Mean Flow Characteristics of Redeveloping Flows

Abstract

Turbulent boundary layer flow past a bluff body placed on a boundary is characterized by the formation of a standing eddy just downstream of the separation point and reattachment and redevelopment of the flow downstream of the reattachment point. Atmospheric boundary layer flow past buildings and shelter belts (used in agriculture), the spread of polluted air in the vicinity of buildings, evaporation, and other exchange processes near vegetation cover are some of the practical problems in which the knowledge of the characteristics of a redeveloping boundary layer would be extremely useful. The present study was undertaken to study the mean flow characteristics of the turbulent boundary layer disturbed by the presence of an obstacle on a flat surface. The experiments reported in this paper are restricted to the redeveloping boundary layer flow past two‐dimensional, sharp‐edged fences placed over a flat boundary. Data on redeveloping boundary layer flow past obstacles of other shapes, collected by other investigators, are also used in the analysis.