Other Boundary Layer Solutions and 3D Layers - Lesson 5

The rainbow trout is able to laminarize the boundary layer forming on its skin in order to maintain a laminar boundary layer, reduce the skin friction and be more energy efficient when swimming. The velocity profile on parts of the trout can be analyzed using the Falkner-Skan equation, which includes pressure gradients in the analysis of boundary layers. This lesson will show the main aspects of this equation.

Boundary layers, however, are not only two-dimensional. Indeed, flow over a delta wing generates a secondary motion that affects the velocity profile of the boundary layer. In this lesson we will extend the governing equations for a boundary layer to analyze also three-dimensional flows.

These and other methods that extend the range of applicability of the boundary layer theory will be explained in this lecture.

Alternate video link.

Here are the accompanying hand-out slides for this lesson.