ISSN:
0271-2091
Keywords:
Boundary-layer equations
;
Spectral collocation methods
;
Compressible flow
;
Wall-normal velocity
;
Engineering
;
Engineering General
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
We consider a problem which arises in the numerical solution of the compressible two-dimensional or axisymmetric boundary-layer equations. Numerical methods for the compressible boundary-layer equations are facilitated by transformation from the physical (x, y) plane to a computational (ξ, η) plane in which the evolution of the flow is ‘slow’ in the time-like ξ direction. The commonly used Levy-Lees transformation results in a computationally well-behaved problem, but it complicates interpretation of the solution in physical space. Specifically, the transformation is inherently non-linear, and the physical wall-normal velocity is transformed out of the problem and is not readily recovered. Conventional methods extract the wall-normal velocity in physical space from the continuity equation, using finite-difference techniques and interpolation procedures. The present spectrally accurate method extracts the wall-normal velocity directly from the transformation itself, without interpolation, leaving the continuity equation free as a check on the quality of the solution. The present method for recovering wall-normal velocity, when used in conjunction with a highly accurate spectral collocation method for solving the compressible boundary-layer equations, results in a discrete solution which satisfies the continuity equation nearly to machine precision. As demonstration of the utility of the method, the boundary layers of three prototypical high-speed flows are investigated and compared: the flat plate, the hollow cylinder, and the cone. An important implication for classical linear stability theory is also briefly discussed.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fld.1650160204
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