Velocity profile of laminar and turbulent boundary layer

Aim of the experiment

To obtain the velocity profile and calculate the displacement thickness and momentum thickness for laminar
and turbulent boundary layer over the flat plate.

Apparatus required

 Flat plate (Smooth and Rough)

 Micrometer
 Manometer
 Air flow bench

𝑢∞

y δ∗

Figure: Schematic view of flat plate with boundary layer

Working Principle

Air flowing past a solid surface will stick to that surface. This phenomenon caused by viscosity is a description
of the no-slip condition. This condition states that the velocity of the fluid at the solid surface equals the
velocity of that surface. The result of this condition is that a boundary layer is formed in which the relative
velocity varies from zero at the wall to the value of the relative velocity at some distance from the wall. The
velocity profile can be measured in the thin boundary layer of a flat plate at zero angle of attack. From the
measured values, displacement thickness and momentum thickness can also be calculated.

Theory

As shown in the figure, δ* is boundary layer thickness, where u ≥ 0.99 ue .

Let us consider a height „h‟ reasonably larger than δ*.

 ℎ
Mass flow rate = 𝜌 0
𝑢𝑑𝑦

ℎ ℎ
Mass flow defect = 𝜌𝑢𝑒 0
𝑑𝑦 − 𝜌 0
𝑢𝑑𝑦

ℎ
=𝜌 0
𝑢𝑒 − 𝑢 𝑑𝑦
∞
𝑢
𝜌𝑢𝑒 𝛿 ∗ = 𝜌𝑢𝑒 1− 𝑑𝑦
𝑢𝑒
0

∞
𝑢
𝛿∗ = 1− 𝑑𝑦
𝑢𝑒
0

Boundary layer displacement thickness can be written as:

∞
𝑢
𝛿∗ = 1− 𝑑𝑦
𝑢𝑒
0

Momentum thickness is given by:

∞
𝑢 𝑢
𝜃= 1− 𝑑𝑦
𝑢∞ 𝑢𝑒
0

1
Also𝑃0 𝑦 = 𝑃 + 𝜌𝑢2
2

1
𝑃0 𝑦 = ∞ − 𝑃 = 𝜌𝑢 2
2 𝑒

𝑢 𝑃0 𝑦 − 𝑃
=
𝑢𝑒 𝑃0 ∞ − 𝑃

P = Constant across the boundary layer

𝑃0 𝑦 ≠ Constant

For displacement thickness, using trapezoidal rule

1
Area = [width of interval] [2{first ordinate + last ordinate} + {sum of remaining ordinates}]

ℎ 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢
=2 1−𝑢 + 1−𝑢 +2 1−𝑢 …..+ 1 − 𝑢
𝑒 𝑢1 𝑒 𝑢𝑛 𝑒 𝑢2 𝑒 𝑢 𝑛 −1
For momentum thickness,
∞
𝑢 𝑢
𝜃= 1− 𝑑𝑦
𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑒
0
ℎ 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢
= 1− + 1−
2 𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑒 𝑢1
𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑛
𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢
+2 1− + 1− + ⋯….. 1−
𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑒 𝑢2
𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑒 𝑢3
𝑢𝑒 𝑢𝑒 𝑢 𝑛 −1

Procedure

Write detailed procedure of the experiment.

Results and Discussions

S.No. y (mm) 𝑷𝟎 𝒚 P 𝒖 𝒖 𝒖
𝒖 𝑷𝟎 𝒚 − 𝑷 𝟏− 𝟏−
(milli bar) (milli bar) = 𝒖𝒆 𝒖∞ 𝒖𝒆
𝒖𝒆 𝑷𝟎 ∞ − 𝑷

The result of the experiment can be analyzed in the following manner:

𝑢
1. Plot the velocity profile at the different stations 𝑈 𝑦, 𝑥𝑖 where 𝑥𝑖 are the different stations.
∞
2. From the tabulated values, calculate the displacement thickness, momentum thickness using trapezoidal
𝛿∗ 𝜃 ∗ 𝛿 99
rule and 𝛿99 at the different stations. Plot 𝑥
, 𝑥
, 𝑥 vs 𝑅𝑒𝑥 .
𝑢 𝑦
3. Finally plot 𝑈 (𝜂) where 𝜂 ∶= is the Blasius similarity variable [1].
∞ 𝜈𝑥
𝑈∞

Conclusions

References

[1] H. Blasius, “Grenzschlichten in Flussigkeiten mit Kleiner Reibung,” Z. Math.Phys. 56, 1, 1908.
[2] Nikuradse, J., Laminare Reibungsschichten an der längsangetrömten Platte. Monograph, Zentrale f. wiss.
Berichtswesen, Berlin, 1942.