The Challenge of Unsteady Separating Flows

It is noted that the general fluid dynamic problem of unsteady separation at most practical Reynolds numbers remains an unsolved one and that no completely reliable prediction techniques exist at the present time. The modern design engineer must therefore draw from a combination of approximate theories, empirical correlations of data, and finite difference programs based on uncertain physical modeling of turbulence. An attempt is made to describe the basic features of several representative classes of problems for which unsteady effects produce strong or unusual changes in the separation characteristics of the flow. The analysis concerns itself largely with external flow, and emphasis is placed on the physical phenomena involved.