Experimental and theoretical study of swept-wing boundary-layer instabilities. Three-dimensional Tollmien-Schlichting instability

Abstract

Extensive combined experimental and theoretical investigations of the linear evolution of three-dimensional (3D) Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) instability modes of 3D boundary layers developing on a swept airfoil section have been carried out. The flow under consideration is the boundary layer over an airfoil at 35° sweep and an angle of attack of +1.5°. At these conditions, TS instability is found to be the predominant one. Perturbations with different frequencies and spanwise wavenumbers are generated in a controlled way using a row of elastic membranes. All experimental results are deeply processed and compared with results of calculations based on theoretical approaches. Very good quantitative agreement of all measured and calculated stability characteristics of swept-wing boundary layers is achieved.