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Direct numerical simulations of laminar separation bubbles: investigation of absolute instability and active flow control of transition to turbulence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2014

Martin Embacher  and
H. F. Fasel
Martin Embacher*
Affiliation:
Institut für Aero- und Gasdynamik (IAG), Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 21, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
H. F. Fasel
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1130 North Mountain, PO Box 210119, Tucson, AZ 85719-0119, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: martin.embacher@gmail.com
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Abstract

Laminar separation bubbles generated on a flat plate by an adverse pressure gradient are investigated using direct numerical simulations (DNSs). Two-dimensional periodic forcing is applied at a blowing/suction slot upstream of separation. Control of separation through forcing with various frequencies and amplitudes is examined. For the investigation of absolute instability mechanisms, baseflows provided by two-dimensional Navier–Stokes calculations are analysed by introducing pulse disturbances and computing the three-dimensional flow response using DNS. The primary instability of the time-averaged flow is investigated with a local linear stability analysis. Employing a steady flow solution as baseflow, the nonlinear and non-parallel effects on the self-sustained disturbance development are illustrated, and a feedback mechanism facilitated by the upstream flow deformation is identified. Secondary instability is investigated locally using spatially periodic baseflows. The flow response to pulsed forcing indicates the existence of an absolute secondary instability mechanism, and the results indicate that this mechanism is dependent on the periodic forcing. Results from three-dimensional DNS provide insight into the global instability mechanisms of separation bubbles and complement the local analysis. A forcing strategy was devised that suppresses the temporal growth of three-dimensional disturbances, and as a consequence, breakdown to turbulence does not occur. Even for a separation bubble that has transitioned to turbulence, the flow relaminarizes when applying two-dimensional periodic forcing with proper frequencies and amplitudes.

JFM classification

Instability: Absolute/convective instability Boundary Layers: Boundary layer separation Flow Control: Instability control
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 747 , 25 May 2014 , pp. 141 - 185
Copyright
© 2014 Cambridge University Press 

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