Blasius Solution

Stream Function
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 2 𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
𝑢 +𝑣 =ν 2; + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

The above equation has a corresponding boundary condition given by

𝑢, 𝑣 = 0 at 𝑦 = 0 & 𝑢 = 𝑈∞ as 𝑦 → ∞
We can further simplify the above equation using the stream function formulation. From
continuity equation we have: ∇⋅𝑉 = 0
From vector calculus argument, we know, Divergence of a curl of any vector (say 𝐴) Ԧ is 0 (or
∇⋅ ∇ × 𝐴Ԧ = 0). We can say without loss of generality: 𝑉 = ∇ × 𝐴Ԧ
Since velocity vector 𝑉 here is only in 2D (𝑥 and 𝑦) and result of a curl lies in the perpendicular
plane, then vector 𝐴Ԧ must have a component only in the 𝑧-direction. Let us write this as 𝐴Ԧ = 𝜓𝑘.෠
Curl of ψ𝑘෠ gives
𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓
𝑉=𝑢𝑖+𝑣Ƹ 𝑗=∇
Ƹ ෠
× 𝜓𝑘 = =𝑖 + 𝑗Ƹ −
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
0 0 𝜓
 Stream Function
We call the variable 𝜓 as Stream function. The velocity components can now be written as
𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓
𝑢= and 𝑣 = −
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
This transformation therefore automatically satisfies the continuity equation. The governing
equation reads 𝜕𝜓 𝜕 2 𝜓 𝜕𝜓 𝜕 2 𝜓 𝜕3𝜓
− 2 =ν 3
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
Boundary conditions are
𝜕𝜓
𝑢= = 𝑈∞ as 𝑦 → ∞
𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝜓
𝑢= = 0 at 𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝜓
𝑣=− = 0 at 𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑥
3 condition means 𝜓 is constant along 𝑥, so we can take any value of 𝜓 along 𝑥. We choose 𝜓 = 0
rd

Blasius showed that the above problem has a self-similar solution; it exists since the equations and
boundary conditions are invariant under the transformation
 Blasius Solution
𝑦
Let us define a dimensionless variable 𝜂 = . From scaling analysis, we have seen
δ 𝑥

−1Τ2
ν ν𝐿
δ ~ 𝐿 𝑅𝑒𝐿 ~𝐿 ~
𝑈∞ 𝐿 𝑈∞
Instead of plate length L if we take any general length in the plate direction, x, then
1 ν𝑥
δ~𝑥 ~
𝑅𝑒𝑥 𝑈∞
𝑦 𝑢
Thus, we define 𝜂 = . Then the dimensionless velocity 𝑢ത = can be described by
ν𝑥 𝑈∞
𝑈∞
𝑢
a general dimensionless function of new variable 𝜂 as 𝑓 𝜂 , that is, =𝑓 𝜂 .
𝑈∞
𝑣
Similarly, = 𝑔 𝜂 . The idea is therefore to transfer all the variables 𝑢, 𝑣 as functions
𝑈∞
of a single variable 𝜂, thus, the partial differential equation given by Prandtl can be
converted to ordinary differential equation (which is easy to solve).
 𝑢
Blasius Solution 𝑈∞
=𝑓 𝜂
𝑑𝐹
For ease, we denote = 𝑓 = 𝐹′ . Since each of these terms are functions of only 𝜂,
𝑑𝜂
we will not explicitly write them as 𝑓 𝜂 or 𝐹 𝜂 (we will simply write 𝑔, 𝑓, 𝐹 & 𝐹′).
𝜕𝜓
𝑢= = 𝑈∞ 𝑓 𝜂 or 𝜓 = න 𝑈∞ 𝑓 𝜂 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑈∞ න 𝑓 𝜂 𝑑𝑦
𝜕𝑦

𝑑𝐹 𝜂 ν𝑥 ν𝑥 ν𝑥
Now, න 𝑓 𝜂 𝑑𝑦 = න 𝑑𝑦 = න 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 = න 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 = 𝐹 𝜂
𝑑𝜂 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞
𝑑𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Above we have simplified 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 and then replaced the value of (see its
𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝜂
derivation in the next slide)
ν𝑥
So, 𝜓 = 𝑈∞ න 𝑓 𝜂 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑈∞ 𝐹 𝜂 =𝐹 𝜂 𝑈∞ ν𝑥; where 𝐹 𝜂 = න 𝑓 𝜂 𝑑𝜂
𝑈∞
 Side Note:
𝑦
For derivation; knowing 𝜂 = ν𝑥
in the last slide we have used
𝑈∞

𝑑𝑦 1 1 ν𝑥
Thus, = = =
𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝜂 1 𝑈∞
ൗ𝑑𝑦
൙ ν𝑥
𝑈∞
𝑑𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝐹 𝜂
One can also think of it this way: In the term ‫׬‬ 𝑑𝑦 (see last slide), is given as below
𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝜂

𝑑𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 1 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 ν𝑥 𝑑𝐹 𝜂
= = ; or =
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝜂 ν𝑥 𝑑𝜂 𝑈∞ 𝑑𝑦
𝑈∞
𝑑𝐹 𝜂 ν𝑥 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 ν𝑥 ν𝑥
Thus, න 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑦 = න 𝑑𝐹 𝜂 = 𝐹 𝜂
𝑑𝜂 𝑈∞ 𝑑𝑦 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞
 𝜕𝜓
Now, 𝑣=− = 𝑈∞ 𝑔 𝜂
Blasius Solution 𝜕𝑥
𝑣 1 𝜕𝜓 1 1 𝑈∞ ν 1 𝑦
= − = − 𝐹 + 𝐹′ 𝑈∞ ν𝑥
𝑈∞ 𝑈∞ 𝜕𝑥 𝑈∞ 2 𝑥 2 ν𝑥
𝑥
𝑈∞
𝑣 1 1 𝑈∞ ν 𝑦 1 ν
= 𝐹′ − 𝐹 = 𝜂𝐹′ − 𝐹 = 𝑔
𝑈∞ 2 𝑈∞ 𝑥 ν𝑥 2 𝑈∞ 𝑥
𝑈∞
Using the 𝜂-transformation (substituting 𝜓, 𝑢 and 𝑣 in the Prandtl equation), the final form looks
𝜕𝜓 𝜕 2 𝜓 𝜕𝜓 𝜕 2 𝜓 𝜕3𝜓
− 2 =ν 3
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
2𝜓
𝜕𝜓 𝜕 1 𝜕3𝜓 𝑈∞ ′′′ 𝜕𝜓 1 𝑈∞ ν
Noting = 𝑈∞ 𝐹 ′ , 2 = 𝑈∞ 𝐹 ′′ ; 3 = 𝑈∞ 𝐹 and = 𝜂𝐹′ − 𝐹
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 ν𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ν𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝑥
𝑈∞

Corresponding 2𝐹 ′′′ + 𝐹𝐹 ′′ = 0
boundary conditions 𝐹 ′ = 𝐹 = 0 at 𝜂 = 0 & 𝐹 ′ → 1 as 𝜂 → ∞
Blasius 𝜕𝜓 𝜕 2 𝜓 𝜕𝜓 𝜕 2 𝜓 𝜕3𝜓
− =ν 3 𝝍-equation
Derivation 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝜓 𝜕2𝜓 𝜕 𝑑𝜂 1
= 𝑈∞ 𝐹′ 2 = 𝑈∞ 𝐹′ = 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′ = 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 ν𝑥
𝑈∞
𝜕3𝜓 𝜕 1 1 𝑑𝜂 1 1 𝑈∞
= 𝑈 𝐹′′ = 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′′ = 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′′ = 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′′
𝜕𝑦 3 𝜕𝑦 ∞ ν𝑥 ν𝑥 𝑑𝑦 ν𝑥 ν𝑥 ν𝑥
𝑈∞ 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞

𝜕𝜓 1 𝑈∞ ν 𝜕2𝜓 1 𝑈∞ ν 𝜕 ′
1 𝑈∞ ν 𝑑𝜂 𝜕𝐹′ 𝜕𝐹
=− 𝜂𝐹′ − 𝐹 =− 𝜂𝐹 − 𝐹 = − 𝐹′ +𝜂 −
𝜕𝑥 2 𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 2 𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

1 𝑈∞ ν 1 1 𝑈∞ ν 𝑈∞ 1 𝑈∞
=− 𝜂𝐹′′ =− 𝜂𝐹′′ =− 𝜂𝐹′′
2 𝑥 ν𝑥 2 𝑥 ν𝑥 2 𝑥
On substitution of each term in 𝑈∞
the 𝜓-equation above, we get
1 𝑈∞ 1 𝑈∞ ν 1 𝑈∞
𝑈∞ 𝐹′ − 𝜂𝐹′′ + 𝜂𝐹′ − 𝐹 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′ = ν 𝑈∞ 𝐹′′′
2 𝑥 2 𝑥 ν𝑥 ν𝑥
𝑈∞
 2
Blasius 𝑈∞
Derivation
Simplifying… 𝑥
gets cancelled from both sides

1 1 ′ ′′
1 1 ′′′
𝐹′ − 𝜂𝐹′′ + ν 𝜂𝐹 − 𝐹 𝐹 =ν 𝐹
2 2 ν ν
1 ′ ′′ 1
− 𝜂𝐹 𝐹 + 𝜂𝐹′ − 𝐹 𝐹′′ = 𝐹′′′
2 2
1 ′ ′′ 1 ′ ′′ 1
− 𝜂𝐹 𝐹 + 𝜂𝐹 𝐹 − 𝐹𝐹′′ = 𝐹′′′
2 2 2
3 2
′′′ ′′
𝑑 𝐹 𝑑 𝐹
0 = 2𝐹 + 𝐹𝐹 ⇒ 0 = 2 3 + 𝐹 2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝜕2𝑢 𝜕𝑢
~ 2 ~ Boundary conditions:
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝐴𝑡 𝜂 = 0; 𝐹 = 0
To keep in mind the physics:
𝑑𝐹 𝑢 𝑑𝐹
=𝑓= 𝐴𝑡 𝜂 = 0; 𝑓 = =0
𝑑𝜂 𝑈∞ 𝑑𝜂
𝑑𝐹 𝑑𝐹
Thus, = 𝐹 ′ denotes the scaled velocity 𝐴𝑡 𝜂 → ∞; 𝑓 = =1
𝑑𝜂 𝑑𝜂