BL_02

Using the momentum integral theorem, determine the friction coefficient, cf, dimensionless boundary layer
momentum thickness, dM/x, and the dimensionless boundary layer displacement thickness, dD/x, for laminar
flat plate flow with no pressure gradient assuming a sinusoidal velocity profile:
u ⎛ π y⎞
≈ sin ⎜ ,
U ⎝ 2 δ ⎟⎠
where d is the 99% boundary layer thickness, y is the distance from the plate surface, and U is the outer
flow speed. Compare your answers with the Blasius’ exact laminar boundary layer solution.

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 BL_02

SOLUTION:

Use the Kármán Momentum Integral Equation (KMIE),

tw d dU
=
r dx
(
d M U 2 + d DU
dx
) (1)

Assuming a flat plate flow with no pressure gradient,

dU
U = constant Þ = 0 (from Bernoulli’s equation applied outside the boundary layer) (2)
dx
Simplifying Eqn. (1) gives,
dd
t w = rU 2 M (3)
dx

The momentum thickness is given by,

( )
y
y =d =1
u æ u ö u æ u ö y
d

dM = òy =0 U ç1 -
è U
÷ dy = d ò
ø y U
ç1 -
è U
÷d d
ø
d =0

æp y öé æ p y öù y
( )
1
= d ò sin ç ÷ ê1 - sin ç ÷ú d d
0 è 2 d øë è 2 d øû
é 2 d =1 ù
y y
d =1
y
=1
æp y ö 1y 1 æ yö
d

= d ê - cos ç ÷ - + sin ç p ÷ ú
êë p è 2 d ø yd =0 2 d y
d =0
2p è d ø y d = 0 úû
æ 2 1ö
\ d M = d ç - ÷ » 0.1367d (4)
èp 2ø

Substitute Eq. (4) into Eq. (3),

dd
t w = 0.1367 rU 2 (5)
dx

For a laminar flow, the shear stress can also be expressed as,
du
tw = µ
dy y = 0
p µU
tw = (6)
2 d

Equate Eqs. (5) and (6) and solve for d,

dδ π µU
0.1367 ρU 2 =
dx 2 δ
δ =δ x=x
µ
∫δ =0 δ dδ = 11.4908 ρU x=0∫ dx
µ
1
δ 2 = 11.4908 x
2
ρU
d µ 4.7939
\ = 4.7939 = (7)
rUx
1
x Re x 2

Equation (7) is only 4% different from the exact Blasius solution of d x = 5.0 / Rex2 .
1

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 BL_02

From Eq. (4) the momentum thickness is,

d M 0.6553
= 1 (8)
x Re x2
This result is 1% different from the Blasius solution of d M x = 0.664/ Rex2 .
1

The displacement thickness is given by,

( )
y
y =d =1
æ uö æ uö
d

d D = ò ç1 - ÷dy = d ò ç1 - ÷ d y d
y =0 è
Uø y è Uø
d =0

æ p y öù y
( )
1
é
= d ò ê1 - sin ç ÷ú d d
0 ë è 2 d øû
é ù
y
y d =1
=1
y æp y ö
2
d

=d ê + cos ç ÷
ú
êd y p è2d øy ú
d =0
ëê ú
d =0 û

æ 2ö
\ d D = d ç1 - ÷ » 0.3634d (9)
è pø
so that, when combined with Eq. (7),
d D 1.7420
= 1 (10)
x Re x2
This result is 1% different from the Blasius solution of d D x = 1.72 / Re x2 .
1

The friction coefficient can be found using Eq. (6),

p µU
tw µ µ x
Cf º 1 = 12 d 2 = p =p
2 rU 2
2 rU r U d rUx d
0.6553
Cf = 1 (11)
Re x2
This result is 1% different form the Blasius solution of C f = 0.664 / Re x2 .
1

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