Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The investigation on the properties and structures of starting vortex flow past a backward-facing step by WBIV technique

  • Originals
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An experimental investigation of a starting vortex flow around a backward-facing step was conducted in a water channel. The properties and structures of the flow were investigated by qualitative flow visualization using the hydrogen bubble method and by quantitative velocity and vorticity measurements using White-light Bubble Image Velocimetry (WBIV) — a newly developed PIV method. Some invariant properties and 4-stage structures of starting vortex flow were observed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

a :

flow acceleration during starting stage

h :

height of backward-facing step

d v :

dimensionless vortex size

t :

time

t :

dimensionless time

U∞ :

free uniform velocity

u, v :

streamwise and spanwise velocity components respectively

Re :

Reynolds number based on a and h

x, y :

streamwise and spanwise coordinates respectively in flow field

x c , y c :

dimensionless vortex center position

ω :

vorticity

ovω :

dimensionless vorticity

ω max :

maximum vorticity

ovω max :

dimensionless maximum vorticity

Γ :

circulation

\(\bar \Gamma \) :

dimensionless circulation

ν :

kinematic viscosity

Reference

  • Adrian RJ (1986) Multi-point optical measurement of simultaneous vectors in unsteady flow-a review. Int I Heat Fluid Flow 7: 127–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Brucker C; Althaus W (1992) Study of vortex breakdown by PTV. Exp Fluids 13: 339–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Finaish F; Freymuth P, Bank W (1986) Starting flow over spoiler, double step and cavities. J Fluid Mech 168: 383–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant I; Owens E; Yan YY (1992) Particle image velocimetry measurements of the separated flow behind a rearward facing step. Exp Fluids 12: 238–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Lian QX (1989) Starting flow and structures of the starting vortices behind bluff bodies with sharp edges. Exp Fluids 8: 95–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma GY; Shen GX (1992) A high accuracy and fast automatic processing method of Young's fringe pattern in PIV. Flow Visualization VI: 895–899

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma GY; Shen GX (1994a) Analysis of the experimental parameters in PIV. 3nd Asian Symp on Visualization, Japan 723–728

  • Ma GY; Shen GX (1994b) Description and analysis of intensity distribution of Young's fringes in PIV. Proc. 2nd Intl. Conf. on Fluid Dynamic Meas. and its Applications, Beijing Oct. 221–226

  • Pulln DI; Perry AE (1980) Some flow visualization experiments on the vortex. J Fluid Mech 97: 239–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Sethian JA etc. (1988) Validation study of vortex methods. J Comput Phys 74: 283–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen GX; Ma GY (1993) White light bubble image velocimetry. ACTA Aerodyn Sinica 6: 217–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin C etc. (1993) Control of unsteady separation over an impulsive started circular cylinder. AIAA-93-3275

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fluid Mechanics Institute, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 100083, Beijing, China

    G. X. Shen & G. Y. Ma

Authors
  1. G. X. Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Y. Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by the CNSF Grant 1939 100-1-3

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shen, G.X., Ma, G.Y. The investigation on the properties and structures of starting vortex flow past a backward-facing step by WBIV technique. Experiments in Fluids 21, 57–65 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204636

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204636

Keywords

Search

Navigation