Accession Number:

AD0435884

Title:

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

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO PHILADELPHIA PA MISSILE AND SPACE DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Wen,K. S.

Report Date:

1963-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

32.0

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

Descriptors:

• *LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER
• STABILIZATION
• FLUID FLOW
• RELAXATION TIME
• TURBULENCE
• VISCOSITY
• DRAG
• REDUCTION
• PERTURBATION THEORY
• MOTION
• EQUATIONS
• POLYMERS
• STABILITY

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE