A Note on Development of a Reattached Turbulent Flow over a Blunt Flat Plate

Abstract

Experiments were carried out for investigating an early state of development of a reattached turbulent flow which separated at the leading edge of a flat plate with finite thickness and blunt leading edge. Measured in detail were mean velocity profiles and boundary layer characteristics along with three components of turbulence and a turbulent shear stress. It is clear from the results that the mean flow properties develop relatively quickly and approach a nearly fully developed flow state at about 20 plate thicknesses downstream from the leading edge. The development of the turbulence characteristics is, on the other hand, extremely slow and a very long distance is needed for a fully developed flow situation to be reached, especially in the outer region of the boundary layer.