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 When a real fluid flows past a solid body, the fluid particles
adhere to the boundary and condition of no slip occurs. This
means that the velocity of the fluid close to the boundary equals
that of the boundary i.e. zero.
 Farther away from the boundary, the velocity will be higher and as
a result of this variation of velocity, velocity gradient du/dy will
exist.
 The velocity of the fluid increases from zero velocity on the
stationary boundary to free-stream velocity(U) of the fluid in the
direction normal to the boundary. This variation of velocity in the
direction normal to the boundary takes place in a narrow region in
the vicinity of solid boundary.
 This narrow region of the fluid is called boundary layer.

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• The boundary layer is a thin layer of the fluid , in
the immediate neighborhood of the solid
boundary, where the variation of velocity from
zero at the solid boundary to free stream velocity
in the direction normal to the boundary takes
place.
• In this region, the velocity gradient exists and
hence the fluid exerts a shear stress on the wall in
the direction of motion. The value of the shear
𝒅𝒖
stress is given by 𝝉 = 𝝁 𝒅𝒚 .
• The remaining fluid, which is outside the
boundary layer has constant velocity and hence,
the velocity gradient becomes zero. As a result
shear stress becomes zero.
• In the case of real fluids velocity gradients existed
only in a thin layer near the surface. This layer is 3
called Boundary layer
• LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER:
The region near the leading edge of the
surface of the plate, where the thickness
is small, the flow of the fluid in the
boundary layer is laminar even though
the main flow is turbulent. This region is
called the laminar boundary layer. Here
The Reynold’s number is given by
the Reynold's number is taken to be 5 ×
10^5.
𝑈×𝑥
𝑅𝑒 𝑥 = = 5 × 10^5
v

Where 𝑥 is the distance from the leading edge.

𝑈 is the Free stream velocity of the fluid.
V is the kinematic viscosity of fluid.
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 TRANSITION ZONE : If the length of the plate is more than the distance 𝑥 calculated from
the previous equation, the thickness of the boundary will go on increasing in the
downstream direction. The laminar boundary layer will become unstable and the fluid
motion also becomes irregular. This short length over which the boundary fluid flow
changes from laminar to turbulent is called transition zone.
 TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYER: If we further go downstream, the transition zone
gives away to the turbulent fluid flow. The boundary layer thickness goes on increasing and
the flow becomes more and more turbulent.
 LAMINNAR SUB-LAYER: This is the region in the turbulent boundary layer zone,
adjacent to the solid surface of the plate as shown in the figure (previous slide). In this area,
the velocity region is influenced by the viscous effects. Thought the velocity distribution is
would be a parabolic curve in the sub layer zone, it is considered to be linear because of the
very small thickness of the layer. Thus the velocity gradient can be considered constant. As
a result, the shear stress would be equal to the boundary layer shear stress 𝜏𝑜.

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The entrance region refers to that portion of pipe until the velocity profile is fully
developed. When a fluid is entering a pipe at a uniform velocity,, the fluid particles
in the layer in contact with the surface of the pipe come to a complete stop due to the
no-slip condition. Due to the viscosity of the fluid, this layer in contact with the pipe
surface, resists the motion of adjacent layers and slows them down gradually, thus
developing a velocity gradient.
When the fluid enters the pipe, the thickness of the boundary layer gradually
increases from zero as we move in direction of fluid flow and eventually it reaches
pipe center and fills the entire pipe. This region from the entrance of the pipe to the
point where the boundary layer covers the entire pipe is termed as the
hydrodynamic entrance region and the length of the pipe in this region is termed as
the hydrodynamic entry length.

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 The length of the hydrodynamic entry region along the length of the pipe is called
the hydrodynamic entry length. It is a function of Reynolds number of the flow.
 In case of a laminar flow, this length is given by:

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 It is defined as the distance from the boundary of
the solid body measured in the y – direction to the
point, where the velocity of the fluid is
approximately equal to 0.99 times the free stream
velocity (U).

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 The distance measured perpendicular to the boundary of the solid body, by which
the boundary should be displaced to compensate for the reduction in flow rate on
account of boundary layer formation.
 Also, The distance perpendicular to the boundary, by which the free stream is
displaced due to the formation of boundary layer.

δ
 u
δ   1  dy
*

0
U

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 It is defined as the distance measured perpendicular to the
boundary of the solid body, by which the boundary should
be displaced to compensate for the reduction in
momentum of the flowing fluid on account of boundary
layer formation.
δ
u u
θ   1  dy
0
U U

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 It is defined as the distance measured perpendicular to the
boundary of the solid body, by which the boundary should
be displaced to compensate for the reduction in kinetic
energy of the flowing fluid on account of boundary layer
formation.
δ
u  u 
2
δ   1  2 dy
**

0
U U 

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Find the displacement thickness, momentum
thickness and energy thickness for the velocity
distribution in the boundary layer given by u  y
U δ
where u –velocity at a distance y from the plate and u
= U at y = , where  - boundary layer thickness. Also
calculate the value of */.

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