Features of a Laminar Separated Boundary Layer Near the Leading-Edge of a Model Airfoil for Different Angles of Attack: An Experimental Study

The evolution of a separated boundary layer over a model airfoil with semicircular leading-edge has been illustrated for angles of attack (alpha) varying from -3 deg to 10 deg, where the Reynolds number (Re-c) based on chord is 1.6 X 10(5) and the inlet freestream turbulence (fst) being 1.2%. The features of boundary layer are described through measurements of velocity and surface pressure besides the flow visualization using a planar particle image velocimetry (PIV). Freestream perturbations are amplified because of enhanced receptivity of the separated boundary layer resulting in pockets of disturbances, which then propagate downstream attributing to random fluctuations near the reattachment. The separation and reattachment locations including the onset and end of transition are identified for changing alpha. The reattachment point changes from 18.8% to 47.7% of chord with the onset of separation at almost 7%, whereas the onset of transition moves upstream from 13.2% to 9% with increasing alpha. The bubble bursting occurs at alpha=10 deg. The transition in the separated boundary layer occurs through Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability for alpha=0 deg and 3 deg, whereas the K-H mechanism is bypassed for higher a with significant viscous effect.