Edge tracking in spatially developing boundary layer flows

Beneitez M, Duguet Y, Schlatter P, Henningson DS (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Journal of Fluid Mechanics Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Book Volume: 881

Pages Range: 164-181

DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2019.763

Abstract

Recent progress in understanding subcritical transition to turbulence is based on the concept of the edge, the manifold separating the basins of attraction of the laminar and the turbulent state. Originally developed in numerical studies of parallel shear flows with a linearly stable base flow, this concept is adapted here to the case of a spatially developing Blasius boundary layer. Longer time horizons fundamentally change the nature of the problem due to the loss of stability of the base flow due to Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves. We demonstrate, using a moving box technique, that efficient long-time tracking of edge trajectories is possible for the parameter range relevant to bypass transition, even if the asymptotic state itself remains out of reach. The flow along the edge trajectory features streak switching observed for the first time in the Blasius boundary layer. At long enough times, TS waves co-exist with the coherent structure characteristic of edge trajectories. In this situation we suggest a reinterpretation of the edge as a manifold dividing the state space between the two main types of boundary layer transition, i.e. bypass transition and classical transition.

Authors with CRIS profile

Philipp Schlatter

Involved external institutions

Royal Institute of Technology / Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) SE Sweden (SE) École Polytechnique - Université Paris-Saclay FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Beneitez, M., Duguet, Y., Schlatter, P., & Henningson, D.S. (2019). Edge tracking in spatially developing boundary layer flows. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 881, 164-181. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2019.763

MLA:

Beneitez, Miguel, et al. "Edge tracking in spatially developing boundary layer flows." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 881 (2019): 164-181.

BibTeX: Download