Development of the Reattached Flow Behind Surface-Mounted Two-Dimensional Prisms

Abstract

Velocity and turbulence measurements are presented for the region after reattachment behind a two dimensional surface-mounted prism of varying length. The prism is mounted on the floor of an open circuit blow down wind tunnel and flow parameters for the developing boundary layer are deduced from the measurements; longitudinal integral time and length scales are estimated through autocorrelations. Reattchment on top of the prism, due to its increased length, affects the characteristics of the developing boundary layer; in this case the shear layer originating from the up-stream edge of the prism splits twice at reattachment points on top and behind the prism and the integral length scales of the turbulent eddies are found to be smaller due to the splitting.