Numerical study of separation on the trailing edge of a symmetrical airfoil at a low Reynolds number

This study focuses on the trailing-edge separation of a symmetrical airfoil at a low Rey-nolds number. Finite volume method is adopted to solve the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes （RANS） equation. Flow of the symmetrical airfoil SD8020 at a low Reynolds number has been simulated. Laminar separation bubble in the flow field of the airfoil is observed and process of unsteady bubble burst and vortex shedding from airfoil surfaces is investigated. The time-dependent lift coefficient is characteristic of periodic fluctuations and the lift curve varies nonlinearly with the attack of angle. Laminar separation occurs on both surfaces of airfoil at small angles of attack. With the increase of angle of attack, laminar separation occurs and then reattaches near the trailing edge on the upper surface of airfoil, which forms laminar separation bubble. When the attack of angle reaches certain value, the laminar separation bubble is unstable and produces two kinds of large scale vortex, i.e. primary vortex and secondary vortex. The periodic processes that include secondary vortex production, motion of secondary vortex and vortex shedding cause fluctuation of the lift coefficient. The periodic time varies with attack of angle. The secondary vortex is relatively stronger than the primary vortex, which means its influence is relatively stronger than the primary vortex.

Numerical analysis of flow separation zone in a confluent meander bend channel

The flow pattern in the confluent meander bend channel under the conditions of different discharge ratios and junction angles is numerically simulated by means of the large eddy simulation（LES）, and the characteristics of the flow separation zone are analyzed. Numerical results are well validated by experimental data with a good agreement. Analysis of the vertical confinement shows that the turbulence within the separation zone can be characterized as quasi-2-D. Details of the separation zone characteristics are revealed as shown by mean velocity isolines. According to the analysis of numerical results, the length and the width of the separation zone generally increase with the increase of the discharge ratio and the junction angle. However, the width of the separation zone keeps substantially constant when the junction angle increases from 60 o to90o. The dimensionless shape of the separation zone is nearly the same for three discharge ratios and three junction angles. The formulas of the relative width and the relative length of the separation zone are obtained by means of the polynomial fit method.

APPLICATION OF VORTEX-IN-CELL METHOD IN THE RANDOM DISCRETE VORTEX SIMULATION FOR THE SEPARATED FLOW AROUND A CIRCULAR CYLINDER

The vortex-in-cell method in the discrete vortex simulation for the separated flow around a bluff body is discussed,Some improvements are made.The separated flow around a circular cylinder in oscillatory flow is investigated.