INTEGRAL TRANSFORM SOLUTION OF BOUNDARY-LAYER EQUATIONS IN STREAM FUNCTION-ONLY FORMULATION

The boundary layer equations for steady incompressible laminar channel flow are solved through the integral transform method, by adopting th e stream function-only formulation of the governing equations, instead of the more commonly used primitive variables formulation. This hybri d numerical-analytical approach provides benchmark results under user- prescribed accuracy targets and is recognized in the validation of pur ely numerical schemes. The relative merits of the stream function form ulation are illustrated through numerical results for the convergence behavior in the case of a plane Poiseuille flow. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.