Visualization of transition

Abstract

In an experimental study the development of transition downstream of Görtler vortices was investigated. With the tellurium method it was possible to distinguish beyond the Görtler vortices to successive instability modes. The first deforms the vortex pattern in a steady way and produces between each vortex pair boundary-layer profiles with two points of inflexion. When this has been established another instability mode starts, consisting of regular three-dimensional oscillations. By detailed flow visualization a nearly complete picture of the different flow patterns can be obtained.