THE SLOW MOTION OF A FINITE FLAT PLATE THROUGH A VISCOUS STRATIFIED FLUID.
Abstract
The existence of a 'wake' upstream of an obstacle moving slowly through a stratified fluid has been known for some time. The present study shows that a thin flat plate moving slowly and horizontally through a linearly stratified fluid has, in addition, a flat plate boundary layer whose thickness increases from the back of plate. In the theory, the ratio of diffusivity to viscosity is considered small and the plate moves so slowly that inertia forces are negligible; under these conditions, a similarity solution is derived describing the plate boundary layer. The study also shows that diffusion creates a very thin boundary layer over the plate whose thickness increases from the front of the plate. In the experiment, a plate was towed through a tank of linearly stratified salt water. From streak photographs of the boundary layer over the plate, it was possible to confirm quantitatively the plate boundary layer solution and to infer at very slow velocities the presence of the diffusion boundary layer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0806733
Entities
People
- Seelye Martin
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University