Characteristics of a separated flow past a semicircular leading-edge airfoil model under different imposed pressure gradient

Abstract

The effect of pressure gradient on a separated boundary layer past the leading edge of an airfoil model is studied experimentally using electronically scanned pressure (ESP) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) for a Reynolds number (Re) of 25,000, based on leading-edge diameter (D). The features of the boundary layer in the region of separation and its development past the reattachment location are examined for three cases of β (−30°, 0°, and +30°). The bubble parameters such as the onset of separation and transition and the reattachment location are identified from the averaged data obtained from pressure and velocity measurements. Surface pressure measurements obtained from ESP show a surge in wall static pressure for β = −30° (flap deflected up), while it goes down for β = +30° (flap deflected down) compared to the fundamental case, β = 0°. Particle image velocimetry results show that the roll up of the shear layer past the onset of separation is early for β = +30°, owing to higher amplification of background disturbances compared to β = 0° and −30°. Downstream to transition location, the instantaneous field measurements reveal a stretched, disoriented, and at instances bigger vortices for β = +30°, whereas a regular, periodically shed vortices, keeping their identity past the reattachment location, is observed for β = 0° and −30°. Above all, this study presents a new insight on the features of a separation bubble receiving a disturbance from the downstream end of the model, and these results may serve as a bench mark for future studies over an airfoil under similar environment.