Theoretical Fluid Mechanics

Turbulent Flow Velocity Profile

By James C.Y. Guo, Professor and P.E.
Civil Engineering, U. of Colorado at Denver

1. Concept of Mixing Process in Turbulent Flow

Far away from the solid wall, the flow is free, u=U, from the friction. Near the wall, the flow
slows down. On the wall, the water particle moves at the same velocity as the wall or u=0.
When the solid wall exists, the flow velocity profile is depicted as:

The velocity profile indicates that the horizontal velocity decays towards the wall. Between
the two adjacent layers, flow particles rotate with the eddy up and down. The vertical
fluctuation creates momentum exchange or mixing.

2 Turbulent Flow Velocity Distribution

Viscosity Model

du
τ = (µ + η ) =laminar viscosity + eddy viscosity (15)
dy

There is no generalized guidance as to how to quantify the value of eddy viscosity.

Mixing Length Model

A mixing length is exemplified by the size of eddies in the turbulent flow. This
phenomenon can be evidenced by the growth of smoke rollers.

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Flow rotates because the solid surface creates the uneven friction and velocity
distribution. Therefore, the solid surface is the source of eddies. A smokestack is also
considered as the source of eddies because it releases rollers into the wind flow. There are
numerous studies on the mixing length for many different turbulent flow cases. It has
been concluded that the mixing length is 40% of the distance from the wall or the source
of eddies. The value of 0.4 is termed the universal mixing length constant.

l = ky k =0.4 a universal constant.

The turbulent flow friction is no longer directly related to the flow viscosity. Therefore, it
is suggested that the momentum principle be considered to model the flow particles
rotating up and down between two adjacent layers.

F = τA = − ρQ∆V = − ρ ( A∆v )∆u

du du du
τ = − ρ∆u∆v = − ρ ( l )( l ) == − ρl 2 ( ) 2 (16)
dy dy dy

The sign, “-“, means the direction of shear stress is against the flow.

τ
Let u* = and l = ky in which k=0.4 (an universal constant)
ρ

Eq 16 becomes

1 τ dy u * dy
du = =
k ρ y k y

To integrate the above equation yields

u*
u= × ln y + C = (2.5u*) × ln y + C = Const1 × ln y + Const2 (17)
k

It takes two data points, (u,y), to determine the values of Const1 and Const2, noted that y
is measured from the wall.

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Example: The centerline of a channel flow has a depth of 10 ft. The velocities of flow were
measured to be 5.67 fps at 2 feet below the surface and 5.22 fps at 6-ft above the bed. Estimate
the velocity at one ft above the bed.

Solution: Const1 + Const2 Log (10-2) = 5.67

Const1 + Const2 Log (6) = 5.22

Const1= 3.5 and Const2= 2.5

Discussion

At y =0 on the wall, the non-slip condition requires u =0. Obviously, the logarithmic function
fairs the non-slip condition. How to explain it?

3. Logarithmic Velocity Profile in Circular Pipe

The relationship between the two coordinate systems is:

y = R- r ( 18)

Substituting Eq 18 into Eq 17 yields

u*
u= × ln( R − r ) + C (19)
k

At r = 0 or y=R (the centerline in a circular pipe), Eq 19 depicts u = Um or

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 u*
Um = × ln( R − 0) + C (20)
k

Taking the difference between Eq’s 19 and 20 yields the Law of Velocity Defect

Um − u R
= 2.5 ln (21)
u* R−r

Re-arranging Eq 21 yields

R R
u = U m − 2.5u* ln = U m − 5.76u* log (22)
R−r R−r

Eq 22 has two unknown: Um and u*.

From the laboratory data, the semi-theoretical analyses resulted in two empirical formulas for Um
and u*. Both can be related to the friction factor in the pipe as:

U m = V (1 + 1.326 f ) (23)

τ f
u* = =V (24)
ρ 8

4. Discussion on Velocity Profiles

u r
For a laminar flow in a circular pipe: = 1 − ( )2 ---- parabolic
Um R

V 1 τ f
= and u* = =V
Um 2 ρ 8

u u R
For a turbulent flow in a circular pipe: = 1 − 2.5 * ln ---- logarithmic
Um Um R − r

V 1 τ f
= and u* = =V
U m 1 + 1.326 f ρ 8

Far away from a solid wall (the free-stream zone), the flow is free from the friction. Near the
wall (the boundary layer zone), the flow is subject to the friction from the wall. Therefore, the
logarithmic profile was derived for the boundary layer flow. Very close to the wall, the viscous

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force dominates the flow movement in this sub-layer flow zone. As a result, the sub-layer flow is
laminar. A linear velocity within the sub-layer thickness can be derived using the shear velocity
as:

τ 1 u u
= µ =υ
2
u* =
ρ ρ y y

u u* y
= the Law of the Wall which is a linear velocity distribution
u* υ

In practice, we found that the sub-layer thickness can have

u u* y
= ≤ 70
u* υ

70υ
The thickness of sub-layer, y = δ =
u*

When the water flow enters a pipe, the velocity profile in front of the entrance is nearly uniform
(free-stream flow). Immediately downstream of the entrance, the centerline flow can still move
at a uniform velocity, but near the wall, the boundary layer flow begins to be developed. The
thickness of the boundary layer increases downstream. After a distance, the boundary layers
from both walls meet at the centerline and the flow becomes established and unchanged. Such a
distance is termed Entrance Length as:

Le = 0.058Re D when Re<2000 laminar flow.

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4.1 A 10-ft pipe carries a water flow of 1000 cfs. The friction factor for this case is 0.03.
Analyze this flow.

(1) Cross section area A = 78.5 sq ft

(2) Flow velocity V = 12.73 fps

(3) Centerline velocity U m = (1 + 1.33 f )V = 0.81V = 15.66 fps (V/Um = 0.81)

τ fV
(4) Shear velocity u* = = = 0.78 fps
ρ 8

(5) Shear street τ = 1.17 lb/ft2

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(6) u = 15.66 − 1.95 ln( )
5− r

(7) For a pipe length of 100 feet, the energy loss is

100 12.732
H f = 0.03 = 0.74 ft and ∆E = γQH f = 46176 lb-ft/sec
10 2 * 32.2

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 Footnote: Fτ = τA = τ × πDL = 1.17 × 3.14 × 10 × 100 = 3673.8 lb’s and

Power = Fτ V = 46767 lb-ft/sec (loss calculated by friction force)

(8) Sub layer thickness

δ × 0.78
= 70 δ=0.0009 ft = 0.011 inch
1 × 10 −5

(9) The Law of the Wall -- linear velocity distribution within the sub-layer thickness

u 0.78 × y
= for y<δ , or (u, y) has a linear relationship.
0.78 1 × 10 −5