This paper presents data on turbulent-spot propagation in the hypersonic boundarylayer flow over a blunted cylindrical body. Data are based on the measurement of time-dependent surface heat transfer rates using gauges positioned as arrays in either the axial or transverse directions. These are used to provide data on individual spots, including sectional profiles, characteristic spot planform geometries, propagation speeds, growth rates and some information on the development of an internal thermal cell structure and corresponding thermal streaks in the base or calm region of the spot.

Experimental and numerical results of LP turbine cascade tests performed to investigate wake interaction effects on boundary layer transition are presented. The data obtained at different inlet flow angles, turbulence levels and Mach numbers are compared and discussed with special focus on low Reynolds number conditions. For the boundary layer, calculated propagation velocities of disturbances are introduced to explain the transition process on the suction side of the blade over time. Using a moving bar wake generator and surface-mounted hot films as well as surface pressure tappings, the effects of periodic wake passing were studied in the High-Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel on the aft-loaded LPT profile T106. Blade pitch was increased as compared with design point conditions to achieve a higher blade loading. As a result, a large separation bubble formed on the suction side of the surface and allowed unsteady boundary layer development to be studied in great detail. Starting at a characteristic Reynolds number, massive separation occurred on the suction side under steady state conditions, i.e. the boundary layer was unable to reach the back pressure at the trailing edge. By using the wake generator, it was possible to reduce this separation and thus decrease profile pressure losses by 50%. The primary objective of the study was to provide unsteady ensemble-averaged hot film data together with information on the wake induced path, sufficient for the validation of numerical simulations. Such a simulation of the experiment was conducted using the Unsteady Boundary Layer Interaction Method, which takes into account the influence of boundary layer displacement on the velocity distribution and the time-dependent turbulence level in the outflow. The computations provide a good description of the wall shear stress in the transitional region and are in good agreement with the experimental data. By plotting propagation directions of boundary layer disturbances in space-time diagrams, it is shown that one characteristic direction is deviated around the so-called becalmed region and the temporarily separated region into the wake-induced transitional region.

A parametric study was conducted to identify the main factors influencing the frequency produced by fluidic oscillators with the goal of using the actuator to trigger boundary layer transition through the excitation of Tollmien Schlichting waves. Test bench conditions were chosen to match the static pressure at the actuation position on the candidate blade profile for a cascade exit Mach number of 0.6 and Reynolds numbers from 60,000 to 200,000. The inlet vs. outlet pressure ratio and the position and geometry of the outlet holes were all varied. Additionally, the effect of the oscillator’s scale and the feedback channel geometry were considered. The flow at the exit was measured using a hot wire, while Kulite pressure transducers were used to measure pressure fluctuations within the device. This paper shows that fluidic oscillators can achieve frequencies of 10 kHz and that the parameters considered play an important role in the performance of these devices.

This paper uses measurements of surface heat transfer to study roughness-induced turbulent wedges in a hypersonic boundary layer on a blunt cylinder. A family of wedges was produced by changing the height of an isolated roughness element, providing conditions in the following range: fully effective tripping, for the largest element, with a turbulent wedge forming immediately downstream of the element; a long wake, in length several hundred times the boundary layer thickness, leading ultimately to transition; and retention of laminar flow, for the smallest element. With appropriate element size, a fully intermittent wedge formed, comprising a clear train of turbulent spots.

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