Thwaites' Method In Laminar Boundary Layer

Abstract

Thwaites' method can be applied to find the boundary layer characteristics for either similar or nonsimilar flow for a variety of boundaries ranging from a simple flat plate (Blasius's Solution(1)) to a symmetrical airfoil. The flow properties to be determined include potential flow velocity distribution, displacement thickness, momentum thickness and coefficient of friction. Furthermore,the location of flow separation is readily obtainable from the numeric value of local coefficient of friction. Thwaites' Method is able to provide satisfactory approximate solution to different types of simple boundary as long as the flow is laminar and not separated. For a complex curvature such a an airfoil Thwaite' Method is yet to be tested. In this context, we will look into the applicability of Thwaites' Method for a particular symmetrical airfoil, NACA 0012.