ON THE STABILITY OF A LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER FOR A MAXWELLIAN FLUID,

Abstract

It has been discovered that certain non-Newtonian fluid stabilizes the laminar boundary layer significantly. The present investigation is a preliminary effort toward the understanding of the mechanism behind this unusual phenomenon. The fluid model chosen is that of a Maxwellian fluid the mechanical property of which is characterized by a relaxation time. The stability of a laminar boundary layer is then considered. It is found qualitatively that the minimum critical Reynolds number is smaller than that in the Newtonian case and decreases with increasing relaxation time. Therefore, the boundary layer will become more unstable compared with the Newtonian case. However, the results of this investigation point toward another fluid model which possess a highly stabilizing characteristic. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0435884

Entities

People

  • K. S. Wen

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Layer
  • Elastic Properties
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Laminar Boundary Layer
  • Layers
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Physical Properties
  • Relaxation Time
  • Reynolds Number

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.