The Isobars in Boundary Layers at Supersonic Speeds

Summary

For boundary layer flows over curved surfaces at moderately high supersonic speeds the existence of normal pressure gradients within the boundary layer becomes important even for small curvatures and they cannot be ignored. The describing equations are basically parabolic in form so that the simplifications inherent in hyperbolic flows would not at first sight seem to be relevant. However, the equations of motion for a two-dimensional, supersonic, rotational, viscous flow are analysed along the lines of a hyperbolic flow and the individual effects of viscosity and vorticity are examined with regard to the isobar distributions. It is found that these two properties have compensating effects and the experimental evidence presented confirms the conclusion that inside the boundary layer the isobars follow much the same rules as those which determine the isobars in the external hyperbolic flow. Since for turbulent boundary layers the fullness of the Mach number profile produces almost linear Mach lines in the boundary layer, this provides a simple extension to the methods of analysis, and the momentum integral equation is reformulated using a swept element bounded by linear isobars. The final equation is similar in form to the conventional one except that the momentum and displacement thicknesses are now defined by integrals along the swept isobars, and all normal pressure gradients due to centrifugal effects are accounted for.