The characteristics of the flow field around a circular cylinder in cross-flow placed at various distances from a plane, parallel both to the flow and to the cylinder axis, were analysed using a hot wire anemometer. Experiments were performed in a wind tunnel with Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.85×105 to 3×105. The spectra of the hot wire signals were obtained using a Fast Fourier Transform technique programmed on a PDP 11/40 computer. As regards a smooth cylinder, the main features of the vortex shedding mechanism in the subcritical regime remained unaltered for distances from the plane greater than approximately 0.4 diameters; in particular the Strouhal frequency did not show any significant variation relative to the typical value for an isolated cylinder. As for lower values of the distance from the plane, the regular vortex shedding disappeared and the hot wire spectra showed typical turbulent features. The possibility of obtaining supercritical conditions by roughening the cylinder surface was confirmed together with the importance of the Reynolds number based on the typical roughness size, Rk, in the evaluation of the flow regime around the cylinder. In the case of roughened cylinders, and with values of Rk below-350, the regular vortex shedding disappeared at a distance from the plane smaller than 0.3 diameters. This fact suggests that, at least in part of the supercritical regime, the influence of the plane can be smaller than in the subcritical regime.

The ‘double integral’ method, employed by Squire and Trouncer to calculate the flow of a round turbulent jet in a moving stream, is generalised. Representation of the velocity profile in simple form and use of an arbitrary upper limit of integration in the second application of the momentum integral equation permits the recovery of the well-known similarity solutions for plane and axi-symmetric laminar jets issuing into a quiescent medium. Additionally, an approximation for the decay of centre-line velocity is obtained for the non-similar situation when there is an ambient co-flowing stream. This agrees well with Wygnanski’s perturbation solution for the plane laminar jet. The results of Squire and Trouncer are re-examined in the light of this generalised approach. The work has application to the operation of fluidic sensors.

This paper investigates the possibility of increasing the maximum lift of a single element wing section by the introduction of camber near the trailing edge. The optimum upper surface velocity distribution consists of a constant high velocity “rooftop” over the forward part of the wing section followed by transition and an optimised turbulent boundary layer recovery region to the trailing edge. The height of the rooftop, which essentially determines the maximum lift coefficient, is limited by the amount of recovery attainable without separation of the turbulent boundary layer. An increase in the upper surface velocity at the trailing edge would allow the whole top surface velocity distribution to be raised resulting in a considerable increase in maximum lift. The introduction of camber over the rear part of the wing section should produce the required increase in trailing edge velocity on the upper surface. The practical possibilities of using this technique for increased maximum lift were examined by designing a high lift wing section and testing it in the University of Alberta Low Turbulence Wind Tunnel. The results showed that the new wing section behaved qualitatively as expected. A difference of about 0.5U∞ between upper and lower surface velocities at the trailing edge was achieved, even though the thick boundary layers near the trailing edge tend to reduce the effect of camber. A maximum lift coefficient of 2.64 was measured at a Reynolds number of 1.0 × 106.

The effects of finite chordwise flexibility on the development of lift on a rapidly started airfoil are studied. This is a generalization of the so-called Wagner problem of unsteady aerodynamics. It is found that the lift varies with time in a non-monotonous fashion, including more than one extremum. The lift at large times is found to be lower, the more flexible the foil. Changes in the wake vortex sheet are also discussed.

The behaviour of streams of solid particles when ejected into a fluid crossflow suggests that there are considerable forces caused by aerodynamic interaction between closely spaced particles. The overall effect is a dispersion of the solids normal to the fluid flow direction and a bunching up along the axis. This effect is apparent in aerial work where particulate solids are released from aircraft and also in dilute two phase flow especially at the onset of choking or saltation. The experimental work reported here contrives to measure these forces for spheres at the appropriate Reynolds numbers. The results are considered to be sufficiently accurate and comprehensive to give some understanding of the phenomena occurring and to permit an explanation, at least qualitatively, of the behaviour mentioned.