VISCOUS-INVISCID INTERACTION ON A SLENDER AXISYMMETRICAL TRAILING TIPFLOW

Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions, the viscous-invisci d interaction near the trailing tip region of a slender body of revolu tion of finite length placed in a uniform incompressible laminar strea m is investigated in the limit of large Reynolds numbers. Similar to p revious studies, the interaction region is found to exhibit a three-la yer structure. In contrast to these investigations, host-ever, the fun damental interaction equations are of axisymmetric rather than planar form. Numerical solutions indicate that axisymmetric tip flows are muc h less prone to separation than two-dimensional flows. Most interestin gly, it is found that increasing the body thickness, keeping the body shape fixed, does not necessarily lead to boundary layer separation.