STANDARD BOUNDARY LAYER THICKNESS

That distance from the boundary surface (or

plate) upto which the velocity reaches 99% of the
velocity of the main stream.

y = where u = 0.99U
Somewhat an easy to understand
but arbitrary definition as the limit
of boundary layer is not easily
defined
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99% THICKNESS

(x)

U is the free-stream velocity

(x) is the boundary layer thickness when u(y) ==0.99U

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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

THICKNESS OF BOUNDARY LAYER

For greater accuracy the boundary layer

thickness is defined in terms of certain
mathematical expressions which are the
measures of the effect of boundary layer on the
flow.
 Displacement

thickness (*)
 Momentum thickness ()
 Energy thickness (E)

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DISPLACEMENT THICKNESS (*)

The boundary layer retards the fluid, so that the mass flux is less
than it would be in the absence of the boundary layer.
Thus the displacement thickness is the distance by which the
boundary surface would have to be moved so that the actual
discharge deficit would be same as that of an ideal (or
frictionless) fluid past the displaced boundary.
Amount of fluid
being displaced
outward

Equal
Areas

*
U-u
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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

DISPLACEMENT THICKNESS (*)

The areas under each curve are defined as being equal:

q = (U u )dy

The loss due to boundary layer

and

q = * U

Equating these gives the equation for the displacement

thickness:

= 1 dy
U
0
*

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MOMENTUM THICKNESS ()

The distance from the actual boundary surface

such that the momentum flux corresponding to
the main stream velocity V through this distance
is equal to the deficiency or loss in momentum
due to the boundary layer formation.

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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

MOMENTUM THICKNESS ()
In the boundary layer, the fluid loses momentum, so imagining an
equivalent layer of lost momentum:

m = u (U u )dy and m = U 2
0

Equating these gives the equation for the momentum thickness:

U 1 U dy
0

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ENERGY THICKNESS (E)

The distance from the actual boundary surface

such that the energy flux corresponding to the
main stream velocity U through this distance (E)
is equal to the deficiency or loss of energy due to
the boundary layer formation

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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

ENERGY THICKNESS (E)

1
1
EU 3 = (U 2 u 2 )udy
2
20

u u2
E = 1 2 dy
U U
0

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SOLVE!

Air flowing into a 2-ft-square duct with a uniform velocity of 10 ft/s

forms a boundary layer on the walls as shown in Fig. The fluid within
the core region (outside the boundary layers) flows as if it were inviscid.
From advanced calculations it is determined that for this flow the
boundary layer displacement thickness is given by

* = 0.0070( x )1/ 2
where * and x are in feet.


Determine the velocity U = U(x) of the air within the duct but outside of
the boundary layer.

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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

SOLUTION

The volume flow rate across any section of the duct is equal to
that at the entrance (i.e., Q1=Q2). That is

U1 A1 = 10 ft/s (2 ft ) = 40 ft 3 / s = udA
2

(2)

According to the definition of the displacement thickness, the

flowrate across section (2) is the same as that for a uniform flow
with velocity U through a duct whose walls have been moved
inward by *

40 ft 3 / s = udA = U (2 2 * ) = 4U 1 0.0070x 1 /2
2

(2)

U =

10

(1 0.0070x )

1/2 2

ft/s
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PROBLEM

Assuming that the shear stress distribution in a

laminar boundary layer is such that

= 0 1

Calculate the displacement and momentum

thickness of this boundary layer in terms of .

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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

BOUNDARY LAYER EQUATIONS

Equations of continuity and motion for the

steady flow of an incompressible, inviscid fluid in
2-D without body forces are:
u v
+
=0
x y

Chapter 6, Sec 6.6

u
Chapter 7, Sec 7.3

CONTINUITY EQUATION

u
u
1 p
+v
=
x
y
x

EULERS EQUATION IN X DIR.

v
v
1 p
+v =
x
y
y

EULERS EQUATION IN Y DIR.

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BOUNDARY LAYER EQUATIONS

If a viscous fluid is considered, eqn. of continuity
remains unchanged

Additional terms due to viscous stresses will be
introduced in the eqns. of motion

Edge of
boundary layer

+ d

y
y

( + )x = + y x
y

CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering

Net force =

xy
y

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BOUNDARY LAYER EQUATIONS

u

u
u
1 p 1
+v
=
+
x
y
x y

Again

u
u
1 p
2u
u +v
=
+ 2
x
y
x
y

u
=
y

Simplification..


Since the boundary layer is thin, it is expected that the component

of velocity normal to the plate is much smaller than the parallel to
the plate and that the rate of change of any parameter across the
boundary layer should be much greater than that along the flow
direction. That is

v << u and

<<
x
y
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BOUNDARY LAYER EQUATIONS

Equations that govern the flow in the
steady, 2-D laminar boundary layer on
a flat plate

u v
+
=0
x y
u

u
u
1 p
2u
+v
=
+ 2
x
y
x
y
1 p

=0
y

PRANDTLS BOUNDARY
LAYER RQUATIONS
Although the mathematical problem is wellposed, no one has obtained an analytical
solution to these equations for flow past any
shaped body!

Boundary conditions
= 0, u = 0, v = 0
u
=0
 y = , u = U,
y

Solution ? still extremely

difficult to obtain..
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CE F312 Hydraulics Engineering