Universal equations of three-dimensional boundary layer theory

Abstract

We consider a parametric method for investigating three-dimensional laminar motion of an incompressible fluid in a boundary layer on a curved surface. It is found that the problem solution in the general case depends on four series of parameters, constructed from two components of the outer flow velocity and the two Lamé coefficients characterizing the shape of the immersed surface. From the general equations of the three-dimensional boundary layer we obtain a system of two “universal” equations which do not contain the characteristics of the outer flow. This system may be solved once and for all. As an example we consider the problem of the laminar boundary layer on the walls of an axisymmetric channel in the case of swirling outer flow. For this case we obtain numerical solutions of the system of universal equations in the local two-parameter approximation.