Laminar Separation Bubble Research Articles

Onset of absolute instability on a pitching aerofoil

A global transient linear stability analysis of the three-dimensional time-dependent flow around an aerofoil undergoing small-amplitude pitching motion is performed using the optimally time-dependent (OTD) framework. The most salient linear instabilities associated with the instantaneous basic state are computed and tracked over time. The resulting OTD modes reflect the variations in the basic state and can be used as predictors of its spatial and temporal evolution, including the formation of a laminar separation bubble and its gradual spanwise modulation via primary global instability, leading to secondary instability and finally rapid breakdown to turbulence. The study confirms and expands upon earlier stability analyses of the same case based on the local properties of spanwise averaged velocity profiles in the bubble that predicted the onset of absolute instability soon followed by rapid breakdown of the separation bubble. The three-dimensional structure of the most unstable OTD mode is extracted, which compares well with both the locally absolutely unstable mode and the evolution of the basic state itself.

Impact of Low Freestream Turbulence and Surface Roughness on the Flat-Plate Boundary Layer Transition Under a High-Lift Airfoil Pressure Gradient

Abstract Effects of low incoming freestream turbulence level (Tu < 1%) and surface roughness on the transition of flat-plate boundary layers under a high-lift airfoil pressure gradient have been investigated. Time-resolved streamwise and wall-normal velocity fields with surface roughness values of Ra/C = 0.065 × 10−5, 4.417 × 10−5, and 7.428 × 10−5 have been measured at a fixed Reynolds number of 5.2 × 105 and freestream turbulence intensity of 0.2%. For the reference smooth surface of Ra/C = 0.065 × 10−5, a laminar separation bubble forms from about 64% to 83% of the chord length. Increasing surface roughness has little impact on the laminar boundary layer separation onset but reduces the height and length of the separation bubble and induces earlier transition. For Ra/C = 4.417 × 10−5, displacement thickness during transition is slightly thinner and the overall momentum deficit is slightly lower than those for Ra/C = 0.065 × 10−5. For Ra/C = 7.428 × 10−5, the separation bubble becomes hardly visible as the transition mode approaches the attached mode, and turbulent mixing by the wall-bounded turbulence becomes dominant. In addition, the portion of turbulent wetted area increases due to earlier transition, and momentum deficit increases more rapidly in the turbulent wetted area. Thus, the overall momentum deficit for Ra/C = 7.428 × 10−5 is larger than that for Ra/C = 0.065 × 10−5.

Characteristics of Laminar Separation Bubble With Varying Leading-Edge Shapes and Deflections of the Trailing-Edge Flap

Abstract A series of implicit large eddy simulations (ILES) is carried out to examine the characteristics of a leading edge (LE) separation bubble. The test case comprises a flat plate with an elliptic leading edge (ELE), which is equipped with a trailing edge flap. Simulations are carried out (a) at three different flap angles (20 deg, 30 deg, 90 deg) and (b) using two different geometries of ELE where the ratio of the semimajor to semiminor axis is set to either 2:1 or 4:1. The flap is modeled using the immersed boundary method, which is computationally economical as it avoids regenerating the grid for varying flap angles. The results show that (a) the flow separates at lower flap deflection angles with a decrease in the aspect ratio of the ELE from 4:1 to 2:1 (b) an increase in the flap angle promotes separation at the LE due to an increase in the blockage in the bottom passage and a subsequent increase in the flow incidence at the leading edge. Simulations are also carried out using the γ−Reθ transition model and comparisons are drawn against ILES and experiments. Although the qualitative trends predicted using both ILES and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) agree with the experiments, both approaches predict relatively shorter separation bubbles. This is attributed to the excess flow blockage in experiments due to the support plates, which are not modeled in the simulations. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate the superior accuracy of ILES over the RANS model.

Flows past airfoils for the low-Reynolds number conditions of flying in Martian atmosphere

Fixed-wing aircraft with potential for long-duration flight and efficient manoeuvrability is expected to be the next frontier of Mars surface exploration. However, the feasibility of such an aircraft demands for wing airfoil suitable for low Reynolds flight conditions. In this framework, the paper deals with the computational study of two wing sections specifically designed for Mars exploration aircraft. Two-dimensional steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations, using the computational fluid dynamics tool SU2 with the γ−Reθ transition model and the XFoil panel flow solver, are performed to address airfoils’ aerodynamics. Computational tools are validated by simulating flow past the Eppler 387 airfoil at Re∞=60×103, and comparing the results with experimental data collected in wind tunnel experiments. Aerodynamic performances of optimal wing sections are investigated at Re∞=3.4×104 by considering pressure coefficients and skin friction coefficients. The application of a literature-based correlation, specifically tailored to identify transition and reattachment locations, is extended to separation point detection. Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis conducted on the studied airfoils revealed that separation occurs within the laminar regime. Additionally, examination of turbulent shear stresses highlighted the role of airfoil curvature in counterbalancing the suction defect produced by the laminar separation bubble. This curvature-induced effect was found to play a crucial role in optimizing airfoil efficiency.

Laminar separation bubble formation and bursting on a finite wing

The transient processes of laminar separation bubble (LSB) formation and bursting on a rectangular NACA 0018 wing are studied experimentally. A two-dimensional airfoil model is used as a baseline for the assessment of finite wing effects. The models are subjected to ramp changes in free-stream velocity causing the flow to switch between a state where an LSB forms and a state without reattachment. Lift force and particle image velocimetry measurements are used to relate the flow development to the aerodynamic loading. The lift coefficient of the airfoil exhibits substantial hysteresis, and the duration of the lift transients range from $10$ to $22$ convective time scales for bubble formation and $22$ to $30$ convective time scales for bursting. In contrast, the transient lift coefficients of the wing change gradually, with less hysteresis. The wing tip causes greater three-dimensionality in the separation bubble, whose thickness increases near the midspan where bursting is initiated. During bubble formation, the region of separated flow contracts towards the midspan. The gradual change in lift of the wing is linked to slower spanwise expansion and contraction of the separated flow region relative to the airfoil. On both models, the wavenumbers and amplitudes of disturbances in the separated shear layer rapidly change when reattachment initiates or ceases. Applying the bursting criterion of Gaster (Tech. Rep. Reports and Memoranda 3595. Aeronautical Research Council, London, 1967) to the bubble on the wing shows that bursting of the bubble at a single spanwise location is insufficient to cause complete spanwise failure of reattachment, and that the relationship between bursting parameters depends on spanwise position.

Aerodynamic optimization design of low reynolds number aerofoils based on induced laminar separation

At low Reynolds numbers, the design of aerofoils with a high lift-to-drag ratio (RLD) is crucial for enhancing the aerodynamic performance of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs). However, the transition from laminar to turbulent flow plays a dominant role in the aerodynamic performance of aerofoils at Low-Reynolds-Numbers (LRN). The laminar separation bubbles formed in laminar flow alter the effective aerofoil shape, reducing aerodynamic efficiency. Additionally, predicting the shape and location of the laminar separation bubbles becomes challenging due to its sensitivity to the flight environment. To design aerofoils suitable for low Reynolds number MAV applications, we optimize a high RLD aerofoil by inducing transition to improve the effective aerofoil shape in the flow field. The study reveals that excessive curvature can suppress the formation of laminar separation bubbles at the leading edge, redirecting separation to the midsection. This results in reduced aerofoil drag and enables a high lift distribution at the leading edge.

Influence of surface slip on hydrodynamics and flow field around a two-dimensional hydrofoil at a moderate Reynolds number

In the present study, the effects of surface slip on the hydrodynamics and flow around a two-dimensional National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 0012 hydrofoil are systematically investigated by numerical methods. The objective is to fully understand the effects of surface slip on the streamlined body. Three slip positions (both surfaces, the upper surface, the lower surface) and eight slip lengths (in a wide range from 1 to 500 μm) under 0°–10° angles of attack are fully investigated at a moderate Reynolds number of 1.0 × 106. Surface slip has been found to increase lift and reduce drag by postponing the flow transition, laminar separation bubble, and flow separation on the hydrofoil surface under both surfaces and the upper surface slip conditions. Slip has also been found to induce upshift of the mean velocity profile, decrease the displacement thickness, and mitigate the turbulent kinetic energy in the flow field. However, counterintuitive phenomenon occurs under the lower surface slip condition, where the total drag of the hydrofoil is increased compared to that under the no slip condition. Total drag increase is found mainly due to the increase in the pressure drag under small slip lengths and relatively large angles of attack. Flow maps demonstrating the complex interaction between different surface slip conditions and the flow field are further presented. The results suggest that surface slip can not only reduce drag, but also increase the drag of the streamlined body, which shall provide valuable insights for practical applications of slippery materials.

Direct numerical simulations of an airfoil undergoing dynamic stall at different background disturbance levels

Thin airfoil dynamic stall at moderate Reynolds numbers is typically linked to the sudden bursting of a small laminar separation bubble close to the leading edge. Given the strong sensitivity of laminar separation bubbles to external disturbances, the onset of dynamic stall on a NACA0009 airfoil section subject to different levels of low-amplitude free stream disturbances is investigated using direct numerical simulations. The flow is practically indistinguishable from clean inflow simulations in the literature for turbulence intensities at the leading edge of ${Tu} = 0.02\,\%$ . At slightly higher turbulence intensities of ${Tu} = 0.05\,\%$ , the bursting process is found to be considerably less smooth and strong coherent vortex shedding from the laminar separation bubble is observed prior to the formation of the dynamic stall vortex (DSV). This phenomenon is considered in more detail by analysing its appearance in an ensemble of simulations comprising statistically independent realisations of the flow, thus proving its statistical relevance. In order to extract the transient dynamics of the vortex shedding, the classical proper orthogonal decomposition method is generalised to include time in the energy measure and applied to the time-resolved simulation data of incipient dynamic stall. Using this technique, the dominant transient spatiotemporally correlated features are distilled and the wave train of the vortex shedding prior to the emergence of the main DSV is reconstructed from the flow data exhibiting dynamics of large-scale coherent growth and decay within the turbulent boundary layer.

Local correlations for predicting the transition process in separated flows tuned with a large experimental database

This work provides new correlations based on local variables for characterizing the transition process developing in the case of separated flows. The goal is to improve the capability of correlation-based transition models through the use of local variables. This may indeed simplify the implementation of the correlations into modern numerical codes, especially dealing with parallel computation and unstructured meshes. A large experimental database considering about 90 different flow conditions has been used to tune the present correlations. The database accounts for the variation of the flow Reynolds number, the free-stream turbulence intensity and the adverse pressure gradient affecting the boundary layer developing over a flat plate. The parameter variation induces the formation of both short and long laminar separation bubbles. The vorticity Reynolds number, based on the second invariant of the vorticity tensor, has been used as the main local variable for the activation of the transition process. Since it is proportional to the momentum thickness Reynolds number at the separation position, the vorticity Reynolds number (local) can be used in place of its counterpart based on the momentum thickness (integral), which is the variable usually adopted for activation of transition. Then, correlations providing a critical threshold for the vorticity Reynolds number promoting transition are tuned, for both short and long bubbles. These may be used into transition models to directly provide the location where the turbulence production needs to be activated. The proposed correlations have been validated using a second database not adopted for tuning and finally tested with data concerning a separated flow case in a low-pressure turbine cascade.

Freestream turbulence effects on low Reynolds number NACA 0012 airfoil laminar separation bubble and lift generation

Laminar separation bubbles (LSB's) over the suction surface of a wing at low Reynolds number (O(104)−O(106) based on the airfoil chord length) can significantly affect the aerodynamic performance of the wing, and pose a unique challenge for the predictive capabilities of simulation tools due to their high sensitivity to flow environments and wing surface conditions. In this work a series of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) low-order, and high-order accurate unstructured-grid-based numerical methods with varying model fidelity levels were used to study LSB physics over a NACA 0012 airfoil both in a clean freestream and in a turbulent freestream at a chord-based Reynolds number of 12,000. Lift production and time-averaged flow fields were compared with available experimental results. A major discovery is that in clean freestream flow a 3D high-order numerical scheme is necessary to capture LSB physics. This is due to the sensitivity of LSB-induced laminar-turbulent transition to flow conditions and boundary geometry at low Reynolds number. In freestream flows with moderate background turbulence (∼5%), 2D simulations failed to capture subtle 3D flow physics due to their intrinsic limitation, but can reasonably predict time-averaged airfoil performance. Similarity and distinction between freestream vortex-LSB interaction in 2D and eddy-LSB interaction in 3D were explained. The role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and Klebanoff modes in the transition of 3D airfoils were shown to be critical for understanding laminar-turbulent transition and LSB formation on airfoils in clean and turbulent freestreams.

Computable turbulence modeling of laminar-turbulent transition characterized boundary layer flows with the aid of artificial neural network

The continuous development of machine learning algorithms has stimulated the technological revolution on turbulence modeling for Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations. In this paper, a computable transition-enabled turbulence model is developed with the aid of an artificial neural network (ANN), which maps the relation between the mean flow variables from the shear stress transport (SST) model on coarse grid and the turbulent viscosity from SST-γ model on fine grid. It turns out that the ANN model can predict the aerodynamic integral quantities, transition onset location, laminar separation bubble structure, streamwise velocity distribution, etc. with superior accuracy and robustness for subsonic and moderate transonic airfoil flows. Meanwhile, the ANN model can significantly improve the convergence property with a much higher convergence speed of the model equation in comparison with traditional transition-enabled RANS model. Moreover, due to the lack of solving RANS model equations and use of grid interpolation technology, the computation speed of this ANN model is improved by a factor of about six over the conventional benchmark model. Therefore, the present computable ANN model provides a new perspective for high-efficiency simulation of transition-characterized flows in engineering applications.

Calorimetric wall-shear-stress microsensors for low-speed aerodynamics

This article describes the design, calibration, and testing of new calorimetric microsensors for the measurement of wall shear stress in low-speed aerodynamic flows. The sensors are made of three beams of platinum-plated silicon nitride suspended over a small cavity. Their range of operation and their bandwidth are of the order of ±10\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\pm 10$$\\end{document} Pa and 1 kHz, respectively. Results from experimental campaigns in a laminar separation bubble, a turbulent separation bubble, and on a NACA 0015 airfoil at low Reynolds number indicate a high sensitivity and an inherent capacity to measure instantaneous backflow. This demonstrates the capability of the new sensors to accurately determine the mean and fluctuating wall shear stress in laminar, transitional, and turbulent separating and reattaching flows.

Laminar separation bubble analysis by means of single–shot lifetime temperature sensitive paint in a water towing tank

A laminar separation bubble is studied on an SD7003 foil in a water towing tank at a Reynolds number of 6⋅104 and an angle of attack of 6∘ by means of the temperature sensitive paint single-shot lifetime method in order to resolve the footprints and dynamics of vortical structures at low inflow turbulence levels. A heat flux is created by applying a carbon based heating layer on the suction side of the foil. The influence of the surface heating on the transition behaviour is analyzed using 2D2C-PIV and found to be negligible. The results demonstrate the capability of the single-shot lifetime method to quantify salient time-averaged flow characteristics, as well as to resolve and characterize the footprints of the dominant coherent structures.

On the Fidelity of RANS-Based Turbulence Models in Modeling the Laminar Separation Bubble and Ice-Induced Separation Bubble at Low Reynolds Numbers on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Airfoil

The operational regime of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is distinguished by the dominance of laminar flow and the flow field is characterized by the appearance of Laminar Separation Bubbles (LSBs). Ice accretion on the leading side of the airfoil leads to the formation of an Ice-induced Separation Bubble (ISB). These separation bubbles have a considerable influence on the pressure, heat flux, and shear stress distribution on the surface of airfoils and can affect the prediction of aerodynamic coefficients. Therefore, it is necessary to capture these separation bubbles in the numerical simulations. Previous studies have shown that these bubbles can be modeled successfully using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) but are computationally costly. Also, for numerical modeling of ice accretion, the flow field needs to be recomputed at specific intervals, thus making LES and DNS unsuitable for ice accretion simulations. Thus, it is necessary to come up with a Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation-based model that can predict the LSBs and ISBs as accurately as possible. Numerical studies were performed to assess the fidelity of various RANS turbulence models in predicting LSBs and ISBs. The findings are compared with the experimental and LES data available in the literature. The structure of these bubbles is only studied from a pressure coefficient perspective, so an attempt is made in these studies to explain it using the skin friction coefficient distribution. The results indicate the importance of the use of transition-based models when dealing with low-Reynolds-number applications that involve LSB. ISB can be predicted by conventional RANS models but are subjected to high levels of uncertainty. Possible recommendations were made with respect to turbulence models when dealing with flows involving LSBs and ISBs, especially for ice accretion simulations.

Direct numerical simulation and mode analysis of turbulent transition flow in a compressor blade channel

The separation and turbulent transition of the flow in a compressor blade channel are investigated through direct numerical simulations (DNS) at a Reynolds number of 1.367 × 105. Based on the original DNS data, both time-averaged statistics and instantaneous vortex structures of the flow field are extensively analyzed. The vortices are visualized and studied by the Liutex method, and the streaming dynamic mode decomposition (SDMD), a low-storage variant of conventional DMD, is applied to the large datasets obtained on both pressure and suction sides. The physical quantity analyzed with SDMD is the Liutex magnitude R. The DNS results indicate that flow separation occurs on both sides of the blade. On the pressure surface, the separation is weak and the flow remains in a natural transition dominated by viscous Tollmien–Schlichting instabilities. In contrast, owing to the presence of a large laminar separation bubble, the flow experiences a separation transition governed by inviscid Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities on the suction surface. The SDMD results suggest that a broad range of vortex frequencies exist in the transition flow, and the scale of the spatial structures is negatively correlated with the frequency of the mode. On the pressure surface, the extracted SDMD modes are primarily related to Kelvin–Helmholtz rolls, whereas on the suction side, influenced by the separated boundary layer, the modal structures exhibit greater diversity.

The Effect of Riblets on the Aerodynamic Performance of NACA 0018 Airfoil

In this numerical study, riblets on the airfoil were utilized to enhance the aerodynamic performance of NACA0018 airfoil. Riblets of identical height and base length are strategically placed on the suction surface of the airfoil with varying spacing ratios along the flow direction (x) and chord length (c), specifically x/c = 0.3 and 0.7. Four distinct riblet airfoil models are subjected to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis within an angle of attack range from 0° to 21° at a Reynolds number of Re=1×105. The obtained results are systematically compared with the performance of the plain airfoil. Numerical analyses reveal the significant influence of the spacing ratio on flow control and the overall aerodynamic performance of the airfoil, establishing a direct relationship with riblet spacing. The presence of riblet structures is observed to increase the lift coefficient, concurrently delaying the stall angle up to 19°. Notably, the ribbed structures effectively mitigate the interaction between the laminar separation bubble and trailing edge separation, leading to a reduction in turbulent kinetic energy values.

Aerodynamic Performance of a Finite-Span Wing in a Time-Varying Freestream

The current study analyzes the dynamic response of a NACA 0015 finite-span wing to a time-varying freestream in an unsteady wind tunnel at a mean Reynolds number of 1.0×105. The aerodynamic response of the wing can be categorized based on the angle of attack and the degree of flow separation on the suction side of the wing. When the suction side is dominated by separated flow, either at low angles of attack with long laminar separation bubbles or at high, poststall, angles of attack, the lift is enhanced by the favorable pressure gradient during freestream acceleration and decremented by the adverse pressure gradient during freestream deceleration. In these cases, the sectional lift coefficient is shown to oscillate by as much as ±0.1 due to the unsteady pressure gradient. Comparatively, regions of attached flow on the wing surface remain largely unaffected by the time-varying conditions, regardless of the reduced frequency. Discrepancies between the measured lift and the estimated response from Isaacs’s theory demonstrate that the coupling between the viscous flow separation and the unsteady conditions dominates the unsteady aerodynamic response.

Swing and reverse swing of a cricket ball: laminar separation bubble, secondary vortex and wing-tip-like vortices

Large eddy simulation of flow past a cricket ball with its seam at $30^\circ$ to the free stream is carried out for $5 \times 10^4 \le Re \le 4.5 \times 10^5$ . Three regimes of flow are identified on the basis of the time-averaged swing force coefficient ( $\bar {C}_Z$ ) – no swing (NS), conventional swing (CS, $\bar {C}_Z>0$ ) and reverse swing (RS, $\bar {C}_Z<0$ ). The effect of seam on the boundary layer is investigated. Contrary to the popular belief, the boundary layer does not transition to a turbulent state in the initial stages of CS. The seam energizes the laminar boundary layer and delays its separation. The delay is significantly larger in a region near the poles, whose extent increases with an increase in $Re$ causing $\bar {C}_Z$ to increase. Here $\bar {C}_Z$ assumes a near constant value in the later stage of CS. The boundary layer transitions to a turbulent state via formation of a laminar separation bubble (LSB) in the equatorial region and directly, without a LSB, in the polar region. The extent of the LSB shrinks while the region of direct transition near the poles increases with an increase in $Re$ . A LSB forms on the non-seam side of the ball in the RS regime. A secondary vortex is observed in the wake bubble. While it exists on the non-seam side for the entire range of $Re$ considered, the mixing in the flow introduced by the seam causes it to disappear beyond a certain $Re$ on the seam side. The pressure difference between the seam and non-seam sides sets up wing-tip-like vortices. Their polarity reverses with the switch from the CS to RS regime.

Nonlinear Evolution of Instabilities in a Laminar Separation Bubble at Hypersonic Speeds

The development of both convective stationary perturbation and global instabilities in the vicinity of a laminar separation bubble above an axisymmetric compression corner in hypersonic flow was investigated using numerical simulations. The flow configuration of interest corresponded to the cone–cylinder–flare model used in experimental measurements in the Boeing/U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Mach-6 Quiet Tunnel (BAMQT) at Purdue University. For a flare angle of 10 deg and unit Reynolds number of 11.5×106 m−1, their surface flow visualizations identified the presence of streamwise elongated thermal streaks near the reattachment location that had a dominant azimuthal wave number m=36. Previous linear stability analyses predicted that the amplification characteristics of small-amplitude, unsteady, and convective instabilities within this flow were consistent with the surface pressure fluctuations measured in the experiment. However, their accompanying investigation of global instabilities showed that the separation bubble was weakly unstable at the 10 deg flare angle, with the most unstable global mode corresponding to a stationary disturbance with m≈5–6 (i.e., well below the measured wave number of m=36. Besides characterizing the global instability for selected flare angles, the present numerical simulations quantify the details of the stationary equilibrium state associated with supercritical bifurcation resulting from the nonlinear saturation of the unstable global mode. Although velocity perturbations associated with the saturated global mode are dominated by the fundamental spanwise wavelength associated with the linear global instability, the surface heat flux downstream of the reattachment is dominated by m=36, in agreement with the experimental measurements.

Insights into the transition of separation bubble over a rough surface at varying angles of attack

The evolution of a separated boundary layer on the rough surface in the vicinity of a leading edge of a model airfoil is documented at varying angles of attack. Particle image velocimetry and hotwire data are analyzed to elucidate the flow feature, depicting the manifestation of the shear layer, its rollup, growth of perturbations, spectral response, and intermittency. For a hydrodynamically smooth surface, a laminar separation bubble often appears near the leading edge, where the shear layer becomes inviscidly unstable. Wall roughness amplifies the near-wall perturbations, resulting in earlier transition and reattachment. This leads to a reduction in bubble length and laminar shear layer length compared to the smooth surface at the corresponding angle of attack. Notably, despite the amplification of selective frequency, the inviscid instability is bypassed on the rough surface for varying angles of attack. Moreover, the linear stability analysis proves inadequate in predicting the most amplified frequency and the growth of disturbances. Furthermore, the universal intermittency curve formulated for the bypass transition is valid for the separation-induced transition, illustrating the significance of viscous effect.