Influence of Local Ultrasonic Forcing on a Turbulent Boundary Layer

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effect of local ultrasonic forcing on a turbulent boundary layer. The ultrasonic forcing system was constructed by adhering six ultrasonic transducers to a flat plate over which water was flowed. In this system, the ultrasonic waves projected into the water by the transducers caused cavitation, giving rise to an enormous number of tiny air-bubbles. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) was used to probe the flow characteristics. The SPIV results showed that imposition of the ultrasonic forcing caused a substantial increase in the mean wall-normal velocity but a decrease in the mean streamwise velocity. The ultrasonic forcing reduced the skin friction coefficient by up to 60% immediately downstream of the transducers; this effect gradually dissipated with moving downstream. The Reynolds shear stress and the production of turbulent kinetic energy were reduced near the wall. Imposition of the ultrasonic forcing shifted the streamwise vortical structures away from the wall, leading to a reduction in skin friction.