An interferometric investigation of separated forced convection in laminar flow past cavities

An experimental study is conducted regarding the flow of a fluid over a heated cavity, taking into account the separation, reattachment, and redevelopment of laminar fluid layers. It is pointed out that the considered separated forced convection situation is frequently encountered in engineering applications. Some applications are related to solid propellant rockets in which certain combustion characteristics can lead to the formation of cavities in which the flow is laminar. Although the characteristics of the fluid flow and heat transfer in rectangular cavities is important from an engineering point of view, the prediction of the associated heat transfer process is not yet generally possible. The information provided as a result of the study may be used as a basis to construct a more general and complete theory governing the type of heated flows considered.