# Blasius boundary layer

(Redirected from Blasius Profile)

In physics and fluid mechanics, a Blasius boundary layer (named after Paul Richard Heinrich Blasius) describes the steady two-dimensional laminar boundary layer that forms on a semi-infinite plate which is held parallel to a constant unidirectional flow. Falkner and Skan later generalized Blasius' solution to wedge flow (Falkner–Skan boundary layer), i.e. flows in which the plate is not parallel to the flow.

## Prandtl's boundary layer equations

A schematic diagram of the Blasius flow profile. The streamwise velocity component ${\displaystyle u(\eta )/U(x)}$ is shown, as a function of the similarity variable ${\displaystyle \eta }$.

Using scaling arguments, Ludwig Prandtl[1] has argued that about half of the terms in the Navier-Stokes equations are negligible in boundary layer flows (except in a small region near the leading edge of the plate). This leads to a reduced set of equations known as the boundary layer equations. For steady incompressible flow with constant viscosity and density, these read:

Continuity: ${\displaystyle {\dfrac {\partial u}{\partial x}}+{\dfrac {\partial v}{\partial y}}=0}$

${\displaystyle x}$-Momentum: ${\displaystyle u{\dfrac {\partial u}{\partial x}}+v{\dfrac {\partial u}{\partial y}}=-{\dfrac {1}{\rho }}{\dfrac {\partial p}{\partial x}}+{\nu }{\dfrac {\partial ^{2}u}{\partial y^{2}}}}$

${\displaystyle y}$-Momentum: ${\displaystyle {\dfrac {\partial p}{\partial y}}=0}$

Here the coordinate system is chosen with ${\displaystyle x}$ pointing parallel to the plate in the direction of the flow and the ${\displaystyle y}$ coordinate pointing towards the free stream, ${\displaystyle u}$ and ${\displaystyle v}$ are the ${\displaystyle x}$ and ${\displaystyle y}$ velocity components, ${\displaystyle p}$ is the pressure, ${\displaystyle \rho }$ is the density and ${\displaystyle \nu }$ is the kinematic viscosity.

The ${\displaystyle y}$-momentum equation implies that the pressure in the boundary layer must be equal to that of the free stream for any given ${\displaystyle x}$ coordinate. Because the velocity profile is uniform in the free stream, there is no vorticity involved, therefore a simple Bernoulli's equation can be applied in this high Reynolds number limit ${\displaystyle {\dfrac {p}{\rho }}+{\dfrac {U^{2}}{2}}=}$ constant or, after differentiation: ${\displaystyle {\dfrac {1}{\rho }}{\dfrac {dp}{dx}}=-U{\dfrac {dU}{dx}}}$ Here ${\displaystyle U(x)}$ is the velocity of the fluid outside the boundary layer and is solution of Euler equations (fluid dynamics).

Von Kármán Momentum integral and the energy integral for Blasius profile reduce to

${\displaystyle {\frac {\tau _{w}}{\rho U^{2}}}={\frac {\partial \delta _{2}}{\partial x}}+{\frac {v_{w}}{U}}}$
${\displaystyle {\frac {2\varepsilon }{\rho U^{3}}}={\frac {\partial \delta _{3}}{\partial x}}+{\frac {v_{w}}{U}}}$

where ${\displaystyle \tau _{w}}$ is the wall shear stress, ${\displaystyle v_{w}}$ is the wall injection/suction velocity, ${\displaystyle \varepsilon }$ is the energy dissipation rate, ${\displaystyle \delta _{2}}$ is the momentum thickness and ${\displaystyle \delta _{3}}$ is the energy thickness.

A number of similarity solutions to this equation have been found for various types of flow, including flat plate boundary layers. The term similarity refers to the property that the velocity profiles at different positions in the flow are the same apart from a scaling factor. These solutions are often presented in the form of non-linear ordinary differential equations.

## Blasius equation - First-order boundary layer

Blasius[2] proposed a similarity solution for the case in which the free stream velocity is constant, ${\displaystyle U(x)=U={\text{constant}},dU/dx=0}$, which corresponds to the boundary layer over a flat plate that is oriented parallel to the free flow. Self-similar solution exists because the equations and the boundary conditions are invariant under the transformation

${\displaystyle x\rightarrow c^{2}x,\quad y\rightarrow cy,\quad u\rightarrow u,\quad v\rightarrow {\frac {v}{c}}}$

where ${\displaystyle c}$ is any positive constant. He introduced the self-similar variables

Developing Blasius boundary layer (not to scale). The velocity profile ${\displaystyle f'}$ is shown in red at selected positions along the plate. The blue lines represent, in top to bottom order, the 99% free stream velocity line (${\displaystyle \delta _{99\%},\eta \approx 3.5}$), the displacement thickness (${\displaystyle \delta _{*},\eta \approx 1.21}$) and ${\displaystyle \delta (x)}$ (${\displaystyle \eta =1}$). See Boundary layer thickness for a more detailed explanation.
${\displaystyle \eta ={\dfrac {y}{\delta (x)}}=y{\sqrt {\dfrac {U}{\nu x}}},\quad \psi ={\sqrt {\nu Ux}}f(\eta )}$

where ${\displaystyle \delta (x)={\sqrt {\nu x/U}}}$ is the boundary layer thickness and ${\displaystyle \psi }$ is the stream function, in which the newly introduced normalized stream function, ${\displaystyle f(\eta )}$, is only a function of the similarity variable. This leads directly to the velocity components

${\displaystyle u(x,y)={\dfrac {\partial \psi }{\partial y}}=Uf'(\eta ),\quad v(x,y)=-{\dfrac {\partial \psi }{\partial x}}={\sqrt {\dfrac {\nu U}{2x}}}[\eta f'(\eta )-f(\eta )]}$

Where the prime denotes derivation with respect to ${\displaystyle \eta }$. Substitution into the momentum equation gives the Blasius equation

${\displaystyle 2f'''+f''f=0}$

The boundary conditions are the no-slip condition, the impermeability of the wall and the free stream velocity outside the boundary layer

${\displaystyle u(x,0)=0\rightarrow f'(0)=0}$
${\displaystyle v(x,0)=0\rightarrow f(0)=0}$
${\displaystyle u(x,\infty )=U\rightarrow f'(\infty )=1}$

This is a third order non-linear ordinary differential equation which can be solved numerically, e.g. with the shooting method.

The limiting form for small ${\displaystyle \eta <<1}$ is

${\displaystyle f(\eta )={\frac {1}{2}}\alpha \eta ^{2}+O(\eta ^{5}),\qquad \alpha =0.4696}$

and the limiting form for large ${\displaystyle \eta >>1}$ is

${\displaystyle f(\eta )=\eta -\beta +O\left((\eta -\beta )^{-2}e^{-{\frac {1}{2}}(\eta -\beta )^{2}}\right),\qquad \beta =1.21678}$

The appropriate parameters to compare with the experimental observations are displacement thickness ${\displaystyle \delta ^{*}}$, momentum thickness ${\displaystyle \theta }$ wall shear stress ${\displaystyle \tau _{w}}$ and drag force ${\displaystyle F}$ acting on a length ${\displaystyle l}$ of the plate, which are given for the Blasius profile

${\displaystyle \delta ^{*}=\int _{0}^{\infty }\left(1-{\frac {u}{U}}\right)dy=1.72{\sqrt {\frac {\nu x}{U}}}}$
${\displaystyle \theta =\int _{0}^{\infty }{\frac {u}{U}}\left(1-{\frac {u}{U}}\right)dy=0.665{\sqrt {\frac {\nu x}{U}}}}$
${\displaystyle \tau _{w}=\mu \left({\frac {\partial u}{\partial y}}\right)_{y=0}=0.332{\sqrt {\frac {\rho \mu U^{3}}{x}}}}$
${\displaystyle F=2\int _{0}^{\infty }\tau _{w}dx=1.328{\sqrt {\rho \mu lU^{3}}}}$

The factor ${\displaystyle 2}$ in the drag force formula is to account both sides of the plate.

### Uniqueness of Blasius solution

The Blasius solution is not unique from a mathematical perspective,[3]:131 as Ludwig Prandtl himself noted it in his transposition theorem and analyzed by series of researchers such as Keith Stewartson, Paul A. Libby etc. To this solution, any one of the infinite discrete set of eigenfunctions can be added, each of which satisfies the linearly perturbed equation with homogeneous conditions and exponential decay at infinity. The first of these eigenfunctions turns out be the ${\displaystyle x}$ derivative of the first order Blasius solution, which represents the uncertainty in the effective location of the origin.

### Second-order boundary layer

This boundary layer approximation predicts a non-zero vertical velocity far away from the wall, which needs to be accounted in next order outer inviscid layer and the corresponding inner boundary layer solution, which in turn will predict a new vertical velocity and so on. The vertical velocity at infinity for the first order boundary layer problem from the Blasius equation is

${\displaystyle v=0.86{\sqrt {\frac {\nu U}{x}}}}$

Interestingly, the solution for second order boundary layer is zero. The solution for outer inviscid and inner boundary layer are[3]:134

${\displaystyle \psi (x,y)\sim {\begin{cases}y-{\sqrt {\frac {\nu }{Ux}}}\beta \ \Re {\sqrt {2(x+iy)}},&{\text{outer }}\\{\sqrt {2\nu Ux}}f(\eta )+0,&{\text{inner}}\end{cases}}}$

Again as in the first order boundary problem, any one of the infinite set of eigensolution can be added to this solution. In all the solution ${\displaystyle Re=Ux/\nu }$ can be considered as a Reynolds number.

### Third-order boundary layer

Since the second order inner problem is zero, the corresponding corrections to third order problem is null i.e., the third order outer problem is same as second order outer problem.[3]:139 The solution for third-order correction don't have an exact expression, but inner boundary layer expansion have the form,

${\displaystyle \psi (x,y)\sim {\sqrt {2\nu Ux}}f(\eta )+0+\left({\frac {\nu }{Ux}}\right)^{3/2}\left[\log \left({\frac {Ux}{\nu }}\right){\sqrt {\frac {x}{2}}}f_{32}(\eta )+{\frac {1}{\sqrt {2x}}}f_{31}(\eta )\right]+\cdot \cdot \cdot }$

where ${\displaystyle f_{32}}$ is the first eigensolution of the first order boundary layer solution (which is ${\displaystyle x}$ derivative of the first order Blasius solution) and solution for ${\displaystyle f_{31}}$ is nonunique and the problem is left with an undetermined constant.

## Blasius boundary layer with suction[4]

Suction is one of the common methods employed to postpone the boundary layer separation. Consider a uniform suction velocity at the wall ${\displaystyle v(0)=-V}$. Bryan Thwaites[5] showed that the solution for this problem is same as the Blasius solution without suction for distances very close to the leading edge. Introducing the transformation

${\displaystyle \psi ={\sqrt {2U\nu x}}f(\xi ,\eta ),\quad \xi =V{\sqrt {\frac {x}{2U\nu }}},\quad \eta ={\sqrt {\frac {U}{2\nu x}}}y}$

into the boundary layer equations leads to

${\displaystyle u=U{\frac {\partial f}{\partial \eta }},\quad v=-{\sqrt {\frac {U\nu }{2x}}}\left(f+\xi {\frac {\partial f}{\partial \xi }}-\eta {\frac {\partial f}{\partial \eta }}\right),}$
${\displaystyle {\frac {\partial ^{3}f}{\partial \eta ^{3}}}+f{\frac {\partial ^{2}f}{\partial \eta ^{2}}}+\xi \left({\frac {\partial f}{\partial \xi }}{\frac {\partial ^{2}f}{\partial \eta ^{2}}}-{\frac {\partial ^{2}f}{\partial \xi \partial \eta }}{\frac {\partial f}{\partial \eta }}\right)=0}$

with boundary conditions,

${\displaystyle f(\xi ,0)=\xi ,\quad {\frac {\partial f}{\partial \eta }}(\xi ,0)=0,\quad {\frac {\partial f}{\partial \eta }}(\xi ,\infty )=0.}$

### Von Mises transformation

Iglisch obtained the complete numerical solution in 1944.[6] If further von Mises transformation[7] is introduced

${\displaystyle \sigma =2\xi ,\quad \psi -Vx={\frac {U\nu }{2V}}\sigma \tau ^{2},\quad \phi ={\frac {4u^{2}}{U^{2}}},\quad \chi =U^{2}-u^{2}=U^{2}\left(1-{\frac {V}{4}}\right),}$

then the equations become

${\displaystyle {\sqrt {\phi }}{\frac {\partial ^{2}\phi }{\partial \tau ^{2}}}+\left(2\sigma \tau +\tau ^{3}-{\frac {\sqrt {\phi }}{\tau }}\right){\frac {\partial \phi }{\partial \tau }}=2\sigma \tau ^{2}{\frac {\partial \phi }{\partial \sigma }}}$

with boundary conditions,

${\displaystyle \phi (0,\tau )=4,\quad \phi (\sigma ,0)=0,\quad \phi (\sigma ,\infty )=4.}$

This parabolic partial differential equation can be marched starting from ${\displaystyle \sigma =0}$ numerically.

### Asymptotic suction profile

Since the convection due to suction and the diffusion due to the solid wall are acting in the opposite direction, the profile will reach steady solution at large distance, unlike the Blasius profile where boundary layer grows indefinitely. The solution was first obtained by Griffith and F.W. Meredith.[8] For distances from the leading edge of the plate ${\displaystyle x>>\nu U/V^{2}}$, both the boundary layer thickness and the solution are independent of ${\displaystyle x}$ given by

${\displaystyle \delta ={\frac {\nu }{V}},\quad u=U(1-e^{-yV/\nu }),\quad v=-V.}$

Stewartson[9] studied matching of full solution to the asymptotic suction profile.

## Compressible Blasius boundary layer

Here Blasius boundary layer with a specified specific enthalpy ${\displaystyle h}$ at the wall is studied. The density ${\displaystyle \rho }$, viscosity ${\displaystyle \mu }$ and thermal conductivity ${\displaystyle \kappa }$ are no longer constant here. The equation for conservation of mass, momentum and energy become

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}{\frac {\partial (\rho u)}{\partial x}}+{\frac {\partial (\rho v)}{\partial y}}&=0,\\\rho \left(u{\frac {\partial u}{\partial x}}+v{\frac {\partial u}{\partial y}}\right)&={\frac {\partial }{\partial y}}\left(\mu {\frac {\partial u}{\partial y}}\right),\\\rho \left(u{\frac {\partial h}{\partial x}}+v{\frac {\partial h}{\partial y}}\right)&={\frac {\partial }{\partial y}}\left({\frac {\mu }{Pr}}{\frac {\partial h}{\partial y}}\right)+\mu \left({\frac {\partial u}{\partial y}}\right)^{2}\end{aligned}}}

where ${\displaystyle Pr=c_{p_{\infty }}\mu _{\infty }/\kappa _{\infty }}$ is the Prandtl number with suffix ${\displaystyle \infty }$ representing properties evaluated at infinity. The boundary conditions become

${\displaystyle u=v=h-h_{w}(x)=0\ {\text{for}}\ y=0}$,
${\displaystyle u-U=h-h_{\infty }=0\ {\text{for}}\ y=\infty \ {\text{or}}\ x=0}$.

Unlike the incompressible boundary layer, similarity solution can exists for only if the transformation

${\displaystyle x\rightarrow c^{2}x,\quad y\rightarrow cy,\quad u\rightarrow u,\quad v\rightarrow {\frac {v}{c}},\quad h\rightarrow h,\quad \rho \rightarrow \rho ,\quad \mu \rightarrow \mu }$

holds and this is possible only if ${\displaystyle h_{w}={\text{constant}}}$.

### Howarth transformation

Compressible Blasius boundary layer

Introducing the self-similar variables

${\displaystyle \eta ={\sqrt {\frac {U}{2\nu _{\infty }x}}}\int _{0}^{y}{\frac {\rho }{\rho _{\infty }}}dy,\quad f(\eta )={\frac {\psi }{\sqrt {2\nu _{\infty }Ux}}},\quad {\tilde {h}}(\eta )={\frac {h}{h_{\infty }}},\quad {\tilde {h}}_{w}={\frac {h_{w}}{h_{\infty }}},\quad {\tilde {\rho }}={\frac {\rho }{\rho _{\infty }}},\quad {\tilde {\mu }}={\frac {\mu }{\mu _{\infty }}}}$

the equations reduce to

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}({\tilde {\rho }}{\tilde {\mu }}f'')'+ff''=0,\\({\tilde {\rho }}{\tilde {\mu }}{\tilde {h}}')'+Prf{\tilde {h}}'+Pr(\gamma -1)M^{2}{\tilde {\rho }}{\tilde {\mu }}f''^{2}=0\end{aligned}}}

where ${\displaystyle \gamma }$ is the specific heat ratio and ${\displaystyle M=U/c_{\infty }}$ is the Mach number, where ${\displaystyle c_{\infty }}$ is the speed of sound. The equation can be solved once ${\displaystyle {\tilde {\rho }}={\tilde {\rho }}({\tilde {h}}),\ {\tilde {\mu }}={\tilde {\mu }}({\tilde {h}})}$ are specified. The boundary conditions are

${\displaystyle f(0)=f'(0)=\theta (0)-{\tilde {h}}_{w}=f'(\infty )-1={\tilde {h}}(\infty )-1=0.}$

The commonly used expressions for air are ${\displaystyle \gamma =1.4,\ Pr=0.7,\ {\tilde {\rho }}={\tilde {h}}^{-1},\ {\tilde {\mu }}={\tilde {h}}^{2/3}}$. If ${\displaystyle c_{p}}$ is constant, then ${\displaystyle {\tilde {h}}={\tilde {\theta }}=T/T_{\infty }}$. It should be noted that the temperature inside the boundary layer will increase even though the plate temperature is maintained at the same temperature as ambient, due to dissipative heating and of course, these dissipation effects are only pronounced when the Mach number ${\displaystyle M}$ is large.

## First-order Blasius boundary layer in Parabolic coordinates

Since the boundary layer equations are Parabolic partial differential equation, the natural coordinates for the problem is parabolic coordinates.[3]:142 The transformation from Cartesian coordinates ${\displaystyle (x,y)}$ to parabolic coordinates ${\displaystyle (\xi ,\eta )}$ is given by

${\displaystyle x+iy={\frac {1}{2}}(\xi +i\eta )^{2},\quad x={\frac {1}{2}}(\xi ^{2}-\eta ^{2}),\quad y=\xi \eta }$.