Transport Phenomena DGC50103

Chapter 5
Boundary Layer Flow
on A Flat Plate
AZINI AMIZA BINTI HASHIM
aziniamizaa@gmail.com
 At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 Differentiate laminar and turbulent flow general characteristics
and their real life application.

 Determine the transition flow over a flat plate.

 Calculate the boundary layer thickness, local skin coefficient

friction, surface shear stress, drag coefficient and drag force.
introduction
 WHAT IS BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW
ON A FLAT PLATE?
The boundary layer
thickness, δ, is the
distance from the plate
to the position at
which the axial
velocity component,
u=0.99 V (99% of
mean velocity)

LEADING
EDGE
xcr = the value of x where transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs
 WHAT IS BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW
ON A FLAT PLATE?

A very thin layer close to the body

(boundary layer) where friction is
FLOW ON
dominant.
FLAT PLATE
CAN BE The remaining region outside this
DIVIDED INTO layer, where friction may be
TWO neglected.

REGIONS
 VISCOUS FLOW BOUNDARY LAYER
CHARACTERISTICS FOR INTERNAL FLOWS

Viscous internal flows have the following major boundary layer

characteristics:
• An entrance region where the boundary layer grows and dP/dx ≠ constant,
• A fully developed region where:
i. The boundary layer fills the entire flow area.
ii. The velocity profiles, pressure gradient, and τW are constant; i.e.
they are not equal to f(x).
iii. The flow is either laminar or turbulent over the entire length of the
flow, i.e. transition from laminar to turbulent is not considered.
 VISCOUS FLOW BOUNDARY LAYER
CHARACTERISTICS FOR EXTERNAL FLOWS
1
The boundary layer thickness, δ grows continuously from the start
of the fluid-surface contact, e.g. the leading edge. It is a function
of x, not a constant.

2
Velocity profiles and shear stress, τ are f(x,y).

3
The flow will generally be laminar starting from x = 0.
 VISCOUS FLOW BOUNDARY LAYER
CHARACTERISTICS FOR EXTERNAL FLOWS
4
The flow will undergo laminar-to-turbulent transition if the
streamwise dimension is greater than a distance xcr corresponding
to the location of the transition Reynolds number (Recr ).

5
Outside of the boundary layer region, free stream conditions exist
where velocity gradients and therefore viscous effects are typically
negligible.
 Let’s find out more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEg896XFgkw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsO5BQA_CZk
5.1
Differentiate LAMINAR
AND TURBULENT FLOW
 LET'S REFRESH!
LAMINA TRANSITIONA TURBULEN
R L T

 The motion of flow is highly  The motion of flow is highly

 Mixture of laminar and
ordered. disordered and v fluctuates.
turbulent flow, with  Eddies and wakes make the
 Appear to be moving in straight
turbulence in the center of flow unpredictable.
lines parallel to each other.
the pipe, and laminar flow  Generally happens at high
 Generally happens when dealing
near the edges. flow rates and with larger
with small pipes and low flow
velocities. pipes.
 EXAMPLES OF LAMINAR
AND TURBULENT FLOW IN
REAL LIFE APPLICATION
 Water fountains

 Laminar flow can be used for decorative purposes. Common example is water fountains.
The ordered and continuous laminar flow of water through the fountain outlets provides a
crystal look to the stream of water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKIescbcg9c
Mixing process
• Turbulent flow is preferred over
laminar flow in applications where
good mixing is required, such as in
combustion, mixing tanks and
chemical reactors.
• The flow exhibits rapid variation of
pressure and velocity over time.
• In contrast to laminar flow, the fluid
no longer travels in layers and mixing
across the tube is highly efficient.
 Heat exchanger

• Turbulent flow is desirable in heat exchanger as the fluid does not flow in
smooth layers but is agitated.
• The agitation factor develops no insulating blanket and heat is transferred very
rapidly.
• Turbulent flow will also extend the useful life of the process tooling by slowing
the buildup of precipitates on the heat transfer surface.
 Sedimentation tanks

 Turbulent flow tends to keep particulate engrained in the flow. By allowing the
flow down to laminar, particulate can more easily drop out.
5.2
DETERMINE the
transition FLOW
TRANSITION OF THE LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER ON A
FLAT PLATE INTO A FULLY TURBULENT BOUNDARY
LAYER

xcr = the value of x where transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs
TRANSITION OF THE LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER ON A
FLAT PLATE INTO A FULLY TURBULENT BOUNDARY
LAYER
Consider a flat plate placed in a fluid flowing at an
approach velocity of V. A laminar boundary layer
initially develops on the plate. The transition from
laminar flow to turbulent flow occurs at a certain
distance from the leading edge of the plate.

It is possible to induce transition to turbulence

near the leading edge by placing a trap wire on
the plate in the close vicinity of the leading edge
Reynolds number over a flat plate:
𝝆 𝑽𝒙 𝑽𝒙 𝝆𝑽 𝑳 𝑽 𝑳
   

𝑹𝒆 𝒙 = = 𝑹𝒆 𝑳= =
𝝁 𝒗𝒇 𝝁 𝒗𝒇
 
x = axial position (m)
V = characteristic flow velocity(m/s)
𝜌 = density of fluid (kg/m3)
= dynamic viscosity(kg/m.s)
𝒗f = kinematic viscosity of fluid (m 2/s)

At a given x-location, the higher the Reynolds

number, the thinner the boundary layer.
The Critical Reynolds Number () for transition to turbulence on
 

a smooth flat plate boundary layer:

𝝆 𝑽 𝒙 𝒄𝒓
 

𝟓
𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒓 = =𝟓 𝒙 𝟏𝟎
𝝁

If the Reynolds number is less than Recr, the

boundary layer is LAMINAR.

If the Reynolds number is more than Recr, the

boundary layer is TURBULENT.
 𝝆 𝑽 𝒙 𝒄𝒓
 

𝟓
𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒓 = =𝟓 𝒙 𝟏𝟎
𝝁
xcr = the value of x where transition from
laminar to turbulent flow occurs

x < xcr ,the boundary layer is LAMINAR

x ≥ xcr ,the boundary layer is TURBULENT

TRANSITION OF THE LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER ON A
FLAT PLATE INTO A FULLY TURBULENT BOUNDARY
LAYER

xcr = the value of x where transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs
 Water flows through the flat plate at a velocity of 10
km/h and axial position, x=0.5 m. The density and
dynamic viscosity of water are 999.9 kg/m3 and
EXERCISE 5.1 1.159 x 10-3 kg/m.s, respectively. Is the boundary
layer on the surface of flat plate laminar or
turbulent? Assume that the surface of flat plate is
smooth.
Boundary layer thickness (δ) on a flat plate:
 

δ =
LAMINAR
 

δ
TURBULENT
x (axial position) must be measured from the leading edge position

Assumptions:
The boundary layer is very thin
 The velocity of airflow approaching a flat plate,
V, is 1.5 m/s. Calculate the Reynolds number
EXERCISE 5.2 (Rex) and the thickness of the boundary layer (δ),
at the axial position x = 2.0 m. The kinematic
viscosity of air, νf , is 15 x 10-6 m2/s.
 The velocity of airflow approaching a flat plate,
V, is 1.5 m/s. Calculate the Reynolds number
EXERCISE 5.3 (Rex) and the thickness of the boundary layer (δ),
at the axial position x = 6.0 m. The kinematic
viscosity of air, νf , is 15 x 10-6 m2/s.
Local skin friction coefficient (Cfx) and mean skin friction
coefficient (Cfm) on a flat plate:
 

Cfx -1/2
 

LAMINAR Cfm -1/2

 
Cfx  
-1/7
TURBULENT  

Cfm -2.58
 The velocity of airflow approaching a flat plate is
2.0 m/s. Calculate the local skin friction
EXERCISE 5.4 coefficient at x = 1.5 m and the mean skin
friction coefficient between x = 0 and 1.5 m. The
kinematic viscosity of air, νf , is 15 x 10-6 m2/s.
 COMPARISON OF LAMINAR AND
TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYERS
Air with kinematic viscosity of 1.516 x 10-5 m2/s flows at V = 10.0 m/s over
a smooth flat plate of length L = 1.52 m.
(a) Compare the boundary thickness of laminar and turbulent boundary
layer at x=L.
(b) Compare the values of local skin friction coefficient for the two cases
at x = L.
 COMPARISON OF LAMINAR AND
TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYERS
Air with kinematic viscosity of 1.516 x 10-5 m2/s flows at V = 10.0 m/s over
a smooth flat plate of length L = 1.52 m.
(a) Compare the boundary thickness of laminar and turbulent boundary
layer at x=L.
(b) Compare the values of local skin friction coefficient for the two cases
at x = L.
Surface shear stress (τw) at x=L (laminar or turbulent region)

LAMINAR
 

τw
&
TURBULENT

Unit: N/m2 or Pa
Total drag coefficient (CD) and total drag force (FD) over plate, 0 - L

CD
 

LAMINAR FD

CD
TURBULENT  

FD

Unit for FD : Newton (N)

 Air flows over a sharp edged flat plate with L =
EXERCISE 5.5 2.15 m, width = 2 m and V = 2 m/s . For one
side of the plate, find: δ(L), Cfx (L), τw (L), CD , and
FD. Air: 𝜌 = 1.23 kg/m3, νf = 1.46 x 10-5 m2/s
 Air flows over a sharp edged flat plate with L =
EXERCISE 5.5 2.15 m, width = 2 m and V = 2 m/s . For one
side of the plate, find: δ(L), Cfx (L), τw (L), CD , and
FD. Air: 𝜌 = 1.23 kg/m3, νf = 1.46 x 10-5 m2/s
 Calculate the drag force on one side of a thin
smooth plate 2 m long and 1 m wide with the
EXERCISE 5.6 length parallel to a flow fluid moving at 30 m/s.
The density of the fluid is 800 kg/m3 and the
dynamic viscosity is 0.008 kg/m.s.
COMBINED LAMINAR
AND TURBULENT
FLOW
COMBINED LAMINAR AND
TURBULENT FLOW
For conditions where the length of the plate is sufficiently long
that we have both laminar and turbulent sections, the drag
coefficient (CD) can be obtained by:
 Water flows over a sharp flat plate 2.55 m long, 1 m wide, with
V = 2 m/s. By considering the following condition, find the value
EXERCISE 5.7 of drag force:
(a) If the entire plate is assumed as turbulent.
(b) If it is considering the actual situation: combined laminar
and turbulent flow.
(c) Estimate the error in FD if it is assumed that the entire plate
is turbulent.
Vf = 1.02 x 10-5 m2/s
 Water flows over a sharp flat plate 2.55 m long, 1 m wide, with
V = 2 m/s. By considering the following condition, find the value
EXERCISE 5.7 of drag force:
(a) If the entire plate is assumed as turbulent.
(b) If it is considering the actual situation: combined laminar
and turbulent flow.
(c) Estimate the error in FD if it is assumed that the entire plate
is turbulent.
Vf = 1.02 x 10-5 m2/s
 Water flows over a sharp flat plate 2.55 m long, 1 m wide, with
V = 2 m/s. By considering the following condition, find the value
EXERCISE 5.7 of drag force:
(a) If the entire plate is assumed as turbulent.
(b) If it is considering the actual situation: combined laminar
and turbulent flow.
(c) Estimate the error in FD if it is assumed that the entire
plate is turbulent.
Vf = 1.02 x 10-5 m2/s