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The University of Southampton
Engineering

Research project: The character of rough-wall boundary layers

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Boundary layers are ubiquitous and many of those of industrial or environmental significance develop over rough rather than smooth walls. We use laboratory experiments to explore their character. In particular, we are addressing the basic questions concerning the extent to which such boundary layers have the same character as smooth-wall flows. Similar studies are addressing the nature of internal flows like those in pipes and channels with rough walls.

Some of this work is in collaboration with colleagues at KTH, Stockholm and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Hovering over each caption with the cursor will display extended figure explanations.

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Shows mesh, block and grit type surfaces
Different rough surfaces
Turbulence intensity for smooth (red) and rough (black) walls. Data from numerous authors' work.
Turbulence intensity
Data from numerous authors.
Skin friction
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