Transition Prediction for Three-Dimensional Boundary Layers in Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications

A method is presented for estimating the laminar/turbulent transition location in three-dimensional boundary layers for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications requiring numerous transition estimates with no user intervention. Given the Reynolds number and the CP distribution, the location of transition is estimated based on the attachment-line state, the potential for relaminarization, the occurrence of laminar separation, and the growth of instabilities.