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Fundamentals of The Boundary Layer MIT
Fundamentals of The Boundary Layer MIT
21623
Introduction
In potential flows, which assume an ideal fluid with- /
out viscosity, only pressure and inertia forces deter-
mine the flow dynamics (Fig. I). Real fluids do have
viscosity, and the flow field can be very different (Fig.
2). Boundary layers, thfo layers of fluid in which vis-
form flow over a long flat plate (Figs. 5 and 6). The
flow is visualized by hydrogen bubbles generated by
electrolysis along wires oriented perpeudicular to the
plate. Upstream of the plate the front and back edges
of hydrogen-bubble patches remain perpendicular to
the streamlines, showing that the flow is uniform and
free of vorticity (Fig. 5). Downstream of the leading