Boundary Layer Region Research Articles

An analysis of the bilinear finite volume method for the singularly-perturbed convection-diffusion problems on Shishkin mesh

In this paper, we study the bilinear finite volume element method for solving the singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problem on the Shishkin mesh. We first prove that the finite volume element scheme is ϵ-uniformly stable. Then, based on new expression of the finite volume bilinear form and some detailed integral calculations, an ϵ-uniform error estimation is derived in the ϵ-weighted gradient norm, including the L2-norm. This error estimate is better than the known result. Moreover, we also give the L∞-error estimate near the boundary layer regions. At last, numerical experiments show the effectiveness of our method.

Streamwise energy-transfer mechanisms in zero- and adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers

The present study investigates streamwise ( $\overline {u^2}$ ) energy-transfer mechanisms in the inner and outer regions of turbulent boundary layers (TBLs). Particular focus is placed on the $\overline {u^2}$ production, its inter-component and wall-normal transport as well as dissipation, all of which become statistically significant in the outer region with increasing friction Reynolds number ( $Re_{\tau }$ ). These properties are analysed using published data sets of zero, weak and moderately strong adverse-pressure-gradient (APG) TBLs across a decade of $Re_{\tau }$ , revealing similarity in energy-transfer pathways for all these TBLs. It is found that both the inner and outer peaks of $\overline {u^2}$ are always associated with local maxima in the $\overline {u^2}$ production and its inter-component transport, and the regions below/above each of these peaks are always dominated by wall-ward/away-from-wall transport of $\overline {u^2}$ , thereby classifying the $\overline {u^2}$ profiles into four distinct regimes. This classification reveals existence of phenomenologically similar energy-transfer mechanisms in the ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ regions of moderately strong APG TBLs, which meet at an intermediate location coinciding with the minimum in $\overline {u^2}$ profiles. Conditional averaging suggests existence of similar phenomena even in low $Re_{\tau }$ canonical and/or weak APG TBLs, albeit with the outer-region mechanisms weaker than those in the inner region. This explains the absence of their $\overline {u^2}$ outer peak and the dominance of $\overline {u^2}$ wall-normal transport away from the wall, which potentially originates from the inner region. Given that the wall-ward/away-from-wall transport of $\overline {u^2}$ is governed by the $Q_4$ (sweeps)/ $Q_2$ (ejections) quadrants of the Reynolds shear stress, it is argued that the emergence of the $\overline {u^2}$ outer peak corresponds with the statistical dominance of $Q_4$ events in the outer region. Besides unravelling the dynamical significance of $Q_2$ and $Q_4$ events in the outer region of TBLs, the present analysis also proposes new phenomenological arguments for testing on canonical wall-turbulence data at very high $Re_{\tau }$ .

Studying the influence of the turbulence model on the aerodynamic characteristics of a cruise missile model

The article presents the study of the turbulence model’s influence on aerodynamic characteristics of a cruise missile model obtained during numerical calculations conducted using ANSYS Fluent Release 2023R1 software. Three turbulence models (i.e. Spalart-Allmaras, realizable k-ε and SST k-ω), as well as three computational meshes with a different refinement in a boundary layer region, were investigated. The results were analyzed and compared to characteristics obtained experimentally in the low-speed aerodynamic tunnel at the Military University of Technology (Warsaw, Poland).

Numerical approach for the simulation of flow-induced noise around a structure with complex geometry: High-speed train bogie in a cavity

The bogie region is a significant source of aerodynamic noise on high-speed trains. Owing to its complex geometry and flow field, numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics are especially challenging. The main challenge is to achieve a grid with adequate resolution, especially in the boundary layer, while ensuring computational affordability. This challenge is addressed here by employing a hybrid grid, integrating a structured hexahedral mesh near solid surfaces with an unstructured polyhedral mesh in the remaining volume. To limit the number of cells in the boundary layer region, the delayed detached eddy simulation method is adopted. Additionally, to achieve a further reduction in the cell count, the Reynolds number of the model is decreased by scaling down the model size and lowering the inflow speed. The hybrid grid generation and numerical settings are guided by validated simulations of flow over cylinders. A grid sensitivity study, conducted with a simplified half-width bogie model, reveals the meshing requirements for the full-width model. Aerodynamic results highlight the rear section of the cavity and bogie as primary noise sources, emphasizing the critical role of the detached shear layer from upstream components. Time-resolved surface pressure data are input into the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings equation for far-field noise calculation. The results indicate that the sound energy is concentrated below 200 Hz in the full-scale model, with the cavity contributing more than the bogie. This study provides a practical numerical approach for simulating a structure with complex geometry, offering insights for realistic model simulations.

Influences of Background Rotation on Secondary Eyewall Formation of Tropical Cyclones in Idealized f‐Plane Simulations

AbstractThis study investigates the background rotational influences on the secondary eyewall formation (SEF) in tropical cyclones (TCs) in quiescent f‐plane environments. For given initial structures, simulated vortices tend to experience earlier SEF at lower latitudes. Yet the size of the secondary eyewall does not change monotonically with the latitudes. Specifically, ∼20°N provides the optimal amount of background rotation for the largest secondary eyewall size without considering other environmental forcings. Different background rotation rates affect SEF mainly by modulating the outer‐core convection as well as the wind structures. Specifically, the lower rotation rate causes more outer‐core surface fluxes, thus facilitating the outer rainbands (ORBs) at larger radii. Yet the secondary eyewall does not necessarily form at larger radii at lower latitudes since the transition from the ORBs to secondary eyewall is localized in a region of boundary layer (BL) convergence preceded by accelerated tangential winds. Budget analysis reveals that the differences in the acceleration of outer‐core tangential winds among vortices at different latitudes are dominated by the radial flux of absolute vorticity. Due to the non‐uniform influences of background rotation on the BL inflow and absolute vorticity, the most efficient spin‐up of outer‐core tangential winds is achieved at a medium latitude of 20°N, which leads up to SEF at the largest radii. By comparison, for TCs at lower (higher) latitudes, the lower outer‐core absolute vorticity (radial inflow) limits the acceleration of outer‐core tangential winds, thus placing SEF at smaller radii.

Impact of activation energy and cross-diffusion effects on 3D convective rotating nanoliquid flow in a non-Darcy porous medium

PurposeThis study aims to investigate numerically the impact of the three-dimensional convective nanoliquid flow on a rotating frame embedded in the non-Darcy porous medium in the presence of activation energy. The cross-diffusion effects, i.e. Soret and Dufour effects, and heat generation are included in the study. The convective heating condition is applied on the bounding surface.Design/methodology/approachThe control model consisted of a system of partial differential equations (PDE) with boundary constraints. Using suitable similarity transformation, the PDE transformed into an ordinary differential equation and solved numerically by the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method. The obtained results of velocity, temperature and solute concentration characteristics plotted to show the impact of the pertinent parameters. The heat and mass transfer rate and skin friction are also calculated.FindingsIt is found that both Biot numbers enhance the heat and mass distribution inside the boundary layer region. The temperature increases by increasing the Dufour number, while concentration decreases by increasing the Dufour number. The heat transfer is increased up to 8.1% in the presence of activation energy parameter (E). But, mass transfer rate declines up to 16.6% in the presence of E.Practical implicationsThe applications of combined Dufour and Soret effects are in separation of isotopes in mixture of gases, oil reservoirs and binary alloys solidification. The nanofluid with porous medium can be used in chemical engineering, heat exchangers and nuclear reactor.Social implicationsThis study is mainly useful for thermal sciences and chemical engineering.Originality/valueThe uniqueness in this research is the study of the impact of activation energy and cross-diffusion on rotating nanoliquid flow with heat generation and convective heating condition. The obtained results are unique and valuable, and it can be used in various fields of science and technology.

Statistics of kinetic and thermal energy dissipation rates in vibrational turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection with rough surface

In this paper, the statistical properties of the kinetic εu and thermal εθ dissipation rates in two-dimensional (2D) turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC) are studied by using the thermal lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). A series of direct numerical simulations (DNS) are implemented in a square cell with the unit aspect ratio for the Rayleigh number Ra = 108 and Prandtl number Pr = 4.38. The roughness height h* and vary the vibration frequency ω* from 0 to 1000 are fixed in the vibrational RBC with rough plates to explore their effect on the kinetic and thermal dissipation rates. The global features indicate that the εu and εθ are more intense in the regions with high gradients of velocity and temperature, which is in good agreement with the previous work. The scalings of Nu∼ω *0.55±0.1 and Re∼0.59±0.2 are proposed between the ensemble averaged Nusselt number Nu and Reynolds number Re. The probability density functions (PDFs) of both logarithmic kinetic dissipation rate lg εu and thermal dissipation rate lg εθ are not conformed to the log-normal distributions. Through the analysis of the time-averaged εu and εθ vertical profiles, it is further demonstrated that the local dissipation rates from the boundary layer region are still the major contribution in the vibrational RBC with rough plates.

Kármán Street-Boundary Layer Interactions In Turbulent Flow

Understanding the intricate interplay between turbulent boundary layers and wake structures caused by obstacles in the flow is key to assessing the local shear stress fields as well as the drag. These types of flows can be relevant to natural phenomena including sediment and nutrient transport. While existing literature predominantly explores the flow downstream of cylinders mounted perpendicular to bounding surfaces or downstream of cylinders positioned outside the boundary layer region, this work experimentally studies the turbulent boundary layer passing over a cylindrical obstacle positioned near and parallel to the surface of an underlying solid wall. Planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) was performed in an open recirculating water channel for three test cases at a friction Reynolds number Reτ = 1320. Key parameters investigated include the cylinder diameter relative to the boundary layer thickness (D/δ = 0.09 and 0.01) and the gap between the cylinder and the wall (G/δ = 0.09), where the range of D/δ used is smaller than most examples found in the literature. Instantaneous and averaged velocity and vorticity fields are examined based on the PIV measurements. The results in Fig. 1 show how von Kármán vortex streets and turbulent boundary layer structures interact to form unique flow features. The larger cylinder generates a clear separation downstream of its axis as well as a wake that remains coherent over a distance δ downstream. The smaller cylinder with D/δ = 0.01 generates a much narrower and weaker wake, but still shows a clear influence on time-averaged velocity profile. Future experiments will evaluate flow conditions further downstream as well as additional values of G/δ for the same D/δ values.

Estimating incident infrared radiation intensity on a horizontal surface

The study aims to characterize external IR heating sources, operating in free convection atmosphere, qualitatively and quantitatively for various applications. It employs non-invasive IR thermography to measure steady-state irradiations from a ceramic IR heater at variable voltages (60–150 V) using the surface energy budget (SEB) method which relies on only two measured parameters (surface and ambient temperature). The free convection heat transfer from the plate is demarcated between the thermal boundary layer (TBL) and buoyant plume-dominated region by temperature histogram tool. Nearly 78 ± 5 % of the plate area is occupied by the hot plume(s) in the studied voltage range. Estimated irradiation agrees fairly well with one another (within ± 10 %). Additionally, the time response of the plate was measured to be ∼ 120 s. This fast response can be made even faster, by reducing the thermal mass, eventually leading to low-cost IR sensors.

Statistics of kinetic and thermal energy dissipation rates in two-dimensional thermal vibrational convection

We investigate the statistical properties of kinetic ϵu and thermal ϵθ energy dissipation rates in two-dimensional (2D) thermal vibrational convection (TVC). Direct numerical simulations were conducted in a unit aspect ratio box across a dimensionless angular frequency range of 103≤ω≤107 for amplitudes 0.001≤a≤0.1, with a fixed Prandtl number of 4.38. Our findings indicate ϵu is primarily associated with the characteristics of the vibration force, while ϵθ is more related to the large-scale columnar structures. Both energy dissipation rates exhibit a power-law relationship with the oscillational Reynolds number Reos. ϵu exhibits a scaling relation as ⟨ϵu⟩V,t∼a−1Reos0.93±0.01, while ϵθ exhibits two distinct scaling behaviors, i.e., ⟨ϵθ⟩V,t∼a−1Reos1.97±0.04 for Reos<Reos,cr and ⟨ϵθ⟩V,t∼a−1Reos1.31±0.02 for Reos>Reos,cr, where the fitted critical oscillational Reynolds number is approximately Reos,cr≈80. The different scaling of ⟨ϵθ⟩V,t is determined by the competition between the thermal boundary layer and the oscillating boundary layer. Moreover, the probability density functions (PDFs) of both dissipation rates deviate significantly from the lognormal distribution and exhibit a bimodal shape. By partitioning the contributions from the boundary layer and bulk regions, it is shown that the bulk contributes to the small and moderate dissipation rates, whereas the high dissipation rates are predominantly contributed by the boundary layer. As Reos increases, the heavy tail of the PDFs becomes more pronounced, revealing an enhanced level of small-scale intermittency. This small-scale intermittency is mainly caused by the influence of BL due to vibration. Our study provides insight into the small-scale characteristics of 2D TVC, highlighting the non-trivial scaling laws and intermittent behavior of energy dissipation rates with respect to vibration intensity.

Analysis of flow characteristics of a pump turbine under the transient condition of 75% load rejection

Abstract In this study, the flow calculations for a pump turbine under the transient condition of 75% load rejection was conducted. The model incorporated a boundary layer on the surface of the guide vane, with the node coordinates of each element in the boundary layer region being updated. This approach ensured the stability of the boundary layer mesh. Experimental measurements provided parameter curves for inlet pressure, outlet pressure, runner speed, and guide vane opening over time. The pressure fluctuation at each monitoring point was compared with the experimental data, and a good agreement was found. Additionally, the variation curve of the axial hydraulic thrust of the head cover and the pressure distribution nephogram of the head cover at typical moments were analysed. The results of this study could be used as a reference for the safe and stable operation of pumped-storage power stations.

Large-eddy simulation study on wave-wake interactions past an offshore wind turbine

Large-eddy simulations (LES) of the flow past an offshore wind turbine under different underlying wave fields have been performed. A one-way coupling between the air and water flows has been realized through a hybrid immersed-boundary/level-set method. The velocity in the water domain is forced with the potential flow solution, while the response of the atmospheric boundary layer to the changes in the sea-surface height (tracked by the level-set equation) is simulated with a LES approach coupled to a rotating actuator disk model to mimic the effect of the wind turbine. A parametric study has been performed varying the wave period and wavelength while keeping the amplitude constant, resulting in different wave age parameters ranging from young developing waves to old swell waves. The wave field has a significant effect on the lower region of the atmospheric boundary layer, slowing down the wind field in proximity of the air-water interface and considerably increasing the local turbulence kinetic energy (TKE). The interaction between the wave evolution and the TKE results in a non-monotonic trend of the wake recovery rate with the wave age, when compared to the baseline value in the wake of a turbine over a flat wall. Both developed waves results in a lower recovery rate, whereas intermediate-age waves present a larger value than the baseline. The increased TKE in the lower layers of the rotor revolution induces an increased fluctuating component in the power production and blade loads. Nevertheless, for the parameters considered in this study, the spectra of the blade loads do not show a clear signature at the wave frequency, but the increased fluctuating component occurs over a broad range of frequencies.

Suppression effect of the leading-edge groove on deep cavity noise at low speeds: Groove length

Detached Eddy Simulations combined with Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings acoustic analogy of subsonic flows over a deep cavity preceded by deep grooves with different lengths were conducted to investigate the effects of groove length on the flow characteristics and the noise suppression in the vicinity of the deep cavity. The length-to-depth ratio of the deep cavity is 2/3, and the length-to-depth ratios of the grooves are 1/2. The distance between the grooves and the cavity remains constant at twice the groove length. The groove length ranges from 5 mm to 30 mm. The Reynolds number based on the cavity length is 8 × 10−5. The analysis results indicate that all grooves studied in this paper have some effect on the distribution of sound energy of near-field noise and near-/far-field noise amplitude, but have no effect on the characteristic frequencies of cavity noise and far-field noise directivity. When the groove length is 15 mm and 20 mm, the deep grooves are most effective in suppressing deep cavity noise. The time-averaged velocities in the incoming boundary layer, shear layer, and wake region decrease, and the height of the boundary layer downstream of the cavity increases, which reduces the intensity of the interaction between the flow structure and solid wall downstream of the cavity, resulting in a reduction in flow-acoustic feedback noise. Meanwhile, the suppression effect of the groove flow on the cavity flow effectively alters the flow characteristics of the entire cavity mouth, the rear edge wall, and part of the bottom surface region, reducing the energy at these locations. This is the primary reason for the reduction in broadband noise and acoustic resonance noise.

Spatially evolving cascades in wall turbulence with and without interface

Direct numerical simulations of channel flow and temporal boundary layer at a Reynolds number $Re_{\tau } = 1500$ are used to assess the scale-by-scale mechanisms of wall turbulence. From the peak of turbulence production embedded at the small scales of the near-wall region, spatially ascending reverse cascades are generated that move through self-similar eddies growing in size with the wall distance. These fluxes are followed by spatially ascending forward cascades through detached eddies thus reaching sufficiently small scales where eventually scale energy is dissipated. This phenomenology is shared by both boundary layer and channel flow and is recognized as a robust physical feature characterizing wall turbulence in general. Specific features related to the flow configuration are indeed identified in the outer region. In particular, the central region of channels is characterized by a generalized Richardson energy cascade where large scales are in equilibrium with small scales at different wall distances through a combined forward cascade and spatial flux. On the contrary, the interface region of boundary layers is characterized by an almost two-dimensional physics where spatially ascending reverse cascades sustain long and wide interface structures with a forward cascade that survives only in the wall-normal scales. The overall scenario consists in a variety of scale motions that while protruding from the turbulent core towards the external region, squeeze at the interface thus sustaining vertical shear in a thin layer. The observed multidimensional physics sheds light on the complex interactions between outer entrainment and near-wall self-sustaining mechanisms with possible repercussions for theories.

Variation of vortical structures across shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction region in a compression ramp flow

This paper describes direct numerical simulations of a shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction (STBLI) process in a compression-ramp flow with a ramp angle of 24° and a free-stream Mach number of Ma∞=2.9. Spectral analysis, two-point cross correlation, convection velocity statistics, and individual vortex identification are used to elucidate the streamwise variation of multiscale turbulent structures in the STBLI process. Typical Lagrangian coherent structures in the turbulent boundary layer before the STBLI region are characterized as hairpin-like vortical structures, with heads that rise together with the separated mean flow in the STBLI region. In the downstream region, the reattached turbulent boundary layer has a two-layer structure. The outer layer is characterized as an intensification of large-scale velocity structures, which is attributed to the shock-wave-induced compression effect on vortical structures. A viscous-dominated layer develops independently in the vicinity of the wall, leading to a gradual restoration of the wall-shear effect that accumulates the inner-layer dynamics of small-to-moderate-scale turbulent motions.

Mass and heat transfer in the boundary layer region of modified second-grade fluid flow over a linearly stretched sheet embedded in porous media

Here, we have improved a model to describe the flow variables, velocity, mass and heat transfer in the boundary layer region of modified second-grade fluid flow over a linearly stretched sheet in a porous media. The modified model is used to study the qualitative impact of buoyancy parameter, second-grade fluid parameter, magnetic parameters, porous parameter, power-law index, and chemical reaction parameter on the flow profiles, radial and axial velocities, temperature, and concentration. Starting with the steady-state governing equations of mass, momentum, heat, and concentration of the fluid flow, we obtained the boundary layer approximations of the flow near the linearly stretched sheet with the no-slip boundary condition. Similarity transformation has been used to convert the partial differential equations system into a nonlinear ordinary differential equations system. The radial velocities, temperature, and concentration profiles have been solved numerically, and the qualitative influence of the flow parameters on the flow variables has been simulated and graphically presented for comparison. We have observed that radial and axial velocities were increasing for the shear-thinning and shearthickening fluids with solutal Grashof number, thermal Grashof number and second-grade fluid parameters. In contrast, the porous and chemical reaction parameters slow down both fluids’ radial and axial velocities. The temperature and concentration increase with the porous and magnetic parameters. However, thermal and solutal Grashof and second-grade fluid parameters suppress temperature and concentration. In shear-thickening fluids, chemical reaction parameters enhance concentration but suppress in shear-thinning fluids.

Further insights into steady three-dimensional MHD Sakiadis flows of radiating-reacting viscoelastic nanofluids via Wakif’s-Buongiorno and Maxwell’s models

AbstractKeeping in mind the stress relaxation tendency of many viscoelastic multi-phase flows (e.g., polymer solution flows and transport phenomena of red cell suspensions within blood media), the present research investigation intends principally to develop a realistic model for revealing properly the aspects of reacting-radiating Maxwell nanofluids during their laminar boundary layer flows in the steady regime over a horizontal impermeable surface under a transversal magnetic influence. For this purpose, the principal leading differential formulation is derived theoretically by linking Wakif’s-Buongiorno approach with Maxwell’s model. By invoking fundamentally the general boundary layer assumptions and the passive control strategy for the nanoparticles, the governing PDEs’ formulation is simplified accordingly and then stated properly for the case of the convective heating condition at the impermeable bi-stretching surface. By executing a feasible non-dimensionalization technique, the monitoring ODEs’ system is achieved successfully, whose solutions are presented precisely in different illustrative scenarios using Richardson’s extrapolation method. After carrying out successfully several validating tests, it is demonstrated that the weakly viscoelastic feature has generally a slight delaying effect on the nanofluid motion. This dynamical weakening can be reinforced more with the generation of thermal energy by intensifying the external magnetic field source. Additionally, these physical factors show an intensifying influence on the surface drag forces. However, a dropping impression is seen for the local heat transfer at the contact surface. Contrary to the broadening impact of the radiative heat transfer as well as the convective heating and thermophoresis mechanisms on the thermal and mass boundary layer regions, it is witnessed that the first-order chemical reaction mechanism and Brownian’s motion exhibit a shrinking impact on the mass boundary layer region.

Prediction of the Influence of the Inlet End-Wall Boundary Layer on the Secondary Flow of a Low Pressure Turbine Airfoil Using RANS and Large-Eddy Simulations

Abstract This paper analyzes the effect of the inlet end-wall boundary layer on the secondary flow of a low pressure turbine airfoil cascade at Reynolds number 2 × 105 using RANS and implicit large-eddy simulations (LES). The results are compared against experimental data obtained at two low-speed linear cascade facilities, one located at the Whittle Laboratory of the University of Cambridge and the other at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The RANS turbulence model is the k−ω−γ−Reθt and no sub-grid scale model has been used in the LES. An unstructured mesh of hexahedra and prisms is used, with high order elements used in the boundary layer region to better describe the airfoil shape in the LES. Two inlet end-wall boundary layers that produce different secondary flow patterns are analyzed: a laminar thin velocity profile and a turbulent thick velocity profile with several inlet turbulent intensities. The agreement between LES numerical predictions and experimental measurements of the position and intensity of the secondary vortices is very good for both cases. RANS simulations are much cheaper in terms of computational cost and reasonably predict most of the flow features, except when the inlet turbulence is low and turbulent transition prediction becomes critical. The effect of the inlet velocity profiles and inlet turbulence on the secondary flow structure is quite pronounced. The velocity profile thickness determines the spanwise penetration of the passage vortex, and different inlet turbulence intensities modify its mixing. Higher inlet turbulence intensities lead to a decrease of the secondary losses due to the passage vortex and an increase of end-wall losses.

Influence of magnetic field-dependent viscosity on Casson-based nanofluid boundary layers: A comprehensive analysis using Lie group and spectral quasi-linearization method

This study examines the effects of magnetic-field-dependent (MFD) viscosity on the boundary layer flow of a non-Newtonian sodium alginate-based Fe3O4 nanofluid over an impermeable stretching surface. The non-Newtonian Casson and homogeneous nanofluid models are utilized to derive the governing flow and heat transfer equations. Applying Lie group transformations to dimensional partial differential equations yields nondimensional ordinary differential equations, which are then numerically solved using the spectral quasi-linearization technique. The analysis primarily focuses on the impacts of the MFD viscosity parameter, nanoparticle volume fraction of Fe3O4, and magnetic parameters on the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The local skin friction and heat transfer rate behaviors influenced by viscosity changes due to the magnetic field are discussed. It is found that MFD viscosity significantly impacts flow and thermal energies, enhancing skin friction coefficients and reducing Nusselt numbers in the boundary layer region.

Turbulent activity in the near-wall region of adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers

Two direct numerical simulation (DNS) databases are investigated to understand the effect of the outer-layer turbulence on the inner layer’s structures and energy transfer mechanisms. The first DNS database is the non-equilibrium adverse-pressure-gradient (APG) turbulence boundary layer (TBL) of Gungor et al. [1]. Its Reynolds number and the inner-layer pressure gradient parameter reach above 8000 and 10, respectively. The shape factor spans between 1.4 and 3.3, which indicates the flow has various velocity defect situations. The second database is the same flow as the first one but the outer layer turbulence is artificially eliminated in this flow. Turbulence is removed above 0.15 local boundary layer thickness. For the analysis, we chose four streamwise positions with small, moderate, large, and very-large velocity defect. We compare the wall-normal distribution of Reynolds stresses, two-point correlations and spectral distributions of energy, production and pressure strain. The results show that the inner layer turbulence can sustain itself when the outer-layer turbulence does not exist regardless of the velocity defect or the pressure gradient. The two-point correlations of both cases show that outer large-scale structures affect the inner layer structures significantly. The streamwise extent of the correlation contours scales with pressure-viscous units. This shows the importance of the pressure gradient’s effect on the inner-layer structures. The spectral distributions demonstrate that the energy transfer mechanisms are probably the same in the inner layer regardless of the velocity defect, which suggests the near-wall cycle may exist even in very-large defect APG TBLs where the mean shear in the inner layer is considerably lower than small-defect APG TBLs.