Stability-Based Mach Zero to Four Longitudinal Transition Prediction Criterion

With the objective of inserting laminar–turbulent transition prediction inside computational fluid dynamics codes (Navier–Stokes solvers and boundary-layer codes), a physically based transition criterion for laminar–turbulent longitudinal transition caused by the amplification of boundary-layer instabilities is developed and implemented into both the ONERA–The French Aerospace Lab’s elsA and the 3C3D codes. This transition criterion is an extended version of the incompressible Arnal–Habiballah–Delcourt criterion, which is here applicable in a range of Mach numbers from zero to four, and takes into account wall temperature effects. Larger Mach numbers, up to 4.5, may even be considered for low-pressure gradient cases. An example of application, at the very upper limit in Mach number, is also presented. This criterion covers the entire range where the first mode of instability may be the most amplified. A second model, to be created, will be necessary to take into account the second-mode contribution for la...