Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2006
The impulsive movement of a plate (Rayleigh problem) is considered for a compressible flow in which, prior to initiation of the motion, both velocity and enthalpy gradients exist normal to the plate. The solution is valid for large times, and the external gradients are chosen of such magnitude that their effects enter to the same order as displacement effects due to induced vertical velocity. This displacement effect is influenced by the external enthalpy gradient. Both insulated wall and a step change in wall enthalpy are considered. For the insulated wall it is found that the part of the displacement solution which is uninfluenced by the external gradient requires a term in the logarithm of Reynolds number (based on time). This differs in principle from the case for a constant wall enthalpy. Displacement with uniform outside flow affects heat transfer but not skin friction, just the opposite from the corresponding results for the steady two-dimensional semi-infinite flat plate. The influence of external gradients on skin friction, heat transfer and adiabatic wall enthalpy is given.