Boundary Layer over

Curvature

Flat plat boundary layer analysis cannot

be applied to curved objects i.e. cylinder
and sphere
Flow reversal occurs
The boundary layer detaches from the wall
surface

 For a flow over a curved body, the xcoordinate is measured along the curved
surface
The y-coordinate is measured normal to the
surface

Pressure & velocity change in

a converging diverging duct

V
P

V
P
3

 Turbulent eddies formed due to separation

and cannot convert their rotational energy
back into pressure head
To prevent, streamlining reduces adverse
pressure gradient beyond the max thickness
and delays separation

 There is also an effect on heat transfer

coefficient i.e. flow across a cylinder inside
heat
Low hexchanger
(thick
boundary layer)
High h
( turbulent)

Nu =
hd/k

 Several dimensionless groups in boundary layer

analysis which explain the overall behaviour of the
flow
Re = inertial forces/viscous forces (VL/)
High inertial force = transition from laminar to turbulent

Pr = momentum diffusivity/thermal diffusivity (/)

Relative thickness of the hydrodynamic and thermal
boundary layers

Sc = momentum diffusivity/mass diffusivity (/Dab)

Relative thickness of the hydrodynamic and concentration
layers

Nu = heat transfer by convection/conduction

(hT/kTL)
St = convective/diffusive mass transport (KL/D)
6

Thermal
hydrodynami
c

h 1/T

Similar relationship can also be observed

between concentration (Sc) and hydrodynamic 7

Boundary Layer Analysis

We use example of convective transport on a
flat plate
By making the following assumptions:
Steady state: ( )/t = 0
Incompressible flow: = constant
Constant properties: k, Dab, Cp, ,
Newtonian fluid: xy = -Vy/x, yx = -Vxy
Two dimensional flow: ( )/z = 0, Vz = 0
No energy generation: q = 0
No species generation: R = 0
8

 Continuity:

Vx V y

0
x
y

Vx
Vx
Vy
x
Momentum:
V y
Vx
Vy
x

2Vx 2Vx
Vx
1 P

2
2
y
x
y
x
2V y 2V y
V y
1 P

2
2
x
y
y
y

Energy:

2T 2T
T
T
Vx
Vy

2
2
x
y
y
x

Mass:

2C a 2Ca
Ca
Ca

Vx
Vy
Dab

2
2
x
y
y
x
9

 Next, we use some dimensionless equations as

defined below:
(L = plate length)
x* = x/L, y* = y/L
U* = Vx/V, V* = Vy/V (V = free stream velocity)
T* = (T-Ts)/(T-Ts) (Ts = wall surface; T = free steam T)
C* = (Ca-Cas)/(Ca-Cas) (Cas = wall surface; Ca = free stream conc.)
P* = P/v2
We also need to derive the partial derivative
terms
For example:
x*/x = 1/L, y*/y = 1/L
U*/x = 1/V(Vx/x), V*/y = 1/V(Vy/y)
U*/y = 1/V(Vx/y), V*/y = 1/V(Vy/y)
10

 The equations are transformed into

dimensionless forms
as below:
*
*
U
V
* 0
Continuity:
*
x
y
Momentum:

*
U *
P *
1 2U * 2U *
* U

U
V
*
*2
*
*
*2
x
y
x
Re x
y
*

*
*
*
2 *
2 *

P
1

V
*
*

U
V
*
*2
*
*
*2
x
y
y
Re x
y

Energy:
Mass:

*
*
2 *
2 *

T
1

T
*
*

U
V

*2
*
*
2*
x
y
Re Pr x
y
*
*
2 *
2 *

C
1

C
*
*

U
V

*2
*
*
*2
x
y
Re Sc x
y
11