Mechanism of sweep event attenuation using micro-cavities in a turbulent boundary layer

Abstract

Cavity arrays have been identified as a potential passive device to disrupt and capture sweep events, which are responsible for the excess Reynolds stresses in the boundary layer. In the present study, the mechanism of the attenuation of captured sweep events has been analyzed, as well as the non-linear relationship between the volume of the backing cavity and the reduction in sweep intensity. The influence of cavity array on the turbulent boundary layer has been analyzed, with a total of six different backing cavity arrangements with varying volumes. Three of the backing cavities have been used to determine the non-linear relationship between the effectiveness of the cavity array in reducing sweep intensity and the volume of the backing cavity. The other three have been used to determine the mechanism by which the arrays manipulate the captured sweep events. The pre-multiplied energy spectra of multiple velocity histories were significantly reduced, by up to 12.5%, in the low and mid-range wavelength values (λx+<104), which is associated with the coherent structures. The results show that the maximum reduction in sweep intensity of approximately 7% may be obtained when Reθ = 3771. It has been demonstrated that the non-linear relationship between sweep event intensity reduction and cavity volume has reached an upper limit in this investigation. Results from this study have revealed that the cavity array weakens the sweep intensity of the captured sweep events by damping the energy of the events through the friction losses in the cavity array and also in the large volume of the backing cavity.