MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ME306 FLUID MECHANICS II (Section 4)

EXPERIMENT 2
BOUNDARY LAYER MEASUREMENTS OVER A FLAT PLATE

1. OBJECTIVE
The aim of this experiment is to study the development of the boundary layer for flow over a flat
plate and to experimentally determine the skin friction drag using boundary layer parameters.

2. THEORY

2.1. Boundary Layer Flow

When a fluid flows over a solid surface, a thin layer of fluid adheres to the surface and has zero
velocity with respect to the plate (no-slip condition). At high Reynolds numbers (most flow cases
of interests), the relative fluid velocity increases from zero at the surface to the velocity in the
free stream through a thin layer of fluid which is called the boundary layer. The boundary layer
can be divided into laminar and turbulent regions depending upon the Reynolds Number Re x
based on the distance x from the leading edge:
U x
Re x  (1)

where U∞ is the free stream velocity and  is the kinematic viscosity. It is not possible to give a
single value of Rex at which the transition from laminar to turbulent regime will occur, but it is
usually found in the range of 1×105 to 5×105.

2.2. Boundary Layer Momentum Thickness

The boundary layer momentum thickness, m, can be defined as the thickness of a layer of the
free stream flow whose momentum flux equals the deficit of momentum flux in the boundary
layer. It represents the rate of momentum defect of the boundary layer due to the reduced
momentum of the boundary layer flow (compared to a free stream flow). The equation for the
momentum thickness can be given as:

1
 
1
 m  2  u (U   u )dy (2)
U 0

2.3. Overall Skin Friction Coefficient

From Von Karman's momentum integral equation, for zero pressure gradient flows, the surface
(wall) shear stress can be obtained as:

  1 

 w  U 2  2  u (U   u )dy  (3)
x U  0 
which can be reduced to:
d m
 w  U 2 (4)
dx
with the definition of momentum thickness per equation (2). Since the total friction (i.e. friction
drag) force per unit width on a plate of length L and width b is:
L
D f    wbdx (5)
0

Substituting equation (4) in (5) gives:

d
L
1 1
Df  U 2  2 m bdx  U 2 2 mLb (6)
2 0
dx 2

The dimensionless overall skin friction coefficient CfL is defined as

Df
C fL  (7)
1
U  2bL
2
Substituting equation (6) in (7) gives:
2 mL
C fL  (8)
L

2.4. Determination of Velocity from Pitot Tube Measurements

The velocity measurement using a Pitot tube was explained in ME 305. For a Pitot tube reading
from an inclined manometer measuring the air flow velocity, the velocity can be calculated as

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 2  alcohol  g   h  sin  
V (9)
 air

where  is the manometer inclination angle (30° for the current set-up), h is the deflection in
the manometer connected to the Pitot tube, relative to the deflection indicating the static
pressure, alcohol is the density of the manometer fluid (alcohol in this set-up) and air is the air
density. Recall that while the Pitot tube measures the stagnation (total) pressure. h is the
dynamic pressure, i.e. the difference between the stagnation pressure (Pitot tube) and the static
pressure.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS

The experimental set-up is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a sketch of the set-up is presented in
Figures 3 and 4. A flat plate with a sharp leading edge is placed in the test section (the duct). Air
flow is started in the test section with an air blower. Air flows parallel to the flat plate. A flat-
ended Pitot tube is traversed through the boundary layer (in y direction of Figure 3) near the
downstream edge of the flat plate by a micrometer connected to the Pitot tube. The static
pressure at this location on the flat plate is assumed atmospheric (close to duct exit). The Pitot
tube is connected to one leg of the inclined U-tube manometer where the other leg of the
manometer is open to atmosphere as seen in Figure 4. Inclined manometer readings of total
pressure measured by the Pitot tube (one leg of the manometer) and the static pressure (the other
leg of the manometer open to atmosphere) are then recorded as the duct section is traversed
along y direction. Note that, the deflection does not fall to zero when the Pitot tube touches the
wall because of the finite thickness of the tube.

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Figure 1. The Experimental Setup at the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Figure 2. Closer View of the Experimental Setup

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 Flow x

Flat
y
Plate
x
Pitot
Tube
x=L
Flat Plate


Side View
Inclined Manometer

Figure 3. Sketch of the Experimental Setup

connected to open to
Pitot tube atmosphere
to Pitot tube
U-tube hright
manometer

hleft

U-tube manometer
(view on the inclined plane)

Figure 4. Inclined U-tube manometer

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4. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Use the Data and Results Table provided in the Experiment Report attached at the end, to record
your data.
(i) Measure and record the ambient pressure using hand barometer and the ambient temperature
using the thermometer provided in the lab. Using these values, read the kinematic viscosity of air
from the air properties table provided in the lab.
(ii) Record the Pitot tube location from the leading edge of the plate using the equally-spaced
green lines on the flat plate starting from the leading edge. Note that the distance between the
lines is 5 cm.
(iii) Traverse the Pitot tube to the flat plate until it touches the plate. (traverse the Pitot tube until
you see the short circuit warning on the contact indicator). This position is denoted in data no. 2
in the data sheet of the experiment report as 0.13 mm (due to the Pitot tube finite wall thickness).
(iv) Ask your lab supervisor to start the air blower.
(v) Record the manometer readings on both legs of the U-tube manometer, by moving the Pitot
tube which is attached to the traverse mechanism of the micrometer, in y direction by 0.5 mm
increments, until free stream is reached (note that one full tour of micrometer equals to 0.5 mm
displacement). You will understand you have reached the free stream flow when the manometer
readings are no longer changing.

5. CALCULATIONS
You will present your calculation results, and the sample calculations and plots in the
Experiment Report attached to the end of this sheet. You will plot the required graphs on the
provided graph sheets and place your plots before the Discussion section.
(i) Determine the density of air using the ideal gas law. Record the calculated density value on
the Data and Results Table.
(ii) Determine the flow velocity, u(y) at each y position using the inclined manometer readings,
via equation (9). Record the calculated velocity values and the free stream velocity on the Data
and Results Table. You should show your calculations for one data set only, in the Calculations
section.
(iii) Plot y versus u(y) to determine the velocity profile in the boundary layer and decide on the
boundary layer thickness (all plots should be properly labeled and scaled, with the plot title

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clearly stating what the graph is). Draw an approximate parabolic line through the points
obtained, representing the velocity profile (note that the boundary layer thickness is obtained
when u = 0.99U∞). Mark the boundary layer thickness on the graph and record this thickness on
the Data and Results Table.
(iv) Calculate the Reynolds number at the flat plate location where the velocity profile is
measured, based on the free stream velocity. Record the calculated value on the Data and Results
Table.
(v) You will next, calculate the boundary layer momentum thickness by graphical integration.
Select five points from your velocity profile of (iii). One of those points should be on the plate
and another one, within the free stream. The remaining three points should be as evenly
distributed (vertically) as possible in between the plate and the free stream location. Indicate the
data number corresponding to the data you chose from the Data and Results Table (data no.1 is
already stated).
u (U   u )
(vi) Calculate at each of the five points you selected (show a sample calculation for
U 2

u (U   u )
one data set, only). Then, plot versus y on the second graph paper provided in this
U 2
manual. As before, your plot should be properly labeled and scaled, with the plot title clearly
stating what the graph is.
(vii) Connect the five points on this graph linearly, i.e. each consecutive pair should be
u (U   u )
connected with a line. The resulting plot represents the approximation of the variation
U 2
along y direction. Determine the area
under this plot by graphical integration (finding the area under each line segment and adding all
areas). Show how you determine this area in the Calculations section. Record the calculated
boundary layer momentum thickness in the Data and Results Table. The result is the
approximation of the integral on the right-hand side of equation (2), which is the boundary layer
momentum thickness at the Pitot tube location.
(viii) Calculate Df and CfL using equations (6) and (8), and record the results in the Data and
Results Table.

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6. DISCUSSION
At the end of your report, you will add a discussion section on a separate sheet of paper in which
you will discuss your results. In addition to discussing your results, you should specifically
answer the below questions:
 What kind of a flow regime do you expect according to the Reynolds number you
obtained? Does the velocity profile you obtained from the experiment agree with the flow
regime you expect? Explain in detail.
 How do the boundary layer thickness, boundary layer momentum thickness, skin friction
coefficient values compare with the exact solution results? Do you expect them to be
consistent with (close to) the exact solution results? Comment on why/why not with
explanations.
 If a tripping wire were placed at the leading edge of the flat plate to create turbulence,
how would the velocity profile and boundary layer thickness change?

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 ME306 FLUID MECHANICS II
EXPERIMENT 2 - BOUNDARY LAYER MEASUREMENTS OVER A FLAT PLATE
EXPERIMENT REPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA AND RESULTS
Tair = Pair = alcohol = 804 kg/m3
Kinematic Viscosity ( air ) = Manometer angle = 30° R= 287.1 J/kg/K
L (Pitot tube location from leading edge) = b (plate width) = 73 mm air (kg/m3) =

Manometer reading
Pitot tube position along (mm- alcohol)
Data No h (m-alcohol) Velocity, u(y) (m/s)
y-direction (mm)
hleft hright
1 0 - - 0 0
2 0,13
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Free Stream Velocity (m/s) = Reynolds Number = B/L Thickness (mm) =
B/L Momentum Thickness (mm) = Overall Skin Friction Coefficient =

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 CALCULATIONS
1- Calculation of the Air Density

2- Sample Calculation of the Velocity

3- Calculation of the Reynolds Number

4- Calculation of the Momentum Thickness

Data Table for Determination of Boundary Layer Momentum Thickness

Pitot tube position
Velocity, u(y) u (U   u )
Data No along y-direction
(m/s)
(mm) U 2
1 0 0

(free stream)

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 u (U   u )
 Sample Calculation of
U 2

u (U   u )
 Calculation of Boundary Layer Momentum Thickness, m (the area under the vs. y plot)
U 2

5- Calculation of Skin Friction Drag

6- Calculation of Skin Friction Coefficient

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Plot the boundary layer velocity profile below.

4
Use the following graph to calculate the boundary layer momentum thickness.