Course: Mechanics of Fluids

Unit IV : Boundary Layer

Lecture : IV

Presented by:
SHIVA PRASAD U
(Ph.D.) (VelTech)
Course Outcomes:
At the end of the course, student should be able to,
CLO 1 Apply the fundamental concepts related to viscous flows in general, and to boundary layer flows.
CLO 2 Derive expression of boundary layer flow using Von Karman momentum integral equation for laminar and
turbulent flow.
CLO 3 Evaluate the effects of boundary layer formation for aircraft Applications
CLO 4 Will be able to analyze boundary layer flows over a flat plate.
CLO 5 Estimate drag forces in laminar and turbulent flows for different immersed bodies and Calculate drag for flow
around flat plate.
 UNIT- IV

Boundary Layer

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 Syllabus
Boundary Layer: Concept of boundary layer and definition of boundary
layer thickness, displacement, momentum and energy thickness;
Growth of boundary layer, laminar and turbulent boundary layers,
laminar sub-layer; Von Karman Momentum Integral equation for
boundary layers, analysis of laminar and turbulent boundary layers,
drag, boundary layer separation and methods to control it, streamlined
and bluff bodies

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Concept of Boundary Layer

Fig. Flow over a Flat Plate

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Fig. Flow over a Flat Plate

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The Boundary-Layer Concept

Fig. Details of Viscous Flow Around an Airfoil

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 The Boundary-Layer Concept

Fig. Boundary Layer on a Flat Plate (Vertical Thickness Exaggerated Greatly)

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Boundary Layer Thicknesses

Fig. Boundary Layer Thickness definitions

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 Boundary LayervCharacteristics
z
=0
y

Fig. Momentum boundary layer over a flat plate: Laminar-to-Turbulent Transition

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Derivation of Displacement thickness(𝜹∗ )
• Definition : It is defined as the distance, measured perpendicular to the boundary
of the solid body, by which the boundary should be displaced to compensate for
the reduction in flow rate on account of boundary layer formation.

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Contd…

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Derivation of Momentum Thickness(θ)
• Definition: Momentum thickness is defined as the distance, measured
perpendicular to the boundary of the solid body, by which the boundary should
be displaced to compensate for the reduction in momentum of the flowing fluid
on account of boundary layer formation.

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Derivation of Energy Thickness(δ**)
• Definition: It is defined as the distance measured perpendicular to the boundary
of the solid body, by which the boundary should be displaced to compensate for
the reduction in kinetic energy of the flowing fluid on account of boundary layer
formation.

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 Boundary Layer Thicknesses

• Disturbance Thickness, d

✓Displacement Thickness, d*

✓Momentum Thickness, q

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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
dd
Uu

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 Numerical
Problem 1

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 Numerical
Problem 2

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Numerical

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Laminar Flat-Plate Boundary Layer: Exact Solution
• Governing Equations

• Boundary Conditions

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The von Karman Integral Equation (VKI)

C
U
d2 - d1
B
d1 d2 u2(y)
u1(y)

A x D

Flow enters on AB and BC, and leaves on CD

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 VKI
The momentum change between entering and leaving the control volume is
equal to the shear force on the surface:

δ2 δ1

− τ 0 x =  ρu 22 dy −  ρu12 dy −ρU 2 (δ 2 − δ1 )
Force on 0 0
fluid (CD) (AB) (BC)

By conservation of fluid mass, any fluid entering the control volume must also leave,
therefore d2 d1
U (d 2 − d 1 ) =  u2 dy −  u1dy
0 0
δ2 δ1

( ) (
− τ 0 x =  ρ u 22 − Uu 2 dy −  ρ u12 − Uu 1 dy)
0 0

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 VKI

As x →0, the two integrals on the right become closer and the equation may be
written as a differential:
δ 2 
( )
− τ 0dx = ρd  u − Uu dy 
0 
d  δ
u u 
 τ 0 = ρU 2
  1 − dy 
dx  0 U  U  
The integral is the definition of the momentum thickness, so
dδ m dU
τ 0 = ρU 2
+ ρδ d U if U(x)
dx dx

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 Pressure Gradients in Boundary-Layer Flow

Boundary Layer flow with pressure gradient (Boundary layer thickness)

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Pressure Gradients in Boundary Layer Flow

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Boundary layer separation

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 Methods of Preventing the Separation of Boundary Layer
• Suction of the slow moving fluid by a suction slot
• Supplying additional energy from the blower
• Providing a bypass in the slotted wing
• Rotating boundary in the direction of flow
• Providing small divergence in a diffuser
• Providing guide-blades in a bend
• Providing a trip-wire ring in the laminar region for the flow a sphere
• Streamlining the body shape.
• Tripping the boundary layer from laminar to turbulent by provision of surface roughness.
• Injecting the high velocity fluid in the boundary layer
• Guidance of flow in a confined passage.
• Energizing the flow by introducing optimum amount of swirl in the incoming flow
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 Drag types

• Pure Friction Drag: Flat Plate Parallel to the Flow

• Pure Pressure Drag: Flat Plate Perpendicular to the Flow
• Friction and Pressure Drag: Flow over a Sphere and Cylinder
• Streamlining

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Drag

• Flow over a Flat Plate Parallel to the Flow: Friction Drag

Boundary Layer can be 100% laminar, partly laminar and partly turbulent,
or essentially 100% turbulent; hence several different drag coefficients are
available

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 Drag

• Flow over a Flat Plate Parallel to the Flow: Friction Drag

Laminar BL:

Turbulent BL:

… plus others for transitional flow

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 Drag

• Flow over a Flat Plate Perpendicular to the Flow: Pressure Drag

Fig. Flow over a Flat plate normal to the flow

Drag coefficients are usually obtained empirically

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 Flow over a Flat Plate
Drag
• Flow over a Flat Plate Perpendicular to the Flow: Pressure Drag (Continued)

Fig. Variation of Drag Coefficient with aspect ration for a flat plate of finite width normal to the flow with Re > 1000.

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Flow over a Sphere and Cylinder
Drag
• Flow over a Sphere and Cylinder: Friction and Pressure Drag

Fig. Drag Coefficient of a smooth sphere as a function of Reynolds number

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Flow over a Sphere and Cylinder
Drag
• Flow over a Sphere and Cylinder: Friction and Pressure Drag (Continued)

Fig. Drag Coefficient of a smooth sphere and Cylinder as a function of Reynolds number

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Flow over a Streamlined Body
•Streamlining(
Used to Reduce Wakecontrol
and hence Pressure
of boundary Drag )
layer separation

Drag Coefficient on a streamlined strut as a function of thickness ratio,

Showing contributions of skin friction and pressure to total drag.

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Numerical
• Determine the thickness of the boundary layer at the trailing edge of smooth
plate of length 4m and of width 1.5m, when the plate is moving with a velocity of
4m/s in stationary air. Take kinematic viscosity of air as 1.5 x 10-5 m2/s.

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Numerical
• In the slide no.38 problem, Determine the total drag on the side of the plate
assuming that
i. the boundary layer is laminar over the entire length of the plate and
ii. The boundary layer is turbulent from the beginning. Take ρ =1.226kg/m3.

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Numerical
• For the following velocity profiles, determine whether the flow has separated or
on the verge of separation or will attach with the surface:

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Numerical
• Oil with a free stream velocity of 2m/s flows over a thin plate 2m wide and 2m
long. Calculate the boundary layer thickness and the shear stress at the trailing
end point and determine the total surface resistance of the plate. Take specific
gravity as 0.86 and kinematic viscosity as 10-5 m2/s.

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 CAR Aerodynamics

By Shiva U Asst. Prof. 42

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Department of Aerospace Engineering, SOET-SUN, Nashik 43
Streamlined Body & Bluff Body

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Analysis
With the exception of an unexpected Rear Down force jump with the 0mm Splitter Race Car, the
data from the CFD Simulations fit well with the expected aerodynamic trends.

Splitter
Front Load Rear Load Front % Rear % Downforce
Length
0 mm 328.20 N 796.82 N 29.17 % 70.83 % 1125.0 N
50 mm 330.61 N 791.46 N 29.46 % 70.54 % 1122.1 N
100 mm 334.43 N 792.23 N 29.68 % 70.32 % 1126.7 N

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