Minimal seed in supersonic boundary layer at $M=3$

TL;DR

This paper explores the minimal seed for laminar-to-turbulent transition in a supersonic boundary layer at Mach 3, revealing nonlinear effects that alter optimal disturbances and accelerate transition.

Contribution

It introduces a nonlinear analysis of the minimal seed in supersonic boundary layers, highlighting the role of nonlinear interactions in transition mechanisms distinct from linear predictions.

Findings

Nonlinear optimal perturbations differ from linear oblique waves.

Nonlinear mechanisms promote faster transition even with wall cooling.

Transition involves vortex interactions and streak formation leading to classical breakdown.

Abstract

This study investigates the minimal seed for laminar-to-turbulent transition in a supersonic boundary layer at $M=3.0$ and $Re=300$ using adjoint-based nonlinear non-modal analysis. While linear theory identifies oblique waves as the optimal disturbances for transient growth, we demonstrate that nonlinear effects fundamentally alter the optimal perturbation structure as the initial amplitude exceeds a critical threshold. Our analysis reveals that the nonlinear optimal perturbation exhibits a distinctive spatial distribution characterized by flattened structures in the outer layer and streamwise vortices near the wall, leading to a more rapid transition compared to the linear counterpart. A key finding is that this nonlinear amplification mechanism remains robust even under wall-cooled conditions ($T_w = 0.6 T_{ad}$), where the disappearance of the generalized inflection point (GIP) suppresses linear instabilities of Mack's first mode. This rapid growth is driven by the nonlinear interaction between two-dimensional planar waves near the wall and staggered vortex patterns in the outer layer, facilitating streak formation through vortex self-induction. Although the late-stage evolution eventually converges to the classical oblique breakdown scenario as characterized by the formation of $\Lambda$-vortices, the identified nonlinear path significantly reduces the disturbance energy required for transition.