MEEN 4131 Boundary layer on a Smooth Flat Plate Spring 2021

Experiment 2 Boundary layer on a Smooth Flat Plate

Note: Please note the units of the quantities which are being measured, when recording data. For example, when
measuring watt, if the wattage meter reads 16 W, then write down 16 W instead of just 16.

1. Objective
Study the boundary layer velocity characteristics of compressible fluid (air) moving over a flat plate.

2. Equipment
For the external flow over a flat plate, a laminar flow is defined in the range of Re x  5  10 .
5

The boundary layer is a relatively thin region near solid surface where the effects of fluid viscosity and fluid rotation
are confined. The fluid flows over a flat plate is categorized as an Outer Flow where the effect of viscosity and
rotation can be neglected and an Inner layer flow called Boundary Layer where the fluid is affected by fluid
viscosity so that it has rotational motion.
Boundary layer thickness (δ) is decided at the points where the fluid velocity u parallel to the flat plate reaches 99%
of the external velocity U.

Figure 1 Schematic representation of the formation of a laminar boundary layer

Laminar boundary layer thickness can be obtained using a Blausis equation which is given by,
5.0 5x
= = (1)
U  /x Re x

The figure below shows a picture of convective heat transfer test rig.
MEEN 4131 Boundary layer on a Smooth Flat Plate Spring 2021

The inclined manometer is a precision instrument with an accuracy of 2%. This manometer has a range of 0-0.25”
(6.35 mm) of water column. The scale has minor division of 0.02”.

3. Test Section
Test section is shown as below.
MEEN 4131 Boundary layer on a Smooth Flat Plate Spring 2021

4. Test Procedure

Step 1 Placed Pitot static probe at the hole 2 (at the middle between flat plate and top of test section)
The boundary layer probe is placed on the manual transverse unit so that you can read the height and the
distance from the flat plate entrance to the probe. Mark your boundary probe height (h m).
Step 2 Connect probe tubes to high pressure connections and low pressure connections of the 0-0.25 WC range
manometers as shown in the figure.

Step 3 Place the Pitot probe at hole 2

Step 4 By locating reading, make the reading labels of manometer levels as 0
Step 5 Turn on the fan with the motor power of 20%
Step 6 Measured pressure heads at the center height of the duct with the power dial gauges of for motor
powers of 20%, 30%, and 40% and adjusting the angles of probe to get the maximum manometer levels for
each power.
Step 6 Turn off the fan.
Step 7 Place Pitot tube (Probe) touching at the bottom of the duct
Step 8 Turn on the fan and increase slowly the height of the Pitot tube until the levels of manometer obtained
in step 6 are obtained approximately equally for 20% with adjusting the angles of probe to get the maximum
manometer levels at each probe height. Measure and record the level of Pitot tube height from the bottom
where the increasing the height probe does not increase the maximum levels of manometer levels
Step 9 Continue for 30% and 40%. Turn off the fan.
Step 10 Place the Pitot probe at hole 3 and continue step 5-9
Step 11 Place the Pitot probe at hole 4 and continue step 5-9
Step 12 Place the Pitot probe at hole 5 and continue step 5-9
Step 13 Clean your work area
MEEN 4131 Boundary layer on a Smooth Flat Plate Spring 2021

5. Test Results
Test 1
Location
Pitot 2 Pitot 3 Pitot 4 Pitot 5
Length from the start of
cm cm cm cm
the flat plate
Pitot 2 Pitot 3 Pitot 4 Pitot 5
Flow Velocity h h h h h h h h
(in) (mm) (in) (mm) (in) (mm) (in) (mm)
Motor Power: 20%
Motor Power: 30%
Motor Power: 40%

YOU NEED TO GET THE LAB INSTRUCTOR’S SIGNATURE BEFORE LEAVING.

The student has performed the experiment satisfactorily and has cleaned the work area properly.

_____________________________ _______________
(Lab assistant’s signature) Date