A tensorially consistent near-wall second-order closure model is formulated. Redistributive terms in the Reynolds stress equations are modelled by an elliptic relaxation equation in order to represent strongly non-homogeneous effects produced by the presence of walls; this replaces the quasi-homogeneous algebraic models that are usually employed, and avoids the need for ad hoc damping functions. A quasi-homogeneous model appears as the source term in the elliptic relaxation equation-here we use the simple Rotta return to isotropy and isotropization of production formulae. The formulation of the model equations enables appropriate boundary conditions to be satisfied.

The model is solved for channel flow and boundary layers with zero and adverse pressure gradients. Good predictions of Reynolds stress components, mean flow, skin friction and displacement thickness are obtained in various comparisons to experimental and direct numerical simulation data.

The model is also applied to a boundary layer flowing along a wall with a 90°, constant-radius, convex bend. Because the model is of a general, tensorially invariant form, special modifications for curvature effects are not needed; the equations are simply transformed to curvilinear coordinates. The model predicts many important features of this flow. These include: the abrupt drop of skin friction and Stanton number at the start of the curve, and their more gradual recovery after the bend; the suppression of turbulent intensity in the outer part of the boundary layer; a region of negative (counter-gradient) Reynolds shear stress; and recovery from curvature in the form of a Reynolds stress ‘bore’ propagating out from the surface. A shortcoming of the present model is that it overpredicts the rate of this recovery.

A heat flux model is developed. It is shown that curvature effects on heat transfer can also be accounted for automatically by a tensorially invariant formulation.

Hot-film anemometer measurements have been carried out in a fully developed turbulent channel flow. An oil channel with a thick viscous sublayer was used, which permitted measurements very close to the wall. In the viscous sublayer between y+ ≃ 0·1 and y+ = 5, the streamwise velocity fluctuations decreased at a higher rate than the mean velocity; in the region y+ [lsim ] 0·1, these fluctuations vanished at the same rate as the mean velocity.

The streamwise velocity fluctuations u observed in the viscous sublayer and the fluctuations (∂u/∂y)0 of the gradient at the wall were almost identical in form, but the fluctuations of the gradient at the wall were found to lag behind the velocity fluctuations with a lag time proportional to the distance from the wall. Probability density distributions of the streamwise velocity fluctuations were measured. Furthermore, measurements of the skewness and flatness factors made by Kreplin (1973) in the same flow channel are discussed. Measurements of the normal velocity fluctuations v at the wall and of the instantaneous Reynolds stress −ρuv were also made. Periods of quiescence in the − ρuv signal were observed in the viscous sublayer as well as very active periods where ratios of peak to mean values as high as 30:1 occurred.

The purpose of this paper is to present numerical solutions for two-dimensional time-dependent flow about rectangles in infinite domains. The numerical method utilizes third-order upwind differencing for convection and a Leith type of temporal differencing. An attempted use of a lower-order scheme and its inadequacies are also described. The Reynolds-number regime investigated is from 100 to 2800. Other parameters that are varied are upstream velocity profile, angle of attack, and rectangle dimensions. The initiation and subsequent development of the vortex-shedding phenomenon is investigated. Passive marker particles provide an exceptional visualization of the evolution of the vortices both during and after they are shed. The properties of these vortices are found to be strongly dependent on Reynolds number, as are lift, drag, and Strouhal number. Computed Strouhal numbers compare well with those obtained from a wind-tunnel test for Reynolds numbers below 1000.

Direct simulations of the turbulent shear layer are performed for subsonic to supersonic Mach numbers. Fully developed turbulence is achieved with profiles of mean velocity and turbulence intensities that agree well with laboratory experiments. The thickness growth rate of the shear layer exhibits a large reduction with increasing values of the convective Mach number, Mc. In agreement with previous investigations, it is found that the normalized pressure–strain term decreases with increasing Mc, which leads to inhibited energy transfer from the streamwise to cross-stream fluctuations, to the reduced turbulence production observed in DNS, and, finally, to reduced turbulence levels as well as reduced growth rate of the shear layer. An analysis, based on the wave equation for pressure, with supporting DNS is performed with the result that the pressure–strain term decreases monotonically with increasing Mach number. The gradient Mach number, which is the ratio of the acoustic time scale to the flow distortion time scale, is shown explicitly by the analysis to be the key quantity that determines the reduction of the pressure–strain term in compressible shear flows. The physical explanation is that the finite speed of sound in compressible flow introduces a finite time delay in the transmission of pressure signals from one point to an adjacent point and the resultant increase in decorrelation leads to a reduction in the pressure–strain correlation.

The dependence of turbulence intensities on the convective Mach number is investigated. It is found that all components decrease with increasing Mc and so does the shear stress.

DNS is also used to study the effect of different free-stream densities parameterized by the density ratio, s = ρ2/ρ1, in the high-speed case. It is found that changes in the temporal growth rate of the vorticity thickness are smaller than the changes observed in momentum thickness growth rate. The momentum thickness growth rate decreases substantially with increasing departure from the reference case, s = 1. The peak value of the shear stress, uv, shows only small changes as a function of s. The dividing streamline of the shear layer is observed to move into the low-density stream. An analysis is performed to explain this shift and the consequent reduction in momentum thickness growth rate.

The translational and rotational drag coefficients for a cylinder undergoing uniform translational and rotational motion in a model lipid bilayer membrane is calculated from the appropriate linearized Navier–Stokes equations. The calculation serves as a model for the lateral and rotational diffusion of membrane-bound particles and can be used to infer the ‘microviscosity’ of the membrane from the measured diffusion coefficients. The drag coefficients are obtained exactly using dual integral equation techniques. The region of validity of an earlier asymptotic solution obtained by Saffman (1976) is elucidated.

This paper reports the results of a two-dimensional finite element simulation of the motion of a circular particle in a Couette and a Poiseuille flow. The size of the particle and the Reynolds number are large enough to include fully nonlinear inertial effects and wall effects. Both neutrally buoyant and non-neutrally buoyant particles are studied, and the results are compared with pertinent experimental data and perturbation theories. A neutrally buoyant particle is shown to migrate to the centreline in a Couette flow, and exhibits the Segré-Silberberg effect in a Poiseuille flow. Non-neutrally buoyant particles have more complicated patterns of migration, depending upon the density difference between the fluid and the particle. The driving forces of the migration have been identified as a wall repulsion due to lubrication, an inertial lift related to shear slip, a lift due to particle rotation and, in the case of Poiseuille flow, a lift caused by the velocity profile curvature. These forces are analysed by examining the distributions of pressure and shear stress on the particle. The stagnation pressure on the particle surface are particularly important in determining the direction of migration.

The paper presents the results of measurements of fluctuating lift and drag on a long square cylinder. The measurements include the correlation of lift along the cylinder and the distribution of fluctuating pressure on a cross-section. The magnitude of the fluctuating lift was found to be considerably greater than that for a circular cross-section and the spanwise correlation much stronger.

It was found that the presence of large-scale turbulence in the stream had a marked influence on both the steady and the fluctuating forces. The most significant changes were at small angles of attack (%alpha; < 10°) and included a reduction in base suction and a decrease in fluctuating lift of about 50%.

Approximate constitutive equations are derived for a dilute suspension of rigid spheroidal particles with Brownian rotations, and the behaviour of the approximations is explored in various flows. Following the suggestion made in the general formulation in part 1, the approximations take the form of Hand's (1962) fluid model, in which the anisotropic microstructure is described by a single second-order tensor. Limiting forms of the exact constitutive equations are derived for weak flows and for a class of strong flows. In both limits the microstructure is shown to be entirely described by a second-order tensor. The proposed approximations are simple interpolations between the limiting forms of the exact equations. Predictions from the exact and approximate constitutive equations are compared for a variety of flows, including some which are not in the class of strong flows analysed.

From a series of experiments using simplified mechanical models we suggest certain minor modifications to the Weis-Fogh (1973)–Lighthill (1973) explanation of the so-called ‘clap and fling’ mechanism for the generation of large lift coefficients by insects in hovering flight. Of particular importance is the production and motion of a leading edge, separation vortex that accounts for virtually all of the circulation generated during the initial phase of the ‘fling’ process. The magnitude of this circulation is substantially larger than that calculated using inviscid theory. During the motion that subsequently separates the wings, the vorticity over each of them is convected and combined to become a tip vortex of uniform circulation spanning the space between them. This combined vortex moves downwards as a part of a ring, of large impulse, that is then continuously fed from quasi-steady separation bubbles that move with the wings as they continue to open at a large angle of attack. Such effects are able to account for the large lift forces generated by the insect.

The development of a two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow generated from a circular cylinder impulsively started into rectilinear motion is studied computationally. An adaptative numerical scheme, based on vortex methods, is used to integrate the vorticity/velocity formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations for a wide range of Reynolds numbers (Re = 40 to 9500). A novel technique is implemented to resolve diffusion effects and enforce the no-slip boundary condition. The Biot–Savart law is employed to compute the velocities, thus eliminating the need for imposing the far-field boundary conditions. An efficient fast summation algorithm was implemented that allows a large number of computational elements, thus producing unprecedented high-resolution simulations. Results are compared to those from other theoretical, experimental and computational works and the relation between the unsteady vorticity field and the forces experienced by the body is discussed.

The separation of a two-dimensional laminar boundary layer under the influence of a suddenly imposed external adverse pressure gradient was studied by time-accurate numerical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations. It was found that a strong adverse pressure gradient created periodic vortex shedding from the separation. The general features of the time-averaged results were similar to experimental results for laminar separation bubbles. Comparisons were made with the ‘steady’ separation experiments of Gaster (1966). It was found that his ‘bursting’ occurs under the same conditions as our periodic shedding, suggesting that bursting is actually periodic shedding which has been time-averaged. The Strouhal number based on the shedding frequency, local free-stream velocity, and boundary-layer momentum thickness at separation was independent of the Reynolds number and the pressure gradient. A criterion for onset of shedding was established. The shedding frequency was the same as that predicted for the most amplified linear inviscid instability of the separated shear layer.

The structure and growth of the internal boundary layer which forms downstream of a sudden change from a smooth to a rough surface under zero pressure gradient conditions has been studied experimentally. To keep pressure disturbances due to the roughness change small, the level of the rough surface was depressed, so that the crest of the roughness was aligned with the level of the smooth surface. It has been found that, in the region near the change, the structure of the internal layer is largely independent of that in the almost undisturbed outer layer, whilst both the zero time delay and the moving axis integral length scales in the internal layer are significantly reduced below those on the smooth wall. The growth-rate of the internal layer is similar to that of the zero pressure gradient boundary layer, whilst the level of turbulence inside the internal layer is high because of the large turbulent energy production near the rough wall. From the mixing length results, and an analysis of the turbulent energy equation, it is deduced that the internal layer flow near the wall is not in energy equilibrium, and hence the concept of inner layer similarity breaks down. From an initially self-preserving state on the smooth wall, the turbulent boundary layer approaches a second self-preserving state on the rough wall well downstream of the roughness step.

The characteristics of thermal convection in a fluid whose viscosity varies strongly with temperature are studied in the laboratory. At the start of an experiment, the upper boundary of an isothermal layer of Golden Syrup is cooled rapidly and maintained at a fixed temperature. The fluid layer is insulated at the bottom and cools continuously. Rayleigh numbers calculated with the viscosity of the well-mixed interior are between 106 and 108 and viscosity contrasts are up to 106. Thermal convection develops only in the lower part of the thermal boundary layer, and the upper part remains stagnant. Vertical profiles of temperature are measured with precision, allowing deduction of the thickness of the stagnant lid and the convective heat flux. At the onset of convection, the viscosity contrast across the unstable boundary layer has a value of about 3. In fully developed convection, this viscosity contrast is higher, with a typical value of 10. The heat flux through the top of the layer depends solely on local conditions in the unstable boundary layer and may be written \[Q_{\rm s} = - CK_{\rm m} (\alpha g/\kappa \nu_{\rm m})^{\frac{1}{3}} \Delta T^{\frac{4}{3}}_{\rm v}\], where km and νm are thermal conductivity and kinematic viscosity at the temperature of the well-mixed interior, κ thermal diffusivity, α the coefficient of thermal expansion, g the acceleration due to gravity. ΔTv, is the ‘viscous’ temperature scale defined by \[\Delta T_{\rm v} = - \frac{\mu (T_{\rm m})}{({\rm d}\mu /{\rm d}T)(T_{\rm m})}\] where μ(T) is the fluid viscosity and Tm the temperature of the well-mixed interior. Constant C takes a value of 0.47 ± 0.03. Using these relations, the magnitude of temperature fluctuations and the thickness of the stagnant lid are calculated to be in excellent agreement with the experimental data. One condition for the existence of a stagnant lid is that the applied temperature difference exceeds a threshold value equal to (2ΔTv).

The three-dimensional resonant interaction of a plane Tollmien-Schlichting wave, having a frequency f1, with a pair of oblique waves having frequencies ½ f1, was observed and studied experimentally. In the initial stages, the interaction proved to be a parametric resonance, resulting in the amplification of small random priming (background) oscillations of frequency ½ f1, and of a packet of low-frequency oscillations. The resonant interaction of waves in a boundary layer was investigated also by introducing a priming oscillation with frequency f’ = ½ f1 + Δf for different values of the frequency detuning Δf. The importance of the discovered wave interaction in boundary-layer transition is demonstrated. Causes of realization of different types of laminar-flow breakdown are discussed.

The collisional dynamics of equal-sized water and normal-alkane droplets, in the 150 μm radius range, have been experimentally studied for situations involving 0(1) droplet Weber numbers and head-on to grazing impact parameters. Results show that in the parametric range investigated the behaviour of hydrocarbon droplets is significantly more complex than that of water droplets. For head-on collisions, while permanent coalescence always results for water droplets, the outcome is quite nonmonotonic for the hydrocarbon droplets in that, with increasing droplet Weber number, the collision can result in permanent coalescence, bouncing, permanent coalescence again, and coalescence followed by separation with or without production of satellite droplets. Similar complexities exist for off-centre collisions. Phenomenological explanations are offered for these observations based on the material properties of the fluids, the relative influences of the normal and shearing aspects of the collision, and the nature and extent of energy dissipation due to droplet deformation during collision.

The effect of high levels of free-stream turbulence on the transition in a Blasius boundary layer is studied by means of direct numerical simulations, where a synthetic turbulent inflow is obtained as superposition of modes of the continuous spectrum of the Orr–Sommerfeld and Squire operators. In the present bypass scenario the flow in the boundary layer develops streamwise elongated regions of high and low streamwise velocity and it is suggested that the breakdown into turbulent spots is related to local instabilities of the strong shear layers associated with these streaks. Flow structures typical of the spot precursors are presented and these show important similarities with the flow structures observed in previous studies on the secondary instability and breakdown of steady symmetric streaks.

Numerical experiments are performed by varying the energy spectrum of the incoming perturbation. It is shown that the transition location moves to lower Reynolds numbers by increasing the integral length scale of the free-stream turbulence. The receptivity to free-stream turbulence is also analysed and it is found that two distinct physical mechanisms are active depending on the energy content of the external disturbance. If low-frequency modes diffuse into the boundary layer, presumably at the leading edge, the streaks are induced by streamwise vorticity through the linear lift-up effect. If, conversely, the free-stream perturbations are mainly located above the boundary layer a nonlinear process is needed to create streamwise vortices inside the shear layer. The relevance of the two mechanisms is discussed.

The boundary layer develops along a flat plate with a Reynolds number high enough to sustain turbulence and allow accurate experimental measurements, but low enough to allow a direct numerical simulation. A favourable pressure gradient just downstream of the trip (experiment) or inflow boundary (simulation) helps the turbulence to mature without unduly increasing the Reynolds number. The pressure gradient then reverses, and the β-parameter rises from −0.3 to +2. The wall-pressure distribution and Reynolds number of the simulation are matched to those of the experiment, as are the gross characteristics of the boundary layer at the inflow. This information would be sufficient to calculate the flow by another method. Extensive automation of the experiment allows a large measurement grid with long samples and frequent calibration of the hot wires. The simulation relies on the recent ‘fringe method’ with its numerical advantages and good inflow quality. After an inflow transient good agreement is observed; the differences, of up to 13%, are discussed. Moderate deviations from the law of the wall are found in the velocity profiles of the simulation. They are fully correlated with the pressure gradient, are in fair quantitative agreement with experimental results of Nagano, Tagawa & Tsuji. and are roughly the opposite of uncorrected mixing-length-model predictions. Large deviations from wall scaling are observed for other quantities, notably for the turbulence dissipation rate. The a1 structure parameter drops mildly in the upper layer with adverse pressure gradient.

Direct numerical simulation of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations is used to study flows where laminar boundary-layer separation is followed by turbulent reattachment forming a closed region known as a laminar separation bubble. In the simulations a laminar boundary layer is forced to separate by the action of a suction profile applied as the upper boundary condition. The separated shear layer undergoes transition via oblique modes and Λ-vortex-induced breakdown and reattaches as turbulent flow, slowly recovering to an equilibrium turbulent boundary layer. Compared with classical experiments the computed bubbles may be classified as ‘short’, as the external potential flow is only affected in the immediate vicinity of the bubble. Near reattachment budgets of turbulence kinetic energy are dominated by turbulence events away from the wall. Characteristics of near-wall turbulence only develop several bubble lengths downstream of reattachment. Comparisons are made with two-dimensional simulations which fail to capture many of the detailed features of the full three-dimensional simulations. Stability characteristics of mean flow profiles are computed in the separated flow region for a family of velocity profiles generated using simulation data. Absolute instability is shown to require reverse flows of the order of 15–20%. The three-dimensional bubbles with turbulent reattachment have maximum reverse flows of less than 8% and it is concluded that for these bubbles the basic instability is convective in nature.

The purpose of this article is to show that the Navier–Stokes equations can be rewritten as a set of linearized inhomogeneous Euler equations (in convective form) with source terms that are exactly the same as those that would result from externally imposed shear-stress and energy-flux perturbations. These results are used to develop a mathematical basis for some existing and potential new jet noise models by appropriately choosing the ‘base flow’ about which the linearization is carried out.

The effect of viscous dissipation in natural convection is appreciable when the induced kinetic energy becomes appreciable compared to the amount of heat transferred. This occurs when either the equivalent body force is large or when the convection region is extensive. Viscous dissipation is considered here for vertical surfaces subject to both isothermal and uniform-flux surface conditions. A perturbation method is used and the first temperature perturbation function is calculated for Prandtl numbers from 10−2 to 104. The magnitude of the effect depends upon a dissipation number, which is not expressible in terms of the Grashof or the Prandtl number.