Development Of A Turbulent Boundary Layer Over An Air Cavity

Abstract

The turbulent boundary layer development over an air cavity is studied experimentally using planar Particle Image Velocimetry. An identification technique based on the gradient of correlation values was employed to detect the cavity interface which revealed a well-defined, asymmetric bump-like geometry at the spanwise-uniform region of the cavity. No separation was observed at the leeward side of the cavity, owing largely to the high boundary layer thickness to maximum cavity thickness ratio (δ/tmax ≈ 11.8). The shape of the cavity was found to dictate the turbulent boundary development by subjecting it to alternating streamwise pressure gradients: from an adverse to a favourable and back to an adverse, moving downstream along the cavity. Profiles o f mean s treamwise velocity and turbulent stresses show the alternate pressure gradients and air injection to be the dominant perturbations to the flow, with streamline curvature only having a minor influence, also based on previous observations.