Contribution to an extended modelling of the core flow behaviour in a rotor-stator cavity with a superimposed radial inflow

Abstract

The present study focuses on the turbulent flow with separated boundary layers in a rotor-stator cavity with a low aspect ratio subjected to a weak centripetal radial inflow. One of the major results is to show, with the help of numerous experimental data, that the core swirl ratio always evolves according to a power law of the dimensionless radius. Starting from this simple behaviour law, new original flow properties are highlighted and particularly the existence of an invariant quantity in the core region.