BLASIUS EQUATION

AND ITS SOLUTION

by
Dr. Paragmoni Kalita
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Tezpur University
Outline of the lecture:
1. Blasius flow over a flat plate
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation
3. Solution of the Blasius equation

2
1. Blasius Flow Over A Flat Plate
▪ The classical problem considered by H. Blasius was
1. Two-dimensional, steady, incompressible flow over a
flat plate at zero angle of incidence with respect to
the uniform stream of velocity 𝑈∞ .
2. The fluid extends to infinity in all directions from the
plate.
• Blasius wanted to determine
(a) the velocity field solely within the boundary layer,
(b) the boundary layer thickness,
(c) the shear stress distribution on the plate, and
(d) the drag force on the plate.

3
1. Blasius Flow Over A Flat Plate contd…
▪ The dimensional form of Prandtl’s boundary layer
equations in the case under consideration are
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
+ =0 (1)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝑢
𝑢 +𝑣 =𝜈 2 (2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜇
where 𝜈 =
𝜌
▪ The boundary conditions are

at 𝑦 = 0, 𝑢 = 0
(3)
at 𝑦 = ∞, 𝑢 = 𝑈∞
4
1. Blasius Flow Over A Flat Plate contd…
1 𝑑𝑝
▪ Note that the substitution of the term − in the
𝜌 𝑑𝑥
original boundary layer momentum equation in terms
𝑑𝑈∞
of the free stream velocity produces 𝑈∞ , which is
𝑑𝑥
equal to zero.
▪ Hence the governing Eq. (2) does not contain any
pressure-gradient term.
▪ However, the characteristic parameters of this problem
are 𝑈∞ , ν, 𝑥, 𝑦, that is, 𝑢 = 𝑢 𝑈∞ , ν, 𝑥, 𝑦 .
▪ This relation has five variables .
▪ It involves two dimensions, length and time.
▪ Thus it can be reduced to a dimensionless relation in
terms of (5-2) =3 quantities ( Buckingham Pi Theorem)
▪ Thus a similarity variables can be used to find the
solution
▪ Such flow fields are called self-similar flow field .
5
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation
▪ It states that the 𝑢 component of velocity with two
velocity profiles of 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) at different 𝑥 locations differ
only by scale factors in 𝑢 and 𝑦.
▪ Therefore, the velocity profiles 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) at all values of 𝑥
can be made congruent if they are plotted in
coordinates which have been made dimensionless with
reference to the scale factors.
▪ The local free stream velocity 𝑈(𝑥) at section 𝑥 is an
obvious scale factor for 𝑢, because the dimensionless
𝑢(𝑥) varies between zero and unity with 𝑦 at all
sections.
▪ The scale factor for 𝑦, denoted by 𝑔(𝑥), is proportional
to the local boundary layer thickness so that 𝑦 itself
varies between zero and unity.

6
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation contd…
▪ Velocity at two arbitrary 𝑥 locations, namely 𝑥1 and
𝑥2 should satisfy the equation:

𝑢 𝑥1 , 𝑦/𝑔 𝑥1 𝑢 𝑥2 , 𝑦/𝑔 𝑥2 (4)

=
𝑈 𝑥1 𝑈 𝑥2

▪ Now, for Blasius flow, it is possible to identify 𝑔(𝑥)

with the boundary layers thickness 𝛿(𝑥) as
𝑥
𝛿 𝑥 ~
Re𝑥

𝑥 𝜈𝑥
𝑔 𝑥 ~𝛿 𝑥 ~ ~ (5)
𝑈∞ 𝑥 𝑈∞
𝜈
7
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation contd…
▪ Eqs. (4) and (5) can be rewritten as

𝑢 𝑦 𝑈∞
=𝐹 =𝐹 𝑦 =𝐹 𝜂 (6)
𝑈∞ 𝜈𝑥 𝜈𝑥
𝑈∞

𝑦 𝜈𝑥
where 𝜂~ and 𝛿~
𝛿 𝑈∞
or more precisely,
𝑦
𝜂= (7)
𝜈𝑥
𝑈∞

8
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation contd…
▪ Eqs. (7) gives

𝜈𝑥
𝑦=𝜂
𝑈∞

𝜈𝑥
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝜂 (8)
𝑈∞
The stream function can now be obtained in terms of
the velocity components as
𝜈𝑥
𝜓 = න 𝑢 𝑑𝑦 = න 𝑈∞ 𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝜂 = 𝑈∞ 𝜈𝑥 න 𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝜂
𝑈∞

𝜓= 𝑈∞ 𝜈𝑥𝑓 𝜂 (9)

9
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation contd…

where 𝑓 𝜂 = න 𝐹 𝜂 𝑑𝜂 ⇒ 𝐹 𝜂 = 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 (10)

Now, the velocity components and their derivatives are:

𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜂 𝑈∞
𝑢= = = 𝑈∞ 𝜈𝑥𝑓 ′ 𝜂 × = 𝑈∞ 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 (11)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝜂 𝜕𝑦 𝜈𝑥

𝜕𝜓
𝑣=−
𝜕𝑥
1 1 1 𝑦 1
= − 𝑈∞ 𝜈 . 𝑓 𝜂 + 𝑥𝑓 ′ 𝜂 −
2 𝑥 2 𝜈𝑥/𝑈∞ 𝑥

1 𝑈∞ 𝜈
𝑣= 𝜂𝑓 ′ 𝜂 − 𝑓 𝜂 (12)
2 𝑥
10
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation contd…
Now,
𝜕𝑢 ′′
𝜕𝜂 1 𝑦 1
= 𝑈∞ 𝑓 𝜂 × = 𝑈∞ 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂 −
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜈𝑥/𝑈∞ 𝑥
𝜕𝑢 𝑈∞ 𝜂 ′′
=− 𝑓 𝜂 (13)
𝜕𝑥 2 𝑥
𝜕𝑢 ′′
𝜕𝜂 1
= 𝑈∞ 𝑓 𝜂 × = 𝑈∞ 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜈𝑥/𝑈∞
𝜕𝑢 𝑈∞ ′′ (14)
= 𝑈∞ 𝑓 𝜂
𝜕𝑦 𝜈𝑥

𝜕2𝑢 𝑈∞ ′′′ 1 2
𝑈∞
= 𝑈∞ 𝑓 𝜂 = 𝑓 ′′′ 𝜂 (15)
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜈𝑥 𝜈𝑥
𝜈𝑥/𝑈∞
11
2. Self similarity and Blasius equation contd…
By substituting Eqs. (11-15) in Eq. (2) we obtain

𝑈∞2 𝜂 𝑈 2
∞
− 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂 + 𝜂𝑓 ′ 𝜂 − 𝑓 𝜂 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂
2 𝑥 2𝑥
𝑈∞2
= 𝑓 ′′′ 𝜂
𝑥
2 2
1 𝑈∞ 𝑈∞
− 𝑓 𝜂 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂 = 𝑓 ′′′ 𝜂
2 𝑥 𝑥

2𝑓 ′′′ 𝜂 + 𝑓 𝜂 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂 = 0 (16)

Eq. (16) is known as the famous Blasius equation that

reduces the partial differential equations governing the
flow within a boundary layer to a single third order
nonlinear ordinary differential equation.
12
3. Solution of the Blasius equation
Eq. (16) has to be solved subject to the boundary
conditions
at 𝑦 = 0: 𝑢 = 0, therefore 𝜂 = 0: 𝑓 𝜂 = 0, 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 = 0 (17)
𝑦 → ∞: 𝑢 → 𝑈∝ , therefore 𝜂 → ∞: 𝐹 𝜂 = 1, 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 = 1 (18)

▪ Blasius obtained the solution of Eq. (16) in the form of

series expansion through analytical techniques.
▪ We shall not discuss this technique. However, we shall
discuss a numerical technique to solve the aforesaid
equation which can be understood rather easily.
▪ Note that the equation for 𝑓 does not contain 𝑥.
▪ Boundary conditions at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑦 → ∞ merge into
𝑢
the condition 𝜂 → ∞: = 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 = 1. This is the key
𝑈∞
feature of similarity solution
13
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
▪ We can rewrite Eq. (16) as three first order differential
equations in the following way
(19)
𝑓′ = 𝐺
𝐺′ = 𝐻 (20)
1 (21)
𝐻′= − 𝑓𝐻
2
▪ Let us next consider the boundary conditions.
1. The condition 𝑓 0 = 0 remains valid.
2. The condition 𝑓 ′ 0 = 0 means that 𝐺 0 = 0.
3. The condition 𝑓 ′ (∞) = 1 gives us 𝐺 ∞ = 1.

Note that the equations for 𝑓 and 𝐺 have initial values.

However, the value for 𝐻(0) is not known. Hence, we
do not have a usual initial-value problem.
14
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
Shooting Technique

▪ We handle this problem as an initial-value problem by

choosing values of 𝐻(0) and solving by numerical
methods 𝑓 𝜂 , 𝐺 𝜂 , and 𝐻 𝜂 .
▪ In general, the condition 𝐺 ∞ = 1 will not be
satisfied for the function 𝐺 arising from the numerical
solution.
▪ We then choose other initial values of 𝐻 so that
eventually we find an 𝐻(0) which results in 𝐺 ∞ =
1.
▪ This method is called the shooting technique.

15
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
▪ In Eqs. (19-21), the primes refer to differentiation w.r.t.
the similarity variable 𝜂 . The integration steps
following Runge-Kutta method are given below.
1
𝑓𝑛+1 = 𝑓𝑛 + 𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 + 𝑘4 (22)
6
1
𝐺𝑛+1 = 𝐺𝑛 + 𝑙1 + 2𝑙2 + 2𝑙3 + 𝑙4 (23)
6
1
𝐻𝑛+1 = 𝐻𝑛 + 𝑚1 + 2𝑚2 + 2𝑚3 + 𝑚4 (24)
6
▪ One moves from 𝜂𝑛 to 𝜂𝑛+1 = 𝜂𝑛 + ℎ. A fourth
order accuracy is preserved if ℎ is constant along the
integration path, that is, 𝜂𝑛+1 − 𝜂𝑛 = ℎ for all values
of 𝑛.
16
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
▪ In Eqs. (19-21), the primes refer to differentiation w.r.t.
the similarity variable 𝜂 . The integration steps
following Runge-Kutta method are given below.
1
𝑓𝑛+1 = 𝑓𝑛 + 𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 + 𝑘4 (22)
6
1
𝐺𝑛+1 = 𝐺𝑛 + 𝑙1 + 2𝑙2 + 2𝑙3 + 𝑙4 (23)
6
1
𝐻𝑛+1 = 𝐻𝑛 + 𝑚1 + 2𝑚2 + 2𝑚3 + 𝑚4 (24)
6
▪ One moves from 𝜂𝑛 to 𝜂𝑛+1 = 𝜂𝑛 + ℎ. A fourth
order accuracy is preserved if ℎ is constant along the
integration path, that is, 𝜂𝑛+1 − 𝜂𝑛 = ℎ for all values
of 𝑛.
17
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
▪ For generality, let the system of equations be

𝑓 ′ = 𝐹1 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝜂 (25)

𝐺 ′ = 𝐹2 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝜂 (26)

𝐻 ′ = 𝐹3 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝜂 (27)

𝑘1 = ℎ𝐹1 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝜂 (28)

𝑙1 = ℎ𝐹2 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝜂 (29)

𝑚1 = ℎ𝐹3 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝜂 (30)

18
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
1 1 1 ℎ
𝑘2 = ℎ𝐹1 𝑓𝑛 + 𝑘1 , 𝐺𝑛 + 𝑙1 , 𝐻𝑛 + 𝑚1 , 𝜂𝑛 + (31)
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 ℎ
𝑙2 = ℎ𝐹2 𝑓𝑛 + 𝑘1 , 𝐺𝑛 + 𝑙1 , 𝐻𝑛 + 𝑚1 , 𝜂𝑛 + (32)
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 ℎ
𝑚2 = ℎ𝐹3 𝑓𝑛 + 𝑘1 , 𝐺𝑛 + 𝑙1 , 𝐻𝑛 + 𝑚1 , 𝜂𝑛 + (33)
2 2 2 2

▪ In a similar way 𝑘3 , 𝑙3 , 𝑚3 and 𝑘4 , 𝑙4 , 𝑚4 are calculated

following standard formulae for the Runge-Kutta
integration. For example, 𝑘3 is given by
1 1 1 ℎ
𝑘3 = ℎ𝐹1 𝑓𝑛 + 𝑘2 , 𝐺𝑛 + 𝑙2 , 𝐻𝑛 + 𝑚2 , 𝜂𝑛 + (34)
2 2 2 2
1
▪ The functions 𝐹1 , 𝐹2 and 𝐹3 are 𝐺, 𝐻 , − 𝑓𝐻, respectively.
2
Then at a distance from the wall, we have
19
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
1
▪ The functions 𝐹1 , 𝐹2 and 𝐹3 are 𝐺, 𝐻 , − 𝑓𝐻, respectively.
2
Then at a distance ∆𝜂 from the wall, we have

𝑓 ∆𝜂 = 𝑓 0 + 𝐺 0 ∆𝜂 (35)

𝐺 ∆𝜂 = 𝐺 0 + 𝐻 0 ∆𝜂 (36)

𝐻 ∆𝜂 = 𝐻 0 + 𝐻′ 0 ∆𝜂 (37)

1 (38)
𝐻′ ∆𝜂 = − 𝑓 ∆𝜂 𝐻 ∆𝜂
2

▪ As it has been mentioned earlier 𝑓 ′′ 0 = 𝐻 0 = 𝜆 is

unknown. It must be determined such that the condition
𝑓 ′ ∞ = 𝐺 ∞ = 1 is satisfied.
20
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
▪ The condition at infinity is usually approximated at a finite
value of 𝜂 (around 𝜂 = 10). The process of obtaining 𝜆
accurately involves iteration and may be calculated using the
procedure as follows.
▪ For this purpose, consider Fig. 1(a) where the solutions of
𝐺 versus 𝜂 for two different values of are plotted. The
values of 𝐺 ∞ are estimated from the 𝐺 curves and are
plotted in Fig. 1(b).
▪ The value of 𝐻 0 now can be calculated by finding the
value 𝐻 0 at which the line 1-2 crosses the line 𝐺 ∞ = 1.
By using similar triangles, it can be said that

෩ 0 −𝐻 0
𝐻 1 𝐻 0 2 −𝐻 0 1
= (39)
1−𝐺 ∞ 1 𝐺 ∞ 2 −𝐺 ∞ 2

21
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
▪ Next we repeat the same calculation as above by using
𝐻෩ 0 and the better of the two initial values of 𝐻 0 .
Thus we get another improved value 𝐻 ෩ 0 . This process
may continue, that is, we use 𝐻 ෩ 0 and 𝐻 0 as a pair of
values to find more improved values for 𝐻 0 , and so
forth. The better guess for 𝐻(0) can also be obtained by
using the Newton-Raphson Method. It should be always
kept in mind that for each value of 𝐻(0), the curve 𝐺 𝜂
versus 𝜂 is to be examined to get the proper value of
𝐺 ∞ .
▪ The functions 𝑓 𝜂 , 𝑓 ′ 𝜂 = 𝐺 , and 𝑓 ′′ 𝜂 = 𝐻 are
plotted in Fig. 2. The velocity components, 𝑢 and 𝑣 inside
the boundary layer can be computed from Eqs (11) and
(12), respectively.

22
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…

Fig. 1. Correcting the initial guess for 𝐻(0)

23
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…

Fig. 2. 𝑓, 𝐺 and 𝐻 distribution in the boundary layer

▪ Measurements to test the accuracy of theoretical results
were carried out by many scientists. In his experiments, J.
Nikuradse found excellent agreement with the theoretical
results with respect to velocity distribution within the
boundary layer of a stream of air on a flat plate.
24
3. Solution of the Blasius equation contd…
𝑢
Table 1. The Blasius velocity profile 𝐺 = , 𝑓, and 𝐻
𝑈∞
η f G H
0 0 0 0.33206
0.2 0.00664 0.006641 0.33199
0.4 0.02656 0.13277 0.33147
0.8 0.10611 0.26471 0.32739
1.2 0.23795 0.39378 0.31659
1.6 0.42032 0.51676 0.29667
2 0.65003 0.62977 0.26675
2.4 0.9223 0.72899 0.22809
2.8 1.23099 0.81152 0.18401
3.2 1.56911 0.87609 0.13913
3.6 1.92954 0.92333 0.09809
4 2.30576 0.95552 0.06424
4.4 2.69238 0.97587 0.03897
4.8 3.08534 0.98779 0.02187
5 3.28329 0.99155 0.01591
8.8 7.07923 1 0
25
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