Velocity gradients at the wall for flow around a cylinder at Reynolds numbers from 5 × 10³ to 10⁵

Abstract

Electrochemical techniques have been used to measure the velocity gradients at the surface of a cylinder for Reynolds numbers from 5 × 10 3 to 10 5 . This is a companion study to that already reported by Dimopoulos & Hanratty (1968) for a Reynolds number range of 60–360. The use of a specially designed sandwich electrode enabled the direction of the velocity gradient as well as its magnitude to be measured. Of particular interest is the region of definite length after separation where the velocity gradient is negative, followed by an ill-defined region where the flow moves in the positive direction. Still farther downstream the direction of flow changes with time in an irregular fashion. The measured velocity gradients prior to separation are described satisfactorily by boundary-layer theory. The presence of a splitter plate in the rear of the cylinder eliminates periodic fluctuations in the wake and has a significant effect on the boundary layer prior to separation.