Organized structures in a reattaching separated flow field

Abstract

Spanwise structures in a two-dimensional reattaching separated flow were studied using multisensor hot-wire anemometry techniques. The results of these measurements strongly support the existence and importance of large-scale vortices in both the separated and reattached regions of this flow. Upstream of reattachment, vortex pairings are indicated and the spanwise structures attain correlation scales closely comparable to previously measured mixing-layer vortices. These large-scale vortices retain their organization far downstream of the reattachment region. However, pairing interactions appear to be strongly inhibited in this region. It is suggested that large-scale vortex dynamics are primarily responsible for some of the important time-averaged features of this flow. Notably, the reduction of turbulence energy in the reattachment region and the slow transition of the mean flow downstream of reattachment are attributed to effects associated with these vortices.