The height ratio effects on the flow characteristics of a wall-mounted hemisphere immersed in the turbulent boundary layer

Abstract

The effects of the height ratios on the flow characteristics of a wall-mounted hemisphere immersed in the turbulent boundary layer are investigated by particle image velocimetry technology (PIV). The Reynolds number based on the hemisphere diameter D is ReD=8160, and three height ratios (i.e., H/D=0.5, 0.4 and 0.3) are selected for comparison at δ/D=0.79, where δ is boundary layer thickness without the presence of hemisphere. The PIV measurements are carried out in x-y plane and x-z plane, and the flow characteristics behind the hemisphere and the distributions of the von Kármán vortices (vK vortices) are investigated. In x-y plane, the curl of the shear layer on the top of the hemisphere brings reverse flow of fluids, and the area of the recirculation region and the area fluctuations are decreased as H/D decreases from 0.5 to 0.3. In x-z plane, the recirculation regions are symmetrical about z/D=0, reflecting reverse flow of fluids induced by the curl of the shear layers on both sides of the hemisphere. Moreover, the maximal velocity deficit is decreased as H/D decreases in x-z plane. The vK vortices are formed from the shear layers on both sides of the hemisphere, and the formation frequencies are same for different H/D, and the value is about 0.35 Hz. The Strouhal number St of the vK vortex is calculated by the hemisphere base diameter, and St slightly decreases from 0.154 to 0.142 as H/D decreases from 0.5 to 0.3. The turbulent fluctuations behind the hemisphere are decreased as H/D decreases.