Mechanism of Wall Turbulence in Boundary Layer Flow

TL;DR

This paper uses the energy gradient method to analyze how turbulence is generated and sustained in boundary layer flows, explaining the physics behind transition and the influence of disturbances.

Contribution

It introduces the energy gradient criterion as a means to understand the self-sustenance and receptivity of wall turbulence in boundary layers.

Findings

Maximum energy gradient occurs at the wall in Blasius flow.

Low disturbances can trigger turbulence at high Reynolds numbers.

External disturbances influence the transition point location.

Abstract

The energy gradient method is used to analyze the turbulent generation in the transition boundary layer flow. It is found that the maximum of the energy gradient function occurs at the wall for the Blasius boundary layer flow. At this location under a sufficiently high Reynolds number, even a low level of free-stream disturbance can cause the turbulent transition and sustain the flow to be in a state of turbulence. This is an excellent explanation of the physics of self-sustenance of wall turbulence. The mechanism of receptivity for boundary layer flow can also be understood from the energy gradient criterion. That is, the free-stream disturbance can propagate towards the wall by the "energy gradient" process to cause turbulent transition, and the transition point in boundary layer can be moved forward towards the leading edge when the level of external disturbance increases.