Experimental and Numerical Study of Flow Structures Associated With Low Aspect Ratio Elliptical Cavities

Abstract

The flow regimes associated with 2:1 aspect ratio elliptical planform cavities of varying depth immersed in a turbulent boundary layer at a Reynolds number of 8.7 × 104, based on the minor axis of the cavity, have been quantified from particle image velocimetry measurements and three-dimensional steady computational fluid dynamics simulations (Reynolds stress model closure). Although these elliptical cavity flows have some similarities with nominally two-dimensional and rectangular cases, three-dimensional effects due to the low aspect ratio and curvature of the walls give rise to features exclusive to low aspect ratio elliptical cavities, including formation of cellular structures at intermediate depths and vortex structures within and downstream of the cavity.