Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/C002202/1
Title:	Development of a turbulent boundary layer during a step change from a smooth to a rough wall\
Principal Investigator:	Nickels, Dr T
Other Investigators:	Morrison, Professor J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Engineering
Organisation:	University of Cambridge
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 November 2004	Ends:	30 September 2005	Value (£):	21,117
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Aerodynamics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Turbulent boundary layers are thin regions of very complicated flow that occurs close to boundaries in fast moving fluids. It is these layers of fluid that determine the drag on vehicles, the heat transfer from surfaces and the performance of a range of types of fluid machinery such as pumps and fans. The behaviour of these layers of fluid is very hard to predict , particular in fast flows. Whilst the flow in these boundary layers is highly complex and appears chaotic, there is some evidence to suggest that there is an underlying physical structure that determines the behaviour. These boundary layers can be further subdivided into an inner layer very near the wall and an outer layer further from the wall. A key to understanding and predicting these flow is to understand how these two parts communicate and interact. One way to study complex systems is to study how they react when perturbed. In this study the plan is to perturb a boundary layer by suddenly changing the roughness of the wall. In this way we can kick the inner layer and examine how the boundary layer as a whole responds. Of special interest is how information about the perturbation is communicated to the outer layer. While this idea is not new , the unique feature this project is the use of state-of-the-art full-field measurement techniques that allow us to study the response of the boundary layer in unprecedented detail. The information and understanding will be invaluable in developing better mathematical methods for predicting the performance of vehicles and fluid machinery.
Key Findings
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Organisation Website:	http://www.cam.ac.uk