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Investigation of a turbulent spot and a tripped turbulent boundary layer flow using time-resolved tomographic PIV

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Abstract

In this feasibility study the tomographic PIV technique has been applied to time resolved PIV recordings for the study of the growth of a turbulent spot in a laminar flat plate boundary layer and to visualize the topology of coherent flow structures within a tripped turbulent flat plate boundary layer flow. The experiments are performed around (Re x )1/2 ≈ 450 in a low speed wind-tunnel using four high speed CMOS cameras operating up to 5 kHz. The volume illumination required a multiple-reflection system able to intensify light intensity within the measurement volume. This aspect is deemed essential when a high-speed tomographic PIV system is applied in air flows. The particle image recordings are used for a three dimensional tomographic reconstruction of the light intensity distribution within the illuminated volume. Each pair of reconstructed three-dimensional light distributions is analyzed by 3D spatial cross-correlation using iterative multi-grid schemes with volume-deformation, yielding a correlated time sequence of three-dimensional instantaneous velocity vector volumes. The coherent structures organization is analyzed by 3D-vorticity and -swirling-strength iso-surfaces visualization. In both flow types streaks and hairpin-like or arch vortical structures are most prominent. The data gives insight into the role of these structures for the spatio-temporal arrangement of the wall normal flow exchange mechanisms, especially of the instantaneous Reynolds stress events Q2 and Q4. A description of different self-sustainable flow organizations based on modifications of the hairpin-vortex- and streak-models is given. Two preliminary results are essential: Self-sustainability of a coherent vortical structure depends on the ability to entrain high momentum fluid, initially Q4. And, stream-wise swirl at the near-wall region of arch or hairpin-like vortices has been observed to be rare.

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Abbreviations

t :

time

Vx, Vy, Vz:

instantaneous velocity components in x-, y- and z-direction

V′x, V′y, V′z:

fluctuation velocity components

x, y, z:

streamwise, normal and spanwise coordinates

Re x :

Reynolds number based on length from plate LE

T :

time-difference from excitation of spot

f :

focal length

f # :

aperture stop

Q1,...,Q4:

Quadrants of instantaneous Reynolds stress V′xV′y

U ∞ :

free-stream velocity

δ :

boundary layer thickness (0.99 U ∞ )

λ:

wave length of laser light

|rot|:

magnitude of instantaneous vorticity

PDF:

Probability density function

RMS:

Root mean square

(T)BL:

(Turbulent) Boundary-layer

TE:

Trailing edge

LE:

Leading edge

TR:

Time resolved

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut f. Aerodynamik und Strömungstechnik, Bunsenstrasse 10, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Andreas Schröder & Reinhard Geisler

  2. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Gerrit E. Elsinga & Fulvio Scarano

  3. La Vision GmbH, Anna-Vandenhoeck-Ring 19, 37081, Göttingen, Germany

    Uwe Dierksheide

Authors
  1. Andreas Schröder
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  2. Reinhard Geisler
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  3. Gerrit E. Elsinga
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  4. Fulvio Scarano
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  5. Uwe Dierksheide
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Schröder.

Additional information

This research article was submitted as a selected contribution from the 12th international symposium on application of laser techniques to fluid mechanics, June 26–29, 2006.

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Schröder, A., Geisler, R., Elsinga, G.E. et al. Investigation of a turbulent spot and a tripped turbulent boundary layer flow using time-resolved tomographic PIV. Exp Fluids 44, 305–316 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0403-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0403-2

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