Publications Details

Three-dimensional measurement of edge effects in open cavities of finite-span

DeMauro, Edward P.; Beresh, Steven J.; Wagner, Justin W.; Henfling, John F.; Spillers, Russell W.

Volumetric measurements of the flow within four open cavities were made using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry at a freestream Mach number of 0.8. The cavities nominally had a length-to-diameter ratio, L/D = 7, along with an aspect ratio, b/L = 0.5. The three complex cavity geometries were selected to model features representative of real aircraft bays and compare them to a finite-span rectangular cavity: these included features such as leading edge and side ramps, a scooped leading edge ramp, and a jagged leading edge. Flow is drawn into the cavity at the edges due to a lack of pressure recovery within the cavity. Due to the influence of the leading edge shape and side edges, three-dimensionalities are formed within the cavities that influence the development of the Rossiter tones. In the rectangular cavity, these three-dimensionalities lead to the formation of a set of counter-rotating streamwise-oriented vortices, which create a nearly-sinusoidal, spanwise waviness within its mixing layer. The addition of leading edge and side ramps disrupt the formation of these vortical structures and displace the mixing layer vertically, reducing Rossiter modal amplitudes. The leading edge ramp accelerates the oncoming flow, resulting in a shift in the Rossiter frequencies. A scooped leading edge reintroduced streamwise vorticity, increasing cavity turbulence, whereas an overhanging jagged leading edge reduced cavity velocity fluctuations while increasing the strength of the second Rossiter mode.