Shear Stress (Friction Factor) for Laminar Flow

As we know the thickness of boundary layer for laminar flow

( )

The shear stress in the fluid at the surface is given by:

Substituting Eq. (8) into Eq.(9) gives:

√ √

( )

( )

In order to calculate the total frictional force acting at the surface, it is necessary to multiply
the average value of between and by the area of the surface.

( ) ∫( )

( ) ( )
( )
∫( ) ∫( ( ) )

( ) √

( )
( )
4th Stage Unit Operations

The Boundary Layer for Turbulent flow

Blasius has given the following approximate expression for the shear stress at a plane smooth
surface over which a fluid is flowing with a velocity , for conditions where :

( )

Assume that a simple "power relation" exists between the velocity and the distance
from the surface in the boundary layer ,

( )

Where: = constant

Hence, from Eq.(12):

( )

Substitution Eq.(13) into Eq.(14) gives:

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4th Stage Unit Operations

( )

The power of in right-hand side of the above equation must be equal to the power of in
left-hand side which is equal to zero:

Substitution the above value of into the Eq.(13) gives:

( )

The seventh power law of velocity profile or distribution for turbulent flow.

The integral in the momentum equation, Eq.(1), can now be evaluated by considering the
ranges and separately. Thus:

∫ ∫( )

,∫ * ( ) +( ) - ∫

∫ *( ) ( ) +

( )

From the Blasius, Eq.(12):

( )
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4th Stage Unit Operations

Substitution the momentum Eq.(1) into Eq.(12) gives:

(∫ ) ( )

Substitution Eq.(16) into Eq.(17) gives:

( ) ( )

( )

( )

Putting the constant equal to zero, implies that when .

( )

( )

( )

The boundary Layer thickness for Turbulent Flow

The Laminar Sub-Layer

If at a distance x from the leading edge the laminar sub-layer is of thickness and the total
thickness of the boundary layer is . It has been explained that the shear stress and hence the
velocity gradient ( ) are almost constant near the surface. Since the laminar sub-layer is

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4th Stage Unit Operations
very thin, the velocity gradient within it may therefore be taken as constant. Thus the shear
stress in the fluid at the surface is:

( )

Substitution Eq.(12) into Eq.(19) gives:

( )

( )

If is the velocity at the edge of the laminar sub-layer, and if when .

Then:

( )

( )

( )( )

Now the velocity at the inner edge of the turbulent region must also be given by the equation
for the velocity distribution equation in the turbulent region.

( )

( ) ( )( )

( ) ( )

( )

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4th Stage Unit Operations

* +

* +

The thickness of the laminar sub-layer is given by:

( ) ( )

Substitution Eq.(20) into the above equation gives:

( )

Where:

( ) ( )( )

We notice in the above equation that is inversely proportion with velocity; this means the
thickness of laminar sub-layer decreases with increasing the velocity and consequently
decreasing the resistance of mass, heat and momentum transfer.