Structure of a flat plate boundary layer subjected to free-stream turbulence

The structure near the flat plate leading edge of an incompressible boundary layer subjected to free-stream turbulence is investigated using large eddy simulation (LES) with a dynamic mixed subgrid-scale model. Free-stream turbulent intensities ranging from 1.5 to 10% are investigated. The evolutions of the velocity, temperature and turbulent intensity profiles inside the boundary layer and the characteristic length scales are analyzed and compared to a laminar flat plate boundary layer. The impact of the free-stream turbulence is examined for Reynolds numbers ranging from 0 (leading edge of the flat plate) to Re x =80,000 by using two consecutive spatial LESs. Bypass transition is found to occur in the early stage of the boundary layer development for all five cases presented here. The analysis indicates that the thermal turbulent structures transfer more energy and hence generate more thermal fluctuations in their wake than the dynamic structures.