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Old 02-21-2008, 08:06 PM   #4 (permalink)
Fuzzy
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NoVA
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Spin - '03 Mazda Miata SE
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Here's a question: Is there a simple answer as to why introducing a small amount of turbulence in the boundary layer (ahead of the area where flow would normally separate) moves the separation point further downstream & reduces the size of the wake?
Treb can correctly me if my rusty aero is wrong; but it has to do with "re-energizing the boundary layer." It's separating because the friction is removing energy from the flow. The turbulence draws in flow from outside the boundary layer which has higher velocity, which will keep it attached longer. A simpler explanation could be "mixing."
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