1

Module 3:
Convective heat and mass transfer

Lecture 23:
Laminar Boundary Layers

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

Assumptions
1. Steady flow
2. Constant physical properties
Momentum Transfer

Navier-stocks equation

v v =

Continuity equation

v = 0

P + 2 v

(1)

(2)

Fig. 1 Development of boundary layer on the flat plate

Limiting cases
1. Far from solid surfaces effect of viscosity may be neglected 2 v 0 . Then

v v =

Euler equation (inviscid flow)

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

2. Near solid surfaces velocity changes from free stream value far from the surface to zero
on the surface; 2 v is significant.
Equation for flat plate (General form)

Continuity:

U x U y
+
=0
x
y

X-momentum:

Ux

(3)

2U x 2U x
U x
U x
1 P
+Uy
=
+ 2 + 2
x
x
y
y
x
(4)

Y-momentum:

Ux

U y
x

+Uy

U y
y

2U
2U
1 P
+ 2y + 2y
x
y
y

(5)
One can go through an ordering argument to derive the boundary layer equations.
Flat plate boundary layer equations

U x U y
+
=0
x
y

(6)

2U x
U x
U x
1 P
+ vy
=
+ 2
vx
x
y
x
y

(7)

P
=0
y

(8)

P = P ( x)

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

Boundary conditions
Ux

= Uy = 0

at y = 0

Ux

= U ( x ) as y

For a plate along the direction of the unperturbed flow (x-direction)

1
P
v ( x ) = v = Const. ; P + v 2 = Const
= 0.
x
2

Equation (8) also holds P = Const. in x and y.

Then equation (6) and (7) becomes

vx v y
+
=0
x y

vx

(9)

2U
U x
U
+ v y x = 2x
x
y
y

(10)

With

vx = v y = 0

at y = 0

vx v as y

Use similarity variable =

to reduced PDEs into an ODE in terms of .

v
ff ''+ 2 f ''' = 0

(11)

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

f (0) = f ' ( 0) = 0
f '() = 1

Stream function = xv f ( )

Velocity components vx =

, vy =
y
x

Boundary Layer Thickness (Momentum)

Order of magnitude analysis of eqn. (9) yields
v v y
+ =0
L

vy ~

v
L

Order of magnitude analysis of eqn. (10) yields

v v v
U
L
+
~ 2 ~

L L
U

LU

1
Re L

(12)

(13)

From eqn. (13), it is clear that as ReL increases decreases.

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

One way to obtain the fluid velocity profiles

1. Assume inviscid flow and obtain solution to Euler eqns.
2. Use this solution as boundary condition to solve boundary layer equations
3. Iterate between (1) & (2), if necessary

Other shapes for which Boundary Layer theory may be applied

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

Fig. 2 Different shapes for which boundary layer theory can be applied

vx

2U
U x
U
1 P
+ vy x =
+ 2x
x
y
x
y

For B.L., P = P(x)

( r U x ) + ( rU y ) = 0
x
y
From Bernoullis equation (applies for inviscid flow), we can write
1
U 2 ( x ) = co nst
2
dU
dP
= U
dx
dx

P+

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering

Hence

2U x
U x
U x
U
+ vy
= U
+ 2
vx
x
y
x
y

(14)

Equations are identical to flat plate [eqns. (6)-(8)]

Assumption: radius of curvature >>

Fig. 3 Boundary layer theory applicable for curved surfaces

NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering