TITLE: Flat Plate Boundary Layer.

1.0

Objective:
1. To measure the boundary layer velocity and observe the growth of the boundary layer for
the flat plate with smooth and rough surface.
2. To measure the boundary layer properties for the measured velocity profile.
3. To study the effect of surface roughness on the development of the boundary layer.

2.0

Apparatus:
1. Airflow bench provide adjustable air stream which enables a series of experiment to be
connected.
2. Test apparatus consist of rectangular duct with flat plate. One side of the plate is
smooth and the other is rough. Pitot tube tip is set in the zero plane of scale. By moving
the plate up and down, the leading edge can be set to the given distance from Pitot tube
tip.
3. Micrometer scale measure the displacement of Pitot tube from wall.
4. Velocity measurement velocity is measured using total and static probes which
connected to multi-tube manometer.

3.0

Theory/Background of the Experiment:

Some measures of boundary layer properties are described below:

The boundary layer thickness, , is used for a thickness beyond which the velocity is essentially
the free stream velocity U. This is customarily defined as the distance from the wall to the
point where
(1)

Figure 1: Boundary Layer Thickness

The displacement thickness *, is the distance by which the solid boundary would have to be
displaced in a frictionless flow the same mass deficit exists in the boundary layer. The
mathematical definition of the displacement thickness for incompressible flow is given by

(2)

Figure 2 : Displacement Thickness

The momentum thickness , is defined as the thickness of the layer fluid of velocity, U (free
stream velocity), for which the momentum flux is equal to the deficit momentum flux through
the boundary layer. Mathematically, it is defined as

(3)
The equation for velocity measured by Pitot tube is given as

(4)

The Blasiuss exact solution to the laminar boundary layer yields the following equations for
the above properties

=
=

Due to the complexity of the flow, there is no exact solution to the turbulent boundary layer.
The properties of the boundary layer are approximated using the momentum integral equation
which results in the following expression:

Another measurement of the boundary layer is the shape factor, H, which is the ratio
displacement thickness to the momentum thickness, H= For laminar flow, H increase from
2.6 to 3.5 at separation. For turbulent boundary layer, H increase from 1.3 to approximately 2.5
at separation.

4.0

Procedure:
1. The apparatus has been setup on the bench. Smooth surface of the plate is used for the
first art of the experiment.
2. Position of the central plate is adjusted to set the measurement plate at the required
distance from leading edge which is 50mm.
3. The fan is switched on to set the air flow speeds and the air stream velocity at medium
speed. The total pressure of the Pitot tube is read for a range of several points as the tube
traverse toward the plate at an interval of 0.05mm.
4. As the pressure begins to fall, the increment of the advanced should be reduced so as to
clearly define the velocity profile. The pressure reading will not fall to zero as the Pitot
tube has a finite thickness. A further indication that the wall has been reach is that the
pressure reading will be zero.
5. Step 2 and 4 are repeated for the setup of measurement plane at 200mm.
6. The entire experiment is repeated for the rough surface plate.

5.0

Data and result

TEST 1 (SMOOTH PLATE)

x = 0.05
U=23.82
Re = 78573 (Laminar)

Micromer Static
Pitot
reading, y pressure, tube
(mm)
(mBar)
Pressure
(mBar)

0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
2.25
2.5
2.75
3
3.25

7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4

9.8
10
10.2
10.4
10.6
10.6
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8

Differential
manometer
height
(mbar)

Diferential u
manometer (m/s)
height h
(mm)

2.4
30.72 19.81
2.6
33.28 20.62
2.8
35.84 21.40
3
38.4 22.15
3.2
40.96 22.88
3.2
40.96 22.88
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
3.4
43.52 23.58
Table #.1 : Test 1 data sheet

0.83
0.87
0.90
0.93
0.96
0.96
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99

0.14
0.12
0.09
0.07
0.04
0.04
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01

TEST 2 (SMOOTH PLATE)

x = 0.2
U= 23.82
Re = 324293 (Turbulent)
Micromer Static
Pitot
reading, y pressure, tube
(mm)
(mBar)
Pressure
(mBar)

0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
2.25
2.5
2.75
3
3.25

7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4
7.4

9.4
9.8
10.2
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.8
10.8
10.8

Differential
manometer
height
(mbar)

Diferential
manometer
height h
(mm)

u (m/s )
2
25.6
18.08
2.4
30.72
19.81
2.8
35.84
21.40
3
38.4
22.15
3
38.4
22.15
3
38.4
22.15
3.2
40.96
22.88
3.2
40.96
22.88
3.2
40.96
22.88
3.2
40.96
22.88
3.2
40.96
22.88
3.4
43.52
23.58
3.4
43.52
23.58
3.4
43.52
23.58
Table #.2 : Test 2 data sheet

0.76
0.83
0.90
0.93
0.93
0.93
0.96
0.96
0.96
0.96
0.96
0.99
0.99
0.99

0.18
0.14
0.09
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.01
0.01
0.01

TEST 3 (ROUGH PLATE)

x = 0.05
U= 23.46
Re = 77386 (Laminar)
Micromer Static
Pitot
reading, y pressure, tube
(mm)
(mBar)
Pressure
(mBar)

Differential
manometer
height
(mbar)

Diferential
manometer
height h
(mm)
u (m/s)

0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
2.25
2.5
2.75
3
3.25

7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5

9.5
9.6
10
10.2
10.4
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8

2
25.6
2.1
26.88
2.5
32
2.7
34.56
2.9
37.12
3.1
39.68
3.1
39.68
3.1
39.68
3.1
39.68
3.3
42.24
3.3
42.24
3.3
42.24
3.3
42.24
3.3
42.24
Table #.3 : Test 3 data sheet

18.08
18.53
20.22
21.01
21.78
22.52
22.52
22.52
22.52
23.23
23.23
23.23
23.23
23.23

0.77
0.79
0.86
0.90
0.93
0.96
0.96
0.96
0.96
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99

0.18
0.17
0.12
0.09
0.07
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01

TEST 4 (ROUGH PLATE)

x = 0.2
U= 24.51
Re = 323266 (Turbulent))
Micromer Static
Pitot
reading, y pressure, tube
(mm)
(mBar)
Pressure
(mBar)

Differential
manometer
height
(mbar)

Diferential
manometer
height h
(mm)
u (m/s)

0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
2.25
2.5
2.75
3
3.25

7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7

9.6
10
10.2
10.2
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6

2.6
33.28
3
38.4
3.2
40.96
3.2
40.96
3.4
43.52
3.4
43.52
3.4
43.52
3.6
46.08
3.6
46.08
3.6
46.08
3.6
46.08
3.6
46.08
3.6
46.08
3.6
46.08
Table #.4 : Test 4 data sheet

20.62
22.15
22.88
22.88
23.58
23.58
23.58
24.26
24.26
24.26
24.26
24.26
24.26
24.26

0.84
0.90
0.93
0.93
0.96
0.96
0.96
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99

0.13
0.09
0.06
0.06
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01

GRAPH
i. y vs (u/U)
For x = 0.05 mm

(X = 0.05) y vs (u/U)
3.5

2.5

2
Smooth plate
1.5

Rough plate

0.5

0
0.75

0.80

0.85

0.90

0.95

u/U

Figure 3 :Graph of y vs (u/U) for x = 0.05

1.00

For x = 0.2 mm

(X=0.2) y vs (u/U)
3.5

2.5

2
Smooth plate
1.5

Rough plate

0.5

0
0.75

0.80

0.85

0.90

0.95

u/U

Figure 4: Graph of y vs (u/U) for x = 0.2

II. y vs

1.00

For x = 0.05 mm

(X=0.05) Y vs (u/U)(1-u/U)
3.5

2.5

2
Smooth plate
1.5

Rough plate

0.5

0
0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

(u/U)(1-u/U)

Figure 5: Graph of y vs (u/U)(1 u/U) for x = 0.05

0.20

For x = 0.2 mm

(X=0.2) Y vs (u/U)(1-u/U)
3.5

2.5

2
Smooth plate
1.5

Rough plate

0.5

0
0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

(u/U)(1-u/U)
Figure 6: Graph of y vs (u/U)(1 u/U) for x = 0.05

0.20

Test

Theoretic
al

Experimenta
l

%error

Theoretic
al

Experiment
al

8.92X10-4

1.5 X10-3

68.16

3.07 X10-4

0.65 X10-3

5.89 X10-3

8.99X10-4

5.85 X10-4

%erro
r

Theoretic
al

Experiment
al

%error

1.15 X10-4

1.46 X10-4

26

5.73 X10-4

2.67 X10-4

53.4

1.16 X10-4

1.94 X10-4

67.2

5.69 X10-4

1.46 X10-4

73.4

111.7
3
2.75 X10-3

53.31

7.36 X10-4

0.75 X10-3
1.90

2X10-3

122.5

3.09 X10-4

0.88 X10-3
184.7
9

1.5 X10-3

74.36

7.32 X10-4

0.595 X10-3
18.72

6.0

Sample of calculation

Experiment 1 (Smooth Surface)

Distance from leading edge, x (m)

Static Pressure

: 7.4 mBar

Pitot tube Pressure

: 9.8 mBar

: 0.05m

Differential manometer height : 9.8 7.4 = 2.4 mBar

Diferential manometer height h (mm) : 2.4mbar X (64/5) mm/mbar
Diferential manometer height h (mm) : 30.72 mBar
air = 1.204 kg/m3
air = 1.825 x 10-5
The equation for velocity measured by pitot tube is given as

The free stream velocity may be obtained from:

Us = u/0.99
= 23.58/0.99
= 23.82 m/s

Reynolds number,

Re
Re

= 1.204 x 23.82 x 0.05

1.825 x 10-5
= 78573 < 5x105 (laminar flow)
= 0.83

Theoretical
Since Re = 78573 (Laminar)

5.0 x
Re x

= 8.92 x10-4 m

1.72 x
Re x
=
= 3.07 x10-4 m

0.664 x
Re x

=
= 1.15x10-4 m

=
= 2.67

Experimental
= 1.5x10-3 (from graph)
To find * , we need to find the area under the y vs u/U first by using Trapezium Method for
approximating the area Under a curve
u/U
y
0
0.83
0.25
0.87
0.90
0.5
0.93
0.75
1
0.96
1.25
0.96
1.5
0.99
Sum of
area
*

= sum of area / (0.99 0.83)

=0.103529/0.16
= 0.65x10-3

Experiment = [(U/Us)(1-(U/Us))]dy
= [(y/)1/7 (1- (y/)1/7)]dy
= 7/72 x
= 7/72 x (1.5x10-3 m)
= 1.458x10-4 m

Trapezoid
Area
0.004245
0.012254
0.019706
0.026683
0
0.04064

0.103529