Visualizations of the flow inside an open cavity at medium range Reynolds numbers

The interaction between a laminar boundary layer and an open cavity is investigated experimentally for medium range Reynolds numbers. Flow visualizations are carried out for three different observation directions in order to understand the spatial development of dynamical structures. In particular, synchronized visualizations in two parallel planes picture the transverse development of the flow. The study is conducted by changing the cavity aspect ratio, the Reynolds number and therefore the flow patterns inside the cavity. The issue is to emphasize the 3-D development of the flow. In particular, we show that the dynamical structures are not due to secondary shear layer instabilities.