Semi-similar solutions to the unsteady turbulent boundary layer equations

1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. WILLIAMS, III
1999 ◽  
Vol 387 ◽  
pp. 227-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
VALOD NOSHADI ◽  
WILHELM SCHNEIDER

Plane and axisymmetric (radial), horizontal laminar jet flows, produced by natural convection on a horizontal finite plate acting as a heat dipole, are considered at large distances from the plate. It is shown that physically acceptable self-similar solutions of the boundary-layer equations, which include buoyancy effects, exist in certain Prandtl-number regimes, i.e. 0.5<Pr[les ]1.470588 for plane, and Pr>1 for axisymmetric flow. In the plane flow case, the eigenvalues of the self-similar solutions are independent of the Prandtl number and can be determined from a momentum balance, whereas in the axisymmetric case the eigenvalues depend on the Prandtl number and are to be determined as part of the solution of the eigenvalue problem. For Prandtl numbers equal to, or smaller than, the lower limiting values of 0.5 and 1 for plane and axisymmetric flow, respectively, the far flow field is a non-buoyant jet, for which self-similar solutions of the boundary-layer equations are also provided. Furthermore it is shown that self-similar solutions of the full Navier–Stokes equations for axisymmetric flow, with the velocity varying as 1/r, exist for arbitrary values of the Prandtl number.Comparisons with finite-element solutions of the full Navier–Stokes equations show that the self-similar boundary-layer solutions are asymptotically approached as the plate Grashof number tends to infinity, whereas the self-similar solution to the full Navier–Stokes equations is applicable, for a given value of the Prandtl number, only to one particular, finite value of the Grashof number.In the Appendices second-order boundary-layer solutions are given, and uniformly valid composite expansions are constructed; asymptotic expansions for large values of the lateral coordinate are performed to study the decay of the self-similar boundary-layer flows; and the stability of the jets is investigated using transient numerical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations.


The boundary-layer equations for a compressible fluid are transformed into those for an incompressible fluid, assuming that the boundary is thermally insulating, that the viscosity is proportional to the absolute temperature, and that the Prandtl number is unity. Various results in the theory of incompressible boundary layers are then taken over into the compressible theory. In particular, the existence of ‘similar’ solutions is proved, and Howarth’s method for retarded flows is applied to determine the point of separation for a uniformly retarded main stream velocity. A comparison with an exact solution is used to show that this method gives a closer approximation than does Pohlhausen’s.


1969 ◽  
Vol 73 (698) ◽  
pp. 143-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Bull

Although a numerical solution of the turbulent boundary-layer equations has been achieved by Mellor and Gibson for equilibrium layers, there are many occasions on which it is desirable to have closed-form expressions representing the velocity profile. Probably the best known and most widely used representation of both equilibrium and non-equilibrium layers is that of Coles. However, when velocity profiles are examined in detail it becomes apparent that considerable care is necessary in applying Coles's formulation, and it seems to be worthwhile to draw attention to some of the errors and inconsistencies which may arise if care is not exercised. This will be done mainly by the consideration of experimental data. In the work on constant pressure layers, emphasis tends to fall heavily on the author's own data previously reported in ref. 1, because the details of the measurements are readily available; other experimental work is introduced where the required values can be obtained easily from the published papers.


1968 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
N. Rott ◽  
J. T. Ohrenberger

The boundary layer on an axisymmetric surface above which the flow is rotating about the axis of symmetry is considered. Transformations of the governing equations which permit the generalizations of a known solution for one meridian shape in incompressible flow to a family of meridian shapes are shown to exist. For compressible flow, a transformation of the Stewartson-Illingworth type was found which reduces a compressible flow problem to an incompressible case. Also, remarks are made concerning the invariance of the turbulent boundary-layer integral equations assuming particular semi-empirical shear laws.


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