Studies in unsteady heat transfer related to a high power laser flow loop

Unsteady heat transfer problems related to a high power laser flow loop are identified. Further research needed to solve these problems is discussed. Work is initiated by solving the problem of incompressible flow past a flat plate. Initially the fluid and plate are at the same temperature. At time t = 0 a step change occurs in the bulk temperature of the fluid while the plate temperature remains constant. The response of the wall heat transfer and thermal boundary layer thickness to this step change in temperature is calculated. Similarity solutions for the governing equations in the integral form are obtained. Numerical results are presented for the case of air