An experimental and computational study of the post-collisional flow induced by an impulsively rotated sphere. (25th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calabretto, Sophie A. W.; Denier, James P.; Levy, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Journal of fluid mechanics. Volume 881(2019)
• Page Start: 772
• Page End: 793
• Publication Date: 2019-10-25
• Subjects: boundary layer separation, -- boundary layer receptivity, -- absolute/convective instability; Fluid mechanics -- Periodicals; 532.005
• DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2019.783
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1120

Abstract

Abstract : The unsteady flow due to a sphere, immersed in a quiescent fluid, and suddenly rotated, is a paradigm for the development of unsteady boundary layers and their collision. Such a collision arises when the boundary layers on the surface of the sphere are advected towards the equator, where they collide, serving to generate a radial jet. We present the first particle image velocimetry measurements of this collision process, the resulting starting vortex and development of the radial jet. Coupled with new computations, we demonstrate that the post-collision steady flow detaches smoothly from the sphere's surface, in qualitative agreement with the analysis of Stewartson ( Grenzschichtforschung/Boundary Layer Research (ed. H. Görtler), Springer, 1958, pp. 60–70), with no evidence of a recirculation zone, contrary to the conjectured structure of Smith & Duck ( Q. J. Mech. Appl. Maths, vol. 20, 1977, pp. 143–156).