# Estimation of the boundary layer thickness

Numerical simulations

Estimation of the boundary layer thickness​

Once we have created the geometry and then generated the refined mesh of the domain above the flat-plate, we can launch the simulation to visualize the boundary layer over the flat-plate. We will now expose the results obtained.

We will first study the dynamic boundary layer, then the thermic boundary layer. The aim of this project's part is to estimate the evolution of the boundary layer thickness and to compare it with theoretical profiles corresponding to Blasius solutions.

# Dynamic boundary layer

Numerical simulations

1- Dynamic boundary layer

a- Velocity field

In this part, we consider that the fluid and the plate have the same temperature. The physical problem is then reduced to a dynamic study.

The following figure shows the evolution of the dynamic boundary layer over the flat plate.

Figure: The evolution of the dynamic boundary layer over the flat plate

We notice that the boundary layer is quickly established trough the area over the plate. The velocity values increase as we go away from the plate.

Moreover, it is noticeable that:

• All fluid particles in touch with the wall are immobile relatively  to the plate.
• The flow near the plate is slowed down.
• The normal gradient of velocity near to the wall is important due to the viscosity effect.
• The viscosity, in the boundary layer, is small but it has an important impact on the shear stress on the plate $$\tau_p = \mu \frac{\partial U}{\partial y} |_{paroi}$$  which could have high values.

Velocity profile

In the figure below we plot the velocity profile versus the altitude above the plate in x= 0.9 cm.

Figure:  the velocity profile versus the altitude above the plate in x= 0.9 cm

b- Boundary layer thickness

The most important in this study is to estimate the boundary layer thickness values over the flat plate. We define this thickness as following  $$U[x,\delta(x)] = 0.99 U_0$$ .

Blasius model for a flat plate

source: "Mécanique des fluides" Patrick Chassing

In the case of a flat plate disposed in a uniform parallel flow of a viscous fluid, the thickness of the boundary layer is announced by Blasius as:

$$\delta (x) = 4.92 \frac{x}{\sqrt {Re_x}}$$

such as  Rex is the local Reynolds number $$Re_x= \frac {x U(x)}{\nu}$$

c- Comparison

We  compare the numerical boundary layer thickness with the Blasius solution.

The following figure shows the dynamic thickness profile versus Blasius solution:

Figure: the dynamic thickness profiles

It can be seen that numerical curve of thickness is similar to Blasius solution. They both have the same order of magnitude ~10-3 m.

# Thermal boundary layer

Numerical simulations

Thermal boundary layer

The thermal study is very important for the further evaporation in the container which represents the main work of this BEI.

We suppose that the incident air flow is at a uniform temperature, and that the surface is maintained in a temperature Tp also uniform but different from the air temperature T0.

a- Temperature field

We consider now the temperature equations while simulating the problem via OpenFoam. For this, we add the equations in the source code of our own solver as we have already explained.

The following figure shows the evolution of the thermal boundary layer over the flat plate.

Figure:  the thermal boundary layer over the flat plate

• By exploring the temperature field perpendicularly to the plate,  we shall observe a progressive variation of Tp to the air temperature T0; in fact this variation is at first fast then it becomes slower and slower as we penetrate into the incident air flow.
• The region in which T varies in a significant way corresponds the the thermal boundary layer. It is noticeable that the thermal boundary layer gets thicker when we go away from the leading edge: it has the same altitude as the dynamic boundary layer.
• At the origin, the temperature profile is uniform, then the influence of Tp appears gradually in the fluid. As a consequence, a temperature gradient emerged as well as a heat flux directed from the plate towards the fluid.

So, as well as the dynamic boundary layer is the expression of momentum diffusion, the thermal boundary layer results from the thermal diffusion in the fluid in movement.

Temperature profile

In the figure below we plot the temperature profile versus the altitude above the plate at x= 0.9 cm.

Figure:  the temperature profile versus the altitude above the plate at x= 0.9 cm

b- Boundary layer thickness

The aim of this part is to estimate the thermal boundary layer thickness values over the flat plate.

The region in which T varies in a significant way corresponds the the thermal boundary layer. However this definition is too vague. The problem was moreover the same with the dynamic boundary layer, and will be approached on the same spirit, namely a conventional definition of the thermal boundary layer thickness.

We define this thickness as following  $$\frac{T(x,\delta_T(x)) - T_p (x)}{T_0 - T_p (x)}= 0.99$$ .

Blasius model for a flat plate

Source:http://help.solidworks.com/2013/french/SolidWorks/cworks/c_Convection_Heat_Coefficient.htm?format=P

The Blasius solution estimates the thermal thickness in such case as follows:

$$\frac {\delta_T}{x} = 4.64 \sqrt {\frac{a}{U_0 x}}$$ where a is the thermal diffusivity.

c- Comparison

We  compare now the numerical boundary layer thickness with the Blasius solution.

The following figure shows the thermal thickness profile versus Blasius solution:

Figure: the thermal thickness profiles

As is the case of dynamic boundary layer, the thermal boundary layer thickness has the same profile as the Blasius solution.

d- Conclusion:

The results correspond perfectly to Blasius solution. Therefore, the study of the boundary layer has enabled us to validate our model in order to use it in the evaporation study of the fuel container.