Experimental Investigation of Subsonic Turbulent Flow Over Single and Double Backward Facing Steps

Results are presented for flow patterns over backward facing steps covering a wide range of geometric variables. Velocity profile measurements are given for both single and double steps. The stall region is shown to consist of a complex pattern involving three distinct regions. The double step contains an assymmetry for large expansions, but approaches the single-step configuration with symmetric stall regions for small values of area ratio. No effect on flow pattern or reattachment length is found for a wide range of Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities, provided the flow is fully turbulent before the step.