Approximate Solutions of the Unsteady Boundary-Layer Equations

Abstract

An approximate integral method is proposed for solving the unsteady laminar boundary-layer equations. The essence of the method is to assume a similar solution for the velocity profile even in those situations where similar solutions do not exist, and then to find a suitable scale function for the similarity variable. The scale function is the solution to a simple first-order linear partial differential equation. This solution is determined in closed form. Satisfactory results were obtained in comparison with more sophisticated and time-consuming procedures.