On the flow past a flat plate with uniform suction

Abstract

A new method of performing boundary-layer calculations is introduced in this paper, and is applied to the problem of finding the characteristics of uniform flow past a flat plate through which there is a constant normal velocity. An exact solution to this problem has not yet been found and it is therefore difficult to assess the accuracy of the results obtained. The results, however, are compared with those of two other methods. The new method will be applied to other problems and is explained in detail in Ref. 5. When the momentum equation is being used, one obvious advantage of the method is that, in 'adding' velocity profiles, the momentum thickness of each may be added to give the momentum thickness of the whole. This is not so in the usual methods of boundary-layer calculations, and great simplification is thereby obtained.