Date of Award

Fall 2011

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

J Klewicki

Abstract

The evolution of shear wake flow formed from the interaction of two turbulent boundary layers was investigated. Primary interest was given to the post-separation region, very close to the trailing edge of the splitter plate. Two velocity ratios and two trailing edge geometries were explored. Data were acquired using four-element hotwire traverses for multiple downstream locations. With these data sets, a comparison to DNS data, the mean streamwise velocity and its wall normal gradients, Reynolds stress and its gradient, velocity intensities, the mean momentum balance were analyzed. A primary finding is that, post-separation, the inertial terms in the mean momentum equation rapidly obtain leading order importance everywhere. Like in the boundary layers, the mean effect of turbulent inertia changes sign between wake center and the freestream. In this case, however, the change in sign denotes a change in the sign of the mean advection and Reynolds stress gradient term.

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