Extremely pulsatile flow around a surface-mounted hemisphere: synergistic experiments and simulations*

Extremely pulsatile flow (where the amplitude of oscillation pulsation is of the same order as the mean flow) over a three-dimensional, surface-mounted bluff body gives rise a wealth of fluid dynamics phenomena. In this study, we extend our previous experimental work on extremely pulsatile flow around a surface-mounted hemisphere by performing a complementary direct numerical simulation. Results from the experiment and simulation will be presented and compared. After establishing the agreement between experiment and simulation, we will examine the morphology and dynamics of the vortex structures in the wake of the hemisphere, and the effects of extreme pulsatility. The dynamics of the arch-type recirculation vortex is of primary interest, in particular its upstream propagation due to self-induced velocity in the direction opposite to the freestream during deceleration. In addition to the velocity field, the surface pressure field throughout the pulsatile cycle will be presented. These synergistic experiments and simulations provide a detailed view into the complex flow fields associated with pulsatile flow over a surface-mounted hemisphere.