Boundary Layer 5 8

Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

Chapter 7

BLASIUS SOLUTION FOR LAMINAR

BOUNDARY LAYER

assumptions:

flat plate

zero-pressure gradient
∂p
=0
∂x
Navier-Stokes equations for boundary layer
∂U x ∂U y
+ =0 (7.1a)
∂x ∂y

1 ∂p  ∂ 2U x ∂ 2U x 
+ ν  
∂U x ∂U x
2 
Ux +U y =− + (7.1b)
∂x ∂y ρ ∂x  ∂x 2
∂y 

 ∂ 2U y ∂ 2U y 
+ν  
∂U y ∂U y 1 ∂p
ρ ∂y  ∂x ∂y 
Ux +U y =− + (7.1c)
∂x ∂y 2 2

Prandtl’s equations
∂U x ∂U y
+ =0 ( 7. 2 a )
∂x ∂y
 Boundary Layer 5 9
Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

∂U x ∂U x ∂ 2U x
Ux +U y =ν (7.2b)
∂x ∂y ∂y 2
∂p
=0 (7.2c)
∂y
3 boundary conditions are needed:

no-slip conditions at the surface
U x = U y = 0 at y=0 (7.3a )

the condition of uniform flow at infinity

U x →U∞ as y→∞ (7.3b)
system consisting of equations (7.2) and (7.3) is called a Blasius
problem (1908)

In terms of stream function ψ defined as

∂ψ ∂ψ
Ux = and U y = − (7.4)
∂y ∂x
equation (7.2a) is satisfied automatically
∂U x ∂U y ∂ 2ψ ∂ 2ψ
+ = − =0
∂x ∂y ∂x∂y ∂x∂y
and eq. (7.2b) becomes
∂ψ ∂ 2ψ ∂ψ ∂ 2ψ ∂ 3ψ
− =ν 3 (7.5)
∂y ∂x∂y ∂x ∂y 2 ∂y
 Boundary Layer 6 0
Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

with boundary conditions

∂ψ
y = 0 ( any x) ⇒ ψ = 0; =0
∂y
∂ψ
y→∞ ⇒ →U∞
∂y
Experiments show that velocity profiles measured at different
distances x from the leading edge when presented in coordinating
system
(U x / U ∞ ) and ( y / x )
collapse into one.

Velocity profiles are similar to one another ⇒ boundary layer is

self-similar
⇓
simplification of the mathematical description of the Blasius
problem:

two independent variables x and y (actually

dependent) may be combined to form a new
independent variable η
⇓
one would expect that partial differential equation
(7.5) could be transformed into an ordinary
differential equation
 Boundary Layer 6 1
Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

Let us introduce nondimensional variable η (the so-called

similarity variable)
U∞
η= y (7.6)
νx
and dimensionless function f(η)
ψ = νU ∞ x f (η ) ( 7. 7 )
In terms of the new variables velocity components become
U x = U∞ ⋅ f ' (7.8)

1  νU 
1/ 2
Uy =  ∞  (ηf '− f )
2 x 
( 7. 9)

where prime (’) denotes differentiation with respect to η.

The governing equation (7.5) takes form
1
f ⋅f'
'+f'
''= 0 (7.10)
2
with boundary conditions:
f = f '= 0 at η = 0 (7.11a )
→ 1 as η → ∞
f' (7.11b)
Eq. (7.10) may only be solved using a numerical approach:

If f, f′ and f′′ are all known at a certain dimensionless

height η numerical method may be utilised to find the
solution at (η+h)
 Boundary Layer 6 2
Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

The results of numerical calculations

Experimental results are in very good agreement with

theoretical considerations

From the Blasius curve

Ux U∞
for = 0.99 ⇒ y =5
U∞ νx
boundary layer thickness
νx
δ =5 (7.12)
U∞
 Boundary Layer 6 3
Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

Integrating the Blasius velocity profile according to formulas (1.6)

and (1.7) we may determine

displacement thickness
νx
δ * = 1.721 (7.13)
U∞
momentum-loss thickness
νx
θ = 0.664 (7.14)
U∞
and relate them to boundary layer thickness
1
δ* ≅ δ (7.15a )
3
2
θ≅ δ (7.15b)
15
Shear stress on the surface
 ∂U x 
τ 0 = µ 
U∞
= µU ∞ f'
'( 0) (7.16)
 ∂y  y =0 νx

From the numerical solution of Blasius problem

f'
'(0) = 0.332
Frictional drag force

F = b ∫τ 0 dx = 0.664bU ∞ U ∞ µρL
L
(7.17)
0
 Boundary Layer 6 4
Advanced Fluid
M ech anics 7. Bl as i us S ol ut i on f or Lam i nar
Boundary Layer

coefficient of friction

F 1.328
cf = = (7.18)
1 Re
ρU ∞2 (bL )
2

for comparison: (2.16) → cf = 1.46 Re-0.5

The numerical solution allows in addition to evaluate the velocity

component normal to the surface at the outer part of boundary
layer
U ∞ν U
η → ∞ ⇒ U y = 0.8604 = 0.8604 ∞ (7.19)
x Re