Low Reynolds number flow between interrupted flat plates
Abstract
Experiments were performed to define the conditions that produce unsteady flow between a pair of flat plates. Hydrogen bubble and dye visualization techniques, together with hot-wire and hot-film anemometry were used to study the flow over two vertically fixed, successively located flat plates. Emphasis was placed on identifying leading and trailing edge effects in low Re flows. It was found that the critical velocity for the onset of flow oscillations is a function of the plate spacings at small values of plate spacing, but is only weakly correlated with large plate spacing. Another strong functional relationship was determined for plate length/wake width ratios of up to 4. A feedback process was observed, and was seen to enhance the transition from steady to unsteady flow between the plates.
- Publication:
-
ASME Journal of Heat Transfer
- Pub Date:
- February 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983ATJHT.105..166R
- Keywords:
-
- Boundary Layer Transition;
- Critical Velocity;
- Flat Plates;
- Heat Exchangers;
- Laminar Boundary Layer;
- Low Reynolds Number;
- Oscillating Flow;
- Flow Measurement;
- Flow Velocity;
- Flow Visualization;
- Heat Transfer;
- Leading Edges;
- Thermal Boundary Layer;
- Trailing Edges;
- Turbulent Wakes;
- Unsteady Flow;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer