Flow behind the boundary layer separation point in a supersonic stream

Abstract

The flow structure behind the separation point of a laminar boundary layer in a supersonic stream has been investigated. Analytic and numerical solutions are obtained for simple semiinfinite separation zones starting from the leading edge or a point on the smooth surface. The question of the pressure plateau in a separation zone of finite length is discussed and its value is calculated on the basis of asymptotic theory. The asymptotic theory of flow [1, 2] in the neighborhood of the separation point of the laminar boundary layer in a supersonic gas stream (region of free interaction) is employed. The local solution obtained is subsequently used to construct the flow pattern in the separation zone [3]. An analysis is made of the behavior of the solution for the free-interaction region on transition to the region of reverse flows. The results make it possible actually to compute (in the first approximation) the pressure in the “plateau” region after establishing the mathematical significance of this concept, previously introduced on the basis of the experimental results. At the same time relatively simple solutions are obtained for semiinfinite separation zones.