CLL231: Fluid Mechanics for Chemical

Engineers

Somnath Ghosh
somnath@chemical.iitd.ac.in

Video: https://www.youtube.com/
1
 Flow past immersed objects
(Munson Ch9 (8th Ed.); White Ch: 7 (7th Ed.) )

2
Introduction
We will now discuss about the external flows around submerged bodies. The purpose of the study
of external flow conditions is to understand the external forces acting on a moving object
immersed in a fluid or on a stationary object by a moving fluid. Usually, the data for external flow
conditions are obtained from experiments on scale models and then it is translated for prototype
design. Using CFD or numerical methods, such flow dynamics could also be predicted.

External flows are characterized by a) viscous flows (near to the surface) and b) inviscid flows
(far away from the surface). Previously we discussed about internal flows where the flow is
confined by the surrounding walls. A viscous boundary layer forms at the wall and grows
downstream and fill the entire duct. For axisymmetric pipe flow, this boundary layer meets at the
channel center downstream.
Unlike flow through duct, flow past immersed objects are considered as external flow and the
boundary layer can grow to any length scale depending on flow situations and surface
topography. First thing to discuss in this topic is the formation of boundary layer.
4
Boundary layer
A viscous boundary layer is defined as the part of a moving fluid in which the fluid motion is
influenced by the presence of a solid boundary. Due to fluid viscosity, momentum in the layer
changes, so as the fluid velocity. Pattern of the flow field in this layer also depends on the shape
of the object.
Prandtl showed for the first time in 1904, usually the viscosity of a fluid only plays a role in a
thin layer adjacent to the surface which he called a boundary layer or shear layer. Depending on
‘Re’ shape of the boundary layer varies. If ‘Re’ is small, the viscous effects are relatively strong,
and the surface of the solid object affects the uniform upstream flow.

Viscus boundary layer

Laminar Turbulent

5
Laminar boundary layer
free stream velocity
U∞ edge of the boundary
layer(BL)

u(𝒙, 𝒚)
𝜹(𝒙)

y
x
L
Consider a flow of fluid with uniform velocity U∞ approaching parallel to a plate (at rest) of
length L. Due to no-slip boundary condition, fluid velocity at the solid liquid interface will be
zero. The velocity increases with distance from the plate as the influence of the solid boundary
decreases. The velocity curve rapidly changes slope near the plate. Because of the viscosity and
influence from the wall a thin boundary layer [δ(x)] develops. In this layer viscous effect is
predominant and outside this layer flow is inviscid. Conceptually, BL is the line that passes
through the points where the velocity reaches 99% of the free stream velocity, U∞.
6
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL
Consider 2D, steady, incompressible, laminar flow and no buoyancy.
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑦: + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢 𝑈∞ 𝜕𝑣 𝑉∞
Order of magnitude analysis: ~ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ~
𝜕𝑥 𝐿 𝜕𝑦 𝛿
𝑈∞ 𝑉∞ 𝛿
If continuity is to be valid;~ ⇒ 𝑉∞ ~ 𝑈∞
𝐿 𝛿 𝐿
From this; if L ≫ δ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑈∞ ≫ 𝑉∞
Now consider momentum equation: x-component
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑝 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
ρ 𝑢 +𝑣 =− + 𝜇 2
+ 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
⇒𝑢 +𝑣 =− + 𝜈 2
+ 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
7
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕2𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
𝑢 +𝑣 =− + 𝜈 + 2 (x-component)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢𝑈∞ 2 𝜕𝑢 𝑈∞ 2 𝜕2 𝑢 𝑈∞ 𝜕2 𝑢 𝑈∞
Order of magnitude (OM) analysis: 𝑢 ~ ;𝑣 ~ ; 2 ~ 2 → 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ~ 2
𝜕𝑥 𝐿 𝜕𝑦 𝐿 𝜕𝑥 𝐿 𝜕𝑦 2 𝛿
𝜕𝑝
As all the components are significant, is also significant.
𝜕𝑥
2 2
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕 𝑣 𝜕 𝑣
𝑢 +𝑣 =− + 𝜈 2
+ 2 (y-component)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑣 𝛿 𝜕𝑣 𝑉∞ 2 𝜕2 𝑣 𝑉∞ 𝜕2 𝑣 𝑉
OM analysis: 𝑢 ~𝑈∞ 2 →0; 𝑣 ~ →0; ~ 2 → 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 ~ ∞2 →0
𝜕𝑥 𝐿 𝜕𝑦 𝛿 𝜕𝑥 2 𝐿 𝜕𝑦 𝛿
𝜕𝑝
That means all the quantities in y-momentum are small; so, is also very small.
𝜕𝑝 𝑑𝑝 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑦
So, ~ ≫
𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1 𝑑𝑝 𝜕2𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
So, BL equations reduces to: + =0 ; 𝑢 +𝑣 =− + 𝜈 2 ; 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝜕𝑦
8
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL
Again, at steady state flow over the flat plate: external pressure gradient along x outside the BL
should be equal to the internal pressure gradient along x across the BL; which suggests
𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑝∞
≈
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
As the flow outside the boundary layer is steady, inviscid and irrotational; (From Bernoulli we can
say) 1
𝑝∞ + 𝜌𝑈∞ 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2
𝑑𝑝∞ 𝑑𝑈∞
+ 𝜌𝑈∞ =0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑈∞ 𝑑𝑝∞ 𝑑𝑝
𝑎𝑠 𝑈∞ 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡, = 0; ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, = 0 𝑠𝑜 𝑎𝑠 =0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
𝑠𝑜, + = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢 +𝑣 =𝜈 2 Prandtl, 1904
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

9
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
+ = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢 +𝑣 = 𝜈 2 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 ; − = 0 (𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝜕𝑦
OM 𝑈∞ 2 𝜈𝑈∞
𝐿 𝛿2
both convective terms are important; the diffusive term with x-derivative is much smaller than
that with the y-derivatives; and if we compare diffusive and convective terms,
𝑈∞ 2 𝜈𝑈∞ 𝛿2 𝜇 𝛿 −2
1
~ 2 ⇒ 2 ~ ⇒ ~ 𝑅𝑒
𝐿 𝛿 𝐿 𝐿𝑈∞ 𝜌 𝐿
𝑈∞ 2 𝛿
based on OM of y-component momentum convective term ~ 2 ; that determines the order of
𝐿
𝜕𝑝 𝜌𝑈∞ 2 𝛿 2
magnitude of ; so, the pressure variation along y-direction ~ . Hence, pressure can be
𝜕𝑦 𝐿2
approximated as constant along y-direction.
boundary conditions:
at solid-liquid interface: y = 0 and u = v = 0
at the edge of the boundary layer: y = δ and u = U∞ ; p → p∞ 10
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
+ = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢 +𝑣 = 𝜈 2 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 ; − = 0 (𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 ρ 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕
so, u >> v and ≪ ; this will ensure that the normal velocity (v) component with respect to
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
the plate will be very much less than the parallel velocity (u) component. The rate of change of
any parameter across the boundary layer (through its thickness) is going to be much grater than
that along the flow direction. Also, there is no pressure gradient within the boundary layer.
U∞ boundary layer equation is non-linear PDE. By applying change of
co-ordinates and change of variables, Blasius solution reduces the
PDE to ODE. This was done by introducing a variable known as
similarity variable (η).
𝑢
Blasius (1908) showed that the dimensionless velocity,
𝑈∞
u(𝒙, 𝒚)
is a function of single composite dimensionless variable:
1
𝑈∞ 2
η=𝑦
𝜈𝑥 11
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL
𝑢
With computer simulation, it is found that; = 𝑓 ′ (η)
𝑈∞
1
𝑈∞ 2 𝑢
η=𝑦 = 𝑓 ′ (η)
𝜈𝑥 𝑈∞
0 0
0.4 0.1328
1.6 0.5168
2.8 0.8115 when η ≈ 5, u/U∞ =0.99.
3.6 0.9233 As we define δ as the point where it
4.8 0.9878 reaches the 99% of the free stream
5.2 0.9916 velocity. So, at y = at 𝑦 = 𝛿; η ≈ 5.0
5.6 0.9943
6.0 0.999
∞ 1
12
Laminar boundary layer: equation of BL 1
𝑈∞ 2
at 𝑦 = 𝛿; η ≈ 5.0 so, 𝛿 ≈ 5.0
𝜈𝑥
5.0 5.0𝑥
⇒ 𝛿≈ 1 ≈
𝑈∞ 2 𝑅𝑒
𝜈𝑥
Example: draw the boundary layer thickness at different points. ν = 8.6x10-4 m2/s at 300K.
water 𝑈∞ 𝑥 2𝑥
solution: First find out Re. 𝑅𝑒 = = = 2326𝑥
U∞ = 2m/s 𝜈 8.6×10−4
5.0
𝑠𝑜, 𝛿 = = 0.104 𝑥
2326𝑥
δ
take different values of x and compute the value of δ.
x=10 mm ; δ = 0.0104 m
=100 mm ; = 0.033 m
… x
…
=1m ; = 0.104 m
13
14