MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Problem 9.09
This problem is from Advanced Fluid Mechanics Problems by A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin

Consider the two-dimensional, incompressible, steady ow of a uid of constant viscosity in the entrance
region of a slit of width 2h. The ow enters the tube (x = 0) with the uniform velocity V . At distance x
from the entrance, the boundary layer thickness is , and the core ow has the speed U . The boundary layer
is laminar.
The ultimate objective is to analyze the entrance region, using momentum integral method, to determine
how the boundary layer thickness, the skin friction stress, and the pressure gradient all vary with distance
x. Since it is known that the fully-developed ow has parabolic velocity prole, it is agreed to assume,
with some approximation, that the boundary layer velocity prole in the entrance region is also parabolic,
following the equation

y
u
=2

2
y

(9.09a)

Carry your analysis only to the point of obtaining a dierential equation relating the dimensionless boundary
layer thickness /h as dependent variable to the dimensionless length x/h as the independent variable. Any
constants of the problem may of course appear in the dierential equation. Do not attempt to integrate the
latter.

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

c 2010, MIT
Copyright @

Boundary Layers

A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin 9.09

Solution:
Velocity prole in boundary layer assumed parabolic and it is give as

u
y
y
= 2
U

u = U
in

0y

in

(9.09b)

yh

(9.09c)

Lets apply mass conservation to determine U = U (x). At region (1) and (2), the volume ow rates are
respectively

V dy

Vh

at

(1)

(9.09d)

0
h

u dy

2U

U 2
U
y 3 y3

=
=

V =U

y
y
U

=U

3h

dy +

U dy

(9.09e)

+ U (h )

(9.09f)

1
h
3

at

U (x) =

(2)

(9.09g)

V
1

(9.09h)

(x)
3h

Now lets consider Karman momentum integral equation (See Kundu textbook p.362 - 364 for derivation).

d
dU
o
U 2 + U
=
dx
dx

(9.09i)

where the displacement thickness and momentum thickness are dened as

1
0

u
U

dy ,

=
0

u
u
1
U
U

dy

(9.09j)

Plugging these into the integral equation gives

d 2
U
dx

u
u
1
U
U

dy + U

dU
dx

1
0
B

u
U

dy =

|{z}

(9.09k)

where the integral range has been replaced from 0 to because 1 u/U is zero outside boundary layer.
Lets calculate each term. If we substitute the given velocity prole into A is, then it is
2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

c 2010, MIT
Copyright @

Boundary Layers

A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin 9.09

d 2
U
dx

A :

y  y 2
2



y  y 2
12 +


dy

(9.09l)

For simplicity, lets dene

y
dy = d
(x)

(x)

(9.09m)

then

Z

1




d
U 2
2 2 1 2 + 2 d
dx
0


2 d
=
U 2
15 dx

(9.09n)
(9.09o)

Now lets calculate the second term B . Using again,

dU

U
dx

B :

Z
0

dU
1
1 2 + 2 d = = U
dx
3

(9.09p)

Finally, C becomes
o
=

C :

u
y


= U

2 2y
2

=2
y=0

(9.09q)

Hence, gathering A , B and C yields

9U

dU
d
U
+ 2U 2
= 30
dx
dx

(9.09r)

We cannot solve this equation because both U and are function of x but we have only one equation. For
the relation between U and , we can use Equation (9.09g) which was obtained by mass conservation. For
this, we may use the following algebras.

dU
dx
U

dU
dx

V
1
V


1

1
2
3h
(x)

d
dx

(9.09s)

3h
2


2
3

(x)
3h

1
3h

d
dx

(9.09t)

Substitute these into the integral equation gives

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

c 2010, MIT
Copyright @

Boundary Layers

A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin 9.09

9 

V2
1


2
3

(x)
3h

1
3h

d
V2
d

V

+ 2
= 30 
2
dx
dx
1 (x)
1 (x)
3h
3h

(9.09u)

Therefore, nally we get

d
V
dx

1
1 13 h

3 h
1

1
3h

+2

= 30

(9.09v)

Using dimensionless boundary layer thickness and length x

, which are dened as

,
h

x
h

(9.09w)

the dierential equation can be simplied as

Vh

2 + 7/3

2
1 1/3

= 30
dx

(9.09x)

This is an ODE in terms of dimensionless parameters, which shows that is a function of x

, and by Equation
(9.09g) U is also a function of x
as well as pressure gradient U dU/dx. In addition, we can see o varies
with x(
x).
Note that U dU
dx is pressure gradient in boundary layer because the order-of-magnitude of the pressure
gradient term in the x momentum equation is estimated from Eulers equation applied to the outer inviscid
ow at the edge of the boundary layer. Since v O(), v u and Eulers equations reduces to

U
1 p
=
x
x

O(1)

(9.09y)

Problem Solution by J.Kim, T.Ober, Fall 2009

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

c 2010, MIT
Copyright @

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2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Fall 2013

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