An appraisal of ‘flat plate’ closure for the approximate solution of boundary layer problems

Abstract

SummaryThe usefulness of zero pressure gradient, flat plate closure relations in providing approximate solutions for the boundary layer momentum and energy integral equations is examined. Expressions are obtained for skin friction, surface heat transfer rate and local Reynolds analogy factor under general compressible flow conditions. For laminar flows the predictions are compared with well known similarity solutions, with some exact solutions for non-similar flows and with experimental heat transfer data for high speed flow over a blunt cone. Consideration is also given to situations in which the surface temperature is a function of position. For turbulent flow situations comparisons are made with experimental data obtained from two-dimensional and axi-symmetric tests. Conditions vary from low Mach number incompressible flows through to high Mach number compressible flows with highly cooled walls. Some comparisons are also made with other prediction techniques.