Flow separation

For the repainted ship by Tauba Auerbach, see Flow Separation.

Airflow separating from a wing at a high angle of attack

In fluid dynamics, flow separation or boundary layer separation is the detachment of a boundary layer from a surface into a wake.[1]

A boundary layer exists whenever there is relative movement between a fluid and a solid surface with viscous forces present in the layer of fluid close to the surface. The flow can be externally, around a body, or internally, in an enclosed passage. Boundary layers can be either laminar or turbulent. A reasonable assessment of whether the boundary layer will be laminar or turbulent can be made by calculating the Reynolds number of the local flow conditions.

Separation occurs in flow that is slowing down, with pressure increasing, after passing the thickest part of a streamline body or passing through a widening passage, for example.

Flowing against an increasing pressure is known as flowing in an adverse pressure gradient. The boundary layer separates when it has travelled far enough in an adverse pressure gradient that the speed of the boundary layer relative to the surface has stopped and reversed direction.[2][3] The flow becomes detached from the surface, and instead takes the forms of eddies and vortices. The fluid exerts a constant pressure on the surface once it has separated instead of a continually increasing pressure if still attached.[4] In aerodynamics, flow separation results in reduced lift and increased pressure drag, caused by the pressure differential between the front and rear surfaces of the object. It causes buffeting of aircraft structures and control surfaces. In internal passages separation causes stalling and vibrations in machinery blading and increased losses (lower efficiency) in inlets and compressors. Much effort and research has gone into the design of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic surface contours and added features which delay flow separation and keep the flow attached for as long as possible. Examples include the fur on a tennis ball, dimples on a golf ball, turbulators on a glider, which induce an early transition to turbulent flow; vortex generators on aircraft.

  1. ^ White (2010), "Fluid Mechanics", Section 7.1 (7th edition)
  2. ^ Anderson, John D. (2004), Introduction to Flight, Section 4.20 (5th edition)
  3. ^ L. J. Clancy (1975) Aerodynamics, Section 4.14
  4. ^ Fundamentals of Aerodynamics 5th edition, John D. Anderson, Jr. 2011, ISBN 978 0 07 339810 5, Figure 4.46