AE 342

Aerodynamics II
Laboratory Sheet 3
BOUNDARY LAYER MEASUREMENTS

1. Introduction
These set of experiments are designed to get familiar with boundary layer
measurements. In this experiment:
• Velocity profiles will be obtained at various streamwise locations on a smooth flat
plate and various integral boundary layer parameters such as δ*, θ, H (shape factor)
and Cf will be calculated for these profiles.
• Obtained velocity profiles and parameters will be compared with analytical profiles
(1/7 power-law) and parameters found using this profile.

2. Theory
The no-slip boundary condition imposed at the solid surface causes the fluid
particles in immediate contact with the surface to have the same velocity (and
temperature) as the surface. The relative velocity increases from zero at the surface to
the velocity in the free stream. The thin layer next to the surface is called BOUNDARY
LAYER.
If we consider the flow over a flat plate where the inviscid flow velocity Ue is
constant over its length, it will be apparent that the boundary layer thickness will grow
along it. The laminar flow in the beginning will eventually become transitional and then
turbulent if the plate is sufficiently long. The transition process starts by small
perturbations which amplify to produce turbulent flow. The non-dimensional parameter
which characterizes this transition process is the Reynolds number, based on x distance
from the leading edge of the plate.
The point where transition takes place, xtr is prone to various factors, such as free
stream turbulence level, surface roughness, and temperature effects. Therefore, it is not
possible to give a single value of transitional Reynolds number but in general it is found in
the range of 105 to 5x105.

Boundary Layer Integral Parameters

The boundary layer thickness δ where the velocity reaches the free stream value is
a vague concept since the velocity reaches the free stream value asymptotically hence this
definition depends on the accuracy with which this approach to free stream value is
defined. Instead a much more convenient thickness parameter would be the so called
“displacement thickness” δ* which is defined as the thickness by which the fluid at the edge
of the boundary layer is displaced away from the boundary layer. This is related to the
deficiency in mass flow rate for a viscous flow compared to an inviscid flow across the
same cross section. For an incompressible flow with a constant free stream velocity, this
parameter can be expressed as,
h
 u 
δ * = ∫ 1 − dy …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1)
0  U ∞ 
Another important parameter is the “momentum thickness” θ, which accounts for the
deficiencies in momentum flux within the boundary layer. For an incompressible flow with a
constant free stream velocity, this parameter can be expressed as,

1
 h
u  u 
θ =∫ 1 − dy ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(2)
0
U∞  U∞ 
This parameter can also be used in defining the “skin friction coefficient” Cf such that;

dθ
Cf = 2 ………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………(3)
dx
The ratio of the displacement thickness δ* to the momentum thickness θ is defined
as the “shape factor ” H. That’s,

δ*
H= ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(4)
θ
Power Law
For a turbulent flow, the flow is not similar and there is no simple, unique velocity
profile that represents of all other velocity profiles in the boundary layer. However, the
turbulent velocity distribution in the boundary layer is usually expressed in terms of a
power law as;
1
u  y n
=   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………(5)
U∞  δ 
and the value is usually taken as 7.
If one performs the calculations; it will be observed that,

x
δ * = 0.046 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………(6)
(Re )0.2
x
θ = 0.036 …….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(7)
(Re )0.2
0.074
Cf = .……..………………………………..……………………………………………………….……………………………(8)
(Re )0.2
with the shape factor H=1.29 and Re = U e x / ν .

3. Set-Up
The figure below shows the experimental arrangement of the test section attached
to the outlet of the airflow bench. A flat plate is inserted at mid height of the test
section, with a sharpened edge facing the oncoming flow. One side of this plate is smooth
and the other side is rough made so by covering this surface with sand paper. Hence,
measurements can be realized on both surfaces by turning the plat over. In this
experiment, only the smooth surface will be used.
A fine pitot tube with its end flattened so that it represents a fine narrow slit
opening to the flow, can be traversed through the boundary layer at a section near the
downstream edge of the plate. The traversing mechanism is a micrometer attached to the
pitot tube with spring loads to prevent the backlash. The pitot tube and micrometer
traversing system are delicate equipments and care must be given for their proper use not
to damage them.
Liners can be placed on the walls of the working section so that flows with positive
or negative pressure gradients (i.e. decelerating or accelerating flows) can be achieved

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along the length of the plate. Without the liners, the flow over the plate is uniform
without any pressure gradient (∂P/∂x=0).
In order to obtain a velocity profile inside the boundary layer, the pitot tube is set
at a distance (∼8 mm) away from the plate in the free stream and a proper wind speed is
established in the tunnel. The total pressure P values measured by the pitot tube are then
recorded as the micrometer is traversed towards the plate. At first the readings must be
fairly constant, indicating that the measurements have been started in the free stream. If
this is not the case then the experiment must be restarted at an initial setting further
away from the plate. As the pitot tube readings start to decrease, the step length of the
traverse should be reduced so that at least the 10 readings are obtained over the range of
decreasing velocity. The reading does not fall to zero as the tube touches the wall because
of its finite thickness, so that the traversing is stopped as soon as contact is indicated by
the readings becoming constant as the micrometer is advanced towards the surface.

Figure 1. Arrangement of Test Section

4. Experimental procedure
Turbulent boundary layers on smooth surface;
i. Input parameters
a. Record the air temperature and the atmospheric pressure.
b. Calculate air density.
c. Calculate air dynamic and kinematic viscosity.
d. Measure the length of the plate from the leading edge to the first x
location of measurement.

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 e. The thickness of the pitot-tube tip is 2t = 0.4 mm. The displacement of the
centerline from plate surface when in contact is 0.2 mm.
f. Measure the stagnation pressure in air box and the static pressure at the
entrance of the test section.
g. Using these readings calculate the freestream velocity.

ii. Recordings
a. Record the pitot-tube readings and the distance y from micrometer
readings.
b. Traverse the pitot-tube towards the plate in the following manner:
1st x-location: Between 11-9 mm in steps of 0.5 mm,
9-8 mm in steps of 0.25 mm,
8-7 mm in steps of 0.1 mm.
nd
2 x-location: Between 12-10 mm in steps of 0.5 mm,
10-8.5 mm in steps of 0.25 mm,
8.5-7 mm in steps of 0.1 mm.
3rd and 4th x-locations: Between 13-10 mm in steps of 0.5 mm,
10-8.5 mm in steps of 0.25 mm,
8.5-7 mm in steps of 0.1 mm.
iii. Calculate the corresponding velocities, u(y) from pitot-tube pressure readings.

iv. Make a table with the following format:

Micrometer reading (mm) Distance from plate (mm) Ppitot-P∞ (mbar) u(y) (m/s)

v. Calculate the local Reynolds number at x=L based on the freestream velocity.

vi. Repeat the same measurements for the other three x locations.

u ( y)
vii. Calculate the velocity defect, 1− for all y values at each velocity profile.
Ue
u ( y )  u ( y) 
viii. Calculate 1 −  for all values at each velocity profile.
U e  U e 

ix. Make a new table with the following format:

Distance from plate Ppitot-P∞ u(y) (m/s)

1−
u ( y) u ( y )  u ( y) 
1 − 
U e  U e 
(mm) (mbar) Ue

x. Plot y (mm) vs. u(y)/Ue.

xi. Plot on the same graph the power-law variation for turbulent boundary layers:
1/ 7
u  y
=  .
Ue  δ 

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xii. Calculate displacement thickness, momentum thickness, shape factor and skin
friction coefficient for the measured profiles and compare these with those
calculated from equations 6, 7 and 8.

xiii. Calculate dθ/dx from the data found above. Check whether the boundary layer
parameters found satisfy integral boundary layer equation.

xiv. Compare these with the theoretical results. Comment.

xv. Show all your results for the displacement thickness, momentum thickness,
shape factor, skin friction coefficient and dθ/dx in tabular form.

xvi. Comment on the results.