Three Dimensional Separated Flow Topology

This book develops concepts and a methodology for a rational description of the organization of three-dimensional flows considering, in particular, the case where the flow is the place of separations. The descriptive analysis based on the critical point theory of Poincaré develops conventional but rather unfamiliar considerations from aerodynamicists, who face the understanding of complex flows including multiple separation lines and vortices. These problems concern industrial sectors where aerodynamics plays a key role, such as aerospace, ground vehicles, buildings, etc. Contents 1. Skin Friction Lines Pattern and Critical Points. 2. Separation Streamsurfaces and Vortex Structures. 3. Separated Flow on a Body. 4. Vortex Wake of Wings and Slender Bodies. 5. Separation Induced by an Obstacle or a Blunt Body. 6. Reconsideration of the Two-Dimensional Separation. 7. Concluding Remarks. About the Authors Jean Délery is a Supaero (French National Higher School of Aeronautics and Space) engineer who has worked at Onera (French national aerospace research center) since 1964. He has participated in several major French and European aerospace programs, is the author of many scientific publications, and has occupied various teaching positions particularly at Supaero, the University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin, Ecole polytechnique in France and “La Sapienza” University in Rome, Italy. He is currently emeritus adviser at Onera.

A concise mathematical framework is constructed to study the topology of steady 3-D separated flows of an incompressible, or a compressible viscous fluid. Flow separation is defined by the existence of a stream surface which intersects with the body surface. The line of separation is itself a skin-friction line. Flow separation is classified as being either regular or singular, depending respectively on whether the line of separation contains only a finite number of singular points or is a singular line of the skin-friction field. The special cases of 2-D and axisymmetric flow separation are shown to be of singular type. In regular separation it is shown that a line of separation originates from a saddle point of separation of the skin-friction field and ends at nodal points of separation. Unsteady flow separation is defined relative to a coordinate system fixed to the body surface. It is shown that separation of an unsteady 3-D incompressible viscous flow at time t, when viewed from such a frame of reference, is topologically the same as that of the fictitious steady flow obtained by freezing the unsteady flow at the instant t. Examples are given showing effects of various forms of flow unsteadiness on flow separation. Hui, W. H. Unspecified Center NAGW-575; RTOP 505-31-01-01...

Possible topological structures of three-dimensional separated flows are studied on a hemisphere-cylinder at incidence. By means of a systematic variation of flow parameters a manifold of skin-friction patterns is produced. It is established that they develop from three basic structures simply by successive splitting of saddles in saddle-node-saddle combinations. The adjoining spatial flow field is visualized in low Reynolds number water tunnel flow, where similar kind of skin friction pattern develops as in fully turbulent flow. Velocity field measurements in the separated region on a rectangular wing indicate that on both models a similar topological structure, including unsteady effects, is possible. (Author).

This volume contains 37 contributions in which the research work is summarized which has been carried out between 1984 and 1990 in the Priority Research Program "Physik abgeloster Stromungen" of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Society). The aim of the Priority Research Program was the inten sive research of the whole range of phenomena associated with separated flows. Physi cal models as well as prediction methods had to be developed based on detailed experi mental investigations. It was in accordance with the main concept of the research program that scientists working on problems of separated flows in different technical areas of application participated in this program. The following fields have been represented in the program: aerodynamics of wings and bodies, aerodynamics of auto mobiles, turbomachinery, ship hydrodynamics, hydraulics, internal flows, heat exchan gers, bio-fluid-dynamics, aerodynamics of buildings and structures. In order to concentrate on problems common in all those areas the emphasis of the program was on basic research dealing with generic geometric configurations showing the fundamental physical phenomena of separated flows. The engagement and enthusiasm of all participating scientists are highly appreciated. The program was organized such that all researchers met once a year to report on the progress of their work. Special thanks ought to go to Prof. E. A. Muller (Gottingen), Prof. H. Oertel jun. (Braunschweig), Dr. W. Schmidt (Dornier), Dr. H. -W. Stock (Dornier) and Dr. B. Wagner (Dornier), who had the functions of referees on those annual meetings.