Vortex Formation and Shedding from a Two-Dimensional, Thin, Flat Plate Parallel to the Free Stream

Author: Bauer, Andrew Burkhard

Year: 1959

Degree: Engineer's thesis

Advisor: Roshko, Anatol

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Aeronautics

DOI: 10.7907/K0ZD-XY10

Abstract

Vortex formation and shedding from the trailing edge of a two-dimensional, thin, flat plate parallel to the free stream is studied experimentally for the case of incompressible flow. Consideration of the classical boundary layer theory, the Karman vortex-street theory, the formation of the vortex centers, and some annihilation of vorticity in the free shear layers leads to an estimate of Strouhal number. This estimate is in reasonable agreement with experiment. The flow phenomena of a splitter plate mounted aft of the main plate and of a NACA 0012 airfoil are also observed experimentally and are found to be in essential agreement with applicable portions of the theory.

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