A Formulation of the Problem of Distributed Vorticity in the Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interaction process

Citation

Barker, William Cyrus (1950) A Formulation of the Problem of Distributed Vorticity in the Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interaction process. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/H3PW-QF74. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01292009-153901

Abstract

The problem of shock wave boundary layer interaction is reviewed and attention focused upon the role of vorticity in the process. In order to simplify the physical considerations the two phenomena exhibited by vorticity in the interaction process-reflection and refraction of the disturbance, and transport of the vorticity from its original distribution - are divorced from one another. The reflection and refraction process is then considered apart from the other, and it is found that a boundary value problem can be formulated for it and formally solved for small perturbations from the undisturbed flow. The perturbation component, which is associated with the pressure variation over the bounding surface, is set up and carried through to a point involving evaluation of a contour integral. This integral is so complex that its analytical evaluation would require many months of effort, and at this point it is thought that a re-examination of the original problem would be in order. Although numerical results would be desirable, the effort expended would have to be weighed against their relative contribution to an understanding of the overall problem.

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