Linear and Nonlinear PSE for Compressible Boundary Layers

Abstract

Compressible stability of growing boundary layers is studied by numerically solving the partial differential equations under a parabolizing approximation. The resulting parabolized stability equations (PSE) account for nonparallel as well as nonlinear effects. Evolution of disturbances in compressible flat-plate boundary layers are studied for freestream Mach numbers ranging from 0 to 4.5. Results indicate that the effect of boundary-layer growth is important for linear disturbances. Nonlinear calculations are performed for various Mach numbers. Two-dimensional nonlinear results using the PSE approach agree well with those from direct numerical simulations using the full Navier- Stokes equations while the required computational time is less by an order of magnitude. Spatial simulations using PSE have been carried out for both the fundamental and subharmonic type breakdown for a Mach 1.6 boundary layer. The promising results obtained in this study show that the PSE method is a powerful tool for studying boundary-layer instabilities and for predicting transition over a wide range of Mach numbers. Stability, Compressible, Boundary layer, PSE.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA273993

Entities

People

  • Chau-lyan Chang
  • Gordon Erlebacher
  • M. Y. Hussaini
  • Mujeeb R. Malik

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Boundary Layer Flow
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Mach Number
  • Navier Stokes Equations
  • Partial Differential Equations
  • Reynolds Number
  • Simulations
  • Swept Wings
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Manufacturing Engineering.