Boundary Layer Flow: Blasius solution for laminar flow over a flat plate

Assume: Steady, constant property, 2-D flow of a Newtonian fluid with negligible body forces
Governing Equations:

u v
+
=0
x y

(1)

u
u
2u
u +v = 2
x
y
y

(2)

Conservation of Mass:

Momentum Balance (x-direction):

u( y = 0) = v ( y = 0) = 0 and u( y = ) = U

Boundary Conditions:
Variable Substitution:

U
,
=y
x

f + 12 f f = 0

Reduced Equation:
Boundary Conditions:

f ( y = 0) = f ( y = 0) = 0 and

(3)

f ( y ) = 1

Solution:

Disturbance Thickness:

5.0
=
x
Rex

Displacement Thickness:

Momentum Thickness:

= 5.0 where u/U = 0.99

from

Wall Shear Stress:

u df

=
= f ()
, and
U d
x U

f () =

* * 1.72
= =
x x
Rex

0.665
= =
x x
Rex

(U f )
u
U
0.332 U 2

w =
=
= U
f ( = 0) =
y y =0 y
x
Rex
y =0

cf =

Friction Coefficient:

Drag Coefficient for Friction:

1
CD =
A

1
2

dA =

w
0.664
2 =
U
Rex
1

0.664
1.328
dx
=
x =0
Rex
Re

Blasius solution for laminar flow over a flat plate.

=y

U
x

f ()

0.0
0.5

f () =

0.0000

0.0415

1.0

0.1656

1.5

u
U

f ()

0.0000

0.1659

0.3321

0.3309

0.3298

0.3230

0.3701

0.4868

0.3026

2.0

0.6500

0.6298

0.2668

2.5

0.9964

0.7513

0.2174

3.0

1.3969

0.8461

0.1614

3.5

1.8378

0.9131

0.1078

4.0

2.3059

0.9555

0.0642

4.5

2.7903

0.9795

0.0340

5.0

3.2834

0.9916

0.0159

5.5

3.7807

0.9969

0.0066

6.0

4.2798

0.9990

0.0024

6.5

4.7795

0.9997

0.0008

7.0

5.2794

0.9999

0.0002

7.5

5.7794

1.0000

0.0001

8.0

6.2794

1.0000

0.0000

Dimensionless velocity profile from Blasius solution for laminar flow over a flat plate.