In considering boundary layer transition, the available experimental data and prediction methods are reviewed and further experimental results are presented. Some empirical rules are suggested for the separate effects of stream turbulence and of pressure gradient and of both combined. The approximate nature of these rules is described and the causes indicated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
SchubauerG. B.SkramstadH. K. ‘Laminar boundary layer oscillations and transition on a flat plate’, NACA Rep.909, 1948.
2.
HamaF. R.NutantJ. ‘Detailed flow field observations in the transition process in a thick boundary layer’, Proc. Heat Transf. Fluid Mech. Inst. 1963, 77.
3.
TaylorG. I. ‘Some recent developments in the study of turbulence’, Proc. 5th Int. Cong. Appl. Mech. 1938 (John Wiley and Sons, Chichester).
4.
SchubauerG. B. ‘The effect of turbulence on transition on the boundary layer of an elliptic cylinder’, Proc. 5th Int. Cong. Appl. Mech. 1938 (John Wiley and Sons, Chichester).
5.
HislopG. S.The transition of a laminar boundary layer in a wind tunnel Ph. D. Thesis, Cambridge, 1940.
6.
GasterM. ‘Some observations on vortex shedding and acoustic resonances’, Aero Report 1311, National Physical Laboratory, 1970.
7.
Van DriestE. R.BlumerC. B. ‘Boundary layer transition: Free stream turbulence and pressure gradient effects’, Am. Inst. Aeronaut. Astronaut. Jl.19631, 1303.
8.
WellsC. S. ‘Effects of free stream turbulence on boundary layer transition’, Am. Inst. Aeronaut. Astronaut. Jl.19675, 1972.
9.
CrabtreeL. F. ‘Prediction of natural transition in the boundary layer on an aerofoil’, Jl R. Aeronaut. Soc.195862, 525.
10.
BrebnerG. G.BagleyJ. A. ‘Pressure and boundary layer measurements on a two-dimensional wing at low speed’, Aeronaut. Res. Coun. Rep. Memo.2886, 1956.
11.
HignettE. T. ‘The use of dust deposition as a means of flow visualization’, Aeronaut. Res. Coun. Curr. Paper631, 1963.
12.
PrestonE. J.Comment on (9). Jl. R. aeronaut. Soc.195862, 901.
13.
SmithA. M. O.GamberoniN. ‘Transition, pressure gradient and stability theory’, Proc. 9th Int. Congr. appl. Mech. 1956 (John Wiley and Sons, Chichester).
14.
GranvilleP. S. ‘The calculation of viscous drag of bodies of revolution’, David Taylor Model Basin Rep. 849, 1953.
SchubauerG. B. ‘Airflow in the boundary layer of an elliptic cylinder’, NACA Rep.652, 1939.
17.
LiepmannH. W. ‘Investigation of boundary layer transition on concave walls’, NACA ACR4J28, 1945. Also NACA Wartime Rep. W-87, 1956.
18.
Van IngenJ. L. ‘A suggested semi-empirical method for the calculation of the boundary layer transition region’, Report Nos. V. T. H. 71, V. T. H. 74 (in English), Delft, Holland, 1956.
19.
JaffeN. A.OkamuraT. T.SmithA. M. O. ‘Determination of spatial amplification factors and their application to predicting transition’, Am. Inst. Aeronaut. Astronaut. Jl.19708, 301.
20.
MichelR. ‘Etude de la transition sur les profiles d'aile; établissement d'un critère de détermination du point de transition et calcul de la trainée de profile incompressible’, O. N. E. R. A. Report 1/1578A, 1951 (July). Also published as No. 58, 1952.
21.
HallD. J.Boundary layer transition Ph. D. Thesis, University of Liverpool, 1968.
22.
Von DoenhoffA. E. ‘Investigation of the boundary layer about a symmetrical airfoil in a wind tunnel of low turbulence’, NACA Wartime Rep. L-507, 1940.
23.
ReynoldsO. ‘An experimental investigation of the circumstances which determine whether the motion of water shall be direct or sinuous and of the law of resistance in parallel channels’, Phil. Trans. R. Soc.1883174, 935.
24.
SpanglerJ. G.WellsC. S. ‘Effects of free-stream disturbances on boundary layer transition’, Am. Inst. aeronaut, astronaut. Jl.19686, 543.
25.
ParkerR. ‘Resonance effects in wake shedding from parallel plates; some experimental observations’, J. Sound Vib.19664, 62.
26.
HallA. A.HislopG. S. ‘Experiments on the transition of the laminar layer on a flat plate’, Aeronaut. Res. Comm. Rep. Memo. 1843, 1938.
27.
HislopG. S.Private communication, 1970.
28.
DhawanS.NarasimhaR. ‘Some properties of boundary layer flow during the transition from laminar to turbulence motion’, J. Fluid Mech.19583, 418.
29.
PrestonJ. H. ‘The minimum Reynolds number for a turbulent boundary layer and the selection of a transition device’, J. Fluid Mech.19583, 373.
30.
ThwaitesB. ‘Approximate calculation of the laminar boundary layer’, Aeronaut. Q.19491, 245.
31.
TaniI. ‘Boundary layer transition’, A. Rev. Fluid mech.19691, 183.
32.
CrabtreeL. F. ‘The formation of regions of separated flow on wing surfaces’, Aeronaut. Res. Coun. Rep. Memo.3122, 1959.
33.
PiercyN. A. V.RichardsonE. G. ‘The variation of velocity amplitude close to the surface of a cylinder moving through a viscous fluid’, Phil. Mag.19286 (No. 39), 970.
34.
BennetH. W. ‘An experimental study of boundary layer transition’, Kimberley-Clarke Corporation Research and Development Laboratories Report, 1953 (September).
35.
FeindtE. G. ‘Investigations on the dependence of laminar-turbulent transition on surface roughness and pressure gradient’, Jb. schiffbautech. Ges.195750, 180.
36.
HartreeD. R. ‘On an equation occurring in Falkner and Skan's approximate treatment of the equations of the boundary layer’, Proc. Cam. phil. Soc.193733, 233.
37.
LachmannG. V.Boundary layer and flow control1961623 (Pergamon Press, Oxford).
38.
BoltzF. W.KenyonG. C.AllenC. Q. ‘The boundary layer characteristics of two bodies of revolution, a flat plate and an unswept wing in a low turbulence tunnel’, NASA tech. Note D-309, 1960.
39.
BraslowA. L.ViscontiF. ‘Investigation of boundary layer Reynolds number for transition on a NACA 65 (215)-114 airfoil in the Langley two-dimensional low turbulence tunnel’, Tech. Notes natn. advis. Comm. Aeronaut., Wash.1704, 1948.
40.
DrydenH. L. ‘Airflow in the boundary layer near a plate’, NACA Rep.562, 1936.
41.
FageA.PrestonJ. H. ‘On the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the boundary layer’, Proc. R. Soc.1941A178, 201.
42.
JonesB. M. ‘Flight experiments on the boundary layer’, J. aeronaut. Sci.19385, 81.
43.
LiepmannH. W. ‘Investigations on laminar boundary layer stability and transition on curved boundaries’, NACA ACR3H30, 1943.
44.
SchubauerG. B.KlebanoffP. S. ‘Contribution to the mechanics of boundary layer transition’, Tech. Note natn. advis. Comm. Aeronaut., Wash.3489, 1955.
45.
WrightE. A.BaileyG. W. ‘Laminar frictional resistance with pressure gradient’, J. aeronaut. Sci.19396, 485.
46.
ZalovcikJ. A.SkoogR. B. ‘Flight investigation of boundary layer transition and profile drag of an experimental low-drag wing installed on a fighter-type airplane’, NACA Wartime Rep. ACR L5C08a, 1945.
