Objective

The objective of this experiment is, to measure the boundary layer velocity profiles and
observed the growth of the boundary layer for flat with smooth and rough surfaces, to
measure the boundary layer properties for the measured velocity profiles and to study the
effect of surface roughness on the development of boundary layer.
Apparatus
Plenum
outlet
On-off
switch

Damper
control rod

Airflow bench
Flat plate
Micrometer

Test apparatus

Formula
1(mbar) = 1 x 10-3 x 105
Velocity, u(y) = 2(pt-po)/air.................................................................................(1)
Velocity profile
(u/U) = (y/)1/7..(2)
Properties of boundary layer
Boundary layer thickness, = 0.0370x / Rex1/5 .. (3)
Displacement thickness, * = 0.0463x / Rex1/5 (4)
Momentum thickness, = 0.036x / Rex1/5.. (5)
Re = ( u L) / (6)

Result and calculation

Distance from leading edge = 40mm =
Static pressure = 10mbar = 1000 pa
0.04m
Free stream velocity = 23.6 m/s
Free stream total pressure = 13.6mbar =
Reynolds number = 0.712 x 105
1360 pa
Smooth surface
Micrometer
Static pressure
Total Pressure
Differential
Velocity, u(y)
reading, y(mm)
manometer,
Manometer,
manometer
(m/s)
h(mbar)
h(mbar)
height, h(pa)
15
10.4
13.8
340
22.96
14
10.4
13.8
340
22.96
13
10.4
14
360
23.62
12
10.4
14
360
23.62
11
10.4
14
360
23.62
10
10.4
14
360
23.62
9
10.4
14
360
23.62
8
10.4
14
360
23.62
7
10.4
14
360
23.62
6
10.4
14
360
23.62
5
10.4
14
360
23.62
4
10.4
14
360
23.62
3
10.4
14
360
23.62
2
10.4
14
360
23.62
1
10.4
14
360
23.62
0
10.4
14
360
23.62
Micrometer
reading,
y(mm)
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Velocity
profile
u/U
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
0

(u/U)(1u/U)
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
0

Boundary
layer
thickness,
5.94 E-4
5.54 E-4
5.15 E-4
4.75 E-4
4.36 E-4
3.96 E-4
3.56 E-4
3.17 E-4
2.77 E-4
2.38 E-4
1.98 E-4
1.58 E-4
1.19 E-4
0.792 E-4
0.396 E-4
0

Displacement Momentum
thickness, * thickness,
7.433 E-5
6.938 E-5
6.442 E-5
5.947 E-5
5.451 E-5
4.955 E-5
4.460 E-5
3.964 E-5
3.469 E-5
2.973 E-5
2.478 E-5
1.982 E-5
1.487 E-5
0.991 E-5
0.496 E-5
0

5.78 E-5
5.39 E-5
5.01 E-5
4.62 E-5
4.24 E-5
3.85 E-5
3.47 E-5
3.08 E-5
2.70 E-5
2.31 E-5
1.93 E-5
1.54 E-5
1.16 E-5
0.77 E-5
0.39 E-5
0

Rough surface
Micrometer
Static pressure
reading,
manometer, h(mbar)
y(mm)
15
10
14
10
13
10
12
10
11
10
10
10.4
9
10.4
8
10.4
7
10.4
6
10.4
5
10.4
4
10.6
3
10.6
2
10.6
1
10.6
0
10.6

Total Pressure
Manometer,
h(mbar)
13.6
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
14
14
14
13.8
13.8
14
14
14
14
14
14

Micrometer
reading,
y(mm)

Velocity
profile
u/U

(u/U)(1-u/U)

15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
1.586
0

- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
- 0.929
0

Differential
manometer
height, h(pa)
360
380
380
380
380
360
360
360
340
340
360
340
340
340
340
340

Boundary
layer
thickness,

5.94 E-4
5.54 E-4
5.15 E-4
4.75 E-4
4.36 E-4
3.96 E-4
3.56 E-4
3.17 E-4
2.77 E-4
2.38 E-4
1.98 E-4
1.58 E-4
1.19 E-4
0.792 E-4
0.396 E-4
0

Velocity, u(y)
(m/s)
23.63
24.27
24.27
24.27
24.27
23.63
23.63
23.63
22.96
22.96
23.63
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96

Displacement Momentum
thickness, * thickness,
7.433 E-5
6.938 E-5
6.442 E-5
5.947 E-5
5.451 E-5
4.955 E-5
4.460 E-5
3.964 E-5
3.469 E-5
2.973 E-5
2.478 E-5
1.982 E-5
1.487 E-5
0.991 E-5
0.496 E-5
0

5.78 E-5
5.39 E-5
5.01 E-5
4.62 E-5
4.24 E-5
3.85 E-5
3.47 E-5
3.08 E-5
2.70 E-5
2.31 E-5
1.93 E-5
1.54 E-5
1.16 E-5
0.77 E-5
0.39 E-5
0

Distance from leading edge = 150mm =

0.15m
Free stream total pressure = 13.6mbar =
1360 pa
Smooth surface
Micrometer
reading, y(mm)
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Micrometer
reading,
y(mm)
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Static pressure
manometer,
h(mbar)
10.2
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
Velocity
profile
u/U
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.648
1.647
1.644
1.647
1.647
1.647
0

Static pressure = 10mbar = 1000 pa

Free stream velocity = 23.6 m/s
Reynolds number = 2.671 x 105

Total Pressure
Manometer,
h(mbar)
13.8
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
(u/U)(1u/U)
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
0

Differential
manometer
height, h(pa)
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360

Boundary
layer
thickness,
4.56 E-4
4.26 E-4
3.95 E-4
3.65 E-4
3.34 E-4
3.04 E-4
2.74 E-4
2.43 E-4
2.13 E-4
1.82 E-4
1.52 E-4
1.23 E-4
0.912 E-4
0.608 E-4
0.304 E-4
0

Velocity, u(y)
(m/s)
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62
23.62

Displacement Momentum
thickness, * thickness,
5.71 E-5
5.32 E-5
4.95 E-5
4.56 E-5
4.18 E-5
3.80 E-5
3.42 E-5
3.04 E-5
2.66 E-5
2.28 E-5
1.90 E-5
1.52 E-5
1.14 E-5
0.76 E-5
0.38 E-5
0

4.44 E-5
4.14 E-5
3.85 E-5
3.55 E-5
3.25 E-5
2.96 E-5
2.66 E-5
2.37 E-5
2.07 E-5
1.77 E-5
1.48 E-5
1.18 E-5
0.89 E-5
0.59 E-5
0.30 E-5
0

Rough surface
Micrometer
Static pressure
reading,
manometer, h(mm)
y(mm)
15
10
14
10.4
13
10.4
12
10.4
11
10.4
10
10.4
9
10.4
8
10.4
7
10.4
6
10.4
5
10.4
4
10.4
3
10.4
2
10.4
1
10.4
0
10.4

Total Pressure
Manometer,
h(mbar)
13.6
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8
13.8

Micrometer
reading,
y(mm)

Velocity
profile
u/U

(u/U)(1-u/U)

15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.647
1.648
1.647
1.644
1.647
1.647
1.647
0

-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
-1.0656
0

Differential
manometer
height, h(pa)
360
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340
340

Boundary
layer
thickness,

4.56 E-4
4.26 E-4
3.95 E-4
3.65 E-4
3.34 E-4
3.04 E-4
2.74 E-4
2.43 E-4
2.13 E-4
1.82 E-4
1.52 E-4
1.23 E-4
0.912 E-4
0.608 E-4
0.304 E-4
0

Velocity, u(y)
(m/s)
23.62
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96
22.96

Displacement Momentum
thickness, * thickness,
5.71 E-5
5.32 E-5
4.95 E-5
4.56 E-5
4.18 E-5
3.80 E-5
3.42 E-5
3.04 E-5
2.66 E-5
2.28 E-5
1.90 E-5
1.52 E-5
1.14 E-5
0.76 E-5
0.38 E-5
0

4.44 E-5
4.14 E-5
3.85 E-5
3.55 E-5
3.25 E-5
2.96 E-5
2.66 E-5
2.37 E-5
2.07 E-5
1.77 E-5
1.48 E-5
1.18 E-5
0.89 E-5
0.59 E-5
0.30 E-5
0

Sample of calculation
Take y = 15mm (for smooth surface and distance from edge 40mm)
air = 1.29 kg/m3
air = 1.71 x 10-5
Re = 0.712x105
Velocity, u(y) = 2(pt-po) / air
= 2(340) / 1.29
= 22.96 m/s
Boundary thickness, = 0.370x / Re1/5
= 0.370(0.015) / (0.712x105)1/5
= 5.94 x 10-4
Velocity profile, (u/U) = (y / )1/7
= (0.015 / 5.94 x 10-4)1/7
= 1.586
(u/U)(1-u/U) = (1.586)(1-1.586)
= - 0.929
Displacement thickness, * = 0.0463x / Re1/5
= 0.0463(0.015) / (0.712x105)1/5
= 7.433x10-5
Momentum thickness, = 0.036x / Re1/5
= 0.036(0.015) / (0.712x105)1/5
= 5.78 x 10-5

The graph plotted from the table

(u/U) against (u/U)(1-u/U) for 40mm (smooth and rough surface)

(u/U) against (u/U)(1-u/U) for 150mm (smooth and rough surface)

Discussion
From the graph plotted we cant see a difference between smooth surface and rough
surface flat plate this is because the error occurs during experiment. The micrometer for
static pressure always moving when the air velocities act on it, this will cause the reading
at the pitot tube become not accurate. The same problems happen on both 40 mm and
150mm distance from edge plate for this experiment.
The properties of boundary can be calculated from the data obtained. The free stream
velocity for 40mm is 23.6 m/s and the Reynolds number is 0.712x105. This value
obtained by calculated it by using the formula given with the difference pressure of free
stream. This pressure has been taken at medium speed before the experiment run.
From the theory we know that the boundary layer thickness for this experiment is very
small.
Conclusion
From this experiment we can measure the boundary layer velocity profile and its
properties. There is little different between boundary layer at smooth flat surface with
rough flat surface because it depend on the plate thickness and length. It is suggest that
for future, the good micrometer use for this experiment to get the accurate values of total
pressure. The smaller scale should be taken such as example for every 0.1mm to get the
better values because of the boundary layer thickness of this experiment is very small.