Laminar Boundary layer

Unit#2
(Ref 8.6.2, 8.6.3 Potter)
Boundary layer
Types of boundary layer
- At Re
x
< Re
cr
Laminar layer
- At Re
x
> Re
cr
Turbulent layer
Critical Reynolds number, Re
cr
= 500,000
Boundary layer properties is found by either
1. Rigorous solution of Navier Stokes equation or (Blasius)
or
2. Simple Von Karman momentum integral method
Von Karman Integral Method.
It is valid for both laminar and turbulent flow
Von Karman Integral Equation for
Force balance on fluid element from previous page
gives the Momentum eqn. in flow direction when dP/dx
=0
Mass balance gives
Neglecting pressure gradient
where is the momentum thickness
[ ]

=
= + + + + +

0 0
2
0
0
) (
) )( ( )
2
(
x U udydx
x
dydx u
x
dx dp
M M M dx d dp p d
dp
p p
top in out

Ud dydx u
x
m m m
in out top
=

= =

0

= =

dy u U u
d
dy u
d
dy U
d
) (
2

dx dx dx
0 0
0
Laminar velocity profile
Assume laminar profile
u = ay + b y
2
+ cy
3
Use boundary conditions
y=0, u=0; u=U,
(du/dy)= 0 at y =
(d
2
u/dy
2
)= 0 at y = 0
It gives laminar velocity
profile
(2)
3
3
2
1
2
3

y y
U
u
=
Find Boundary layer thickness of
Laminar BL using cubic velocity profile
Substitute velocity profile (2) in Von Karman eqn (1)
From the definition of shear stress
Equating above two one gets
.
dx
d U
dy
y y y y
dx
d
U dy u U u
dx
d

2
0
3
3
3
3
2
0
0
139 . 0
2 2
3
1
2 2
3
) ( =

= =

2
3
0
0
U
dy
du
y
=

=
=
x
x
Re
65 . 4
=

Displacement thickness & skin friction (Appx)

Displacement thickness is defined as
Skin friction on the wall is
found by using value of
From the definition of local skin friction coefficient, C
fx
Average skin friction coefficient

0
*
1 dy
U
u
x
fx
U
C
Re
646 . 0 2
2
0
= =

L
L L
x
fx f
L
dx C
L
C
Re
29 . 1
Re
646 . 0 1 1
0 0
= = =

x
U U
dy
du
y
Re
323 . 0
2
3
2
0
0

= =

=
=
Exact solution of Blasius
Blasius through more rigorous solution of BL eqns.
found values of BL thickness, displacement thickness
& local friction coefficient.

He found average skin friction coefficient for the entire

length L
Use these equations for solving problems. Shear stress
;
Re
664 . 0
;
Re
72 . 1
;
Re
5
*
5 . 0
x
x
x
x
C
x x
= = =

L
f
C
Re
33 . 1
=
Laminar boundary layer
[Douglas p-393]
Oil with a free stream velocity of 3 m/s
flows over a thin plate of 1.25 m wide and 2
m long. Determine the boundary layer
thickness and the shear stress at mid-length
and calculate the total, double sided
resistance of the plate (density 860 kg/m3,
kinematic viscosity 10
-5
m
2
/s)
Problem
The floor of the wind tunnel of a model of French
TGV moves with the speed corresponding to that
of the main flow. This prevents a boundary layer
from building up on the floor as the fluid reaches
the turbo-train and more closely resembles the
actual flow relative to a moving train. Find what
would be boundary layer if floor was not moving.
Air velocity is 6 m/s and train is 2.5 m from the
leading edge. Take viscosity 1.55x10
-5
m
2
/s
Model testing of worlds fastest train