Development of Natural Disturbances in a Hypersonic Boundary Layer on a Sharp Cone

Experimental data on the location of the laminar—turbulent transition and development of natural disturbances in a laminar hypersonic boundary layer on a sharp thermally insulated cone with a half–angle of 7° are presented. The existence of the second mode of disturbances is confirmed. It is shown that the transition is determined by the first mode of disturbances. The experimental data are in good agreement with theoretical calculations.