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Laminar Boundary Layer Analysis

This document outlines the order of magnitude analysis assumptions and results for a laminar boundary layer. 1) It assumes the boundary layer is thin compared to the characteristic length, and the Reynolds number is large. 2) The analysis shows the changes in the y-direction velocity scale with the boundary layer thickness over the characteristic length. 3) A key result is that the boundary layer thickness scales inversely with the Reynolds number.

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185 views3 pages

Laminar Boundary Layer Analysis

This document outlines the order of magnitude analysis assumptions and results for a laminar boundary layer. 1) It assumes the boundary layer is thin compared to the characteristic length, and the Reynolds number is large. 2) The analysis shows the changes in the y-direction velocity scale with the boundary layer thickness over the characteristic length. 3) A key result is that the boundary layer thickness scales inversely with the Reynolds number.

Uploaded by

nanduslns07
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Laminar Boundary Layer Order of Magnitude Analysis u

( x)
y
x

Assumptions (in addition to incompressible, steady & 2-D) Changes in x direction occur over a distance c 1 1 ~ or, we write = O( ) x C x C Changes in y direction occur over a distance 1 1 ~ or, = O( ) y y << C (boundary layer is thin) u c Re = >> 1 (Reynolds number is large)

Changes in x velocity are proportional to u u = O(u ) 2 Changes in pressure are proportional to u 2 p = O( u ) Now, lets do the order of magnitude analysis: Conservation of Mass u v + =0 x y Now, we introduce our assumed orders. For example:
u u = O( ) x c

Laminar Boundary Layer Order of Magnitude Analysis

Since we have not assumed an order for v variations, just leave this as simply v and say, v v = ( ) y u v + = 0 , they obviously have equal (though opposite) magnitudes and x y therefore orders. Thus, the changes in v scale as: Since v = (u

Since v = 0 at a wall, v = (v) itself and we can say


v = ( ) u c
x momentum

u u p 2u 2u + v = + 2 + 2 x x y x y
2 u u u u2 u2 ) ( ) ( ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) c c c c

If we compare the last two terms, clearly

u
c
2

<<

u 2
2u is small. y 2

Since we have assumed << C . Thus, we can assume that

16.100 2002

Laminar Boundary Layer Order of Magnitude Analysis

In order for any viscous terms to remain, this requires that order to the remaining inviscid terms. That is, e.g
( u ( 2u u ) = ( 2 ) x y ) = (

2u be equal in x 2

2 u

( ) 2 = ( ) c u c

u ) 2

In other words,

= (

1 Re

Major result!

y momentum
v v p 2v 2v u + v = + 2 + 2 x y y x y
2 u 1 ( u 2 ) ( u 2 ) ( ) ( u 3 ) ( u ) c c c c 2

Normalizing all of these orders by and

u C 1 and substituting in for Re = 2 u / C

= (
1

1 Re

) gives:
1 Re 1 Re
3 2

Re

) (

) ( Re ) (

) (

1 Re

Clearly, except for conclude that:

p , all other terms are small as Re increases. Thus, we must y

p is small y p 0= is the y momentum equation for a boundary layer y

16.100 2002

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