of attack but appear much later and are of a different form for the case with the larger a+ value. These structures are very energetic, producing reverse flow velocities near the airfoil surface of 1.0-2.1 times the freestream velocity.