Forced convection from finite inclined plane surfaces in laminar flow

Forced convection heat transfer for air flow over a wedge with a finite length in the flow direction was investigated. Wind-tunnel heat transfer experiments were performed for five approach velocities ranging from 3.3 m/s to 11.1 m/s. The wedge angle was kept constant at 60 degrees and the heated surface was isothermal. The surface temperature was about 11[degrees]C above the ambient temperature in the wind-tunnel. Average heat transfer coefficients were obtained. The resulting heat transfer coefficient versus approach velocity followed the same trend as the infinite wedge solution but was about 28% higher. Flow experiments were also performed in the wind-tunnel, to obtain the variation of freestream velocity over the finite wedge. The measured freestream velocities were used to predict the local heat transfer coefficients by an integral method based on Falkner-Skan wedge flow. Results for the predicted heat transfer coefficients were very close to the infinite wedge solution near the leading edge, but became higher than the infinite wedge solution as the trailing edge was approached. The measured velocity variation was found to deviate significantly from the infinite wedge velocity variation, especially near the trailing edge. Hence using this method to predict the heat transfer coefficients is expected to lead to under-prediction.