SCALE ANALYSIS OF LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER

OBJECTIVES OF THIS LECTURE

• Write all the general governing equations in Cartesian coordinates
• Conservation of mass
• Conservation of momentum
• Conservation of energy
• State the outcomes of these equations for an engineer
• Reduce the general equations for two dimensional, steady, incompressible
flow
• Scale analysis of momentum equation to get
• Hydrodynamic boundary layer thickness and skin friction coefficient
• Scale analysis of energy equation for Pr << 1 and Pr >> 1 to get
• Thermal boundary layer thickness and Nusselt number
• Extend the discussion for Pr = 1
• Summarise the results and get the feel of all parameters estimated
 GOVERNING EQUATIONS IN CARTESIAN COORDINATES
Conservation of mass
𝑫𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
+ 𝝆 𝜵. 𝑽 = 𝟎 ; +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘 +𝝆 + + =𝟎
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Conservation of momentum
𝑫𝒖 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒙
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
𝑫𝒗 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏 𝟐 𝒗 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒚
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒚 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
𝑫𝒘 𝝏𝑷 𝝏 𝟐 𝒘 𝝏𝟐 𝒘 𝝏𝟐 𝒘 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐
+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒛
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Conservation of energy
𝑫𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝑫𝑷
𝝆𝑪𝒑 =𝒌 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + +∅
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝑫𝒕
 GOVERNING EQUATIONS IN CARTESIAN COORDINATES
Conservation of momentum

𝑫𝒖 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒙
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Inertia Pressure Viscous Body
forces forces forces forces

𝑫𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖
= +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
 GOVERNING EQUATIONS IN CARTESIAN COORDINATES
Conservation of energy
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝑫𝑻 𝝏 𝑻 𝝏 𝑻 𝝏 𝑻 𝑫𝑷
𝝆𝑪𝒑 =𝒌 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + ∅
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝑫𝒕
Pressure Viscous
Convection Conduction
work Dissipation
𝑫𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝑫𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝑷
= +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘 = +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛

𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘 𝟐 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
∅ = 𝟐𝝁 + 𝟐𝝁 + 𝟐𝝁 − 𝝁 + + +𝝁 +
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙
𝟐 𝟐
𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘 𝝏𝒘 𝝏𝒖
+𝝁 + +𝝁 +
𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒛
 OUTCOMES OF THE GOVERNING EQUATIONS
Mass and momentum
equations
Solve these
equations to get

𝝉𝒘 𝝉𝒘 − Wall Shear Stress

u, v, w and P 𝑪𝒇 =
𝟏 𝟐 𝝆 − Density of the fluid
𝝆𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ − Free Stream Velocity
𝟐
𝜹, 𝑪𝒇 Net force exerted by the stream on the plate
𝜹 − Hydrodynamic boundary
𝑳
layer thickness
𝑭 = න 𝝉𝒘 𝑾𝒅𝒙
𝑪𝒇 - Skin friction coefficient 𝟎
(Engineering necessity)
𝑾 − Width of the flat Plate
𝑪𝒇 = 𝒇 𝑹𝒆 - dimensional similarity
 OUTCOMES OF THE GOVERNING EQUATIONS
Energy equation
Solve this 𝝏𝑻
−𝒌𝒇 ฬ
𝝏𝒚 𝒚=𝟎
equation using u, 𝒉=
v, w and P to get
𝒉𝑳 𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞
𝑵𝒖 =
𝒌𝒇
T
𝒉 −heat transfer coefficient
𝑳 − Length of the Plate
𝒌𝒇 − Thermal conductivity of the fluid
𝜹𝑻 , 𝑵𝒖 𝑻𝒔 − Surface temperature of the Plate
𝜹𝑻 − Thermal boundary layer 𝑻∞ −Free stream temperature
thickness
Resistance to the transfer of heat from the plate to the
𝑵𝒖 – Nusselt number
stream
(Engineering necessity)
𝑸ሶ = 𝒉 𝑳𝑾 𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞
𝑵𝒖 = 𝒇 𝑹𝒆, 𝑷𝒓 - dimensional similarity
𝑾 − Width of the flat Plate
 LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER OVER A TWO DIMENSIONAL
BODY
ASSUMPTIONS
• Properties are constant (𝒌, 𝝆, 𝑪𝒑 , 𝝁)
• Flow is compressible (density does not vary with time and space)
• Flow is steady
• Laminar flow

Flow happens to be two dimensional when flow over a long flat plate is
considered. Boundary layer thickness varies only with length but not with width
 REDUCTION OF GOVERNING EQUATIONS

Conservation of mass

Incompressible flow - Density No, 𝒘

is constant and uniform z does not exist
𝑫𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝝆 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
+ 𝝆 𝜵. 𝑽 = 𝟎 ; +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘 +𝝆 + + =𝟎
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛

𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
+ =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
 REDUCTION OF GOVERNING EQUATIONS
Conservation of momentum – x direction
𝑫𝒖 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒙
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Zero, by continuity
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘 =− +𝝁 𝟐 + 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒙
𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Steady No, 𝒘 No, 𝐳 No body
flow force

𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
 REDUCTION OF GOVERNING EQUATIONS
Conservation of momentum – y direction
𝑫𝒗 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒚
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒚 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Zero, by continuity
𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘 =− +𝝁 𝟐 + 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒚
𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒚 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Steady No, 𝒘 No, 𝐳 No body
flow force
𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚

Conservation of momentum – z direction – does not exist because two dimensional flow
𝑫𝒘 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒘 𝝏𝟐 𝒘 𝝏𝟐 𝒘 𝝏 𝝁 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒘
𝝆 =− +𝝁 𝟐
+ 𝟐
+ 𝟐 + + + + 𝒇𝒛
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛 𝟑 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
 REDUCTION OF GOVERNING EQUATIONS
Conservation of energy
𝑫𝑻 𝝏 𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝑫𝑷
𝝆𝑪𝒑 =𝒌 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + ∅
𝑫𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝑫𝒕
Zero for subsonic flow
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝑫𝑷
𝝆𝑪𝒑 +𝒖 +𝒗 +𝒘 =𝒌 𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 + + ∅
𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝑫𝒕
Steady No 𝒘 and z direction No z direction
flow

𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝜶 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
 GOVERNING EQUATIONS FOR FLOW OVER A TWO DIMENSIONAL BODY

𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
+ =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 No slip 𝒖 = 𝟎
• Impermeability 𝒗 = 𝟎 ൡ at solid wall (y = 0)
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 + 𝟐 Wall temperature 𝑻 = 𝑻𝒔
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝟐 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 At Infinitely far from solid in both x and y
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐 directions
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 Uniform flow 𝒖 = 𝒖∞
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝜶 𝟐
+ 𝟐 • Uniform flow 𝒗 = 𝟎 ൡ
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
Uniform temperature 𝑻 = 𝑻∞
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF MASS AND MOMENTUM EQUATIONS
FOR FLOW OVER A FLAT PLATE

Mass and momentum

𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
+ =𝟎 equations
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
Solve these
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 equations to get
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 u, v, w and P
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚

𝜹, 𝑪𝒇
𝜹 − Hydrodynamic boundary
layer thickness
𝑪𝒇 - Skin friction coefficient
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF MASS AND MOMENTUM EQUATIONS

𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖
+ =𝟎 𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝜹 𝒖∞ 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝒖∞
𝒖 ~ 𝒖∞ (𝒎/𝒔) 𝒖∞ , ~− ,𝝂 𝟐 ,𝝂 𝟐 𝝂 𝟐 ≪𝝂 𝟐
𝑳 𝑳 𝜹 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝑳 𝜹 𝑳 𝜹
𝒙 ~ 𝑳 (𝒎)
𝒚 ~ 𝜹 (𝒎𝒎) 𝒖𝟐∞ 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝒖∞
~− , 𝝂 𝟐 − (𝟐)
𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝜹
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝝏𝒗 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒗 𝝏𝟐 𝒗
+ =𝟎 𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝒖∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝒖∞ 𝜹 𝒖∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝒗 𝒗
𝒖∞ 𝒗 𝒖∞ , ~− ,𝝂 𝟐,𝝂 𝟐
~ 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳 𝜹 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝑳 𝜹
𝑳 𝜹
𝒖𝟐∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝒗 𝒖𝟐∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝟏 𝒖∞ 𝜹
𝒖∞ 𝜹 𝟐
~− ,𝝂 𝟐 𝟐
~− ,𝝂 𝟐
𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝜹 𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝜹 𝑳
𝒗~ − (𝟏)
𝑳 𝒖𝟐∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝂𝒖∞
𝟐 ~− , − (𝟑)
𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝜹𝑳
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF MASS AND MOMENTUM EQUATIONS
𝝏𝑷 𝒅𝒚 𝝁𝒖∞ 𝜹 𝒖∞ 𝜹
𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝜹
𝟐 𝒗~ − (𝟏)
𝒅𝒑 = 𝒅𝒙 + 𝒅𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝜹𝑳 𝑳 𝑳
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 ~ 𝝁𝒖 ~
𝒅𝑷 ∞ 𝑳
𝜹𝟐 𝒖𝟐∞ 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝒖∞
𝒅𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙 ~− , 𝝂 𝟐 − (𝟐)
= + 𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝜹
𝒅𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝒅𝒙
𝑵𝒆𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒖𝟐∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝂𝒖∞
𝟐 ~ − , − (𝟑)
𝝏𝑷 𝝏𝑷 𝒅𝒚 𝝏𝑷 𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝜹𝑳
𝝏𝒚 𝒅𝒙
𝟏= 𝝏𝒙 + − 𝟒  𝟏 = 𝝏𝒙  𝑷 = 𝒇 𝒙 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒚
𝒅𝑷 𝒅𝑷 𝒅𝑷
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

𝒖𝟐∞ 𝜹 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝝂𝒖∞ Hence, y – momentum equation may be neglected

𝟐 ~ − , − (𝟑)
𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒚 𝜹𝑳
P is not a function of y
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF MASS AND MOMENTUM EQUATIONS
FOR FLOW OVER A FLAT PLATE
𝟏 𝒅𝑷
To show that = 0 for flow over a flat plate
𝝆 𝒅𝒙
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
+ =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 Flow can be divided into two domains
• Viscid region (boundary layer region)
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝒅𝑷 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 • Inviscid region
𝒖 +𝒗 =− +𝝂
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝒅𝒙 𝝏𝒚𝟐
In the inviscid region,
𝒅𝑷∞
This is impressed upon the 𝒖∞ = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 does not vary with 𝒙
𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝑷 𝒗 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝝂 = 0
boundary layer, hence, =0
𝒅𝒙
Reducing the x-momentum equation for inviscid
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
+ =𝟎 region
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝒅𝒖∞ 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝒅𝑷∞ 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝒅𝑷∞
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝝂 𝒖∞ +𝒗 =− +𝝂 =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝒅𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆 𝒅𝒙 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝒅𝒙
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF MASS AND MOMENTUM EQUATIONS
FOR FLOW OVER A FLAT PLATE
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝒖∞ 𝜹
+ =𝟎 𝒗~ − (𝟏)
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑳
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝒖𝟐∞ 𝟏 𝝏𝑷 𝒖∞
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝝂 ~− , 𝝂 𝟐 − (𝟐)
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝑳 𝝆 𝝏𝒙 𝜹

𝒖𝟐∞ 𝒖∞ 𝜹𝟐 𝝂 𝜹𝟐 𝝂 𝟏 𝒖∞ 𝑳
~𝝂 𝟐 ~ ~ 𝛅 − 𝑹𝒆𝑳 =
𝑳 𝜹 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝑳𝟐 𝒖∞ 𝑳 ~𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝝂
𝑳
𝝉𝒘 𝝏𝒖
𝑪𝒇𝒙 = 𝝁 𝒖∞
𝟏 𝟐 𝝉 𝝏𝒚 𝝂 𝝂 𝝂 𝑳 𝟏
−
𝟏
𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑪 ~
𝒘
~ ~ 𝜹 ~ ~ ~𝑹𝒆 −𝟏
𝑹𝒆 𝟐
~𝑹𝒆 𝟐
𝟐 𝒇𝒙 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝒖 𝜹 𝒖 𝑳 𝜹 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳
𝝆𝒖∞ 𝝆𝒖 ∞ 𝒖 ∞ ∞ ∞
𝟐
𝝉𝒘 − Wall Shear Stress 𝟏
𝝆 − Density of the fluid −
𝟐
𝒖∞ − Free Stream Velocity
𝑪 𝒇𝒙 ~𝑹𝒆 𝑳
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF MASS AND MOMENTUM EQUATIONS
FOR FLOW OVER A FLAT PLATE
𝟏
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝟏 𝛅 −
+
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
=𝟎 𝛅 − = 𝟒. 𝟗𝟐𝑹𝒆 𝟐
~𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝑹𝒆𝑳 = 𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖
𝑳 𝝂
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝝂 𝟏 𝟏
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚𝟐 − −
𝑪𝒇𝒙 ~𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝑪𝒇𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟒𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐
𝝉𝒘
𝑪𝒇𝒙 =
𝟏 𝟐
𝝆𝒖
𝟐 ∞
𝟏
𝜹 ~ 𝑳 − Boundary layer thickness increases with the increase in the length
𝟐

𝑪𝒇𝒙 − decreases with the increase in the Reynolds number because inertia forces dominate
over viscous forces
𝝏𝒖 𝒖𝟐∞
𝑰𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒖 𝒖∞ 𝑳
𝑹𝒆 = ~ 𝝏𝒙 𝑳
~ 𝒖 ~
𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝟐
𝝏 𝒖 𝝂 ∞ 𝝂
𝝂 𝑳𝟐
𝝏𝒚𝟐
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF ENERGY EQUATION FOR FLOW OVER A
FLAT PLATE
Pr << 1 (Liquid Metals – Na, Hg) THICK THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER
𝑷𝒓 ≪ 𝟏 𝝂 ≪ 𝜶  𝜹 << 𝜹𝑻 𝒖∞ 𝑻∞
𝝂
𝑷𝒓 =
𝜶
𝜹𝑻
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝜹
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝜶 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑻𝒔
∆𝑻 𝜹 ∆𝑻 ∆𝑻 ∆𝑻
𝒖∞ , 𝒖∞ ~ 𝜶 𝟐 ,𝜶 𝟐
𝑳 𝑳 𝜹𝑻 𝑳 𝜹𝑻
Negligbly
𝜹
≪𝟏 small
As 𝜹 << 𝜹𝑻  u is 𝒖∞ within the
𝜹𝑻
thermal Boundary layer thickness
∆𝑻 ∆𝑻 𝜹𝟐𝑻 𝜶 𝜹𝟐𝑻 𝝂 𝜶 𝟐 𝟏
𝒖∞ ~𝜶 𝟐 ~ ~ 𝜹𝑻 𝟏 𝟏 𝜹𝑻 − −
𝟏
𝑳 𝜹𝑻 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝟐 𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝝂 𝑳
~
𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 ~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝑷𝒓 𝟐
𝑳
TYPICAL RANGES OF PRANDTL NUMBERS FOR COMMON FLUIDS

Fluid Pr
Liquid Metals 0.004 – 0.03
Gases 0.7 – 1.0
Water 1.7 – 13.7
Light organic fluids 5 – 50
Oils 50 – 100,000
Glycerin 2000 – 1,00,000
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF ENERGY EQUATION FOR FLOW OVER A
FLAT PLATE
Pr << 1 (Liquid Metals – Na, Hg) THICK THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER
𝒖∞ 𝑻∞
𝝂 𝑷𝒓 ≪ 𝟏 𝝂 ≪ 𝜶  𝜹 << 𝜹𝑻
𝑷𝒓 =
𝜶
𝟏 𝜹𝑻
𝜹𝑻 −
𝟐 −
𝟏 𝜹
~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟐 𝑻𝒔
𝑳
𝒌𝒇 𝝏𝑻 𝟏

𝒉𝑳 − 𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ 𝝏𝒚 𝑳 𝟏 ∆𝑻
−𝟏 𝜹𝑻 ~ 𝑳 − Thermal Boundary layer
𝟐
𝑳 𝜹𝑻
𝑵𝒖 = = ~ 𝑳~ ~ thickness increases with the
𝒌𝒇 𝒌𝒇 ∆𝑻 𝜹𝑻 𝜹𝑻 𝑳
increase of L
𝟏 𝟏 Nusselt number increases with the
𝑵𝒖~ 𝑹𝒆𝟐𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟐 increase in the Reynolds number
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF ENERGY EQUATION FOR FLOW OVER A
FLAT PLATE
Pr >> 1 (Oils ) THIN THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER
𝒖∞
𝑻∞
𝜹

𝜹𝑻
𝝂 𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏 𝝂 ≫ 𝜶  𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻
𝑷𝒓 = 𝑻𝒔
𝜶
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
As 𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻  u is not 𝒖∞ + =𝟎
Assume velocity distribution within the 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
hydrodynamic Boundary layer to be linear 𝒖∞ 𝟏 𝒗 𝒖∞ 𝜹𝑻
𝜹𝑻 ~ 𝒗~ 𝜹𝑻
𝒖 = 𝒎𝒚 + 𝑪 𝜹 𝑳 𝜹𝑻 𝜹 𝑳
𝒖 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒕 𝒚 = 𝟎 ⇛ 𝑪 = 𝟎
𝒖∞
𝒖 = 𝒖∞ 𝒂𝒕 𝒚 = 𝜹 ⇛ 𝒖∞ = 𝒎𝜹 ⇛ 𝒎 =
𝜹
𝒖∞
Velocity at 𝒚 = 𝜹𝑻 𝒖= 𝜹𝑻
𝜹
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF ENERGY EQUATION FOR FLOW OVER A
FLAT PLATE
Pr >> 1 (Oils ) THIN THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER

𝝂 𝒖∞
𝑷𝒓 = 𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏 𝝂 ≫ 𝜶  𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻 𝑻∞
𝜶
𝜹
𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝜹𝑻
𝒖= 𝜹𝑻 𝒗~ 𝜹𝑻
𝜹 𝜹 𝑳 𝜹𝑻
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝑻𝒔
𝒖 +𝒗 =𝜶 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝒖∞ ∆𝑻 𝒖∞ 𝜹𝑻 ∆𝑻 ∆𝑻 ∆𝑻
𝜹𝑻 , 𝜹𝑻 ~𝜶 𝟐 , 𝜶 𝟐
𝜹 𝑳 𝜹 𝑳 𝜹𝑻 𝑳 𝜹𝑻
𝒖∞ ∆𝑻 ∆𝑻 𝜹𝟑𝑻 𝜹 𝜹𝟑𝑻 𝝂 𝜶𝜹
𝜹𝑻 ~𝜶 𝟐 ~𝜶 ~
𝜹 𝑳 𝜹𝑻 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝟑 𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝝂 𝑳 𝟏
𝜹𝑻 −
𝟐 −
𝟏
𝜹𝑻
𝟑
𝟏 𝟏 −𝟐
𝟏
𝜹𝑻
𝟑 𝟑 ~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟑
~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳
−𝟐
~𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓−𝟏 𝑳
𝑳 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝑳
SCALE ANALYSIS (ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS) OF ENERGY EQUATION FOR FLOW OVER A
FLAT PLATE
Pr >> 1 (Oils ) THIN THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER

𝝂 𝒖∞
𝑷𝒓 = 𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏 𝝂 ≫ 𝜶  𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻 𝑻∞
𝜶
𝜹
𝟏
𝜹𝑻 − −
𝟏
𝜹𝑻
~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝑷𝒓 𝟑 𝑻𝒔
𝑳
𝟏
𝒌𝒇 𝝏𝑻 𝜹𝑻 ~ 𝑳 − Thermal Boundary layer
𝟐

𝒉𝑳 − 𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ 𝝏𝒚 𝑳 𝟏 ∆𝑻
−𝟏 thickness increases with the
𝑳 𝜹𝑻
𝑵𝒖 = = ~ 𝑳~ ~ increase of L
𝒌𝒇 𝒌𝒇 ∆𝑻 𝜹𝑻 𝜹𝑻 𝑳
Nusselt number increases with the
𝟏 𝟏 increase in the Reynolds number
𝑵𝒖~ 𝑹𝒆𝟐𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟑
 SUMMARY OF SCALE ANALYSIS
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝛅 −𝟐 − 𝛅 −
~𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑪𝒇𝒙 ~𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 = 𝟒. 𝟗𝟐𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐
𝑳 𝑳
𝝂 𝒖∞ 𝑳 −𝟐
𝟏
𝑷𝒓 = 𝑹𝒆𝑳 = 𝑪𝒇𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟒𝑹𝒆𝑳
𝜶 𝝂
𝑷𝒓 ≪ 𝟏 ≪ 𝜶  𝜹 << 𝜹𝑻 𝑷𝒓 ≪ 𝟏 𝝂 ≪ 𝜶  𝜹 << 𝜹𝑻
𝟏
𝜹𝑻 −𝟐 𝟏
−𝟐 𝜹𝑻 𝟏
−𝟐 𝟏
~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 −
𝑳 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟐
𝑳
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐 𝟏
𝑵𝒖~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟐 𝑵𝒖 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟔𝟓 𝑹𝒆𝟐𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟐
𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏 𝝂 ≫ 𝜶  𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻 𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏 𝝂 ≫ 𝜶  𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻
𝟏
𝜹𝑻 −𝟐 𝟏
−𝟑 𝜹𝑻 𝟏
−𝟐 𝟏
−𝟑
~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 = 𝟑. 𝟎𝟏 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓
𝑳 𝑳
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐 𝟏
𝑵𝒖~ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟑 𝑵𝒖 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟐 𝑹𝒆𝟐𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟑
 SUMMARY OF SCALE ANALYSIS

𝛅 −
𝟏 𝑹𝒆 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
= 𝟒. 𝟗𝟐𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝐋=𝟏𝐦
𝑳
−𝟐
𝟏 𝛅 𝟒. 𝟗𝟐 𝛅 𝟒. 𝟗𝟐
𝑪𝒇𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟒𝑹𝒆𝑳 = ⇛ = ⇛ 𝛅 = 𝟒. 𝟗𝟐 𝐦𝐦
𝑳 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑷𝒓 ≪ 𝟏 𝝂 ≪ 𝜶  𝜹 << 𝜹𝑻 𝑷𝒓 ≪ 𝟏𝑷𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟏 𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏
𝟏
𝜹𝑻 − −
𝟏 𝜹𝑻 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕 𝜹𝑻 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕
= 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝟐 𝑷𝒓 𝟐 = ⇛ = ⇛ 𝜹𝑻 = 𝟏𝟕𝟕 𝒎𝒎
𝑳 𝑳 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 × 𝟎. 𝟏
𝟏 𝟏
𝟐 𝟑
𝑵𝒖 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟔𝟓 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟐 𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏𝑷𝒓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑷𝒓 ≫ 𝟏 𝝂 ≫ 𝜶  𝜹 >> 𝜹𝑻
𝜹𝑻 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕 𝜹𝑻 𝟑. 𝟎𝟏
𝜹𝑻 𝟏
−𝟐 𝟏 = 𝟑
⇛ =
−
= 𝟑. 𝟎𝟏 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟑 𝑳 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑳
𝟏 𝟏 𝜹𝑻 = 𝟎. 𝟑 𝒎𝒎
𝟐
𝑵𝒖 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟐 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓𝟑
 NONDIMENSIONALIZED CONVECTION AND SIMILARITY
When viscous dissipation is negligible, the continuity, momentum, and energy equations for
steady incompressible, laminar flow of a fluid with constant properties
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗
+ =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝑷
𝝆 𝒖 +𝒗 =𝝁 𝟐−
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻
𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖 +𝒗 =𝒌 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
With the boundary conditions
𝒙=𝟎 𝒖 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝒖∞ 𝑻 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝑻∞
𝒚=𝟎 𝒖 𝒙, 𝟎 = 𝟎 𝑻 𝒙, 𝟎 = 𝑻𝒔
𝒚→∞ 𝒖 𝒙, ∞ = 𝒖∞ 𝑻 𝒙, 𝒖∞ = 𝑻∞
 𝒙 ∗ 𝒚 ∗ 𝒖 ∗ 𝒗 𝑷 𝑻 − 𝑻𝒔
𝒙∗ = , 𝒚 = ,𝒖 = ,𝒗 = ∗
,𝑷 = 𝟐
∗
,𝑻 =
𝑳 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒗 𝒖∞ 𝝏𝒖∗ 𝒖∞ 𝝏𝒗∗ 𝝏𝒖∗ 𝝏𝒗∗
+ =𝟎 ∗
+ ∗
=𝟎 ∗
+ ∗=𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑳 𝝏𝒙 𝑳 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝟐 𝒖 𝝏𝑷
𝝆 𝒖 +𝒗 =𝝁 𝟐−
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙

𝝆𝒖𝟐∞ ∗ 𝝏𝒖∗ ∗
𝝏𝒖∗ 𝒖∞ 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖∗ 𝝆𝒖𝟐 𝝏𝑷∗
∞
𝒖 + 𝒗 = 𝝁 −
𝑳 𝝏𝒙∗ 𝝏𝒚∗ 𝑳𝟐 𝝏𝒚∗ 𝟐 𝑳 𝝏𝒙∗
𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝑳 𝒖 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖∗ 𝑳 𝝆𝒖 𝟐 𝝏𝑷∗
∞ ∞
𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗∗ ∗ = 𝝁 − 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑳
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆𝒖𝟐∞ 𝑳𝟐 𝝏𝒚∗ 𝟐 𝝆𝒖𝟐∞ 𝑳 𝝏𝒙∗ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 =
𝝁
𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝝁 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖∗ 𝝏𝑷 ∗ 𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝟏 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖∗ 𝝏𝑷 ∗
𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗∗ ∗ = 𝟐
− ∗ 𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗∗ ∗ = 𝟐
− ∗
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝝏𝒚 ∗ 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝝏𝒚 ∗ 𝝏𝒙
 𝒙 ∗ 𝒚 ∗ 𝒖 ∗ 𝒗 𝑷 𝑻 − 𝑻𝒔
𝒙∗ = , 𝒚 = ,𝒖 = ,𝒗 = ∗
,𝑷 = 𝟐
∗
,𝑻 =
𝑳 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔

𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻
𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖 +𝒗 =𝒌 𝟐
+ 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
∗ ∗
𝒖∞ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔 ∗
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔 𝝏 𝟐 𝑻∗ 𝝏 𝟐 𝑻∗
𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖 ∗
+𝒗 ∗ =𝒌 +
𝑳 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑳𝟐 𝝏𝒙∗ 𝟐 𝝏𝒚∗ 𝟐
𝝏𝑻 ∗ 𝝏𝑻 ∗ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔 𝑳 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻
𝒖 ∗ +𝒗 ∗ =𝒌 +
∗ 𝑳𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖∞ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔 𝝏𝒙∗ 𝟐 𝝏𝒚∗ 𝟐
𝝏𝑻 ∗ 𝝏𝑻 ∗ 𝒌 𝝏 𝟐𝑻 𝝏 𝟐𝑻 𝟏 𝝁 𝒌 𝒌
𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗 ∗ = + ∗𝟐 = =
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝝏𝒙 ∗ 𝟐
𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑳 𝝁𝑪𝒑 𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖∞ 𝑳
𝝏𝑻 ∗ 𝝏𝑻 ∗ 𝟏 𝝏 𝟐𝑻 𝝏 𝟐𝑻
𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗 ∗ = 𝟐
+ ∗𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝝏𝒙 ∗ 𝝏𝒚
 𝒙 ∗ 𝒚 ∗ 𝒖 ∗ 𝒗 𝑷 𝑻 − 𝑻𝒔
𝒙∗ = , 𝒚 = ,𝒖 = ,𝒗 = ∗
,𝑷 = 𝟐
∗
,𝑻 =
𝑳 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝒖∞ 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔
𝝏𝒖∗ 𝝏𝒗∗
∗
+ ∗=𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝟏 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖∗ 𝝏𝑷 ∗ 𝝆𝒖∞ 𝑳
𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗∗ ∗ = − ∗ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 =
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝝏𝒚 ∗ 𝟐 𝝏𝒙 𝝁
∗ ∗ 𝟐 𝟐 𝝁
∗
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏 𝑻 𝝏 𝑻 𝑷𝒓 =
𝒖 ∗
+𝒗 ∗ = 𝟐
+ ∗𝟐 𝑪𝒑 𝒌
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝝏𝒙 ∗ 𝝏𝒚

𝒙=𝟎 𝒖 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝒖∞ 𝑻 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝑻∞ 𝒙∗ = 𝟎 𝒖∗ 𝟎, 𝒚∗ = 𝟏 𝑻∗ 𝟎, 𝒚∗ = 𝟏
𝒚=𝟎 𝒖 𝒙, 𝟎 = 𝟎 𝑻 𝒙, 𝟎 = 𝑻𝒔 𝒚∗ = 𝟎 𝒖∗ 𝒙∗ , 𝟎 = 𝟎 𝑻∗ 𝒙∗ , 𝟎 = 𝟎
𝒚→∞ 𝒖 𝒙, ∞ = 𝒖∞ 𝑻 𝒙, ∞ = 𝑻∞ 𝒚∗ → ∞ 𝒖∗ 𝒙∗ , ∞ = 𝟏 𝑻 𝒙∗ , ∞ = 𝟏
 𝑹𝒆𝟏 𝑹𝒆𝟏 = 𝑹𝒆𝟐 𝑷𝒓𝟏 = 𝑷𝒓𝟐
𝒖∞,𝟏
Water 𝑪𝒇,𝟏 = 𝑪𝒇,𝟐 𝑵𝒖𝟏 = 𝑵𝒖𝟐
𝑳𝟏
𝑹𝒆𝟐
𝒖∞,𝟐
Air
𝑳𝟐

Parameters before nondimensionalizing Parameters after nondimensionalizing

𝑳, 𝒖∞ , 𝑻∞ , 𝝁, 𝝆, 𝒌, 𝑪𝒑 𝑹𝒆, 𝑷𝒓
The number of parameters is reduced greatly by non-dimensionalising the convection
equations
For a given geometry, the solution for 𝒖∗ can be expressed as 𝒙 ∗ 𝒚 ∗ 𝒖
𝒙∗ = , 𝒚 = ,𝒖 =
∗ ∗ ∗ 𝑳 𝑳 𝒖∞
𝒖 = 𝒇𝟏 𝒙 , 𝒚 , 𝑹𝒆𝑳
𝝏𝒖 𝝁𝒖∞ 𝝏𝒖∗ 𝝁𝒖∞ ∗ , 𝑹𝒆
𝝉𝒔 = 𝝁 ቤ = ቤ = 𝒇 𝟐 𝒙 𝑳
𝝏𝒚 𝒚=𝟎 𝑳 𝝏𝒚∗ 𝒚∗=𝟎 𝑳
𝝁𝒖∞
𝝉𝒔 𝑳 ∗
𝟐 ∗ , 𝑹𝒆
𝑪𝒇,𝒙 = = 𝒇 𝟐 𝒙 , 𝑹𝒆 𝑳 = 𝒇 𝟑 𝒙 𝑳
𝝆𝒖𝟐∞ 𝝆𝒖∞𝟐 𝑹𝒆 𝑳
𝟐 𝟐
𝑪𝒇,𝒙 = 𝝓 𝒙∗ , 𝑹𝒆𝑳

Friction coefficient for a given geometry can be expressed in terms of the Reynolds number
𝑹𝒆𝑳 and the dimensionless space variable 𝒙∗ alone (instead of being expressed in terms of
𝒙, 𝑳, 𝒖∞ , 𝝆 and 𝝁).

This is a very significant finding, and shows the value of nondimensionalized equations.
Dimensionless temperature 𝑻∗ for a given geometry 𝒙 ∗ 𝒚 ∗ 𝒖 𝑻 − 𝑻𝒔
𝒙∗ = , 𝒚 = ,𝒖 = ∗
,𝑻 =
∗ ∗ ∗ 𝑳 𝑳 𝒖∞ 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔
𝑻 = 𝒈 𝒙 , 𝒚 , 𝑹𝒆𝑳 , 𝑷𝒓
𝝏𝑻
−𝒌 ฬ
𝝏𝒚 𝒚=𝟎 −𝒌 𝑻∞ − 𝑻𝒔 𝝏𝑻∗ 𝒌 𝝏𝑻∗
𝒉= = ∗
ቤ = ∗
ቤ
𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ 𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ 𝑳 𝝏𝒚 𝒚∗ =𝟎 𝑳 𝝏𝒚 𝒚∗ =𝟎

∗
𝒉𝑳 𝝏𝑻 ∗
𝑵𝒖 = = ∗ቤ = 𝒈𝟐 𝒙 , 𝑹𝒆𝑳 , 𝑷𝒓
𝒌 𝝏𝒚 𝒚∗=𝟎
Note that the Nusselt number is equivalent to the dimensionless temperature
gradient at the surface, and thus it is properly referred to as the dimensionless
heat transfer coefficient
 Nusselt number is equivalent to the dimensionless
∗* temperature gradient at the surface
𝑻
T
Local Nusselt number 𝑵𝒖𝒙 = 𝒈𝟐 𝒙∗ , 𝑹𝒆𝑳 , 𝑷𝒓
Average Nusselt number 𝑵𝒖𝑳 = 𝒈𝟑 𝑹𝒆𝑳 , 𝑷𝒓

𝒚y∗* 𝝏𝑻T *∗
*∗ ቤ
=Nu𝑵𝒖
𝝏𝒚
y y𝒚* ∗=𝟎
0
*∗
𝒙
x
Laminar
𝒎 𝒏
A common form of Nusselt number: 𝑵𝒖 = 𝑪𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓
 ANALOGIES BETWEEN MOMENTUM AND HEAT TRANSFER
REYNOLDS ANALOGY 𝑷𝒓 = 𝟏
𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝝏𝒖 ∗ 𝟏 𝝏 𝟐 𝒖∗ ∗ ∗ 𝟐 𝒖∗ ∗
No pressure 𝝏𝒖 𝝏𝒖 𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑷
𝒖∗ ∗ + 𝒗∗ ∗ = 𝟐 𝒖 ∗
∗
+ 𝒗 ∗
∗
= 𝟐
− ∗
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝝏𝒚 ∗ gradient 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝝏𝒚 ∗ 𝝏𝒙
∗ ∗ 𝟐 𝟐
∗
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏 𝑻 𝝏 𝑻 𝑷𝒓 = 𝟏 𝝏𝑻 ∗
𝝏𝑻 ∗
𝟏 𝝏 𝟐
𝑻 𝝏 𝟐
𝑻
𝒖 ∗
+𝒗 ∗ = 𝟐
+ ∗𝟐 𝒖 ∗
+𝒗 ∗ = + ∗𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝝏𝒙 ∗ 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒙∗ 𝝏𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝝏𝒙 ∗ 𝟐
𝝏𝒚
𝟐
𝑪𝒇,𝒙 = 𝒇𝟑 𝒙∗ , 𝑹𝒆𝑳
𝑹𝒆𝑳
𝑵𝒖𝒙 = 𝒈𝟐 𝒙∗ , 𝑹𝒆 𝑷𝒓 = 𝟏 𝒇𝟑 𝒙∗ , 𝑹𝒆𝑳 = 𝒈𝟐 𝒙∗ , 𝑹𝒆𝑳 , 𝑷𝒓
𝑳 , 𝑷𝒓
𝑹𝒆𝑳 REYNOLDS ANALOGY
𝑵𝒖𝒙 = 𝑪𝒇,𝒙
𝟐
𝒉 𝑵𝒖𝒙
𝑺𝒕 = =
𝝆𝑪𝒑 𝒖∞ 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓

𝑵𝒖𝒙 = 𝑪𝒇,𝒙
𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑵𝒖𝒙
=
𝑪𝒇,𝒙 𝑷𝒓 = 𝟏 𝑪𝒇,𝒙
𝟐 𝑹𝒆𝑳 𝑷𝒓 𝟐 𝑺𝒕𝒙 =
𝟐
 CHILTON-COLBOURN ANALOGY
Laminar flow over a flat plate 𝟏
−𝟐
𝑪𝒇,𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟒𝑹𝒆𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
𝟐
𝑵𝒖𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟐𝑹𝒆𝒙 𝑷𝒓𝟑
𝟏
−𝟐 𝑪𝒇,𝒙 𝑵𝒖𝒙 𝑪𝒇,𝒙 𝑵𝒖𝒙 𝑷𝒓 𝑪𝒇,𝒙 𝟐
𝑪𝒇,𝒙 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟒𝑹𝒆𝒙 = =
= 2 𝟏
𝑹𝒆𝑥 𝑷𝒓𝟑
2 𝑹𝒆𝑥 𝑷𝒓 𝟏𝟑
𝑷𝒓 = 𝑺𝒕𝒙 𝑷𝒓𝟑 = 𝒋𝑯
𝑵𝒖𝒙 𝟏
𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟐𝑹𝒆𝟐𝒙 𝑷𝒓𝟑
𝟏 2

For 𝟎. 𝟔 < 𝑷𝒓 < 𝟔𝟎, 𝒋𝑯 is called the Colburn j-factor.

Although this relation is developed using relations for laminar flow over a flat plate (for which
𝝏𝑷∗
= 𝟎), experimental studies show that it is also applicable approximately for turbulent flow
𝝏𝒙∗
over a surface, even in the presence of pressure gradients.
𝝏𝑷∗
For laminar flow, however, the analogy is not applicable unless = 𝟎. Therefore, it does not
𝝏𝒙∗
apply to laminar flow in a pipe