Nonequilibrium laminar boundary-layer flow of ionized air

Abstract

A study of non-equilibrium ionized multi-component air laminar boundary layer on a cone-shaped body at high velocity and temperature is made. The method of analysis utilizes a non-similar development of the boundary layer by finite difference scheme. The results of this investigation shows that electron density of the order of 10 to the 7th power to 10 to the 10th power electron/cc. can be generated by the viscous dissipation in the boundary layer. This investigation also shows the importance of considering the nonequilibrium aspects of the flow rather than the limiting cases of frozen or equilibrium flow. The study of the chemical reactions show that atomic oxygen is mainly produced from the dissociation of molecular oxygen while atomic nitrogen results mainly from two of the shuffle reactions. The production of nitric oxide comes from the shuffle reactions. For distances up to 15 ft. downstream from the tip and for conditions considered, none of the chemical reaction are near equilibrium. (Author)