Natural transition in natural convection boundary layers

The ‘natural transition’ of a natural convection boundary layer adjacent to an isothermally heated vertical surface is investigated by means of three-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS). In order to trigger ‘natural transition’ numerically, spatially and temporally random perturbations are introduced into the upstream boundary layer. The propagation of the random perturbations in the streamwise direction is observed. It is found that there exist two competing wavenumbers of spanwise vortical structures, one large and the other small. The large wavenumber dominates in the upstream boundary layer, whereas the small wavenumber dominates in the downstream boundary layer. The streamwise evolution of the mean (time-averaged) streamwise vorticity observed at planes perpendicular to the heated surface in general reveals two- and three-layer longitudinal roll structures. Nonlinear processes in a transitioning natural convection boundary layer are also analysed using Bicoherence method. The transition route and mechanism are discussed based on the power spectra and Bicoherence spectra of the temperature time series obtained in the boundary layer. A spectrum filling process during the ‘natural transition’ to turbulence is also observed, which is qualitatively similar to that observed in Blasius boundary layers.