Statistical characterization of free-stream turbulence induced transition under variable Reynolds number, free-stream turbulence, and pressure gradient

In this work, the free-stream turbulence (FST) induced transition of a flat plate boundary layer is studied using particle image velocimetry (PIV) under variable Reynolds number (Re), FST intensity, and adverse pressure gradient (APG). Overall, 10 different flow conditions were tested concerning the variation of these parameters. The streak spacing and the probability density function (PDF) of turbulent spot nucleation are computed for all cases. The streak spacing is shown to be constant in the transition region once scaled with the turbulent displacement and momentum thickness, with resulting values of around 3 and 5, respectively. Nucleation events are shown to occur near the position where the dimensionless streak spacing reaches such constant values. The streamwise position where most turbulent spots are formed is strongly influenced by the FST intensity level. Additionally, the PDF of spot nucleation becomes narrower with increase in the APG, while FST has the opposite effect. A common distribution of all the PDFs is provided as a function of a similarity variable accounting for the streak spacing, the shape factor of the boundary layer, and the FST intensity.