ME 3111 Transport Phenomena -II

Semester 5
Module II
• Boundary Layer Theory
• Physical Concepts
• Momentum BL
• Thermal BL
• Pressure Gradients within Boundary Layers

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Boundary Layer Theory:

Hydrodynamic or
d’Alembert's paradox:
• (red zone) : high local
velocity and low local
pressure
• (blue zone) : low local
velocity and high local
pressure
• Net force = 0
• Not seen in experiments

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Boundary Layer Theory:
• BL is the thin layer of viscous moving fluid in the immediate vicinity of a
bounding surface (usually termed ‘Wall’).
• Thickness of BL, 𝛿, is the region of significant viscous flow effects

Curved
Profile
Flat
Profile

Most Imp effect of BL is

No BL
• No Slip Condition
• Surface Drag
• Convection

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Boundary Layer Theory – Cont’d

Laminar BL: Parabolic Profile Turb BL: Flat Profile

Different Velocity Profiles; BL growth rate and Shear Stress (skin friction)

Transition: 𝑅𝑒𝑥 = 5 ∗ 105 (for External Flows)

8/28/2022 𝑅𝑒𝑥 ~2300 (for Internal Flows) ME 307 5
Boundary Layer Theory – Cont’d

• Viscous layer: Viscous forces are dominant

• Buffer layer: Viscous and Inertia forces are equally important
• Overlap/Log-Law layer: Inertia forces are dominant

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Momentum and Thermal BL We are more interested
in effects associated with
flow over a body which
basically involves
shearing stress exerted
by flow on the body

Shear forces are non

dimensionalized to give
friction coefficient
Velocity/Momentum BL

Similarly, in case of TBL, we are more

interested in heat transfer from/to the
surface to/from the flow. So we primarily try
to evaluated heat transfer coefficient.

Thermal BL
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Momentum and Thermal BL

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BL: ∆𝑝 = 0

• Thin viscous region at High Re

• Easier to perform BL patching

• Broad viscous region at low Re • Generally BLs are thin as compared to

• Retards the incoming flow and small flow field
changes in flow parameters leads to large • Displacement effect of BL on inviscid flow
changes in pressure distribution along is negligible
the plate • External Pressure (outside of BL) is the
• Difficult to perform BL patching driving force for momentum in BL
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 𝜕𝑝
BL Separation: ∆𝑝 ≠ 0 𝜕𝑥
>0

• @ ∆𝑝 = 0, BL formation and growth = fn (𝜏𝑤 ),

as applicable in flat plate.

• ∆𝑝 ≠ 0, is applicable in all bodies except flat

plate.
Parabolic Flow
• Favorable, Constant and Adverse Pressure
𝜕𝑝
Gradient <0
𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑥
< 0; = 0; >0 Inflection
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Point
As the flow moves along the curve, it becomes fully developed.
As flow encounters curvature, for velo. gradient reduces and Reverse
weak adverse pr. gradient, the fluid layer near to the solid wall
sticks to the surface but the fluid layers slightly away from the
Flow
This creates separation point at the wall. And the velocity
boundary tend to get away form the fluid layer.
profile changes with slope of curve immediately in the region
As this process continues, the adverse pr. Gradient becomes of separation point becoming very small. This creates inflection
stronger, forcing the fluid layer at the wall to separate from the point.
wall and join the fluid layers above it. Continued flow separation process, results in higher adverse
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pressure gradient, leading to reverse flow.
BL Separation – Cont’d

PI: Point of inflection

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BL Separation – Cont’d
Continuity

Momentum
equation

If, 𝑅𝑒 is very large, 𝛿 has to be very

thin . This implies:

Introducing these assumptions in ‘y’

component of momentum equation

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BL Separation – Cont’d ‘y’ momentum equation

Boundary layer equations:

Bernoulli’s equation

‘x’ momentum equation

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BL Separation – Cont’d

• This shows that @ wall, the adverse

pressure gradient has second derivative
of velocity as positive

• But @ outer stream it has to be negative

for patching

• Meaning it becomes zero within BL >>>

Inflection Point

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