Abstract
The effects of backward-facing and forward-facing steps on turbulent natural convection along a vertical heated flat plate are examined experimentally. Laser-Doppler velocimeter and cold wire anemometer were used to, respectively, measure simultaneously the time-mean turbulent velocity and temperature distributions and their turbulent fluctuation intensities. The experiment was carried out for a step (backward-facing and forward-facing) height of 22 mm and a temperature difference between the heated walls and the free stream (ambient air), ΔT, of 30 °C (corresponding to a local Grashof number Gr xi =6.45×10 10). Measurements of the time-mean velocities and temperature distributions along with their turbulent fluctuation intensities are presented at various locations downstream from the location of the step. The present results reveal that the maximum local Nusselt number occurs in the vicinity of the reattachment region and it is approximately twice for the case of backward-facing step and two and a half times for the case of forward-facing step, than that of the flat plate value at similar flow and thermal conditions.
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