Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation

The Blasius equation describes the properties of steady-state two dimensional boundary layer forming over a semi-infinite plate parallel to a unidirectional flow field. The flow is governed by a modified Blasius equation when the surface is aligned along the flow. In this paper, we demonstrate using...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: B. Basu, E. Foufoula-Georgiou, A. S. Sharma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-03-01
Series:Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
Online Access:http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/171/2011/npg-18-171-2011.pdf
_version_ 1811274856208007168
author B. Basu
E. Foufoula-Georgiou
A. S. Sharma
author_facet B. Basu
E. Foufoula-Georgiou
A. S. Sharma
author_sort B. Basu
collection DOAJ
description The Blasius equation describes the properties of steady-state two dimensional boundary layer forming over a semi-infinite plate parallel to a unidirectional flow field. The flow is governed by a modified Blasius equation when the surface is aligned along the flow. In this paper, we demonstrate using numerical solution, that as the wedge angle increases, bifurcation occurs in the nonlinear Blasius equation and the dynamics becomes chaotic leading to non-convergence of the solution once the angle exceeds a critical value of 22°. This critical value is found to be in agreement with experimental results showing the development of shock waves in the medium and also with analytical results showing multiple solutions for wedge angles exceeding a critical value. Finally, we provide a derivation of the equation governing the boundary layer flow for wedge angles exceeding the critical angle at the onset of chaos.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T23:27:41Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fa8fdf226c0344d7afe44d53617aeb73
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1023-5809
1607-7946
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T23:27:41Z
publishDate 2011-03-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
spelling doaj.art-fa8fdf226c0344d7afe44d53617aeb732022-12-22T03:12:23ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79462011-03-0118217117810.5194/npg-18-171-2011Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equationB. BasuE. Foufoula-GeorgiouA. S. SharmaThe Blasius equation describes the properties of steady-state two dimensional boundary layer forming over a semi-infinite plate parallel to a unidirectional flow field. The flow is governed by a modified Blasius equation when the surface is aligned along the flow. In this paper, we demonstrate using numerical solution, that as the wedge angle increases, bifurcation occurs in the nonlinear Blasius equation and the dynamics becomes chaotic leading to non-convergence of the solution once the angle exceeds a critical value of 22°. This critical value is found to be in agreement with experimental results showing the development of shock waves in the medium and also with analytical results showing multiple solutions for wedge angles exceeding a critical value. Finally, we provide a derivation of the equation governing the boundary layer flow for wedge angles exceeding the critical angle at the onset of chaos.http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/171/2011/npg-18-171-2011.pdf
spellingShingle B. Basu
E. Foufoula-Georgiou
A. S. Sharma
Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation
Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
title Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation
title_full Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation
title_fullStr Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation
title_full_unstemmed Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation
title_short Chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the Blasius equation
title_sort chaotic behavior in the flow along a wedge modeled by the blasius equation
url http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/18/171/2011/npg-18-171-2011.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT bbasu chaoticbehaviorintheflowalongawedgemodeledbytheblasiusequation
AT efoufoulageorgiou chaoticbehaviorintheflowalongawedgemodeledbytheblasiusequation
AT assharma chaoticbehaviorintheflowalongawedgemodeledbytheblasiusequation