AEE-METU

AEE 341-AERODYNAMICS I
LAB. REPORT #1
31 Oct. 2014

Submitted by:

Ayenur Bak 1881952

Ece ztrk 1882513
Mohamed Abdulaziz 1681865
Sait Can Gven 2110757
ahin Murat Karacaolu 1882141

Submitted to:

zge Sinem zakmak

zgr Harputlu

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment is to visualize some elementary flow patterns
using the hydrogen bubble technique. Flow patterns around the symmetric airfoil,
cylinder and a rectangular prism are studied qualitatively. Theoretical ideal flow patterns
are reviewed and some discrepancies are observed for the real flow patterns around the
symmetric airfoil, cylinder and rectangular prism. Furthermore, a number of phenomena
are investigated; namely, separation points, flow separation, pressure and velocity
distribution, stagnation points, bound and wake vortex, Karman vortices for these
different shapes and their effect on the flow pattern and lift. The investigations were
conducted for the different geometries at changing Reynolds number, characteristic
length (cylinder) and angles of attack and analyzed using the data given in the laboratory
manual and reasonable assumptions were made to further facilitate understanding of the
flow patterns. Javafoil was used to find the velocity and pressure distributions as well as
the aerodynamic coefficients of the symmetric airfoil and rectangular prism.

CONTENTS LIST
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Abstract
Contents List
Objective
Introduction
Theory
Experimental Set-up
Experimental Procedure
Results & Discussion
Conclusion
References
Appendix

OBJECTIVE
The lab work is aimed at improving our understanding of the flow patterns and
their different phenomena as well as how the Reynolds number and angle of attack
affects the flow pattern. Thanks to the hydrogen bubble technique, some of the
observable properties of flows are visualized by using several shaped objects such as
cylinders, rectangular prism and symmetric airfoil.

INTRODUCTION
In this experiment, we observed alterations in the flow behavior around different
samples including cylinders with two different diameters, a rectangular prism and a
symmetric airfoil. Moreover, the impact of changing the angle of attack was also viewed.
Thus, in terms of aerodynamics, this experiment is essential in gaining an intuitive grasp
of how the flow acts around these common shapes.
In the following parts of this report, the theory of this experiment and results are
verbalized and discussed. Then, the techniques and equipment used in the experiment are
listed under the equipment section. Finally, references and appendix sections are located.

THEORY
CROSS FLOW OVER NON-ROTATING CYLINDER
This external flow is normal to the axis of the non-rotating cylinder. It combines a
number of phenomena such as flow separation, turbulence transition, reattachment and
turbulence separation of the boundary layer. If the flow is inviscid the velocity
distribution is given by:

Where Vr is the radial velocity, V is the tangential velocity, R is the radius of the
cylinder, r is the radial coordinate and the angle is measured from the forward
stagnation point.
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It can be seen that there are two stagnation points and that they are at the points (r,
)= (R,0), (R, ). There is a streamline which connects the two points (there is no flow
normal to the surface at r=R so the surface is by default a streamline) and therefore the
flow past a non-rotating cylinder can be made up of some elementary potential flows;
namely a uniform flow and a doublet. The uniform flow outside the circular streamline
(on the surface) does not interact with the doublet flow within.
Applying Bernoullis equation for an inviscid fluid we can find another important
characteristic of the flow. That is the pressure distribution is symmetric around the axis.
This is intuitive since the flow velocity components and stream function are also
symmetric around the axis.

This leads to another important result; since the pressure distribution of the
inviscid cross flow over a circular cylinder is symmetric there should not be any lifting
force or drag. This is one example of the dAlembert paradox.

http://www.thermopedia.com/content/5637/TUBES_CROSSFLOW_OVER_FIG1.gif

However the viscous effect within fluids is not negligible and the relation between
both the viscous and inertial forces were found to be an important indicator of flow
pattern. This ratio of viscous to inertial forces is a dimensionless parameter known as the
Reynolds Number (Re).
Consider now the flow past the non-rotating cylinder with viscous effects. As the
fluid moves of the cross flow over a non-rotating cylinder the fluid pressure increases
from the freestream value to the stagnation point value. Then the high pressure causes the
fluid to separate and travel along the surface of the cylinder. However, in this case, a
boundary layer starts to build up and the pressure force is counteracted with the shear
forces and this prevents the fluid from travelling across the surface of the cylinder and
leaving from the rear stagnation point. This forms two shear layers those have a velocity
distribution that is a function of the displacement from the surface. This difference in
velocity means that the innermost part moves at a slower rate than the uppermost part and

this causes the shear layers to roll up. Vortices appear in the wake. How exactly the
vortex street develops depends on the Reynolds number.

FLOW OVER A SYMMETRIC AIRFOIL

In the thin airfoil theory, the inviscid flow over a symmetric airfoil has a velocity
and pressure distributions that are also symmetric. There is no net lift or drag at a 0
angle of attack. With increasing angle of attack the coefficient of lift increases linearly
with increasing angle of attack. This theory has its advantages such as allowing us to
determine the center of pressure and the aerodynamic center but it does not account for
stall. This is an important criterion for the design of airfoils and planes as it can have
adverse effects on balance and control.
With positive angles of attack the stagnation points which were at leading and
trailing edge start to move. The flow meets the airfoil on the underside of the airfoil and
separates into two flows. One flow path must flow to the leading edge and around the
topside and the other flows along the underside. Due to the Kutta condition they should
meet at the trailing edge and form one flow (velocities must be equal and non-zero). In
short, the flow over the top must be faster than the one at the bottom. As a result, vortex
flow occurs at the trailing edge and the fast flows result in strong viscous forces that build
up near the edge. This vortex is known as the starting vortex. The fluid tends to move
from the bottom to the trailing edge as opposed to going around to the leading edge and
this means that the vorticity of the flow behind the airfoil is positive for positive angles of
attack. However, due to Helmholtzs theorem which states that if the circulation of a flow
was initially zero then it should still be the same regardless then there must be a vortex
that turns the airfoil. This is known as the bound vortex.

As seen the bound and shed vortices contribute the same but have opposite sense.
Therefore, the total circulation is zero as the circulation of a uniform freestream velocity
is zero. As the airfoil moves along the vortices at the T.E. form a vortex sheet.
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FLOW OVER A FLAT PLATE

When the viscous flow meets the flat plate the fluid sticks to the surface (no slip
condition). That is the velocity of the fluid on the surface equals the velocity of the
surface. This results in a boundary layer forming which is zero at the wall to the value of
the freestream velocity some distance away. This displacement is known as the boundary
layer thickness and is a function of distance x from the leading edge of the flat plate.

As the flow travels along the plate the boundary layer starts to develop and this is
seen as an increase in the boundary layer thickness. The extent to which it increases as
well as the existence of separation depends on the Reynolds number (which is a function
of x as well).

http://cdn.comsol.com/wordpress/2013/09/Flow-of-a-fluid-over-a-flat-plate.png

The transition range between laminar and turbulent flow occurs as 3x105<Rex
<3x10 . Within the laminar region the flow is relatively steady and ordered. The flow
becomes disordered and chaotic within the transition period as it is oscillates between
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both a laminar and turbulent state. Further on, in the turbulent state vortices form which
spread as the boundary layer gets larger.
At a zero angle of attack, the only friction that exists is the skin friction and this is
the only contribution to the drag. The pressure distribution does not provide any
contribution as it is symmetric and normal to the surface. With increasing angle of attack,
the separated region becomes larger and moves further towards the leading edge. Also the
pressure distribution starts to contribute to the drag due to the asymmetric build-up of
pressure due to the appearance of steady spirals and later wake vortices and Karman
vortices. Until the friction force due to the skin has a small effect compared with the drag
due to pressure when the angle of attack reaches 90. At this angle of attack the wake is
fully turbulent behind the plate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/johnfarley/CH10F7.jpg

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

From the lab manual

The names of the parts:

1. Feet
4. Mounting Pillar
7. Weir
13. Casing
16. Block

2. Electrode Holders
5. Pump Body
9, 10. Rod
14. Flash Gun
17. Support

3.Platinum Wire
6.Baffle Plate
11.Adjustable Connectors
15.Flow Straightener
18.Guide

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The observation of the external flow behavior over submerged bodies, being the
primary objective of the experiment, was realized using the Hydrogen Bubble Flow
Visualization technique. Generally, when the fluid is a liquid, the flow is visualized using
bubbles or dyes as they are a cheap yet powerful tool. In this case, hydrogen bubbles are
used and are generated by electrolysis of the purified water conditioned with salt filled in
the flow table. The bubbles are generated at the cathode and carried with the flow
supplied by a water pump. The water is circulated during the operation and the
circulation process is sufficiently proper so as not to create unwanted vibration induced
turbulence in the flow. The bubble generation may set to be intermittent or continuous.
The intermittent bubble generation is conducted by simply turning on and off the
electrical current through the electrodes. The flow is evened by means of a honeycomb
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flow staightener so as to increase the discernibility of the flow pattern by letting the
bubbles swept away in an accurate manner. A build-in light and an acrylic light guide are
also contained within the system in order to accentuate the flow.
Different acrylic objects are placed in the flow by mounting them on the pin fixed
in the flow table. Initially, flow over a cylinder is studied. The change of the flow pattern,
location of the separation point, wake region, the laminar to turbulence transition and
Karman vortices are the phenomena to be observed. The same procedure is repeated for
different speeds and for a cylinder of a larger diameter, which is the characteristic length
for a cylinder. Thus, by changing speed and characteristic length, the changes in the flow
pattern with respect to Reynolds number is studied. After the flow over the cylinder is
studied, to see the effect of the shape of the body on the flow, a flat plate is placed onto
the pin both parallel and perpendicular to the flow direction and again the separation and
wake regions are observed at different flow speeds. Finally, a symmetrical airfoil is
pinned into the flow to emphasis the difference between blunt and streamlined bodies.
The effects of flow speed at different values of angle of attack (AOA) are aimed to be
studied whilst the formation of starting vortex and the stall condition for the airplanes are
discussed.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

FLOW PAST CYLINDER
At Reynolds numbers below 1, separation does not occur. However the
streamlines shape is different from that in an inviscid fluid. From 5 Re 45, the flow
separates from the rear side of the tube and a symmetric pair of vortices is formed in the
near wake. The streamwise length of the vortices increases linearly with Reynolds
number as shown in the figure below.

|
Streamwise length of vortices. From Taneda S. (1956) J Phys

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With increasing Reynolds number wake becomes unstable and vortex shedding
begins. At first, one of the two vortices breaks away and then the second is shed because
of the non-symmetric pressure in the wake. This oscillating shed vortices form a laminar
periodic wake of staggered vortices of opposite sign. A phenomenon called the Karman
vortex street. (See picture below).
.

http://fmeabj.lecturer.eng.chula.ac.th/FMRL/public_html/Flow%20Visualization/Flow%20Images/Karman
%20Vortex%20Street/Karman%20Vortex%20Street%202.jpg

In the Reynolds number range 150 < Re < 300, unpredictable disturbances are
found in the wake. The flow is transitional and gradually becomes turbulent as the
Reynolds number is increased.
The Reynolds number range 300 < Re < 1.5105 is called subcritical (the upper
limit is sometimes given as 2105). The laminar boundary layer separates around 80
degrees downstream of the front stagnation point and the vortex shedding is periodic and
strong.
With a further increase of Re, the flow enters the critical regime. The laminar
boundary layer separates on the front side of the tube, forms a separation bubble and
later reattaches on the tube surface. Reattachment is followed by a turbulent boundary
layer and the separation point is moved to the rear side, to about 140 degrees downstream
the front stagnation point. As an effect, the drag coefficient is decreased sharply.

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Figure of pressure coefficiet vs forward stagnation point

http://www.thermopedia.com/content/5637/TUBES_CROSSFLOW_OVER_FIG2.gif

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Reynolds number vs flow speed for 3mm and 25mm radius cylinder

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FLOW PAST SYMMETRIC AIRFOIL

In real flows there is a viscous effect and as the flow travels along the surface of
the airfoil a boundary layer develops. This causes two shear flows that separate near the
rear of the airfoil. The flow pattern changes significantly with changing angles of attack.
As the angle of attack is increased the flow separates nearer the leading edge.
Flow separation begins at small angles of attack while attached flow is dominant. With
increasing angle of attack the separated regions become larger and after a critical angle of
attack the separated flow is so dominant that it causes a reduction in lift with increasing
angle of attack as the separated region continues to increase.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/StallFormation.svg/350pxStallFormation.svg.png

Flow past airfoil at 0 angle of attack

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Flow past airfoil at 8 angle of attack

Flow past airfoil at 16 angle of attack

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Coefficient of lift at varying Reynolds number vs Coefficient of drag

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Aircraft polars at varying angles of attack

As you can see increasing the velocity increases the Reynolds number (at a
positive angle of attack).This further increases the coefficient of lift value in an almost
linear fashion. Near 15 angle of attack there is a sudden drop in the coefficient of lift.
This is called the stall angle of attack.
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In addition, the coefficient of drag is significantly reduced. This is due to the

movement of separated region in the downstream direction caused by the increase in
momentum of the flow near the surface. The starting vortex is swept away and through
the circulation theory we can see that this causes a bound vortex on the airifoil which
gives it a positive coefficient of lift.
It is important to note that the coefficient of moment is zero for all angles of
attack. This is because the center of pressure does not move and that all the forces act on
one point (there is no moment arm).

Pressure Coefficient distributions vs x/c at different angles of attack

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FLOW PAST RECTANGULAR PRISM

The transition range between laminar and turbulent flow occurs as 3105<Rex
<310 . Within the laminar region the flow is relatively steady and ordered. The flow
becomes disordered and chaotic within the transition period as it is oscillates between
both a laminar and turbulent state. Further on, in the turbulent state vortices form which
spread as the boundary layer gets larger.
6

http://cdn.comsol.com/wordpress/2013/09/Flow-of-a-fluid-over-a-flat-plate.png

At a zero angle of attack the only friction that exists is the skin friction and this is
the only contribution to the drag. The pressure distribution does not provide any
contribution as it is symmetric and normal to the surface. With increasing angle of attack
the separated region becomes larger and moves further towards the leading edge. Also the
pressure distribution starts to contribute to the drag due to the asymmetric build-up of
pressure due to the appearance of steady spirals and later wake vortices and Karman
vortices. Until the friction force due to the skin has a small effect compared with the drag
due to pressure when the angle of attack reaches 90. At this angle of attack the wake is
fully turbulent behind the plate.

Flow past rectangular prism at 0 angle of attack

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Flow past rectangular prism at 30 angle of attack

Flow past rectangular prism at 60 angle of attack

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Flow past rectangular prism at 90 angle of attack

Pressure coefficient distribution vs x/c at varying angles of attack

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CONCLUSION
To conclude, this experiment displays the power of the hydrogen bubble
technique to visualize elementary flow patterns at varying Reynolds numbers and angles
of attack for a rectangular prism, cylinders of varying diameter and the symmetric airfoil.
In addition, the flow patterns characteristics for the symmetric airfoil and rectangular
prism at different angles of attack were observed. Departure from the ideal flow pattern
was seen. This was evidenced by the observation of phenomena such as flow separation
and various vortex types. It was observed that when the stream velocity was increased,
the vortex gained more length. Separation of flow was seen on the upper side of the
symmetric airfoil for non-zero angles of attack. In the case of the airfoil and flat plate it is
worthy of remark that the separated region increased in size with increasing angles of
attack. This had adverse effects on the coefficients of lift when the stall angle was
reached.
It must be noted that although it was possible to observe the variations of the
characteristics of the wake for 35< Red < 4.5103 it was not possible to reach the critical
Reynolds number and therefore the transition of the laminar boundary layer to turbulent
as well as the reestablishment of the turbulent vortex street is outside the scope of this
experiment.
As a final comment, although other flow visualization techniques exist such as
helium-filled bubbles technique, colored oil applying technique, laser sheet, surface oil,
schlieren, smoke and tufts etc. they can be prohibitively expensive and complex.
However, the hydrogen bubble technique is cheap and sufficiently effective at analyzing
elementary flows. Therefore with this scope in mind the hydrogen bubble technique is
suitable for the purpose of a qualitative analysis of simple flows.

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REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

http://www.consultexim.hu/katalogus/armfield/dshtml/fseries/f14.htm
www.imaph.tu-bs.de/lehre/99/irro/conformi_e.html
Anderson, D.J., Fundamentals of Aerodynamics, McGraw-Hill
AER 303 F Aerospace Laboratory I Aerodynamic Forces on an Airfoil
Experiment 1 Lab Handout given in the course website
Puttkammer, P. P. (2013). Boundary layer over a flat plate. (Master's thesis,
University of Twente).
7. Trinh, K. T. (2007). On the critical reynolds number for transition from laminar
to turbulent flow. (Master's thesis, Massey University).
8. Yemenici, O. (2014). An experimental study on the aerodynamics of a
symmetrical airfoil with influence of reynolds number and attack angle.
9. (30, October, 2014). Retrieved from
http://www.consultexim.hu/katalogus/armfield/dshtml/fseries/f14.htm
10. 8.(30, october 2014). Retrieved from
www.imaph.tubs.de/lehre/99/irro/conformi_e.html

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