Dimple Generators of Longitudinal Vortex Structures

Visual research of characteristic features and measurement of velocity and pressure fields of a vortex flow inside and nearby of a pair of the oval dimples on hydraulically smooth flat plate are conducted. It is established that depending on the flow regime inside the oval dimples, potential and vortex flows with ejection of vortex structures outside of dimples in the boundary layer are formed. In the conditions of a laminar flow, a vortex motion inside dimples is not observed. With an increase of flow velocity in dimples, boundary layer separation, shear layer, and potential and circulating flows are formed inside the oval dimples. In the conditions of the turbulent flow, the potential motion disappears, and intensive vortex motion is formed. The profiles of longitudinal velocity and the dynamic and wall-pressure fluctuations are studied inside and on the streamlined surface of the pair of oval dimples. The maximum wall-pressure fluctuation levels are pointed out on the aft walls of the dimples. The tonal components corresponding to oscillation frequencies of vortical flow inside the dimples and ejection frequencies of the large-scale vortical structures outside the dimples are observed in velocity and pressure fluctuation spectra