Separation Patterns of Boundary Layer over an Inclined Body of Revolution

Based on recent symmetry-plane boundary-layer solutions, new separation patterns over an inclined body of revolution are presented. Support by experimental evidence as well as differences from other predictions in the literature are noted. Existing three-dimensional separation criteria are mostly inapplicable, and the resulting patterns found are compatible only with MaskelPs general description of separation—i.e., a combination of the free vortex layer type and a bubble type. For a not too blunt body, a bubble type prevails at low incidence, and a free vortex layer type dominates a high incidence. At extremely high incidence or for a more blunt body, a bubble type prevails again.