Thwaites' Integral method for Laminar Incompressible Boundary Layers This is an empirical method based on the observation that

most laminar boundary layers obey the following relationship (Ref: Thawites, B., Incompressible Aerodynamics, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1960).:

ue d 2 2 du ( ) = A B dxe dx
Thwaites recommends A = 0.45 and B = 6 as the best empirical fit. The above equation may be analytically integrated yielding

(1)

2 =

0.45 6 ue

u 6 ( x = 0) 0.45 5 u e dx + 2 ( x = 0) e 6 = 6 u e ( x) ue x =0
x

x =0

5 e

dx

e stagnation point. For sharp nosed geometries such as a flat plate, the momentum thickness is zero at the leading edge. Thus, the term in the square bracket always vanishes. The integral may be evaluated, at least numerically when u is known. e After is found, the following relations are used to compute the shape factor H and the shear stress at the wall . w

For blunt bodies such as airfoils, the edge velocity u

(2) is zero at x=0, the

For 0 0.1

H = 2. 61 3. 75 + 5.24 2 For 0.1 0 H = 2. 472 + where, 0.0147 0.107+

2 due = dx
and,

(3)

w =

ue 0. 62 ( + 0. 09)

Despite the empiricism involved in the above formulas, Thwaites' integral method is considered to be the best of a variety of integral boundary layer methods.