1

Module7:
Similarity Rules

Lecture36:
Similarity Rules (Contd.)

NPTEL IIT Kharagpur: Prof. K.P. Sinhamahapatra, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

 2

2-D Transonic flow (Von Kaman’s Rule)

The governing equation is

∂ 2ϕ 1 ∂ 2ϕ (γ 1 + 1)M 1 1 ∂ϕ ∂ 2ϕ
2
+ = ⋅
∂ x 2 1 − M 12 ∂ y 2 1− M1
2
U ∂x ∂x 2
The equation is written for a flow with free stream Mach number M 1 and velocity U 1 in a gas with γ 1 .

Introducing Φ (ξ ,η ) as before, it can be seen that Φ (ξ ,η ) satisfies

∂ 2Φ 1 ∂ 2 Φ (γ 1 + 1)M 1 A ∂Φ ∂ 2 Φ
2
+ =
∂ξ 2 1 − M 12 ∂η 2 1 − M 1 U 2 ∂ξ ∂ξ
2 2

if Φ is to satisfy the TSD equation for a flow with free stream speed M 2 ,U 2 in a gas with γ 2 , then

(γ 1 + 1)M 12 A = (γ 2 + 1)M 2 2
1− M1 1− M 2
2 2

γ 2 + 1 M 2 2 1 − M 12
⇒ A=
γ 1 + 1 M 12 1 − M 2 2
Consideration of the boundary condition gives, as before

1− M1
2
A τ 2 = τ1
1− M 2
2

and C p1 = AC p2
NPTEL IIT Kharagpur: Prof. K.P. Sinhamahapatra, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
 3

Thus the similarity rule becomes

C p (γ + 1)M ∞
2 ⎛ τ (γ + 1)M 2 ⎞
= f ⎜⎜ ∞ ⎟

1− M ∞
2
⎝ (
⎜ 1− M 2 2 ⎟
∞
3 ⎟
⎠ )
Multiplying both sides by

1 − M ∞2
χ= 2
⎡⎣τ ( γ + 1) M ∞ ⎤⎦ 2 3

⎛ ⎞
( )
1
C p ⎡⎣( γ + 1) M ∞ 2 ⎤⎦ 3
⎜ 1 − M ∞2 ⎟ = f (χ )
⇒ = f
2 ⎜ 2 ⎟
τ 3 ⎜ ⎡τ ( γ + 1) M ∞ 2 ⎤ 3 ⎟
⎝⎣ ⎦ ⎠
- Von Karman similarity rule
The rule is valid from subsonic through sonic to supersonic flows. Prandtl-Glauert and Göthert rules
are special cases of this rule.

Since A is not arbitrary, it is impossible to compare the same body at different Mach number or
different bodies at a given Mach number. Comparison is possible for bodies of different thickness
ratios at different Mach numbers in different gases so that

1− M 2
2
=
[τ ]
1 − M 12
χ1 = χ 2 or
(γ 2 + 1)M 2
2
2 2 3
⎡⎣τ 1 ( γ 1 + 1) M ⎤⎦1
2 3
2

Flow is transonic if −1 ≤ χ ≤ 1

NPTEL IIT Kharagpur: Prof. K.P. Sinhamahapatra, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

 4

Linearized Axially Symmetric Flow

ϕ ( x, r ) for free stream velocity U 1 and Mach number M 1 is

∂ 2ϕ 1 ⎛ ∂ 2ϕ 1 ∂ϕ ⎞
+ 2 ⎜
+ ⎟=0
∂ x 1 − M 1 ⎝ ∂r
2 2
r ∂r ⎠

ϕ ( x, r ) may be related to a second flow Φ (ξ , R ) through the transformation

U1 ⎛ 1 − M12 ⎞
ϕ ( x , r ) = A Φ ⎜ x, r ⎟
U 2 ⎜⎝ 1 − M 22 ⎟
⎠
Φ satisfies the same equation as ϕ for a Mach number M 2 . If r = τ 1cf x( c ) is the shape of the axially
⎛ ∂ϕ ⎞ ⎛ x⎞
symmetric body, then the exact boundary condition is ⎜ ⎟ = U τ f ′ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ ∂r ⎠body
1 1
⎝c⎠

Since the bc cannot be applied at r = 0 , it is necessary to use the exact bc.

⎛ ∂ϕ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
⎝ ∂r ⎠ r =τ1cf ( x c )
( )
= U1τ 1 f ′ x
c

Now

⎛ ∂ϕ ⎞ U1 1 − M 12 ⎛ ∂Φ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ =A ⎜ ⎟
⎝ ∂r ⎠r =τ1cf ( x c ) U 2 1 − M 2 2 ⎝ ∂R ⎠ R = 1− M12 ⎛ x⎞
τ1c f ⎜ ⎟
1− M 22 ⎝ ⎠c

The boundary condition that must be satisfied by Φ is

NPTEL IIT Kharagpur: Prof. K.P. Sinhamahapatra, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

 5

⎛ ∂Φ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ = U 2τ 2 F ′⎛⎜ ξ ⎞⎟
⎝ ∂R ⎠ R =τ 2c F ⎛⎜ ξ c ⎞⎟ ⎝ c⎠
⎝ ⎠

To compare the two above, f x ( c ) must equals F ⎛⎜⎝ξ c ⎞⎟⎠ . Same condition as in linearized 2-D, Also,
1− M1
2
τ1 =τ2
1− M 2
2

( c) 1− M1 1− M1 ⎛ x⎞
2 2
⇒ τ1 f ′ x = A τ f ′⎜ ⎟
1− M 2 1− M 2
1
⎝c⎠
2 2

1− M 2
2
A =
or
1− M1
2

Consistent pressure coefficient for axially symmetric flow is

2
2 ⎛ ∂ϕ ⎞ 1 ⎛ ∂ϕ ⎞
C p1 = − ⎜ ⎟ − 2 ⎜⎜ ⎟
U 1 ⎝ ∂x ⎠τ1c f ⎛⎜ x ⎞⎟=0 U 1 ⎝ ∂γ ⎟⎠τ1cf ⎛⎜ x ⎞⎟=0
⎝c⎠ ⎝c⎠

In terms of Φ ,

⎛ ∂Φ ⎞ A 2 1 − M 1 ⎛ ∂Φ ⎞
2 2
2
C p1 = − A⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 2 2 ⎜ ⎟
U2 ⎝ ∂ξ ⎠ 1− M 12 ⎛x⎞
τ 1c f ⎜ ⎟ = 0 U 2 1 − M 2 ⎝ ∂R ⎠ 1− M 12
τ cf
2 1
⎛x⎞
⎜ ⎟=0
1− M 2 2
⎝c⎠ 1− M 2 ⎝c⎠

⇒ C p1 = AC p2
Hence, the similarity law may be expressed as

NPTEL IIT Kharagpur: Prof. K.P. Sinhamahapatra, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

 6

Cp ⎛ τ ⎞
= f⎜ ⎟
A ⎜ A 1− M 2 ⎟
⎝ ∞ ⎠
(
Since A = 1 − M ∞ )
2 −1
, the similarity rule becomes the Göthert’s rule

( 2
)
C p1 1 − M ∞ = f ⎛⎜τ 1 − M ∞ ⎞⎟
⎝
2

⎠
No corresponding similarity relation for axially symmetric transonic flow.

NPTEL IIT Kharagpur: Prof. K.P. Sinhamahapatra, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering