Transonic flow over localised heating elements in boundary layers

Abstract

The problem of transonic flow past an array of micro-electro-mechanical-type (MEMS-type) heating elements placed on a flat surface is investigated using the triple-deck theory. The compressible Navier–Stokes equations supplemented by the energy equation are considered for large Reynolds numbers. The triple-deck problem is formulated with the aid of the method of matched expansions. The resulting nonlinear viscous lower deck problem, coupled with the upper deck problem governed by the nonlinear Kármán–Guderley equation, is solved using a numerical method based on Chebyshev collocation and finite differences. Our results show the differences in subsonic and supersonic flow behaviour over heated elements. The results indicate the possibility of using the elements to favourably control the transonic flow field.