Turbulent Boundary Layer over Symmetric Bodies with Rigid and Flexible Surfaces

This paper presents the results of an investigation concerning the development of a turbulent boundary layer over a 2D symmetrical aerofoil and a 3D axisymmetric body with rigid and flexible surfaces. The experimental work included detailed measurements of the mean velocity profiles, pressure distribution, and drag force. The thin shear layer equations were solved numerically using a modified turbulence model to obtain the characteristics of the turbulent boundary layer. The results of this study indicate a significant difference between the characteristics of flow over rigid surfaces and those of flow over flexible surfaces of the same geometry. The mean velocity of flow in the case of flexible surfaces is smaller than the corresponding velocity of flow in the case of a rigid surface for a major part of the boundary layer. The boundary layer thicknesses are consistently higher on flexible surfaces than those on the corresponding rigid surfaces. Furthermore, in the case of flexible surfaces, drag reduction was always observed. The amount of reduction was seen to be systematically dependent on the characteristics of the flexible surface.