PROBLEM 6.

1
KNOWN: Variation of hx with x for laminar flow over a flat plate.

FIND: Ratio of average coefficient, h x , to local coefficient, hx, at x.

SCHEMATIC:

ANALYSIS: The average value of hx between 0 and x is

1 x C x
hx = ∫ h x dx = ∫ x -1/2dx
x 0 x 0
C 1/2
hx = 2x = 2Cx -1/2
x
hx = 2h x .

hx
Hence, = 2. <
hx
COMMENTS: Both the local and average coefficients decrease with increasing distance x
from the leading edge, as shown in the sketch below.
 PROBLEM 6.2
KNOWN: Variation of local convection coefficient with x for free convection from a vertical
heated plate.
FIND: Ratio of average to local convection coefficient.
SCHEMATIC:

ANALYSIS: The average coefficient from 0 to x is

1 x C x -1/4
h x = ∫ h x dx = ∫ x dx
x 0 x 0
4 C 3/4 4 4
hx = x = C x -1/4 = h x .
3 x 3 3
hx 4
Hence, = . <
hx 3
The variations with distance of the local and average convection coefficients are shown in the
sketch.

COMMENTS: Note that h x / h x = 4 / 3 is independent of x. Hence the average coefficient

4
for an entire plate of length L is h L = h L , where hL is the local coefficient at x = L. Note
3
also that the average exceeds the local. Why?
 PROBLEM 6.4
KNOWN: Distribution of local convection coefficient for obstructed parallel flow over a flat
plate.
FIND: Average heat transfer coefficient and ratio of average to local at the trailing edge.
SCHEMATIC:

ANALYSIS: The average convection coefficient is

1 L 1 L
hL =
L ∫0
h x dx =
L ∫0 (
0.7 + 13.6x − 3.4x 2 dx )
hL =
1
L ( )
0.7L + 6.8L2 − 1.13L3 = 0.7 + 6.8L − 1.13L2

h L = 0.7 + 6.8 (3) − 1.13 (9 ) = 10.9 W/m 2 ⋅ K. <

The local coefficient at x = 3m is

h L = 0.7 + 13.6 (3) − 3.4 (9 ) = 10.9 W/m 2 ⋅ K.

Hence,

h L / h L = 1.0. <
COMMENTS: The result h L / h L = 1.0 is unique to x = 3m and is a consequence of the
$
existence of a maximum for h x x . The maximum occurs at x = 2m, where
(dh x / dx ) = 0 and (d2h x / dx2 < 0.)
 PROBLEM 6.7
KNOWN: Radial distribution of local convection coefficient for flow normal to a circular
disk.
FIND: Expression for average Nusselt number.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: Constant properties

ANALYSIS: The average convection coefficient is
1
A s ∫ As
h= hdAs

1 ro k n
h= ∫ Nu o ⎡1 + a ( r/ro ) ⎤ 2π rdr
π ro2 0 D ⎣⎢ ⎦⎥
o r
kNu o ⎡ r 2 ar n+2 ⎤
h= ⎢ + ⎥
ro3 ⎢⎣ 2 ( n + 2 ) ron ⎥⎦
0

where Nuo is the Nusselt number at the stagnation point (r = 0). Hence,
r
n+2 ⎤ o
⎡ r/r 2
Nu D =
hD
= 2Nu o ⎢
( o ) +
a ⎛ r ⎞
⎥
⎜ ⎟
k ⎢ 2
⎣
( n+2 ) ⎝ ro ⎠ ⎥
⎦0
Nu D = Nu o ⎡⎣1 + 2a/ ( n + 2 )⎤⎦

Nu D = ⎡⎣1+ 2a/ ( n + 2 )⎤⎦ 0.814Re1/2 Pr 0.36 .

D
<
COMMENTS: The increase in h(r) with r may be explained in terms of the sharp turn which
the boundary layer flow must make around the edge of the disk. The boundary layer
accelerates and its thickness decreases as it makes the turn, causing the local convection
coefficient to increase.
 PROBLEM 6.10
KNOWN: Form of the velocity and temperature profiles for flow over a surface.
FIND: Expressions for the friction and convection coefficients.
SCHEMATIC:

ANALYSIS: The shear stress at the wall is

∂ u⎤
τs = μ = μ ⎡⎢ A + 2By − 3Cy 2 ⎤⎥ = Aμ .
∂ y ⎥⎦ y=0 ⎣ ⎦ y=0

Hence, the friction coefficient has the form,

τs 2Aμ
Cf = =
2 /2
ρ u∞ 2
ρ u∞
2Aν
Cf =
2
. <
u∞
The convection coefficient is
⎡ 2⎤
− k f (∂ T/∂ y )y=0 − k f ⎢⎣ E + 2Fy − 3Gy ⎦⎥ y=0
h= =
Ts − T∞ D − T∞
−k f E
h= . <
D − T∞
COMMENTS: It is a simple matter to obtain the important surface parameters from
knowledge of the corresponding boundary layer profiles. However, it is rarely a simple matter
to determine the form of the profile.
 PROBLEM 6.12
KNOWN: Boundary layer temperature distribution.
FIND: Surface heat flux.
SCHEMATIC:

PROPERTIES: Table A-4, Air (Ts = 300K): k = 0.0263 W/m⋅K.

ANALYSIS: Applying Fourier’s law at y = 0, the heat flux is
∂ T ⎡ u ⎤ ⎡ u y⎤
q′′s = − k = − k ( T∞ − Ts ) ⎢ Pr ∞ ⎥ exp ⎢ − Pr ∞ ⎥
∂ y y=0 ⎣ ν ⎦ ⎣ ν ⎦ y=0
u
q′′s = − k ( T∞ − Ts ) Pr ∞
ν
q′′s = −0.0263 W/m ⋅ K (100K ) 0.7 × 5000 1/m.

q′′s = −9205 W/m 2 . <

COMMENTS: (1) Negative flux implies convection heat transfer to the surface.
(2) Note use of k at Ts to evaluate q′′s from Fourier’s law.
 PROBLEM 6.14
KNOWN: Air speed and temperature in a wind tunnel.
8
FIND: (a) Minimum plate length to achieve a Reynolds number of 10 , (b) Distance from
leading edge at which transition would occur.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Isothermal conditions, Ts = T∞.

-6 2
PROPERTIES: Table A-4, Air (25°C = 298K): ν = 15.71 × 10 m /s.
ANALYSIS: (a) The Reynolds number is
ρ u∞x u∞x
Re x = = .
μ ν
8
To achieve a Reynolds number of 1 × 10 , the minimum plate length is then

Lmin = =
8
(
−6 2
Re x ν 1×10 15.71× 10 m / s )
u∞ 50 m/s

Lmin = 31.4 m. <

5
(b) For a transition Reynolds number of 5 × 10

xc =
Re x,c ν
=
(
5 × 105 15.71× 10-6 m 2 / s )
u∞ 50 m/s

x c = 0.157 m. <
COMMENTS: Note that
x c Re x,c
=
L ReL
This expression may be used to quickly establish the location of transition from knowledge of
Re x,c and Re L .
 PROBLEM 6.27
KNOWN: Characteristic length, surface temperature and average heat flux for an object
placed in an airstream of prescribed temperature and velocity.
FIND: Average convection coefficient if characteristic length of object is increased by a
factor of five and air velocity is decreased by a factor of five.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) Constant properties.

ANALYSIS: For a particular geometry,
Nu L = f ( ReL , Pr ).

The Reynolds numbers for each case are

VL
ReL,1 = 1 1 =
(100m/s )1m 100 m 2 / s
Case 1: =
ν1 ν1 ν1

Case 2:
V L
ReL,2 = 2 2 =
( 20m/s ) 5m = 100 m2 / s .
ν2 ν2 ν2

Hence, with ν1 = ν2, ReL,1 = ReL,2. Since Pr1 = Pr2, it follows that
Nu L,2 = Nu L,1 .
Hence,
h 2L2 / k 2 = h1L1 / k1
L
h 2 = h1 1 = 0.2 h1.
L2
For Case 1, using the rate equation, the convection coefficient is
q1 = h1A1 ( Ts − T∞ )1

h1 =
(q1 / A1 ) = q1′′
=
20, 000 W/m 2
= 200 W/m 2 ⋅ K.
(Ts − T∞ )1 (Ts − T∞ )1 ( 400 − 300 ) K
Hence, it follows that for Case 2

h 2 = 0.2 × 200 W/m 2 ⋅ K = 40 W/m 2 ⋅ K. <

COMMENTS: If ReL,2 were not equal to ReL,1, it would be necessary to know the specific
form of f(ReL, Pr) before h2 could be determined.
 PROBLEM 6.30
KNOWN: Local Nusselt number correlation for flow over a roughened surface.
FIND: Ratio of average heat transfer coefficient to local coefficient.
SCHEMATIC:

ANALYSIS: The local convection coefficient is obtained from the prescribed correlation,
k k
h x = Nu x = 0.04 Re0.9
x Pr
1/3
x x
0.9
⎡V⎤ x 0.9
h x = 0.04 k ⎢ ⎥ Pr1/3 ≡ C1x -0.1.
ν
⎣ ⎦ x
To determine the average heat transfer coefficient for the length zero to x,
1 x 1 x
hx ≡ ∫ h x dx = C1 ∫ x -0.1dx
x 0 x 0
C1 x 0.9
hx = = 1.11 C1 x -0.1.
x 0.9
Hence, the ratio of the average to local coefficient is
h x 1.11 C1 x -0.1
= = 1.11. <
hx C1 x -0.1
COMMENTS: Note that Nu x / Nu x is also equal to 1.11. Note, however, that
1 x
Nu x ≠ ∫ Nu x dx.
x 0
 PROBLEM 6.32
KNOWN: Variation of hx with x for flow over a flat plate.
FIND: Ratio of average Nusselt number for the entire plate to the local Nusselt number at x =
L.
SCHEMATIC:

ANALYSIS: The expressions for the local and average Nusselt numbers are

Nu L =
hLL
=
( =
)
CL-1/2 L CL1/2
k k k
h LL
Nu L =
k
where
1 L C L 2C 1/2
hL = ∫ h x dx = ∫ x -1/2dx = L = 2 CL-1/2 .
L 0 L 0 L
Hence,
2 CL-1/2 ( L ) 2 CL1/2
Nu L = =
k k
and
Nu L
= 2. <
Nu L

COMMENTS: Note the manner in which Nu L is defined in terms of h L . Also note that

1 L
Nu L ≠ ∫ Nu x dx.
L 0