Multi-scale analyses of flow separation around rectangular prisms in uniform flow

• Investigated turbulent flow around prisms with AR = 1, 2, and 3 using TR-PIV. • Identified dual-frequency vortex shedding unique to AR2 due to intermittent reattachment. • Used vorticity-based POD to resolve multi-scale coherent structures and KH instabilities. • AR2 showed largest spatial/temporal scales and broadest enstrophy distribution. • Demonstrated non-monotonic wake behavior with aspect ratio. Turbulent flows around infinitely spanned rectangular prisms in uniform flow with streamwise aspect ratios, AR = 1, 2, and 3 were studied using time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) at a Reynolds number of 16,200 based on free-stream velocity and prism height. These aspect ratios span regimes that transition from direct shear layer shedding in the wake (AR1) to intermittent reattachment (AR2) and mean reattachment on the prism surface (AR3). The mean flow topology, Reynolds shear stress, and turbulent transport were analyzed. Spatiotemporal characteristics were investigated using two-point correlation, integral time scales, reverse flow areas, and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the vorticity field. The results reveal non-monotonic variations of statistical and structural characteristics with aspect ratio. The case of AR2 possesses the largest recirculation region as well as the largest spatial and temporal scales of coherent structures. The wake exhibits quasi-periodic fluctuations concentrated in a single frequency for AR1, and AR3 but dual frequencies for AR2. The POD of the vorticity effectively decomposed a wide range of scales. Depending on the aspect ratio, spectra of the POD coefficients revealed concentrated spectral energy at the dominant vortex shedding frequency, its harmonics and at Kelvin-Helmholtz instability frequencies associated with small-scale vortices near the leading edge.