PROBLEM 7.

5
KNOWN: Form of velocity profile for flow over a flat plate.
FIND: (a) Expression for profile in terms of u and , (b) Expression for (x), (c) Expression for
Cf,x.

SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady state conditions, (2) Constant properties, (3) Incompressible flow, (4)
Boundary layer approximations are valid.
ANALYSIS: (a) From the boundary conditions

u ( x,0 ) = 0 C1 = 0

u ( x, ) = u C2 = u / .

and

u = u ( y/ ) .

Hence,

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(b)From the momentum integral equation for a flat plate

d
( u u ) u dy = s /
dx 0
u
2 d 1 u u dy = u
=
u

y y =0

dx 0 u u
2 d 1 y y dy = u
u

dx

2
u

d y2
y3
= u

dx 2 3 2 0

or

u d
=
.

6 dx

Separating and integrating, find

6 x
d =
dx
0
u 0

1/ 2

12 x
=

1/ 2

= 3.46 x

u x

= 3.46 x Re-1/2
x .

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(c) The shear stress at the wall is

s =

u
u
u 1/2
Re x
= =

y y =0

3.46 x

and the friction coefficient is

Cf,x =

2 /2
u

2
1/2
Re1/2
x = 0.578 Re x .
u x 3.46

COMMENTS: The foregoing results underpredict those associated with the exact solution
-1/2 and the cubic profile = 4.64 x Re1/2 ,
= 4.96 x Re-1/2
x , Cf,x = 0.664 Re x
x

Cf,x = 0.646 Rex1/2 .

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