ON THE EFFECT OF UNIFORM SUCTION ON STABILITY AND TRANSITION IN ZERO PRESSURE-GRADIENT VISCOUS INCOMPRESSIBLE-FLOW

The classic problem of stability and transition to turbulence of an in compressible flow over a flat plate subjected to uniform suction throu gh the surface is considered. This is an important ''model'' problem f or laminar flow control and the results have direct application to the design of low drag aerofoils. Detailed mean boundary layer calculatio ns are presented and the flow stability is determined by obtaining num erical solutions of the Orr-Somerfield equation. Transition conditions are estimated by using the semi-empirical en method. Accurate values have been obtained for the levels of suction:necessary to delay instab ility and transition indefinitely. Consideration has also been given t o the effect of surface suction upon the plate drag.