Experimental Study on Flow Characteristics of Backward Facing Step

Abstract

Fluid passage over the backward-facing step causes separation, recirculation flow region, and reattachment flow phenomena. The fluid flow over backward-facing steps is carried out experimentally at a velocity of 30 m/s and with different step inclinations of 30°, 60°, and 90°. The model is fabricated with step heights of 20 mm and 40 mm the length ratio (L_r) is taken as 2. The experimental studies demonstrate that the strength of the recirculation zones is impacted by the decrease in step inclination, which creates a streamlined flow on the surface. The flow characteristics are influenced by the decrease of step inclination and increase of step height. This kind of flow is highly helpful in the design of electrical devices, building structures, and aeronautical components.