A similarity approach to the turbulent near-wake of a long slender cylinder with a sharp trailing edge at zero pressure gradient

Abstract

A high Reynolds number wake flow developing under zero pressure gradient from a long slender axisymmetric cylinder with sharp trail ending is investigated. The main focus is the flow domain immediately behind the trailing edge, where the fully developed upstream turbulent boundary layers separated by the body, unite under no body constraints and the boundary layer identity and characteristics are gradually lost. Similarity solutions for the streamwise mean velocity and centreline velocity are obtained in which the region exhibits the log law of the fully developed boundary layer. A critical assessment of inner near wake characteristic length is done.