Computational simulations of transitional flows around turbulence stimulators at low speeds

In this study, direct numerical and large eddy simulations of transitional flows around studs were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of turbulence stimulators at very low speeds for the minimum propulsion power condition of four knots. For simplicity, the studs were assumed to be installed on a flat plate, while the wake was observed up to 0.23 m downstream behind the second stud. For applicability to a model ship, we also studied the flow characteristics behind the first and second studs installed on a curved plate, which was designed to describe the geometry of a bulbous bow. A laminar-to-turbulent transition was observed in the wake at Re_D ≥ 921 (U_∞≥0.290 m/s), and the wall shear stress at Re_D = 1162 (U_∞ = 0.366 m/s) in the second wake was similar to that of the fully developed turbulent boundary layer after a laminar-to-turbulent transition in the first wake. At Re_D = 581 (U_∞ = 0.183 m/s), no turbulence was stimulated in the wake behind the first and second studs on the flat plate, while a cluster of vortical structures was observed in the first wake over the curved plate. However, a cluster of vortical structures was revealed to be generated by the reattachment process of the separated shear layer, which was disturbed by the first stud rather than directly initiated by the first stud. It was quite different from a typical process of transition, which was observed at relatively high Re_D that the spanwise scope of the turbulent vortical structures expanded gradually as it went downstream.