Interaction of a turbulent spot with a two-dimensional cavity

A study with experimental and numerical components is conducted to establish the effect of a two-dimensional surface cavity on the structure and growth rate of a turbulent spot. The spot is artificially created in a two-dimensional laminar boundary layer developing under zero streamwise pressure gradient. Interactions of the turbulent spot and its wake with the Kelvin-Helmholtz rollers of the cavity shear layer are shown to result in significant increases in its lateral and streamwise growth rates. The underlying physics of these developments are identified.& nbsp;(C) 2021 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

This study investigates the effect of a two-dimensional surface cavity on the structure and growth rate of a turbulent spot through experimental and numerical analysis. The interactions between the turbulent spot and its wake with the Kelvin-Helmholtz rollers of the cavity shear layer lead to significant increases in both lateral and streamwise growth rates. The underlying physics of these developments have been identified.