Prandtl's Boundary Layer Concept

Prandtl's Boundary Layer concept describes a thin region near a solid surface where fluid flow slows down significantly due to friction. Beyond this layer, the fluid moves more freely at higher speeds. Inside the boundary layer, velocity increases from zero at the surface (due to no-slip condition) to the free-stream velocity farther away. This idea is crucial for understanding how fluids behave around objects like airplane wings or ship hulls, influencing lift, drag, and heat transfer. The boundary layer helps engineers predict and optimize how objects interact with fluid flow in various practical applications.