Free Convection from a Semi-Infinite Vertical Plate with Discontinuous Blowing or Suction

摘要

An analytical investigation of laminar free convection from a semi-infinite vertical plate is undertaken with the following special conditions imposed. The plate is maintained at a constant temperature greater than that of the ambient fluid. At an arbitrary distance above the leading edge a constant rate of blowing or suction is initiated extending uniformly along the remainder of the plate. The solution was obtained using the method of matched asymptotic expansions whereby an inner series described the velocity and temperature profiles near the discontinuity in the vicinity of surface and an outer series approximated the behavior at greater distances from the plate. The inner series was also used to determine the heat transfer characteristics at the surface of the plate. The ambient fluid was assumed to be air with a Prandtl number of 0.72. (Author)