BOUNDARY LAYER EXPERIMENT

OBJECTIVE: To study the boundary layer formation over a flat plate and to determine the
values of boundary layer thickness, displacement thickness and momentum thickness.
THEORY: When a real fluid flows over any surface/boundary, the velocity of fluid at the
boundary is zero and farther away from the boundary, velocity is equal to the free stream
velocity, Uo. The change of velocity from zero to the free stream velocity, takes place in a
narrow region in the immediate vicinity of the boundary. This narrow region is known as the
boundary layer and the flow is known as the boundary layer flow.

Due to this change of velocity, velocity gradient, (u/y) exists in the boundary layer
which results in the formation of shear stresses in the boundary layer. At the boundary, shear
stress, o = (u/y)y = 0. Thus, the fluid exerts a shear stress on the boundary and the
boundary will exert an equal but opposite shear stress on the fluid. No matter, how small the
viscosity of fluid may be, the boundary layer always exists whenever the flow takes place over
any surface. Thus, boundary layer is a thin layer of fluid just above the surface in which the
flow is retarded due to the presence of a boundary/surface.
The boundary layer thickness,  is defined as the perpendicular distance measured
from the boundary to the point where velocity of flow, u is approximately equal to 99% of the
free stream velocity i.e. u = 0.99Uo. This definition gives only an approximate value of
boundary layer thickness and, hence,  is generally termed as the nominal thickness of the
boundary layer.
For greater accuracy, the boundary layer thickness is defined in terms of certain
mathematical expressions which are the measures of the effect of boundary layer on the flow.
Three such definitions of the boundary layer thickness commonly adopted are: displacement
thickness (*), momentum thickness () and energy thickness (**). Displacement thickness,
momentum thickness and energy thickness take into account losses in flow rate, momentum
flux and energy, respectively due to boundary layer formation.
Displacement thickness (*) and momentum thickness () are given by the expressions as:

 u 
 * =   1 − dy (i)
0 
Uo

u  u 
= U
0
 1 −
o  Uo
dy

(ii)

EXPERIMENTAL SET UP

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The set up consists of an open circuit wind tunnel comprising inlet section (called effuser),
rectangular test section, and outlet section (called diffuser). The inlet section is connected to
the test section by a smooth contraction transition. The test section is again connected to the
diffuser by a smooth expansion transition.

The effuser accelerates the fluid in the main stream from rest and is provided with iron mesh at the
inlet to prevent turbulence and to produce a uniform stream. The rectangular test section ensures
two-dimensional flow. The purpose of diffuser is to covert kinetic energy of leaving fluid into
pressure energy and to make exit as efficient as possible.

The driving unit of the wind tunnel consists of an axial flow fan fitted at the end of diffuser
section. To prevent vibrations of the fan travelling to the test section, a damper is provided at
the end of diffuser. The fan speed is regulated by the means of variable frequency drive. A
Prandtl Pitot tube is used to measure the local velocity of flow approximately in the middle of
test section along a vertical by connecting it to an inclined inverted differential U-tube
manometer containing a lighter liquid such as a spirit or water. A belt arrangement is
provided on the top of the test section to move the Pitot tube in the longitudinal direction, if
required.

PROCEDURE

1. Install the Prandtl-Pitot tube in the test section of the wind tunnel and let the tube touches
bottom of the test section.
2. Connect the Prandtl-Pitot tube to the inclined inverted U-tube differential manometer.
2. Start the fan and adjust its speed using a variable frequency drive.
3. Note the difference of levels of the two limbs of manometer (x).

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4. Gradually raise the Prandtl tube and take the corresponding manometer readings till there
is no change in the reading of the manometer i.e. until velocity becomes constant.

OBSERVATIONS AND COMPUTATIONS

Inclination of the manometer,  =

Specific weight of the manometer liquid, m =
Specific weight of air, a =
S. No. y u dy u  u  u  u 
 1 − dy  1 − dy
Uo
 Uo  Uo  Uo 

1. 0 0 - - - -

(Note: Distance, y = (yf – yi + do/2)

GRAPHS
1. Plot u versus y, with y as ordinate on an ordinary graph paper so as to get the velocity
distribution. From this velocity distribution, find the free stream velocity Uo and boundary
layer thickness .
2. Determine displacement thickness, * and momentum thickness,  using Eqs. (i) and (ii).

DISCUSSION:

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 ROUGH OBSERVATION SHEET Date:
Boundary Layer Experiment

Name: Roll No.:

Inclination of the manometer,  =

Liquid in the manometer =
Specific weight of the manometer liquid, m =
Specific weight of air, a =
Diameter of Prandtl Pitot tube, do =
Initial Prandtl-Pitot tube gauge reading touching bottom surface, yi =
(Note: yf = Final Prandtl-Pitot tube gauge reading)
S. No. Velocity measurement
yf x u

 
(Note: Calculate velocity using, u = 2g(h) sin  , where h = x m − 1.
 a 

Student Signature Instructor Signature