ESEG_Boundary layer transition lengths in hypervelocity flows (2005-2006)

Whether boundary layers on high-speed flight vehicles are laminar or turbulent significantly influences heat transfer drag and operation of air-breathing engines such as scramjets. For proposed hypersonic vehicles much of the surface may be covered in boundary layers transitioning from laminar to turbulent flow. In hypervelocity flows the lengths of these transitional regions and the properties in them are not well modelled or understood. The goal of this project is to study in detail the process of transition to turbulence in hypervelocity flows. Such a detailed investigation in the challenging environment of hypervelocity flows will advance the development of high-speed flight vehicles.