A computational study on robust prediction of transition point over NACA0012 aerofoil surfaces from laminar to turbulent flows

Abstract

Flowtransition from laminar toturbulent is prerequisite todecide whereabouts to apply surface flowcontrol techniques. This appears missing in a number of works in which thecontrol effects were merelyinvestigated without getting insight into alteration of transition position. The aim of this study is to capture the correctposition of transition overNACA0012 aerofoil at different angles of attack. Firstly, an implicit, time marching, highresolution total variation diminishing (TVD) scheme was developed to solve the governingNavier—Stokes equations forcompressible fluid flows around aerofoil sections to obtain velocity profiles around the aerofoilsurfaces. Secondly, the linear instability solver based on the Orr—Sommerfeld equations and the eN methods were developed to calculate the onset of transition over the aerofoil surfaces. Forthe low subsonic Mach number of 0.16, the accuracy of the compressible solutions was assessed bysome available experimental results of low speed incompressible flows. In allcases, transition positionswere accurately predicted which shows applicability and superiority of the present work to beextended for higher Mach number compressible flows. Here, transition prediction methodology is described and the results of this analysiswithout active flow controlor separation are presented.