Boundary Layers With Viscous Potential Outer Flows

In this paper we try to derive improved formulations for laminar boundary layers in incompressible flows by using the concept of viscous potential flows, presented in Joseph [1] and Joseph [2], as the outer flow. Bernoulli’s equation is used at the edge of boundary layer to make the basic assumption to deduce the presented formulas. The momentum equation is derived directly from the Navier-Stokes equations and then simplified using an order of magnitude analyze. However an additional term, remains in the momentum equation to represent the contribution of the viscosity of the outer potential flow at the edge of the boundary layer. The viscosity of the outer viscous flow shows itself also in momentum-integral and energy-integral equations. Numerical results showed that at high Reynolds numbers and low angles of attack the results of the two formulas are almost the same, but for lower Reynolds numbers and higher angles of attack the difference between the results is remarkable.