Stagnation Line Heat Transfer Augmentation Due to Freestream Vortical Structures and Vorticity

Abstract An experimental study has been performed to investigate the effect of freestream vortical structures and vorticity on stagnation region heat transfer. A heat transfer model with a cylindrical leading edge was tested in a wind tunnel at Reynolds numbers ranging from 67,750 to 142,250 based on leading edge diameter of the model. Grids of parallel rods were placed at several locations upstream of the heat transfer model in orientations where the rods were perpendicular and parallel to the stagnation line to generate freestream turbulence with distinct vortical structures. All three components of turbulence intensity, integral length scale and the spanwise and transverse vorticity were measured to characterize the freestream turbulence. The measured heat transfer data and freestream turbulence characteristics were compared with existing empirical models for the stagnation line heat transfer. A new correlation for the stagnation line heat transfer has been developed that includes the spanwise fluctuating vorticity components.