Physics-based model for boundary layer transition prediction in a wide speed range

A new physics-based model employing three transport equations is developed for the simulation of boundary layer transitions in a wide speed range. The laminar kinetic energy is used to represent pretransitional streamwise velocity fluctuations, taking account of different instability modes. The fluctuation velocity components normal to the streamwise direction are modeled by another transport equation. Transition is triggered automatically with the development of the pretransitional velocity fluctuations. In the fully turbulent region, the model reverts to the k-ω turbulence model. Different test cases, including subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic flows around flat plates, airfoils and straight cones, are numerically simulated to validate the performance of the model. The results demonstrate the excellent predictive capabilities of the model in different paths of transition. The model can serve as a basis for the extension of additional transition mechanisms, such as rotation and curvature effects, roughness-induced transition and crossflow-induced transition.