Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Faculty Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and

Science
Department: Department of Mechanical and Material
Engineering
Unit Code and Name UEME3112 Fluid Mechanics II
Experiment No.: 1
Title of Experiment: BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW OVER A FLAT
PLATE
Laboratory Room No. and Name: KB731 Thermofluids Lab
Experiment Duration (hour): 3 hours
Number of Student per Group 5 students

Objectives

1. To familiarize with the use of a pitot-static tube to measure the pressure inside the test
section of a small wind tunnel.
2. To determine the relationship between frequency of the fan motor and the air speed in
the test section of a small wind tunnel.
3. To compute the average maximum air speed at various frequencies of the fan motor.
4. To measure pressure and velocity profiles on a flat plate boundary layer over a
smooth surface area and rough surface area.
5. To determine the boundary layer thickness experimentally and analytically.

Introduction
Viscous flows over solid bodies can be analyzed by dividing the flow into two regions:
one close to the solid boundary and the other covering the rest of the flow. The thin region
adjacent to the solid boundary is called the boundary layer, where the viscous effect is
significant. In this boundary layer, the velocity of the fluid increases from zero at the wall to
its free-stream value which is called no-slip condition. The flow in a boundary layer may be
laminar, transitional or turbulent (Figure 1). Typical laminar and turbulent boundary profiles
on a flat plate are illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Distortion of a fluid particle as it flows within the boundary layer.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 Figure 2. Typical boundary profiles on a flat plate for laminar and turbulent flows.

Among the factors that affect boundary layer transition are; pressure gradient, surface
roughness, heat transfer and free-stream disturbances. Under typical flow conditions,
transition is usually considered to occur at a Reynolds number of
Ux Ux
Re x, cr 5 10 5

where U is the free-stream velocity, x is the current coordinate and is kinematics viscosity.
The transition from laminar to turbulent flow becomes clearly discernible by a sudden and
large increase in the boundary layer thickness. The laminar boundary layer thickness, , is
usually defined as the distance from the solid surface to the point where the velocity is within
1% of the free-stream velocity.
Blasius solved the boundary-layer equations for a 2-D flow along a thin flat plate, and
obtained the velocity distribution in the laminar region. The laminar boundary layer
thickness, due to the exact solution of Blasius, is given by:
5

Re1x/ 2

where x is the distance from the leading edge of the flat plate.
For the turbulent boundary layer, a one-seventh power law profile has been suggested:
1/ 7
u y

U

where y is the distance from the wall, and u is the local velocity. The turbulent boundary
layer thickness is approximately given by:

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 0.37 x

Re1x/ 5

Equipment and Materials

A wind tunnel is really a fairly simple device. Most designs feature each of the five
components described below. The overall design creates high-speed, low-turbulence airflow
through the test section and allows researchers to measure the resulting forces on the model
being tested.

Straighteners: The purpose of the straighteners is to straighten the airflow.

Nozzle: The nozzle takes a large volume of low-velocity air and reduces it to a
small volume of high-velocity air without creating turbulence.
Test Section: The test section is where the test article and sensors are placed.
Diffuser: The diffuser slows the speed of airflow in the wind tunnel.

The wind tunnel used in this experiment has a multipurpose 303045 (whl) cm
Plexiglas test section. The air flow is generated by using a centrifugal fan. Air is drawn by the
centrifugal fan into the settling chamber through a faired inlet and passes through a
rectangular screen flow conditioning section before being accelerated through the contraction
section into the test section. The flow then passes through the diffuser section into the
centrifugal fan and is discharged into the room. The test-section air velocity control is
accomplished by a variable frequency inverter. A flat plate is mounted across the test section.
A Pitot-static tube is mounted in the test section and connected to an inclined manometer
attached to a stainless steel stand near the wind tunnel. It will be used to measure the air
speed when the flow passes through the objects.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 Quantity estimation
Item Description *Item category (e.g. per set/group of
student)
Wind Tunnel E 1
Flat Plate W 1
Inclined Manometer W 1
Pitot-static Tube W 1
Multi-tube Inclined U-manometer W 1
Plastic Ruler (30cm) W 1
Tubing W 8

*Item category
SP Sample or specimen
C Consumable
CH Chemical
W Labware, glassware, tool, and
components
E Equipment
S Software

Procedures

(1) The relationship between the fan frequency and air speed

(i) Level and zero the inclined manometer. Record the room temperature.
(ii) Connect the tubing to the inclined manometer from the pitot-static tube. Ensure the
connection is done properly.
(iii) Switch ON the wind tunnel, adjust the fan motor frequency to 10 Hz. Run the motor.
Allow the flow in tunnel stabilize for about 1-2 minutes.
(iv) Move the pitot-static tube to the most bottom of the test section. Ensure the
measuring point of the tube is in-line with the air flow.
(v) Record the dynamic pressure from the incline manometer. (Reminder: The reading
of the inclined manometer is fluctuating, kindly take the average reading).
(vi) Repeat the experiment with different height.
(vii) Record all the readings.
(viii) Repeat the whole experiment with different fan motor frequencies (i.e., 10 Hz
increment) until 50 Hz.
(ix) Using the equations provided, compute the maximum air speed for each fan motor
frequency value.

(2) The boundary layer flow over a flat plate

(i) Place the flat plate into the test section. Hold the flat plate in position by using the
blocking block provided. Ensure the smooth surface is facing up.
(ii) Insert the 8-point pressure mouse to the test section. Hold the pressure mouse with
the holder provided. Tighten it to position.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 (iii) Connect all the tubing from the 8-point pressure mouse to the multi-tube inclined U-
manometer. Ensure the connection is correct where point 1 is to the first U-tube
manometer and so on.
(iv) Move the mouse to the top surface of the flat plate. Ensure the pressure points are
facing directly to the direction of air flow.
(v) Close the windows of the test section with respective covers.
(vi) Switch ON the wind tunnel. Set the fan motor frequency to 40 Hz. Allow the flow
in the wind tunnel stabilize for 1-2 minutes.
(vii) Record the readings of the total pressure.
(viii) Measure the static pressure by disconnecting the top tubing from the pitot-static
tube.
(ix) Repeat the experiment with the fan motor frequency of 50 Hz.
(x) Repeat the experiment with rough surface.

Equations:
2( Pstagnation Pstatic )
(i) The Pitot formula, V , where V = air speed (m/s), Pstagnation =

stagnation or total pressure (Pa), Pstatic = static pressure (Pa), and = air density
(kg/m3).
(ii) The manufacturers formula, V 1096.2 Pv / , and 1.325 PB / T , where V =
air speed (ft/min), Pv = velocity pressure (inches of water), = air density (lb/ft3),
PB = barometric atmospheric pressure (inches of mercury), T = absolute room
temperature (indicated temperature (F) + 460).
(iii) The dynamic viscosity () can be calculated using Sutherlands relation. For SI
units,
1.4578 10 6 T 1.5

T 110.4
where T is the room temperature in Kelvin.

Results and discussions

(1) The relationship between the fan frequency and air speed
(i) Plot the graph of distance from the bottom wall of the test section against
differential pressure. Discuss the finding(s) from the graph.
(ii) Using the equations provided, compute the maximum air speed for each fan motor
frequency.
(iii) Plot the calibration curve on a graph of fan motor frequency versus maximum air
speed. Show the linear equation and R2 on the graph.

(2) The boundary layer flow over a flat plate

(i) Plot the graphs of height of the pressure mouse hole against dynamic pressure for
both smooth and rough plates. Discuss the finding(s) from the graphs. (Reminder:
The distant from point to point of the pressure mouse is about 3 mm).

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016

 (ii) Calculate Reynolds numbers. Do the Reynolds numbers indicate the flow is laminar,
or turbulent for different scenario?
(iii) Estimate the boundary thicknesses from the experimental data. Plot graphs of y/
against u/U in laminar region or turbulent region (based on the Q2(ii) answers). Are
these the velocity profiles you expect? Why? Also, how does the surface roughness
affect the velocity profile?
(iv) Calculate the boundary layer thicknesses using the appropriate correlation (laminar
or turbulent) for a smooth flat plate. Do they agree with the boundary layer
thicknesses in Q2(iii)? Why?

Laboratory Report
1. Attach the ORIGINAL spreadsheets and plots containing the experimental data with
your report.
2. Provide a sample calculation. Coordinate with your group members to avoid
presenting the same sample calculation.
3. Your report should include: Objective, Introduction, Apparatus, Procedures, Results
and Discussion, and Conclusions and Recommendations.

Latest updated: 14th Mar 2016