Velocity Profiles

of a Laminar Flow of Viscous

Fluid inside Pipe/Tube
 Viscosity Units

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/dynamic-viscosity-d_571.html
 In Navier-Stoke equation, the convective acceleration in
the inertial term is non-linear.

 Hence, it’s difficult to obtain an analytical solution for

general flow.

 The strict solutions obtained to date only are only for

some special flows.

 Three such following examples discussed in this topic:

 Flow between parallel plates

 Flow in circular pipes
 Flow in long narrow slits
 Rheological of fluid is influenced by the shape of velocity
profile which results as the fluid flows through some type
of conduit.

 The conduits can have cross-section which are circular or

narrow slit.
We isolate a cylindrical element of fluid inside a round tube

𝑑𝑑 (𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥 )
and apply Newtons Second Law, =𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 . In this case even though
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑 (𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥 )
the fluid is moving, but it’s not accelerating, so that =0.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Thus, fully developed horizontal pipe flow is purely balance between

pressure and viscous forces- the pressure difference acting on the end
of the cylinder of area 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 and the shear stress (𝜏𝜏) acting on the
lateral surface of the cylinder of area 2𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟.

This force balance can be written around a fluid element of unit area
to determine the r/ship τ and ΔP as :
( P + ∆P )(πr ) − P (πr ) = τ (2πrL)
2 2
- - -(4.6)
which can give
∆P 2τ
= - - -(4.7)
l r
Motion of cylindrical fluid element inside a pipe/tube.
 ∆𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃
Solving for 𝜏𝜏 yield: 𝜏𝜏 = - - -(4.8)
2𝐿𝐿

∆𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃
and at the tube wall: 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 = - - -(4.9)
2𝐿𝐿

Eqn. (4.6) represents the basic balance in forces needed to drive

each fluid particle along the pipe with constant velocity.

At 𝑟𝑟 = 0 (centerline of the pipe), there is no shear stress (𝜏𝜏 = 0)

At 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑅𝑅 or D/2 (wall of the pipe), shear stress is the max 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤

known as wall shear stress.
𝜏𝜏 𝑟𝑟
Taking the ratio of eqn. (4.8) and (4.9): = - - -(4.10)
𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 𝑅𝑅
𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 𝑟𝑟 2𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 𝑟𝑟
Rearrange eqn. (4.10): 𝜏𝜏 =
𝑅𝑅
@ 𝜏𝜏 =
𝐷𝐷
- - -(4.11)
The linear dependence of 𝜏𝜏 on 𝑟𝑟 is a result of a FP 𝛼𝛼 𝑟𝑟 2 (the P acts on
the end of the fluid cylinder; area = 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 ) & Fshear 𝛼𝛼 𝑟𝑟 (the 𝜏𝜏 acts on
the lateral sides of the cylinder, 2𝜋𝜋rl).
If the viscosity were zero there would be no 𝜏𝜏 , and the P would be
constant throughout the horizontal pipe.

4�
𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤
The ∆𝑃𝑃 and 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 are related by : ∆𝑃𝑃 = - - -(4.12)
𝐷𝐷
To determine a dough viscosity, dough at constant temperature is
forced through a long, round capillary/slit, & data on the flow rate
resulting from different applied P is taken. From the P measurements,
shear stress can be calculated at the wall using eqn. (4).

∆𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃
and at the tube wall: 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 = - - -(4.9)
2𝐿𝐿
Shear rate can be calculated from the flow:

4�
The ∆𝑃𝑃 and 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 are related by : 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤
∆𝑃𝑃 =
𝐷𝐷
- - -(4.12)

Taking the ratio of Eqn. 4.8 and 4.9 gives:

𝜏𝜏 𝑟𝑟 𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 𝑟𝑟
=
𝜏𝜏𝑤𝑤 𝑅𝑅 @ 𝜏𝜏 =
𝑅𝑅
- - -(4.13)
Taking r/ship between 𝜏𝜏 and the shear rate or velocity gradient is
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
given by equation, 𝜏𝜏𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 = −𝜇𝜇 𝑥𝑥 , for a Newtonian fluid & can be
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
rewritten as:
dv τ τW r
=− = - - -(4.14)
dr µ µR

Separating the variables in Eqn. x & performing integration gives:

v r
τW
∫O dv = − µR ∫ rdr
R

or τW
v= (R 2 − r 2 ) - - -(4.15)
2 Rµ
Recognising the maximum velocity will occur at r = 0,

v max = τ W R / 2 µ - - -(4.16)

Defining the average velocity (𝑣𝑣̅ ) as:

v = m / ρs = 1 / s ∫ vds - - -(4.17)

Where 𝑣𝑣̅ = average viscosity in conduit,

𝑚𝑚̇ = mass rate of flow
𝜌𝜌 = fluid density
s = x-sectional area of conduit, 𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅2
ds = 2𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
𝑣𝑣 = velocity defined by Eqn. 4.15
Then, Eqn. 4.17 becomes 4.18 (please do the work!!!)
R
τW τW R
v = 3 ∫ ( R − r )dr =
2 2
- - -(4.18)
R µO 4µ

@
v 2
= 2[1 − (r / R ) ] - - -(4.19)
v
Eqn. 4.19 is the eqn. for a parabola, which is the characteristics
velocity profile of a Newtonian fluid in a circular conduit.
 Velocity profile
for a power law
fluid

The above sequence of steps can also be performed using the power
law model, Eqn. 4.5 to express the r/ship between 𝜏𝜏 and 𝛾𝛾̇ . When
this is done, the following results

v 3n + 1
n +1
- - -(4.20)
= [1 − (r / R) n
]
v n +1
indicating how v changes as a fn of r for a power law fluid.

n +1
v 3n + 1 - - -(4.20)
= [1 − (r / R) n
]
v n +1

Note:

- Eqn. 4.20 reduces to Eqn. 4.19 for n = 1

- From the figure before, observe how the velocity profile becomes
characteristically flatter as n gets smaller to the limiting value of n
= 0, where plug flow results.
 Velocity Profiles
of a Laminar Flow of Viscous
Fluid inside Long Narrow Slit
A similar procedure to describe flow inside tubes can be followed to
determine the velocity profiles for fluids flowing inside long narrow
slits.

The slit is very wide (infinite) compared to its thickness 2C, so that
the effects of the sides of the slit can be ignored.

Again, a force balance is written around a fluid element of unit

width to determine the r/ship τ and ΔP as:

( P + ∆P )(2c ⋅1) − P (2c ⋅1) = τ (2 L ⋅1) - - -(4.21)

@
τ = ∆Pc / L - - -(4.22)
Rewriting the balance for the τ at the wall gives

τ W = ∆PC / L - - -(4.23)

where 2C is the thickness of the slit.

Substituting Newton’s law of viscosity (Eqn. 4.2) into Eqn. 4.23 &
integrating yields

v = τ W C / 2 µ[1 − (c / C ) ] 2
- - -(4.24)

Recognising that

v = τ W C / 3µ - - -(4.25)
So
v 3
= [1 − (c / C ) 2 ] - - -(4.26)
v 2

Which gives the parabolic velocity distribution across the width of

the narrow slit opening.

Replacing Newton’s law of viscosity with the power law model in the
above derivation gives

v 2n + 1  n +1

= 1 − (c / C ) 
n - - -(4.27)
v 2n  