Turbulence

MIDTERM COVERAGE
 Topic Discussions:
1. Introduction to Boundary Layers
2. Laminar Boundary Layers
3. Turbulent Boundary Layers
4. Wake Turbulence
5. Flow separation
6. Flow Transition
7. Flat plate analysis
8. Implications of Turbulent flows in wind tunnel testing
Introduction to Boundary Layers

 In Aerodynamics, a “Boundary Layer” is defined as a region of

fluid flow adjacent to a surface where the flow is retarded by the
influence of friction between a solid surface and a fluid.
 It is a flow field that encapsulates an object in transit of a fluid
medium.
 Boundary Layers are categorized based on the nature of their
flow, they can be either “Laminar” or “Turbulent”.
 A point at which a boundary layer fluid flow changes to a
different one is called the “transition point”.
 A thin region from the body towards the freestream flow where
the velocity and pressure profiles of the fluid flow are seen to be
significantly different than the freestream flow.
Introduction to Boundary Layers
Introduction to Boundary Layers
Introduction to Boundary Layers
Introduction to Boundary Layers
 Laminar Boundary Layers

 Characterized by smooth, streamlined, organized and “layered”

flow patterns.
 Promotes less aerodynamic drag (induced drag)
 Less skin friction drag
 Fluid flow is uniform and less energetic, wherein molecular
kinetic energy and momentum gradually decreases
 Happens at lower Re (Reynold’s number) where viscous forces
outweighs inertial forces of the fluid, around an order of
magnitude < 103
 Thinner but gradual velocity profile
 Prone to early fluid flow separation
Laminar Boundary Layers
Laminar Boundary Layers
Laminar Boundary Layers
Laminar Boundary Layers
 Turbulent Boundary Layers

 Characterized by random, disorganized vortical flow patterns (eddies),

wherein instead of being uniformly layered, as with laminar flow, it is
“inter-mixing” within layers.
 Causes more aerodynamic drag (induced drag)
 More skin friction drag
 Fluid flow is chaotic and is seen to be more energetic, wherein molecular
kinetic energy and momentum is maintained due to sudden velocity
fluxes caused by vortices.
 Happens at higher Re (Reynold’s number) where inertial forces overcome
viscous forces of the fluid, around an order of magnitude > 104
 Thicker but steeper velocity profile
 Less prone to flow separation
Turbulent Boundary Layers
Turbulent Boundary Layers
Turbulent Boundary Layers
Turbulent Boundary Layers
 Wake Turbulence

 Wake turbulence is a disturbance in the atmosphere that forms

behind an aircraft as it passes through the air. It includes various
components, the most important of which are wingtip vortices.
 Occurs when a wing is generating lift.
 The strength of wingtip vortices is determined primarily by the
weight and airspeed of the aircraft.
 Wake turbulence is especially hazardous in the region behind an
aircraft in the takeoff or landing phases of flight.
 Reducing wake turbulence would also mean the reduction of the
aircraft’s induced drag, thus improving it’s fuel efficiency.
Wake Turbulence
Wake Turbulence
 Methods of reducing wake
turbulence
 Wake turbulence can be mitigated by means of adding fences or
“winglets” right at the wingtips. This prevents high pressure air from
going over the top of the wing or where the low pressure region of
air resides, thus reducing the intensity of wingtip vortices, and in
turn, reduces the aircraft’s induced drag, thus improving fuel
efficiency.
 Richard T. Whitcomb was among the first aerodynamicist to
recognize the effectiveness of adding a supplementary “vertical
wing” near the wingtips of aircraft wings, in order to mitigate the
negative effects of wake turbulence.
 These fences or “winglets” attached to the wingtips of aircraft wings
are generally referred to as “wingtip devices” and they take various
forms and consequently varying degrees of efficiency.
Methods of reducing wake
turbulence
Methods of reducing wake turbulence

Winglet
Methods of reducing wake turbulence

Wingtip fence
Methods of reducing wake turbulence
Blended
winglet
Methods of reducing wake turbulence

Raked
wingtips
Methods of reducing wake turbulence
Winged
Rotors
Methods of reducing wake turbulence
Scimitar
Propellers
 Flow Separation
 Happens where adverse pressure gradients or
“positive” pressure gradient are present, or the
region where a fluid flow encounters low-to-high
pressure areas.
 Occurs around a “mini-stagnation” or the transition
point where the velocity gradient is slow enough to
allow recirculated air, further downstream, to go up
and over itself, causing turbulent flow separation.
Flow Separation
Flow Separation
Flow Separation
Flow Separation
 Flow Separation
 Flow separation occurs when the boundary layer travels far
enough against an adverse pressure gradient that the speed of the
boundary layer relative to the object falls almost to zero. The fluid
flow becomes detached from the surface of the object, and instead
takes the forms of eddies and vortices.
 Flow separation is dangerous when it occurs more towards the
trailing edge of the airfoil, especially on aircraft wings.
 A well put together aircraft wing will as much as possible delay the
effects of flow separation.
 Inhibiting flow separation far aft of an airfoil as possible would
mean an increase in the aircraft’s overall performance, especially
on fuel economy due to reduced drag, better flight control
characteristics, and more importantly a significant reduction in
stall speed.
 The main contributing factor in the formation of aerodynamic drag.
Flow Separation
Flow Separation
Flow Separation
 Flow Separation

The Mythbusters conducted an experiment that compared the MPG (miles

per gallon) of a regular car versus a car that had dimples. The result was an
11% increase in the mileage per gallon of the dimpled car compared to the
regular one.
Methods of preventing flow separation
 Vortex Generators – are small devices attached on an aircraft’s wing,
usually on the leading edge, where it trips the oncoming air to form
turbulent boundary layers, thus preventing early flow separation, and
consequently improving flight controls and reduces stall speed by a
significant margin.
 Leading Edge Root Extensions (LERX) – Are triangular fillets blended
between an aircraft’s forward fuselage to its wing leading edge, used
to induce turbulent vortices along the aircraft’s length when
performing high angle of attack maneuvers, and thus prevents it from
stalling.
 Boundary Layer Suction – Another way of preventing flow separation is
by mechanically sucking in air on areas of the wing prone to flow
separation and thus inhibiting potential separation due to the gradual
retardation of the flow.
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation
Methods of preventing flow separation

The Northrop X-21 first investigated the concept of using boundary

layer control devices, in order to prevent flow separation therefore
reducing drag and consequently reducing fuel consumption. The
aircraft facilitated two big air compressors underneath the wing
which are used to suck-in air to promote uniform laminar flow.
 Flow Transition
 Transition is the process by which a laminar
flow becomes turbulent. In most cases, a
laminar flow will become turbulent when the
Reynolds number increases above a certain
value.
 The following images are reconstructions of
the Reynolds experiment in the 1880s. Dye
was injected along the centreline of a pipe
through which water flows steadily.
 In the top image, the dye remained along
the centreline, indicating laminar ow. As Re
was increased, the flow underwent transition
(middle) and eventually became turbulent
(bottom).
 Flow Transition
 Transition is a very complex process and its prediction remains a topic of intense
research. Transition may be triggered by various types of flow disturbances, which could be
due to the following causes:
o wall roughness or obstructions (boundary layer trips)
o free stream turbulence
o acoustic noise, namely, pressure fluctuations
o pressure gradient
o surface heating or cooling
o suction or blowing of fluid from the wall
o wall curvature
o compressibility
o many other sources of disturbances.
Flow Transition
Flow Transition
 Flat Plate Analysis

 Flat plate analysis on boundary layers helps us

approximate boundary layer viscous flow behaviors in
a simplified and controlled form.
 Helps us better understand how viscous flow affects
certain parameters such as drag calculation, and how
to use working boundary layer equations in
engineering terms.
 Most essential in the approximation of drag
computations for both laminar and turbulent flows.
Flat Plate Analysis
Flat Plate Boundary Layer
Equations
 Implications of turbulent flows in
wind tunnel testing
 It is important to understand the concept of turbulence and its impact on
aerodynamic bodies. Predicting its behavior has been the subject of intense
research and development throughout the decades.
 Understanding turbulence through wind tunnel testing has helped us
aeronautical engineers create better and more fuel efficient means of making
our airplanes fly enormous distances.
 Aerodynamicists such as Richard T. Whitcomb, whose work has contributed a
lot to modern day aerodynamics, most notably his work on supercritical airfoils,
the area rule, anti-shock bodies, & the winglet, which have been widely used by
modern day civilian and military planes alike.
 In conducting wind tunnel tests itself, it is essential that we understand where
turbulent flows will normally occur and the appropriate measures to reduce or
as much as possible cancel out turbulent flows inside the wind tunnel,
especially inside the test section, where important data-gathering is conducted.