E.J. Walsh and D. Hernon

Stokes Research Institute, Dept. of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland.
E-mail: [email protected]

Received: 26 August 2005 / Accepted: 3 February 2006 / Published: 6 February 2006

Abstract: The prediction of the entropy generation rate in laminar shear layers is treated as steady, even in the presence of high levels of free stream turbulence. Here we highlight the deficiencies of this approach by quantifying the magnitude of entropy generation rate fluctuations in the laminar boundary layer subjected to free stream turbulence. We find fluctuation levels in excess of 100% in the near wall region, thereby indicating the need to account for the unsteadiness in laminar boundary layers subjected to free stream turbulence.

Keywords: laminar flow; unsteady entropy generation; dissipation coefficient.