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Boundary-Layer Quantities

flow_props computes several standard integral boundary-layer quantities from extracted wall-normal profiles.

Boundary-Layer Thickness

The edge location \(\delta\) is determined from a selected criterion.

Velocity-Ratio Criterion

The default criterion defines the edge where:

\[ \frac{u}{u_e} = \text{threshold} \]

with a default threshold of \(0.99\).

Enthalpy-Ratio Criterion

An alternative edge is based on total enthalpy:

\[ h_t = c_p T + \frac{1}{2}u^2 \]

and the edge is defined where:

\[ \frac{h_t}{h_{t,e}} = \text{threshold} \]

Velocity-Gradient Criterion

The third option identifies the edge where the wall-normal velocity gradient falls below a specified threshold.

Displacement Thickness

The compressible displacement thickness is:

\[ \delta^* = \int \left(1 - \frac{\rho u}{\rho_e u_e}\right) d\eta \]

Momentum Thickness

The compressible momentum thickness is:

\[ \theta = \int \frac{\rho u}{\rho_e u_e}\left(1 - \frac{u}{u_e}\right)d\eta \]

Shape Factor

The reported shape factor is:

\[ H = \frac{\delta^*}{\theta} \]

This is the standard integral diagnostic used to compare profile fullness and boundary-layer state.