Simple Relations for the Stability of Heated Laminar Boundary Layers in Water: Modified Dunn-Lin Method

Abstract : A simplified method for calculating the effect of surface heating on the hydrodynamic stability of heated laminar boundary layers in water. The method involves modification and updating of relations first developed by Lin for a constant property fluid and later by Dunn and Lin for a compressible one. These modified Dunn-Lin relations for the minimum critical Reynolds number give results in substantial agreement with numerical integration of the Orr- Sommerfeld equations. The powerful effects of surface temperature distribution on the stability of laminar boundary layers in water is illustrated, even for adverse pressure gradient. (Author)