Unit -3

Boundary Layer theory

 Hydrodynamic Boundary Layer
• As a fluid flows over a flat plate, the no-slip condition
ensures that the fluid next to the boundary is subject to
large shear
• There exists a thin layer of fluid close to the wall
surface within which shear stress significantly influence
the velocity distribution
• The fluid velocity varies from zero at the solid surface
to the velocity of the free stream flow at a certain
distance away from the surface
• This layer of changing velocity is called hydrodynamic
boundary layer
δ(x)
For the flow in Boundary layer……….

• Fluid is always retarded near

the boundary further away from the
wall this effect due to viscosity is
negligible

• When a fluid flows over a stationary surface, e.g. the bed of

a river, or the wall of a pipe, the fluid touching the surface
is brought to rest by the shear stress at the wall. The
velocity increases from zero at the wall to the maximum in
the main stream of flow
• Formation of boundary layer results in frictional resistance
to flow
• In the vicinity of boundary the velocity gradient is very
large and the corresponding shear stress is of appreciable
magnitude
Growth of Boundary layer over a flat plate
 Growth of Boundary layer over a flat plate
• Consider continuous flow of fluid along a thin plate with sharp leading
edge set parallel to the flow direction
• Velocity of fluid in upstream from the leading edge = u∝
• Particles of the fluid adhere the plate surface as they approach it and
the fluid motion is slowed down considerably.
• The velocity of fluid on the solid surface is zero, generally it is
presumed that there is no slip between fluid and the solid boundary.
• Thus there exists a region where the flow velocity changes from that of
the solid boundary to that of the mainstream fluid. This region of
varying velocity is known as hydrodynamic boundary layer
• Within the boundary layer velocity varies from zero to 99% of u∝ and
du
≠0
dy
• Outside the boundary layer velocity is u∝ and
du
=0
dy
Growth of Boundary layer over a flat plate
y

U∝ x

δ(x)

U∝ is the free-stream velocity

δ(x) is the boundary layer thickness when u(y) ==0.99U∝
 y
Boundary layer Thickness
x
δ(x)

Boundary Layer Thickness δ 1

≈
(nominal thickness, 99 %thickness) x Re, x

Continuity Equation ∂u ∂v
( )+( ) =0
∂x ∂y
La min ar δ α x 0.5 Re x < 3 ×105
1.5 5 5
Transition δ α x 3 × 10 < Re x < 5 ×10
Turbulent δ α x 0.8 Re x > 5 × 105
1.The viscous sub layer
(laminar flow)

2. The buffer layer

(transition flow)

3. Turbulent layer
(turbulent flow)
Displacement, Momentum and Energy thicknesses
*
Displacement Thickness [ δ ]

Displacement Thickness is defined as the distance

perpendicular to the boundary by which the free stream
is displaced on the account of the boundary layer

OR

It is an added wall thickness that would have to be added

to compensate for the reduction in the flow rate on the
account of the boundary layer formation
 Displacement thickness

y
There is a reduction in the flow
rate due to the presence of the
boundary layer

U u
y
This is equivalent to having a
theoretical boundary layer with
zero flow
δ*
Uu
 Displacement Thickness [ *]
δ
u
dy

Let
b= width of the plate
u= velocity in the boundary layer
u∞= velocity in the main stream

Displacement Thickness
δ
u
δ = ∫ (1 − )dy
*

0
u∞
Derivation on Black Board
 Momentum Thickness
• It is defined as the distance from the actual
boundary such that, the momentum flux through this
distance θ is the same as the deficit in momentum
flux due to boundary layer formation

• Momentum Thickness
δ
u u
θ = ∫ (1 − )dy
u
0 ∞
u∞

Derivation on Black Board

 Energy Thickness
• It is defined as the distance from the actual
boundary such that, the energy transfer through this
distance δΕ is the same as the deficit in energy flux
due to boundary layer formation

• Energy Thickness
δ 2
u u
δ E = ∫ (1 − 2 )dy
u
0 ∞
u∞
Derivation on Black Board

Approximatey : δ = 3δ * = 7.5θ
 Example:1
Velocity distribution in a laminar boundary layer is
given as a polynomial of the form,
2
u = a + by + cy
Where a, b and c are numerical constants and y is the
distance measured normal to the surface in m. Using
proper boundary conditions show that:
u y y 2
= 2( ) − ( )
u∞ δ δ
Solution:
Boundary Conditions--
at y = 0 ;u = 0
du
at y =δ ;u = u∞ ; = 0
dy
 Example:2
For the velocity distribution given in example 1, find out
displacement thickness δ* and momentum thickness θ

Answer:
Displacement thickness (δ*)= δ/3

Momentum thickness (θ) =2δ/15

Drag on a flat plate

• Drag Force
– The force exerted by the fluid on solid in
the direction of fluid flow

• The Force acting on fluid

– Due to its relative motion to solid body. It
acts on the surface of contact between
solid and liquid, called wall drag
– Due to pressure of fluid which acts on the
same surface, called form drag
 Drag on a flat plate
• Consider a flat plate placed horizontally. Fluid moving on
the plate in a direction parallel to the plate. Consider
elemental surface area dA of the plate as shown in figure.

• Pressure force acting on the elemental area = PdA

• Its component in flow direction =PdA sinθ
• The form drag = =PdA sinθ =0 (for horizontal flow)
• The wall drag exerted by fluid =τwdA
• The total drag on horizontal plate FD = Wall drag+Form drag
• FD= τdA= τwdA
Drag on a flat plate due to boundary layer:
Von-Karman momentum integral equation
C Consider a flow of incompressible
D fluid over a flat plate with free
stream velocity u∞

dy
Let:
Width of the plate=b
A B Volume element of thickness dx at x
x dx
volume element =b dx dy

δ
τw d u u
∫
Von-Karman momentum integral
2
= (1 − ) dy equation for boundary layer
ρ u∞ dx 0 u∞ u∞
applied to:
τw dθ Laminar, Transition and
2
= Turbulent boundary layer
ρ u∞ dx Derivation on black board
Drag Coefficient
• Drag Coefficient:
– Ratio of drag force per unit area to the product of
density and velocity head

FD / Ap FD
CD = = τ w Shear Stress
ρu 2 / 2 Ap

δ 1 1
∝ CD ∝
x Re, x Re, x

Boundary Layer Parameters for different velocity profiles are given in

the table below
 Velocity Profile Boundary Conditions
δ
Re, x CD Re, L
y=0 y=δ x
u y u=0 3.46 1.155
= u = u∞
u∞ δ
1
u  y 7 u=0 u = u∞ 0.377 0.074
= 
u∞  δ  (Turbulent B.L)

u y  y
2
u=0 u = u∞ 5.48 1.462
= 2 −  ∂u
=0
u∞ δ δ  ∂y

u 3 y 1 y
3 u=0
2
u = u∞ 4.64 1.292
= −   ∂u ∂u
=0
u∞ 2 δ 2  δ  2
=0 ∂y
∂y
u π y  u=0 u = u∞ 4.8 1.308
= sin  
u∞  2 δ 
u y  y  y
3 4
u=0 u = u∞ 5.84 1.372
= 2 − 2  +  
u∞ δ δ  δ 
Blasius exact equation when equation is not given 5.00 1.328
Example 1
2
u y  y
• For the velocity profile = 2 − 
u∞ δ δ 
Show that
x 1.46
δ = 5.48 and CD =
Re, x Re, L

To be solved on black board

 Example 2
Air flows over a flat plate 0.5 m long and 0.6 m wide
with velocity of 4 m/s the velocity profile is of the
form: u π y 
= sin  
u∞  2 δ 

If density of air = 1.24 kg/m3 and kinematic viscosity is

0.15x10-4 m2/s, Calculate
a) Boundary layer thickness at end of the plate
b) Shear stress at 250 mm from the leading edge &
c) Drag force on one side of the plate

To be solved on black board

 Example 3

• Oil of specific gravity 0.8 flows over a smooth flat plate

2 m wide and 2.5 m long with velocity of 1.5 m/s along
the length. Find thickness of boundary layer and shear
stress at the trailing edge. Take kinematic viscosity of
oil as 1x10-4 m2/s

To be solved on black board