Assignment Boundary Layer Analysis - 2

Fluid Mechanics – II
Question 1
The velocity distribution for the BL along the flat plate is prescribed by power law:
0.22
u  y
 
Uo   
Prove that the displacement thickness *, the momentum thickness  and the energy
thickness ** can be expressed as:
* = 0.18,  = 0.125 and ** = 0.127 where  is the nominal thickness of the BL.

Question 2
Derive the von-Karman momentum integral equation for flow past a flat plate in the
form:

d  u  u  

 o  U  1 
2
o  dy 
dx  0 U o  U o  

Based upon this equation, find expression for the BL thickness, wall shear stress and
local skin friction coefficient for laminar flow over a flat plate. Assume the following
velocity distributions.

 y 
2
u 3 y  1 y  u
(i)      (ii)  sin  
Uo 2    2    Uo 2

Here, u is the velocity in x direction at a distance y from the plate,  is the BL thickness
and Uo is the undisturbed free stream velocity.

Question 3
A thin flat plate 0.3 km wide and 0.6 m long is suspended and exposed parallel to the air
flowing with velocity 3 m/s. Calculate drag force on both sides of the plate when the 0.3
m edge orient parallel to the free stream. Consider flow to be laminar and assume that
air :  = 0.18 stokes and  = 1.2 kg/m3.

Question 4
A smooth 2D flat plate is exposed to wind velocity of 360 km/hr. If the laminar boundary
layer exists upto the value of Rex = 2x105, find the maximum distance from the leadinf
edge upto which laminar boundary layer exits and its maximum thickness at that
location. Kinematic viscosity of air is 1.49x10-5 m2/s.
Question 5
An aero-plane is flying through air at atmospheric pressure with velocity of 100 m/s.
Assuming that wings can be treated as flat plate with the boundary layer growing from
the leading edge of the wing, calculate the boundary layer thickness at the trailing edge
of the wings and the total skin friction drag on the wings. The wing is 2 m long with width
of 15 m. Take for air:  = 1.42x10-5 m2/s and  = 1.247 kg/m3.

Question 6
A smooth flat plate 1.5 m wide x 2 m long is to be towed lengthwise in water. If the
laminar boundary layer exists up to a Reynolds number of 5x105, determine (1) the
maximum distance from the leading edge upto which laminar BL persists, and the
maximum BL at that point. (2) Friction drag and power required to tow the plate at 2.5
m/s. Assume the transitional formula:

0.455 1700
CD  
 log10 Re l 
2.58
Re l