Linear Stability Analysis of Three-Dimensional Flows with Surface Curvature: effects of Sweep Angle and Reynolds Number

摘要

The saddle-point method of Cebeci and Stewartson is used with the e~n-method to study the effect of surface curvature on transition for an incompressible flow over an infinite swept wing. The sweep angle and chord Reynolds number are varied in a systematic manner, and the linear stability equations with surface curvature terms are solved. The results show that for a sweep angle change between 30 deg and 60 deg and Reynolds number range from 1 x 10~6 to 20 x 10~6, the effect of curvature on transition is negligible at the lowest and highest Reynolds number. The results also show that for Reynolds numbers of 5 x 10~6 and 10 x 10~6, and for sweep angles of 45 deg and 60 deg, the onset of transition can be delayed by 4 percent to 9 percent chord by the surface curvature effect.