Transition and the Attainment of Turbulent Flow on Hypersonic Flight Vehicles

摘要

Early attemps at correlating transition onset on complex, three-dimensional shapes are reviewed. These, together with Space Shuttle specific, rough surface, prediction methods are compared with the detailed picture of boundary-layer, transition front behavior deduced from the results of the Orbiter Flight Test program. The shortcomings of the existing methods are highlighted and the importance of tripping by isolated excrescences is demonstrated. Existing criteria for the prediction of roughness induced transition are considered. Improved relations are suggested and a link between roughness-induced transition and a commonly used engineering transition correlation parameter is established.