Delaying natural transition of a boundary layer using smooth steps

Hui Xu, Jean-Eloi W. Lombard, Spencer J. Sherwin

Published 2015-04-23Version 1

The boundary layer flow over a smooth forward-facing stepped plate is studied with particular emphasis on the delay of the transition to turbulence. The interaction between the Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) waves and the base flow over a single/two forward facing smooth steps is conducted by linear analysis indicating the amplitude of the T-S waves are attenuated in the boundary layer over a single smooth plate. Furthermore, we show that two smooth forward facing steps give rise to a further reduction of the amplitude of the T-S waves. A direct numerical simulation (DNS) is performed for the two smooth forward steps correlating favourably with the linear analysis and showing that for the investigated parameters, the K-type transition is inhibited whereas the turbulence onset of the H-type transition is postponed albeit not suppressed. Transition is indeed delayed and drag reduced for both these transition scenarios suggesting smooth forward facing steps could be leveraged as a passive flow control strategy to delay natural transition.