page_title: Laminar–turbulent transition
section_title: Transition stages in a boundary layer
hierarchical_section_title: Laminar–turbulent transition / Transition stages in a boundary layer
caption_attribution_description: English: The path to transition, from receptivity to turbulence, as detailed in Morkovin, 1994
context_page_description: In fluid dynamics, the process of a laminar flow becoming turbulent is known as laminar–turbulent transition. The main parameter characterizing transition is the Reynolds number.
  Transition is often described as a process proceeding through a series of stages. "Transitional flow" can refer to transition in either direction, that is laminar–turbulent transitional or turbulent–laminar transitional flow.
  The process applies to any fluid flow, and is most often used in the context of boundary layers.
context_section_description: A boundary layer can transition to turbulence through a number of paths. Which path is realized physically depends on the initial conditions such as initial disturbance amplitude and surface roughness. The level of understanding of each phase varies greatly, from near complete understanding of primary mode growth to a near-complete lack of understanding of bypass mechanisms.
caption: The path from receptivity to laminar-turbulent transition as illustrated by Morkovin, 1994.[2]
exif: {}