Transverse curvature effects in turbulent boundary layer

✍ Scribed by J. Piquet; V.C. Patel

• Book ID: 104338149
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 318 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0376-0421
• DOI: 10.1016/s0376-0421(99)00007-x

✦ Synopsis

The e!ect of transverse surface curvature on the turbulent boundary layer is reviewed by recourse to experiments on axial #ow along a circular cylinder. Three #ow regimes are identi"ed depending on values of the two controlling parameters, namely, the Reynolds number and the ratio of the boundary layer thickness to cylinder radius. The boundary layer #ow resembles a wake when both parameters are large. As expected, the e!ect of curvature is small when the Reynolds number is large and the boundary layer is thin. When the boundary layer is thick and the Reynolds number is small, which is typical of laboratory investigations, the e!ect of transverse curvature is felt throughout the boundary layer with evidence for relaminarization at the low Reynolds numbers. This review describes the experimental evidence and points out gaps that remain.