Showing papers on "Reynolds number published in 1971"

Orderly Structure in Jet Turbulence

Abstract: Past evidence suggests that a large-scale orderly pattern may exist in the noiseproducing region of a jet. Using several methods to visualize the flow of round subsonic jets, we watched the evolution of orderly flow with advancing Reynolds number. As the Reynolds number increases from order 102 to 103, the instability of the jet evolves from a sinusoid to a helix, and finally to a train of axisymmetric waves. At a Reynolds number around 104, the boundary layer of the jet is thin, and two kinds of axisymmetric structure can be discerned: surface ripples on the jet column, thoroughly studied by previous workers, and a more tenuous train of large-scale vortex puffs. The surface ripples scale on the boundary-layer thickness and shorten as the Reynolds number increases toward 105. The structure of the puffs, by contrast, remains much the same: they form at an average Strouhal number of about 0·3 based on frequency, exit speed, and diameter.To isolate the large-scale pattern at Reynolds numbers around 105, we destroyed the surface ripples by tripping the boundary layer inside the nozzle. We imposed a periodic surging of controllable frequency and amplitude at the jet exit, and studied the response downstream by hot-wire anemometry and schlieren photography. The forcing generates a fundamental wave, whose phase velocity accords with the linear theory of temporally growing instabilities. The fundamental grows in amplitude downstream until non-linearity generates a harmonic. The harmonic retards the growth of the fundamental, and the two attain saturation intensities roughly independent of forcing amplitude. The saturation amplitude depends on the Strouhal number of the imposed surging and reaches a maximum at a Strouhal number of 0·30. A root-mean-square sinusoidal surging only 2% of the mean exit speed brings the preferred mode to saturation four diameters downstream from the nozzle, at which point the entrained volume flow has increased 32% over the unforced case. When forced at a Strouhal number of 0·60, the jet seems to act as a compound amplifier, forming a violent 0·30 subharmonic and suffering a large increase of spreading angle. We conclude with the conjecture that the preferred mode having a Strouhal number of 0·30 is in some sense the most dispersive wave on a jet column, the wave least capable of generating a harmonic, and therefore the wave most capable of reaching a large amplitude before saturating.

A non-linear instability theory for a wave system in plane Poiseuille flow

Abstract: The initial-value problem for linearized perturbations is discussed, and the asymptotic solution for large time is given. For values of the Reynolds number slightly greater than the critical value, above which perturbations may grow, the asymptotic solution is used as a guide in the choice of appropriate length and time scales for slow variations in the amplitude A of a non-linear two-dimensional perturbation wave. It is found that suitable time and space variables are et and e½(x+a1rt), where t is the time, x the distance in the direction of flow, e the growth rate of linearized theory and (−a1r) the group velocity. By the method of multiple scales, A is found to satisfy a non-linear parabolic differential equation, a generalization of the time-dependent equation of earlier work. Initial conditions are given by the asymptotic solution of linearized theory.

The ‘bursting’ phenomenon in a turbulent boundary layer

Abstract: Using a hot wire in a turbulent boundary layer in air, an experimental study has been made of the frequent periods of activity (to be called ‘bursts’) noticed in a turbulent signal that has been passed through a narrow band-pass filter. Although definitive identification of bursts presents difficulties, it is found that a reasonable characteristic value for the mean interval between such bursts is consistent, at the same Reynolds number, with the mean burst periods measured by Kline et al. (1967), using hydrogen-bubble techniques in water. However, data over the wider Reynolds number range covered here show that, even in the wall or inner layer, the mean burst period scales with outer rather than inner variables; and that the intervals are distributed according to the log normal law. It is suggested that these ‘bursts’ are to be identified with the ‘spottiness’ of Landau & Kolmogorov, and the high-frequency intermittency observed by Batchelor & Townsend. It is also concluded that the dynamics of the energy balance in a turbulent boundary layer can be understood only on the basis of a coupling between the inner and outer layers.

Influence of surface roughness on the cross-flow around a circular cylinder

Abstract: The influence of surface roughness on the cross-flow around a circular cylinder is the subject of the present experimental work. The investigations were carried out in a high-pressure wind tunnel, thus high Reynolds numbers up to Re = 3 × 106 could be obtained. Local pressure and skin friction distributions were measured. These quantities were evaluated to determine the total drag coefficient and the percentage of friction as functions of Reynolds number and roughness parameter. In addition the local skin friction distribution yields the angular position of boundary-layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow and the location of boundary-layer separation.

Hydromechanics of swimming propulsion. part 1. Swimming of a two-dimensional flexible plate at variable forward speeds in an inviscid fluid

Abstract: The most effective movements of swimming aquatic animals of almost all sizes appear to have the form of a transverse wave progressing along the body from head to tail. The main features of this undulatory mode of propulsion are discussed for the case of large Reynolds number, based on the principle of energy conservation. The general problem of a two-dimensional flexible plate, swimming at arbitrary, unsteady forward speeds, is solved by applying the linearized inviscid flow theory. The large-time asymptotic behaviour of an initial-value harmonic motion shows the decay of the transient terms. For a flexible plate starting with a constant acceleration from at rest, the small-time solution is evaluated and the initial optimum shape is determined for the maximum thrust under conditions of fixed power and negligible body recoil.

Some experimental results on sphere and disk drag

Abstract: The drag on spheres and disks moving rectilinearly through an incompressible fluid has been measured for Reynolds numbers (Re) from 5 to 100,000. Test models were mounted on a carriage which rode along a linear air bearing track system. Tests were performed by towing the models through a channel filled with glycerine-water mixtures. Forces and moments on the models were sensed by strain gage transducers; hydrogen bubble flow visualization was utilized in relating these forces to the unsteady wake flows. Steady drag results agreed with existing data except for the disk at 100 < Re < 1000, in which the drag coefficient values were up to 50% below the level of existing data; drag force unsteadiness during steady motion was always <5% for the sphere and <3% for the disk. Sphere drag measurements under constant acceleration from rest showed the apparent mass concept to be valid (at high Re) until the sphere had traveled approximately one diameter, after which the quasi-steady drag (based on instantaneous velocity) showed good agreement with the actual drag. Interference effects of the sting supports used in these tests are discussed.

The effect of weak Brownian rotations on particles in shear flow

Abstract: Axisymmetric particles in zero Reynolds number shear flow execute closed orbits. In this paper we consider the role of small Brownian couples in establishing a steady-state probability distribution for a particle being on any particular orbit. After presenting the basic equations, we derive an expression for the equilibrium distribution. This result is then used to calculate some bulk properties for a suspension of such particles, and these predicted properties are compared with available experimental observation.

Instability due to Viscosity and Density Stratification in Axisymmetric Pipe Flow

Abstract: The stability of a steady, axisymmetric, laminar, primary flow composed of two fluids flowing concentrically in a straight circular tube is investigated by the method of small perturbations. Both asymmetric and axisymmetric disturbances to the primary flow are considered. It is demonstrated that, regardless of the size of the Reynolds number, no situations are encountered for which the primary flow is stable to both types of disturbances, simultaneously. The primary cause of instability is found to be the difference in viscosities of the two fluids.

The structure of turbulent shear flow

Abstract: A theoretical investigation is made of the mixing layer between two streams. The work is divided into four sections. The first involves the solution of the mean problem of laminar and turbulent mixing. The equations of motion are written in terms of a similarity variable. An eddy viscosity hypothesis is made to describe the shear stresses. The similarity equations for both laminar and turbulent problems are solved numerically by an iterative scheme. The second section examines the stability of the mixing layer. The Orr-Sommerfeld equation of hydrodynamic stability is solved numerically. Doth cases of spatial and temporal amplification are examined. The shear layer is shown to be unstable to both spatially and temporally growing disturbances at all Reynolds numbers. A correction is made for the divergence of the mean flow and leads to a value of critical Reynolds number of 12.3. The third section presents a model for the turbulent mixing layer. A set of partial differential equations describing the flow are obtained. A Fourier transform technique is employed to reduce this set to an ordinary differential equation for the fluctuating flow field. The homogeneous form of this equation is solved numerically. The resulting predictions of fluctuating velocity, pressure and their correlations are compared with measured values. The agreement is good in certain cases and this serves as a guide to components of the flow governed by non-linear processes. The final section examines the non-linear growth of the mixing layer through transition from laminar to turbulent flow. A set of integral momentum and energy equations are written in terms of a number of shape parameters of mean and fluctuating flow. The amplitude of disturbances is shown to grow rapidly and reach a limiting value. A sudden growth of the mixing layer thickness through transition is also predicted. Comparison is made with experimental results.

Wake characteristics of two-dimensional perforated plates normal to an air-stream

Abstract: The flow in the wakes behind two-dimensional perforated plates has been investigated in the Reynolds number range 2·5 × 104 to 9·0 × 104.Measurements of drag and shedding frequency were made and a pulsed hotwire anemometer was used to measure the mean velocity and turbulent intensity variations in the highly turbulent regions immediately behind the plates.The results indicate the existence of two distinct types of flows: one appropriate to high and the other to low values of plate porosity.

The determination of the rate of dissipation in turbulent pipe flow

Abstract: Measurements of turbulence energy diffusion and the spectral distributions of stress components in the core of turbulent pipe flow are presented. The results tend to confirm the proposal of Bradshaw (1967a, b) that an inertial subrange in the spectra can exist at quite modest laboratory Reynolds numbers. They also illuminate the inconsistencies in Laufer's (1954) measurements of dissipation and suggest that the fitting of a −5/3 power law to the spectra may well provide the most accurate method of determining dissipation for Re [gsim ] 105.

Experiments on internal intermittency and fine-structure distribution functions in fully turbulent fluid

Abstract: Spatial ‘intermittency’ in the velocity field fine-structure of fully turbulent flow regions, first observed by Batchelor & Townsend (1949), is studied further here in grid-generated nearly isotropic turbulence and on the axis of a round jet. At large enough Reynolds numbers, appropriately filtered hot-wire anemometer signals appear intermittent as the turbulent patterns are convected past the hot wire by the mean flow. Measurements show that there is a decrease in the relative fluid volume (equal to the ‘intermittency factor’) occupied by fine-structure of given size as the turbulence Reynolds number is increased. They show also that, for a fixed Reynolds number, the relative volume is smaller for smaller fine-structure. The average linear dimension of the fine-structure regions turns out to be much larger than the sizes of fine-structure therein. At Rλ, = 110, for example, the ratio ranges from 15 to 30, decreasing with decreasing ‘eddy’ size. It appears to be approaching an asymptote with increasing Rλ.The flatness factors and probability distributions of the first derivative, the second derivative, band-passed and high-passed velocity fluctuation signals were also measured. The turbulence Reynolds numbers Rλ ranged from 12 to 830. The flatness factors of the first and the second derivatives increase monotonically with Rλ. Those of the second derivative vary with Rλ0.25 for Rλ 300. No indication of asymptotic constant values was observed for Rλ up to the order of one thousand.The probability distributions of velocity fluctuations and large-scale signals are nearly normal, while the small-scale signals are not. The flatness factor of the filtered band-pass velocity signal increases with increasing frequency.At the larger Reynolds numbers, the square of the signal associated with large wave-numbers may be approximated by a log-normal probability distribution for amplitudes when probabilities fall between 0·3 and 0·95, in limited agreement with the theory of Kolmogorov (1962), Oboukhov (1962), Gurvich & Yaglom (1967).

Unsteady viscous flow in a curved pipe

Abstract: The flow in a pipe of circular cross-section which is coiled in a circle is studied, the pressure gradient along the pipe varying sinusoidally in time with frequency . The radius of the pipe a is assumed small in relation to the radius of curvature of its axis R. Of special interest is the secondary flow generated by centrifugal effects in the plane of the cross-section of the pipe, and an asymptotic theory is developed for small values of the parameter = (2/a2), where is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. The secondary flow is found to be governed by a Reynolds number , where is a typical velocity along the axis of the pipe, and asymptotic theories are developed for both small and large values of this parameter. For sufficiently small values of it is found that the secondary flow in the interior of the pipe is in the opposite sense to that predicted for a steady pressure gradient, and this is verified qualitatively by an experiment described at the end of the paper.

A study of free jet impingement. Part 2. Free jet turbulent structure and impingement heat transfer

Abstract: An experimental study of jet impingement is completed with the presentation of the measured turbulent characteristics of the circular subsonic jet and the heat transfer rates measured when this jet impinges normal to a flat plate. The data suggest that for impingement very close to the stagnation point, the heat transfer can be computed by applying a turbulent correction factor to the laminar value calculated for a flow having the same pressure distribution as that present in the impingement region. The correction factor is found to be a function of the axial distance and not of Reynolds number. Farther away, the measurements agree well with the heat transfer estimated using the method of Rosenbaum & Donaldson (1967). At large distances from the stagnation point, the heat transfer falls off in inverse proportion with the distance.The documentation of the turbulent jet flow field includes measurements of the radial and axial velocity fluctuations and their spectra, as well as the radial distribution of turbulent shear . In addition, measurements of the turbulence near the stagnation point and the total pressure fluctuation at the stagnation point are presented.

The spacing, position and strength of vortices in the wake of slender cylindrical bodies at large incidence

Abstract: Extensive schlieren studies and yawmeter traverses of the wake behind slender cone-cylinders at large angles of incidence have shown that the flow pattern is generally steady. Under certain flow conditions, however, the wake exhibits an instability which is not understood. For cross-flow Reynolds numbers in the subcritical region the wake can be described in terms of a cross-flow Strouhal number which has a constant value of 0·2 for cross-flow Mach number components (Mc) up to 0·7 and then increases steadily to a value of 0·6 at Mc = 1·6. The strength of the wake vortices varies substantially with Mc, increasing to a maximum at Mc ≈ 0·7 and then decreasing rapidly for higher values of Mc. Schlieren photographs of the wake have been analysed by means of the impulse flow analogy and also by considering the vortices to be part of a yawed infinite vortex street. The impulse flow analogy is shown to be of use in determining the cross-flow Strouhal number but estimates of vortex strength are too high. The Karman vortex street theory combined with the sweepback principle leads to reliable estimates of vortex strength up to Mc = 1·0.Information is given on the spacing, path and strength of the vortices shed from the body for flow conditions varying from incompressible speeds up to Mc = 1·0. Finally this information is used to determine the vortex drag of a two-dimensional circular cylinder below Mc = 1·0.

Extension of Emmons' spot theory to flows on blunt bodies

Abstract: The transition region is considered to be characterized by the intermittent appearance of turbulent spots, which grow as they move downstream until they finally merge into one another to form the turbulent boundary layer. The intermittency factor for arbitrary axisymmetric body with zero angle of attack has been derived in an expression which can be reduced to the form of universal intermittency distribution of Dhawan and Narasimha in the case of straight tube or flat plate. A key factor to control flow conditions in the transition zone appears to be the spot formation rate, which has been deduced from the available data of the extent of transition zone. It was found that the spot formation rate depends not only on the transition Reynolds number but also on the Mach number. A comparison of the deduced spot formation rate with the neutral stability curves indicated that the neutral stability curves can be used as a guide to relate the spot formation rate to the transitional Reynolds number. Calculations of the transitional heat-transfer rate on a sphere in supersonic flow agree well with the experimental results.

Calculation of the steady flow past a sphere at low and moderate Reynolds numbers

Abstract: The steady axially symmetric incompressible flow past a sphere is investigated for Reynolds numbers, based on the sphere diameter, in the range 0·1 to 40. The formulation is a semi-analytical one whereby the flow variables are expanded as series of Legendre functions, hence reducing the equations of motion to ordinary differential equations. The ordinary differential equations are solved by numerical methods. Only a finite number of these equations can be solved, corresponding to an approximation obtained by truncating the Legendre series at some stage. More terms of the series are required as R increases and the present calculations were terminated at R = 40. The calculated drag coefficient is compared with the results of previous investigations and with experimental data. The Reynolds number at which separation first occurs is estimated as 20·5.

On the Spectrum and Decay of Random Two-Dimensional Vorticity Distributions at Large Reynolds Number

Abstract: The hypothesis is made that the vorticity distribution in a field of random two-dimensional vorticity (two-dimensional turbulence) develops discontinuities. The energy spectrum is then calculated and shown to behave like k^(−4) for large values of the wave-number k. The rates of decay of mean square vorticity and velocity are estimated. An expression for the growth of length scale is obtained and it is noted that the size of turbulent trailing vortices is apparently well fitted by the formula.

A numerical study of laminar separation bubbles using the Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract: The flow in a two-dimensional laminar separation bubble is analyzed by means of finite-difference solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow. The study was motivated by the need to analyze high-Reynolds-number flow fields having viscous regions in which the boundary-layer assumptions are questionable. The approach adopted in the present study is to analyze the flow in the immediate vicinity of the separation bubble using the Navier-Stokes equations. It is assumed that the resulting solutions can then be patched to the remainder of the flow field, which is analyzed using boundary-layer theory and inviscid-flow analysis. Some of the difficulties associated with patching the numerical solutions to the remainder of the flow field are discussed, and a suggestion for treating boundary conditions is made which would permit a separation bubble to be computed from the Navier-Stokes equations using boundary conditions from inviscid and boundary-layer solutions without accounting for interaction between individual flow regions. Numerical solutions are presented for separation bubbles having Reynolds numbers (based on momentum thickness) of the order of 50. In these numerical solutions, separation was found to occur without any evidence of the singular behaviour at separation found in solutions to the boundary-layer equations. The numerical solutions indicate that predictions of separation by boundary-layer theory are not reliable for this range of Reynolds number. The accuracy and validity of the numerical solutions are briefly examined. Included in this examination are comparisons between the Howarth solution of the boundary-layer equations for a linearly retarded freestream velocity and the corresponding numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for various Reynolds numbers.

Vortex shedding from circular cylinders at low Reynolds numbers

Abstract: Experiments on slightly tapered models of circular cross-section have shown that the vortex wake structure exists in a number of discrete cells having different shedding frequencies. Within each cell shedding is regular and periodic, the frequency being somewhat lower than that from a parallel cylinder of the same diameter. A similar type of wake behaviour has also been observed on a parallel model in a non-uniform mean flow. These results suggest that the discontinuities in the shedding law observed by Tritton could arise through non-uniformities in the flow.

Free-Fall Behavior of Planar Snow Crystals, Conical Graupel and Small Hail

Abstract: Drag coefficients and Best numbers of models of six planar snow crystals, two conical graupel and two conical small-hail particles were determined experimentally in glycerin-water mixtures and salt solutions. The Reynolds number (Re) range covered for the crystals was 0.1 to 200 and for the conical models 10 to 2000. It was found that the drag coefficients of dendritic shapes differed by factors of up to 4 from that of a disc of equal thickness and at an equal Reynolds number. The drag ratio is roughly constant with Re and linearly related to the ratio of the respective surface areas. The drag coefficients of the conical models assumed values between 0.5 and 2.0. During steady fall they decreased with increasing Re; however, as soon as oscillations started this trend reversed. Since tumbling does occur for larger graupel and small hail at Re > 300–1000 their main characteristic motions and frequencies are also discussed. Values for oscillation frequencies are given and the motions are described i...

Calculation of Compressible Turbulent Boundary Layers with Heat and Mass Transfer

Abstract: In this paper we present a general method for calculating turbulent boundary layers in twodimensional flows and investigate its accuracy for compressible flows with heat and mass transfer The method is based on the ideas of eddy transport coefficients and the numerical solution of the governing equations in differential form The experimental data considered cover a Mach number range of 0 to 67 and include flows with and without pressure gradients The results indicate good agreement at high Reynolds numbers At low Reynolds numbers the agreement is not as good, and further work needs to be done in such cases

Autorotating wings: an experimental investigation

Abstract: The autorotation of a flat plate about its spanwise axis was experimentally studied Most of the work was done with a wing mounted in a 5 x 7 ft low-speed wind tunnel The measurements consisted of the unsteady lift, drag, angular acceleration and the wing rotation rate The flow pattern was very different from that over a static wing The maximum and average lift, drag and angular acceleration were measured for Reynolds numbers from 25,000 to 250,000 The effect of applying driving and retarding torques to the wing was studied A variety of wing configurations were tested, together with freely falling wings For Reynolds numbers above 4000 the average lift and drag coefficients were comparable to those observed in the fixed axis tests, and it appeared that the flow pattern was similar