Studies on Wake-Disturbed Boundary Layers Under the Influences of Favorable Pressure Gradient and Free-Stream Turbulence: Part I — Experimetal Setup and Discussions on Transition Model

The objective of this study is to investigate effects of favorable pressure gradient as well as free-stream turbulence upon wake-induced boundary layer transition on a flat plate. Likewise in the previous study by Funazaki (1996), a spoked-wheel type wake generator is employed in this study. Two identical flat plates with sharp edge are used as test model. One of them is for measurement of boundary layers over the test plate by use of a single hot-wire probe, and the other is provided with thin stainless-steel foils on the surface to measure wake-affected heat transfer along the surface. Free-stream turbulence intensities are controlled with several types of turbulence grids. Pressure gradients over the test surface are adjusted by changing an inclination angle of the plate located opposite to the test model. In Part I, transition models proposed by Mayle and Dullenkopf (1990b) and Funazaki (1996a, 1996b) are compared with the experimental data obtained in this study to examine how such a model succeeds or fails in predicting the wake-induced boundary layer transition under the influences of favorable pressure gradient with a low free-stream turbulence.