Heat Transfer Downstream of a Leading Edge Separation Bubble

Abstract

Experiments for flow about a two-dimensional blunt body with a circular leading edge are described. Measurements of the free-stream and boundary-layer velocity distributions are presented and indicate that a small separation “bubble” existed where the leading edge joined the body. In particular, it was found that the laminar leading edge boundary layer separated and reattached shortly downstream as a turbulent boundary layer with a low-momentum thickness Reynolds number. Heat transfer measurements around the body are also presented and show almost an order of magnitude increase across the bubble. Downstream of the bubble, however, the heat transfer could be correlated by a slightly modified turbulent flat plate equation using the separation point as the virtual origin of the heated turbulent boundary layer.