Abstract

The experiment aims to observe and study the flow of fluid and the velocity
profile of it around a boundary layer using a wind tunnel to supply the fluid,
which in this case is air, and a boundary layer flat plate. The pressures were
calculated at ten different heights above the boundary layer which were used
to calculate the velocity of the fluid. The fluid were also set to different
velocities along the experiment. The fluids velocity flow in the wind tunnel
were set to 10, 12 & 15 mph for observation. After the pressures and
velocities were determined and calculated, the velocity profiles for each
station were plotted and used for determining the transition point for the
flows. This experiment is expected to show that the flow through a flat plate
of fluid has different velocities at different heights above it and approaches
to the free stream velocity as it approaches the boundary layer. In this
experiment, the results were much different from what was expected
theoretically since there were errors in pressure measurements due to the
apparatus not providing very specific values.

Data & Results

The density of air is to be assumed as 1.19 kg/m3
Free stream velocities: 10 mph, 12 mph, 15 mph

Pressure (kPa)
Sens

Height(i

or
1
2

n)

0.018
0.025
0.03

10 MPH
(4.4704m
/s)
0
0.01
0

12 MPH
(5.36448
m/s)
0
0
0.01

15 MPH
(6.7056m
/s)
0
0.01
0.01

Velocity(

10 MPH

12

2q
) (m/s)
15 MPH

MPH

0
4.099

0
0

0
4.099

6
0

4.099

6
4.099
6
4.099

0.04

0.01

0.01

0.01

4.099

6
4.099

0.06

0.01

0.01

0.01

6
4.099

6
4.099

6
4.099

6
5.79

6
4.099

0.08

0.01

0.02

0.01

6
4.099

0.1

0.01

0.01

0.02

6
4.099

4.099

6
5.79

0.01

6
4.099

6
4.099

4.099

6
4.099

6
4.099

6
4.099

6
4.099

0.12

0.01

0.01

0.16

0.01

0.01

0.01

6
4.099

10

0.2

0.01

0.01

0.01

6
4.099

10 mph

12 mph

15 mph

For the free stream velocity using the static pressure using the formula

1
2
given: [ p= 2 V ]

Since the flows are all turbulent,

=

0.16 x
1

R e x7
Velocity

10mph

12mph

15mph

Static Ring Pressure(kPa)

0.01

0.02

0.03

Free stream velocity(m/s)

Reynolds number
Boundary Layer thickness(m)

4.0996
57057

5.7977
80680.73

7.1
98815.769

0.007226

0.006877

0.006681

The actual Boundary layer thickness cannot be determined using the data
acquired from the experiment.

Theory & Analysis

The results of the experiment were erroneous and different from what was
expected theoretically. The velocity profiles for the flows were not quite what
would be acquired theoretically. This may be caused by the low accuracy of
the apparatus in giving the pressure difference in each pressure sensing
holes. This affected the value for the velocities and thus making it hard to
determine the boundary layer for each station empirically. The theoretical
results were acquired using the formulas for the boundary layers. The
transition point is normally near the boundary layer if the pressures were
accurately recorded. The experiment still showed that the velocity as the
flow approaches the flat plate approaches zero and varies along its height
and not uniform all throughout.

Conclusion
In this experiment, although the results were not as expected in theory, it
showed that velocity along the y-axis above a flat plate in a fluid flow is not
constant and is almost zero directly above the plate. The flow should also
transition from laminar to turbulent since the velocity increases and the
Reynolds number is proportional to the velocity. This experiments gives us
more ideas about fluid flows. The error that caused difference from the
theoretical to the empirical results were the inaccuracies in the pressures
recorded. I recommend that in performing this experiment, be sure to record
exact and specific values and not rounded off.

Practical Application
The Boundary layer theory is of great significance particularly in the
aerodynamics

industries.

The

boundary

layer

is

responsible

for

considerable amount of drag. Not only in aerodynamic transportation can

this theory be applied but also in hydrodynamics such as ships and
submarines. It is also applied for automobiles and other fields such as in
building bridges and other structures that are usually exposed to winds. This
concept was also used by Nikola Tesla in his Tesla Turbine.