MODULE - III

BOUNDARY LAYER THEORY

82
Outline

Assumption and concept of boundary layer theory

Boundary layer thickness – displacement, momentum and energy thickness

Laminar and Turbulent boundary layers on a flat plate

Laminar sub – layer, smooth and rough boundaries

Local and average friction coefficients

Boundary layer separation and control.

Problems and discussion

2
Description of Boundary Layer

 Boundary Layer is conceptually, a thin layer of fluid adjacent to a

boundary in which almost the entire velocity variation from zero at
the boundary to the free stream velocity occurs.

 It is a characteristics exhibited by all real fluid flows. If the fluid is

ideal, its velocity at the boundary would be equal to the free stream
velocity.
Description of Boundary Layer

 When a real fluid pass a solid body the fluid particles adhere to the
boundary and condition of no slip occurs.

 It says that the velocity of fluid close to the boundary will be same
as that of the boundary.

 This variation of velocity from zero to free stream velocity in the

direction normal to the boundary takes place in a narrow region in
the vicinity of solid boundary.

 This small region of the fluid is called boundary layer.

Description of Boundary Layer
Formation of boundary layer
No slip

 The viscous nature of a real fluid demands that its velocity at a

stationary boundary be equal to zero. This is known as ‘NO SLIP
CONDITION’.

 Consider a flat plate exposed to a uniform fluid stream as shown.

 The plane of the plate is parallel to the direction of flow.

 In this position, the plate is said to be at zero incidence.

 It is therefore clear that the effect of viscous friction is confined to

the region within the boundary layer.
Illustration of no slip

V (m/s)

Flat plate
Laminar and turbulent boundary layers

Boundary layer

Leading edge
Laminar and turbulent boundary layers

 The plate is held at zero incident to the velocity of flow and the
velocity of flow is known as free stream velocity (V) or ambient
velocity or potential velocity.

 At the leading edge of the plate the thickness of B.L is zero but on
d/s, to the fluid in contact with boundary the velocity is zero and at
some distance ‘g’ from the boundary the velocity is V.

 The boundary layer near the leading edge is thin.

Laminar and turbulent boundary layers
Definition of boundary layer

1.
 A very thin layer of the fluid, called boundary layer in the

immediate neighborhood of the solid boundary, where the

variation of velocity from zero at the solid boundary to free stream
velocity in the direction normal to the boundary takes place in
𝑑𝑢
which the velocity gradient exist.
𝑑𝑦

2. The remaining fluid, which is outside the boundary layer. The

velocity outside boundary layer is constant and equal to free
stream velocity. Since, there is no change in the velocity, the
𝑑𝑢
velocity gradient does not exists =0
𝑑𝑦
Definition of boundary layer

 Boundary layer thickness is defined as that distance from the

surface where the local velocity equals 99% of the free stream
velocity.
Definition of boundary layer
Laminar boundary layer

 The thickness of B.L ‘g’ goes on increasing towards the training

edge. As the retarded layer of fluid moves down stream, due to
continuous action of shear resistance more and more fluid is
retarded.

 Up to certain portion of the plate from the leading edge, the flow
of the B.L exhibits all the characteristics of laminar flow. This is
irrespective of whether the flow of incoming stream is laminar or
turbulent.

 This is know as Laminar Boundary Layer (Re = 5 X 105).