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Notes - Boundary Layer Development

Boundary layer development occurs when fluid flows past a solid boundary, resulting in a velocity gradient from zero at the boundary to free-stream velocity. This region, known as the boundary layer, can be classified as either laminar, where flow occurs in layers, or turbulent, characterized by mixing across layers. The behavior of the boundary layer is influenced by the Reynolds number, with laminar flow occurring at low Reynolds numbers and turbulent flow at high Reynolds numbers.

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21 views2 pages

Notes - Boundary Layer Development

Boundary layer development occurs when fluid flows past a solid boundary, resulting in a velocity gradient from zero at the boundary to free-stream velocity. This region, known as the boundary layer, can be classified as either laminar, where flow occurs in layers, or turbulent, characterized by mixing across layers. The behavior of the boundary layer is influenced by the Reynolds number, with laminar flow occurring at low Reynolds numbers and turbulent flow at high Reynolds numbers.

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BOUNDARY LAYER DEVELOPMENT

• When a real fluid past a solid body or a solid wall, the fluid particles adhere to the
boundary and condition of no slips occurs.
• This means that the velocity of the fluid close to the boundary will be same as that of the
boundary.
• If the boundary is stationary, the velocity of the fluid at the boundary will be zero.
• Farther away from the boundary, the velocity will be higher and as a result of this
variation of velocity, the velocity gradient du/ dy will exist.
• The velocity of the fluid increases from zero velocity on the stationary boundary to free
stream velocity of the fluid in the direction normal to the boundary.
• This variation of velocity from zero to free- stream velocity in the direction normal to the
boundary takes place in a narrow region in the vicinity of the solid boundary.
• This narrow region of fluid is called Boundary layer. The theory dealing with boundary
layer flows is called Boundary Layer Theory.
•

BOUNDARY LAYER

According to boundary layer theory, the flow of fluid in the neighborhood of the solid
boundary may be divided into two regions :
1. A very thin layer of the fluid called the boundary layer, in the immediate
neighbourhood of the solid boundary, where the variation of velocity from zero at the
solid boundary to free – stream velocity in the direction normal to the boundary takes
place. In this region the velocity gradient du/dy exists and hence the fluid exerts a shear
stress on the wall in the direction of motion. The value of shear stress is given by :
τ = μ du/dy
2. The remaining fluid which is outside the boundary layer. The velocity outside
the boundary layer is constant and is equal to the free stream velocity. As there is no
variation of velocity in this region, the velocity gradient du/dy becomes zero. As a
result of this the shear stress is zero.
A boundary layer may be laminar or turbulent.
• A laminar boundary layer is one where the flow takes place in layers, i.e., each layer
slides past the adjacent layers.
• In a laminar boundary layer any exchange of mass or momentum takes place only
between adjacent layers on a microscopic scale which is not visible to the eye.
• The molecular viscosity is able predict the shear stress associated.
• Laminar boundary layers are found only when the Reynolds numbers are small.

• A turbulent boundary layer on the other hand is marked by mixing across several layers
of it.
• The mixing is now on a macroscopic scale. Packets of fluid may be seen moving across.
• Thus there is an exchange of mass, momentum and energy on a much bigger scale
compared to a laminar boundary layer.
• A turbulent boundary layer forms only at larger Reynolds numbers.
• The molecular viscosity is unable predict the shear stress alone .

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