The flapping shear layer formed by flow separation from the forward corner of a square cylinder

Abstract

The turbulent shear layer and the associated recirculation region on the sidewall formed in flow separation from the forward corner of a square cylinder have been studied with one-component laser-Doppler velocimetry. Because of vortex shedding, the flow is approximately periodic, and is treated as a separated flow undergoing largeamplitude forcing at the shedding frequency. Phase (ensemble)-averaged velocities and turbulence intensities were obtained, and a close relationship in phase and amplitude between phase-averaged turbulence intensities and gradients of phase-averaged velocity is found in much of the flow region. The similarity behaviour of the phase-averaged profiles in the shear layer as well as the streamwise growth of the shear layer are investigated. While phase-averaged velocity profiles collapse well in similarity coordinates, normalized turbulence intensities exhibit systematic deviations from similarity. Shear-layer growth also departs markedly from the linear growth law of unforced plane mixing layers. The effect of the recirculation is suggested as a possible explanation for some of these deviations. Similarities to and differences from steady and forced mixing layers, steady separated flows with recirculation, and unsteady boundary layers are discussed.