On the robustness of separation control by streamwise vortices

The robustness of vane-type vortex generators (VGs) for separation flow control was studied in a separating turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate. VG arrays of different sizes and streamwise positions were positioned upstream of the separation bubble and their effect on the flow field was studied with the help of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The extent of the separated region was varied by changing the pressure gradient. Three different separation bubbles were produced and their extent was approximately doubled for each increase in pressure gradient. It was found that the sensitivity of the control effect to changes in the size of the separation bubble is small within the applied range of pressure gradients. Furthermore, the importance of the relative position of the VGs with respect to the separated region is small.