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The reliability of the improved eN method for the transition prediction of boundary layers on a flat plate

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Abstract

The transition criterion in the improved eN method is that transition would occur whenever the velocity amplitude of disturbance reaches 1%–2% of the free stream velocity, while in the conventional eN method, the N factor is an empirical factor. In this paper the reliability of this key assumption in the improved eN method is checked by results of transition prediction by using the Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE). Transition locations of an incompressible boundary layer and a hypersonic boundary layer at Mach number 6 on a flat plate are predicted by both the improved eN method and the PSE method. Results from both methods agree fairly well with each other, implying that the transition criterion proposed in the improved eN method is reliable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    CaiHong Su

  2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Modern Engineering Mechanics, Tianjin, 300072, China

    CaiHong Su

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  1. CaiHong Su
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Correspondence to CaiHong Su.

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Recommended by ZHOU Heng (CAS academician)

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Su, C. The reliability of the improved eN method for the transition prediction of boundary layers on a flat plate. Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 55, 837–843 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-012-4692-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-012-4692-y

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