On the Spreading Angle of Turbulent Spots in Non-Isothermal Boundary Layers With Favourable Pressure Gradients
Turbulent spots created artificially in a flat plate boundary layer were visualized using both shear-sensitive and temperature-sensitive liquid crystals for the first time. The experiments were carried out at three different levels of favourable pressure gradients. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the spreading angles of the turbulent spots indicated by their associated surface shear stresses and heat transfer characteristics and hence obtain further insight about the difference in the behaviour of transitional momentum and thermal boundary layers when a streamwise pressure gradient is present. It was shown that under a zero pressure gradient the spreading angles indicated by the two types of liquid crystals are the same, but the difference increases as the level of favourable pressure gradient increases. The result from the present study could have an important implication for the transition modelling of thermal boundary layers over gas turbine blades. Further investigations are to be carried out.