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Experimental investigation of the flow characteristics within a shallow wall cavity for both laminar and turbulent upstream boundary layers

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Abstract

The mean and turbulent flow fields were measured upstream, within, and downstream of a non-resonating shallow wall cavity subject to low Mach number flows with both laminar and turbulent upstream boundary layers. The laminar case displayed a cavity vortex that was stronger and more localized towards the trailing edge compared to the turbulent case with the same freestream velocity. The location of the maximum Reynolds shear stress in the shear layer rises slightly above the cavity mouth near the cavity centerline for the laminar case in contrast to the turbulent case, where it remains near or slightly below the cavity mouth across the entire cavity. Downstream of the cavity, the laminar and turbulent cases converged towards a common turbulent boundary layer. The non-resonating condition of the cavity was explored through comparisons with resonance criteria from previous experimental investigations.

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Abbreviations

D :

Depth of cavity

L :

Length of cavity in streamwise direction

M :

Mach number

Re :

Reynolds number based on U and L

Re δ :

Reynolds number based on U and δ

St :

Strouhal number based on frequency, L, and U

U :

Velocity of freestream (streamwise) flow

W :

Width of cavity

x, y, z :

Coordinates in streamwise, cavity depth, and cavity width directions

u :

Velocity in streamwise direction

v :

Velocity normal to streamwise direction (in cavity depth direction)

\(\langle {u}\ifmmode{'}\else$'$\fi{v}\ifmmode{'}\else$'$\fi\rangle \) :

Reynolds shear stress

\(\langle \rangle \) :

Average of the quantity

δ :

Boundary layer thickness immediately upstream of the cavity opening

δ*:

Boundary layer displacement thickness immediately upstream of the cavity opening

ε t :

Eddy viscosity

θ :

Boundary layer momentum thickness immediately upstream of the cavity opening

ω :

Vorticity

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Boston University for its financial support of this project. The experimental measurements were possible due to the efforts of Debora Compton and her graduate student John Stadnicki. Joe Estano is recognized for his help in producing the cavity models. Finally, Ted Farabee’s willingness to share his experienced insights into the cavity flow problem was greatly appreciated.

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Author notes

  1. W. Gary Dewar

    Present address: Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 110 Cummington St., Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Sheryl M. Grace, W. Gary Dewar & Donald E. Wroblewski

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  1. Sheryl M. Grace
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  3. Donald E. Wroblewski
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Correspondence to Sheryl M. Grace.

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M. Grace, S., Dewar, W.G. & E. Wroblewski, D. Experimental investigation of the flow characteristics within a shallow wall cavity for both laminar and turbulent upstream boundary layers. Exp Fluids 36, 791–804 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-003-0761-3

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