Abstract

The last stage of laminar-turbulent transition in boundary layers is commonly described using the spatial distribution of intermittency. Existing methods for computing this laminar-turbulent intermittency from experimental data involve the use of thresholds that are set by the experimentalist using subjective comparisons to the raw signal. These threshold settings cannot be reproduced by other experimentalists using different equipment, so a precise determination of intermittency is not currently possible. This note reports on a new method of determining boundary-layer intermittency that appears to be objective and reproducible. The wall shear was measured in a flat-plate boundary layer using hot-film sensors. Probability density functions (PDF's) of the calibrated wall shear are remarkably consistent. A correlation to the turbulent portion of these PDF's is given. The consistency observed in these PDF's suggests an objective and reproducible setting for the laminar-turbulent cutoff threshold. Intermittencies determined using this method can be compared quantitatively, with any differences being caused only by experimental error or differences in the flows. The universality of the method can be determined through comparisons to measurements in other flows.

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