Question

When there’s flow over a flat plate, there’s laminar boundary layer at the leading edge followed by turbulent boundary layer.

(a) True

(b) False

This question was addressed to me during an interview.

I'd like to ask this question from Boundary Layer Properties in section Boundary Layers, Laminar & Turbulent Boundary Layers, Navier Stokes Solutions of Aerodynamics

Answer 1

Right answer is (a) True

To explain I would say: When a flat plate is kept in the freestream flow, there’s a formation of a laminar boundary layer at the leading edge. This boundary layer thickness grows to a point where a transition point is reached. Beyond that point, there’s turbulence due to the presence of eddies and there’s turbulent boundary layer formation whose thickness keeps on increasing.