Understanding Unsteady Vortex Structure and Shedding Frequency of Cylindrical Hole Film Cooling: Insights From Experimental and Numerical Approaches

Abstract To enhance film cooling effectiveness and reduce mixing loss, it is imperative to understand the dynamics of the unsteady vortex system and its interaction with the mainstream flow. In this study, a comprehensive experimental investigation was conducted to assess the film cooling effectiveness of a flat-plate cylindrical hole, along with the structure of the vortex system and the frequency of vortex shedding. This was achieved using a variety of techniques including pressure-sensitive paint (PSP), particle image velocimetry (PIV), hot-wire anemometry, and dynamic pressure sensors. To complement the experimental findings, a detailed analysis of the evolution mechanisms of unsteady coherent vortices was performed using the detached eddy simulation (DES) numerical method. The findings of the study revealed that the Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) shear vortex patterns on the windward side undergo a transition from clockwise to counterclockwise rotation with increasing blowing ratios. Large-scale vortex sheds from the K–H shear vortices, ultimately evolving into the hairpin vortex in the downstream region. Additionally, the study proposed two evolution models for the vortex systems in the film cooling flow field at different blowing ratios and elucidated the evolution mechanisms of counter-rotating vortex pair (CRVP). The results of the spectral analysis revealed a notable discrepancy in the slopes of the eigenfrequencies, which could be attributed to variations in the evolution patterns of the vortex systems.