Influence of localised smooth steps on the instability of a boundary layer

DOI10.1017/JFM.2017.113MaRDI QIDQ5364626zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Hui Xu, Jean-Eloi W. Lombard, S. J. Sherwin

Publication date 28 September 2017

Published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Copyright license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1504.06195

zbMATH Keywords

boundary layer stabilityinstabilitytransition to turbulence

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Hydrodynamic stability (76E99) Transition to turbulence (76F06) Turbulent boundary layers (76F40)

Abstract: We consider a smooth forward facing step defined by the Gauss error function of height 4-30% and four times the width of the local boundary layer thickness $delt{a}_{99}$. The boundary layer flow over a smooth forward-facing stepped plate is studied with particular emphasis on stabilisation and destabilisation of the Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and subsequently on transition. The interaction between TS waves at a range of frequencies and a base flow over a single/two forward facing smooth steps is conducted by linear analysis. The results indicate that for a high frequency TS wave, the amplitude of the TS wave is attenuated in the unstable regime of the neutral stability curve corresponding to a flat plate boundary layer. Furthermore, it is observed that two smooth forward facing steps lead to a more acute reduction of the amplitude of the TS wave. When the height of a step is increased to more than 20% of the local boundary layer thickness for a fixed width parameter, the TS wave is amplified and thereby a destabilisation effect is introduced. Therefore, stabilisation or destabilisation effect of a smooth step is typically dependent on its shape parameters. To validate the results of the linear stability analysis, where a high-frequency TS wave is damped by the forward facing smooth steps direct numerical simulation (DNS) is performed. The results of the DNS correlate favorably with the linear analysis and show that for the investigated high frequency TS wave, the K-type transition process is altered whereas the onset of the H-type transition is postponed. The results of the DNS suggest that for a high-frequency perturbation $mathcalF=150$ and in the absence of other external perturbations, two forward facing steps of height 5% and 12% of the boundary layer thickness delayed H-type transition scenario and completely suppresses it for the K-type transition.

Cites work

• A finite Reynolds-number approach for the prediction of boundary-layer receptivity in localized regions
• A note on the generation of Tollmien-Schlichting waves by sudden surface-curvature change
• Acoustic radiation of Tollmien–Schlichting waves as they undergo rapid distortion
• Direct numerical simulation of complete H-type and K-type transitions with implications for the dynamics of turbulent boundary layers
• Distributed excitation of Tollmien–Schlichting waves by vortical free-stream disturbances
• Disturbances in a Boundary Layer Introduced by a Low Intensity Array of Vortices
• Experimental study of the stabilization of Tollmien–Schlichting waves by finite amplitude streaks
• Görtler vortices in growing boundary layers: The leading edge receptivity problem, linear growth and the nonlinear breakdown stage
• High-order splitting methods for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4083158 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3704205 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 592740 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1053076 (Why is no real title available?)
• Large-eddy simulation of transition to turbulence in boundary layers
• Linear and non-linear stability analysis of incompressible boundary layer over a two-dimensional hump
• Local and global instability properties of separation bubbles
• Nektar++: an open-source spectral/hp element framework
• Non-parallel stability of a flat-plate boundary layer using the complete Navier-Stokes equations
• Nonlinear stability and transition in 3-D boundary layers
• Numerical and experimental investigations of oblique boundary layer transition
• Numerical simulation of boundary-layer transition and transition control
• Numerical simulation of the evolution of Tollmien–Schlichting waves over finite compliant panels
• On local boundary-layer receptivity to vortical disturbances in the free stream
• On the generation of spatially growing waves in a boundary layer
• On the generation of Tollmien-Schlichting waves by sound
• On the receptivity problem for Görtler vortices: vortex motions induced by wall roughness
• On Tollmien-Schlichting-like waves in streaky boundary layers
• Receptivity coefficients at excitation of cross-flow waves by free-stream vortices in the presence of surface roughness
• Receptivity mechanisms for Görtler vortex modes
• Receptivity of boundary layers with distributed roughness to vortical and acoustic disturbances: A second-order asymptotic theory and comparison with experiments
• Receptivity of the boundary layer to vibrations of the wing surface
• S<scp>TABILITY AND</scp> T<scp>RANSITION OF</scp> T<scp>HREE</scp>-D<scp>IMENSIONAL</scp> B<scp>OUNDARY</scp> L<scp>AYERS</scp>
• Scaling of streamwise boundary layer streaks and their ability to reduce skin-friction drag
• Scattering of acoustic waves into Tollmien-Schlichting waves by small streamwise variations in surface geometry
• Stability analysis of a boundary layer over a hump using parabolized stability equations
• Stabilization of Tollmien–Schlichting waves by finite amplitude optimal streaks in the Blasius boundary layer
• The behaviour of Tollmien-Schlichting waves undergoing small-scale localised distortions
• The evolution of Tollmien–Sclichting waves near a leading edge
• The generation of Tollmien-Schlichting waves by free-stream turbulence
• The receptivity problem for O (1) wavelength Görtler vortices
• The three-dimensional nature of boundary-layer instability
• Three-dimensional boundary-layer instability and separation induced by small-amplitude streamwise vorticity in the upstream flow
• Using Non-Normality for Passive Laminar Flow Control

Cited in

(4)

• The effect of slip on the development of flow separation due to a bump in a channel
• Effects of streamwise-elongated and spanwise-periodic surface roughness elements on boundary-layer instability
• Effects of phase difference between instability modes on boundary-layer transition
• Interfacial instability of ferrofluid flow under the influence of a vacuum magnetic field

Describes a project that uses

Uses Software

• Nektar++

This page was built for publication: Influence of localised smooth steps on the instability of a boundary layer

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q5364626)