Low-frequency selectivity in flat-plate boundary layer with elliptic leading edge

Wang, Bofu; Mao, Xuerui; Zaki, Tamer A.

Abstract

Linear perturbation analyses of zero-pressure-gradient boundary layers at subcritical Reynolds numbers predict that transient disturbance amplification can take place due to the lift-up mechanism. Upstream, streamwise-elongated vortices yield the largest response per unit of inflow disturbance energy, which takes the form of streamwise elongated streaks. In this work, we compute the linear and also nonlinear inflow disturbances that generate the largest response inside the boundary layer, for flow over a thin flat plate with a slender leading edge. In order to compare our results to earlier linear analyses, we constrain the inlet disturbance to be monochromatic in time, or a single frequency. The boundary layer effectively filters high frequencies, and only low-frequency perturbations induce a strong response downstream. The low-frequency optimal inflow disturbance has a spanwise wavenumber that scales with √ Re, and it consists of streamwise and normal vorticity components: the latter is tilted around the leading edge into the streamwise direction and, further downstream, generates streaks. While none of the computed monochromatic disturbances alone can lead to breakdown to turbulence, secondary instability analyses demonstrate that the streaky base state is unstable. Nonlinear simulations where the inflow disturbance is supplemented with additional white noise undergo secondary instability and breakdown to turbulence.

Citation

Wang, B., Mao, X., & Zaki, T. A. (2019). Low-frequency selectivity in flat-plate boundary layer with elliptic leading edge. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 866, 239-262. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2019.91

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 20, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2019
• Publication Date: May 10, 2019
• Deposit Date: Feb 20, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 20, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
• Print ISSN: 0022-1120
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-7645
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 866
• Pages: 239-262
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2019.91
• Keywords: Boundary layer; Layer receptivity; Boundary layer stability; Nonlinear instability
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1571620
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/lowfrequency-selectivity-in-flatplate-boundary-layer-with-elliptic-leading-edge/5B8F99E32A0CAF1B5292388B001F2D26
• Contract Date: Feb 20, 2019