Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Backward-Facing Step Flow

Abstract

Laser-Doppler measurements of velocity distribution and reattachment length are reported downstream of a single backward-facing step mounted in a two-dimensional channel. Results are presented for laminar, transitional and turbulent flow of air in a Reynolds-number range between 70 and 8,000. The experimental results show that the various flow regimes are characterized by typical variations of the separation length with Reynolds number. The reported laser-Doppler measurements yield the expected primary zone of recirculating flow attached to the backward-facing step, and show additional regions of flow separation downstream of the step and on both sides of the channel test section. The experiments showed that the flow downstream of the step only remained two-dimensional at low and high Reynolds numbers. The present study also included numerical predictions of backward-facing step flow. Refs.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0022-1120

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1983 Begell House, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1983

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