Numerical Simulations of Laminar-Turbulent Transition in Supersonic Boundary Layer

† ‡ Direct numerical simulations form an important ingredient to developing physics based transition prediction capability, particularly in applications where it is desirable to model the transition process in a holistic sense (i.e., by accounting for the various stages of the transition process in an integrated manner). The aerodynamic design process entails an additional tier of integration involving a coupling between the transitional and fully turbulent regions of the flow field. To help develop a physics based engineering framework towards such integrated models, this paper presents direct simulations of laminar-turbulent transition due to first mode instabilities in a supersonic boundary layer. By capturing the disturbance dynamics across the late-transitional through fully turbulent flow regimes, the simulations aim to provide a numerical database for an in-depth validation of engineering predictions for the various stages of transition in a high-speed boundary layer.