Three-Dimensional Vortex Interactions in Turbulent Boundary Layers

Abstract

The results and accomplishments of a combined analytical-experimental research program, aimed at understanding and modeling the three-dimensional vortex interactions that take place in turbulent boundary layers, are described. The central theme of the program is that hairpin vortices are the basic building block of boundary-layer turbulence and that many of the observed dynamic features of turbulent shear flows can be explained in terms of how hairpin vortices interact with the background shear, with each other and the viscous flow near solid walls. A basic intent of the program is to cross-compare detailed experimental flow visualization-imaging studies of well-defined three- dimensional hairpin vortices with computational studies of the behavior, evolution and induced effects of comparable vortices. Based on these investigations, a model of the dynamics of turbulent flows near a wall is proposed. Keywords: Turbulent boundary layer, Coherent structure, Vortex interactions, Hairpin vortices, Turbulence modeling.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 1989
Accession Number
ADA208624

Entities

People

  • C. R. Smith
  • J. D. Walker

Organizations

  • Lehigh University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Boundary Layer
  • Boundary Layer Flow
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Flow Fields
  • Flow Visualization
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Turbulent Flow
  • Turbulent Mixing
  • Viscous Flow

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).