Some expectation on the mechanism of cross-flow instability in a swept wing flow

Summary Three-dimensional boundary layer transition on axisymmetric rotating bodies is the subject of a comprehensive experimental study. Based on this study, hypotheses are made on the mechanism of cross-flow instability for swept wing flow. These new results are combined with past explanations to provide a rough sketch for the entire flow field over the swept wing. From this new viewpoint there appears the mechanism of traveling waves, being induced by a stationary disturbance. Some uncertainties appearing in recent papers concerning this flow field are discussed. Among these uncertainties for which an explanation is provided, is the discrepancy of frequencies between the hot wire signal and the visualized flow pattern.Nomenclature x direction along a potential flow stream line - y direction normal to a potential flow stream line - z direction normal to bothx andy directions - U mean velocity inx-direction - V mean velocity iny-direction - x direction along a disturbance - y direction normal tox direction - u, v, w fluctuating velocity components inx, y, z directions - U velocity inx-direction with wall fixed coordinate - U _e velocity of outer edge of boundary-layer - U uniform flow velocity normal to leading edge - V uniform flow velocity parallel to leading edge - Q upstream velocity - N rotation speed of an axisymmetric body - P arbitrary point on a disk surface - r radius to a pointP - R ₀ radius of a disk or a cylinder - U _p phase velocity of ring like vortices - T position where wall streaks appear in the case of oil flow visualization - Re _c,t critical and transitional Reynolds numbers - angle of the spiral disturbance - boundary-layer thickness - angular velocity - sweep angle of a body - wave length of disturbance - kinematic viscosity of a fluid With 11 Figures