Laminar–turbulent transition experiment on the effect of surface imperfections on a natural laminar flow profile in compressible flow conditions

Abstract In the present study, the effect of various two-dimensional surface defects (forward-facing steps and ramps, backward-facing steps and ramps, gaps, and steps and gaps) on boundary layer transition was experimentally investigated in the compressible, subsonic regime. A laminar profile was specifically designed and manufactured by ONERA to allow for a maximum number of defects to be tested simultaneously, and to include resin pockets to accurately monitor laminar–turbulent transition using infrared thermography. Transition was also characterized using the $$\Delta N$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>Δ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> model based on linear stability calculations. Relatively good agreement with existing $$\Delta N$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>Δ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> models for forward-facing steps as well as gaps was found, indicating that these models, which were mostly developed for incompressible flows, can still be used as an initial estimate for compressible flows. One particular case of interest included a critical step and gap (for which transition occurred immediately downstream of the defect) where neither the gap nor the step component could be identified as mainly responsible for triggering transition. Steps and gaps should therefore be included whenever possible to the canonical shapes of defects investigated in transition experiments to further refine the different types of defect encountered in industrial application, and provide appropriate criteria for their allowable tolerances.