Advanced Fluid M ech anics

7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

5 8

Chapter 7 BLASIUS SOLUTION FOR LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER

assumptions: flat plate zero-pressure gradient p =0 x Navier-Stokes equations for boundary layer
U x U y + =0 x y (7.1a)

U x U x 1 p 2U x 2U x Ux = +U y + x 2 + y 2 y x x
Ux U y x +U y U y

(7.1b)

2U y 2U y 1 p = + + 2 2 y y x y U x U y + =0 x y

(7.1c)

Prandtls equations ( 7. 2 a )

Advanced Fluid M ech anics

7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

5 9

U x U x 2U x Ux +U y = y x y 2
p =0 y 3 boundary conditions are needed: no-slip conditions at the surface

(7.2b)
(7.2c)

U x = U y = 0 at

y=0

(7.3a )

the condition of uniform flow at infinity

U x U

as

(7.3b)

system consisting of equations (7.2) and (7.3) is called a Blasius problem (1908) In terms of stream function defined as Ux = y and U y = x (7.4)

equation (7.2a) is satisfied automatically

U x U y 2 2 + = =0 x y xy xy
and eq. (7.2b) becomes

2 2 3 = 3 y xy x y 2 y

(7.5)

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with boundary conditions

7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

6 0

y = 0 ( any x) = 0;

=0 y

U y

Experiments show that velocity profiles measured at different distances x from the leading edge when presented in coordinating system (U x / U ) and ( y / x ) collapse into one. Velocity profiles are similar to one another boundary layer is self-similar simplification of the mathematical description of the Blasius problem: two independent variables x and y (actually dependent) may be combined to form a new independent variable one would expect that partial differential equation (7.5) could be transformed into an ordinary differential equation

Advanced Fluid M ech anics

7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

6 1

Let us introduce nondimensional variable (the so-called similarity variable) U y (7.6) = x and dimensionless function f()

= U x f ( )
In terms of the new variables velocity components become

( 7. 7 )

1 U Uy = 2 x

U x = U f '
1/ 2

(7.8)
( 7. 9)

(f ' f )

where prime () denotes differentiation with respect to . The governing equation (7.5) takes form

1 f f ' f '= 0 ' ' + ' 2

with boundary conditions:
f = f ' 0 at = 0 = f ' 1 as

(7.10)

(7.11a ) (7.11b)

Eq. (7.10) may only be solved using a numerical approach:

If f, f and f are all known at a certain dimensionless height numerical method may be utilised to find the solution at (+h)

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7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

6 2

The results of numerical calculations

Experimental results are in very good agreement with theoretical considerations From the Blasius curve

for

Ux = 0.99 U

U =5 x

boundary layer thickness

=5

x
U

(7.12)

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7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

6 3

Integrating the Blasius velocity profile according to formulas (1.6) and (1.7) we may determine displacement thickness

* = 1.721
momentum-loss thickness

x
U

(7.13)

= 0.664

x
U

(7.14)

and relate them to boundary layer thickness

*
Shear stress on the surface 2 15

1 3

(7.15a ) (7.15b)

0 =

U U x = U f ' 0) ' ( y y =0 x

(7.16)

From the numerical solution of Blasius problem

f ' 0) = 0.332 ' (

Frictional drag force

F = b 0 dx = 0.664bU U L
L 0

(7.17)

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coefficient of friction

7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer

6 4

cf =

F 1 2 U (bL ) 2

1.328 Re

(7.18)

for comparison: (2.16)

cf = 1.46 Re-0.5

The numerical solution allows in addition to evaluate the velocity component normal to the surface at the outer part of boundary layer U U U y = 0.8604 = 0.8604 (7.19) x Re