RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS

Flat Plate Boundary Layer Test Sheet

a) Test 1 (Smooth Plate)
Distance from leading edge, x (m) = 0.05m
Micrometer
Reading, y
(mm)

Static
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Pitot tube
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Differential
manometer
height,
(mBar)

Differential
Manometer
height,
h (mm)

u
(m/s)

u
U

u
U

0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75
3.00
3.25

10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6

12.6
12.6
12.6
12.9
13.2
13.2
13.4
13.6
13.6
13.6
13.6
13.6
13.6
13.6

2.0
2.0
2.0
2.3
2.6
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0

25.60
25.60
25.60
29.44
33.28
33.28
35.84
38.40
38.40
38.40
38.40
38.40
38.40
38.40

18.56
18.56
18.56
19.91
21.01
21.01
21.96
22.73
22.73
22.73
22.73
22.73
22.73
22.73

0.81
0.81
0.81
0.87
0.92
0.92
0.96
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.99

0.1539
0.1539
0.1539
0.1131
0.0736
0.0736
0.0384
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099

*Note that from the manometer reading, 5 mBar is equal to 64 mm; please convert your experimental reading
correspondingly.

Free stream velocity, U (m/s) = 22.96 m/s

Reynolds number, Ux/ = 75736.55 (laminar)

b) Test 2 (Smooth Plate)

Distance from leading edge, x (m) = 0.2m
Micrometer
Reading, y
(mm)

Static
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Pitot tube
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Differential
manometer
height,
(mBar)

Differential
Manometer
height,
h (mm)

u
(m/s)

u
U

u
U

0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75

10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3

12.6
12.6
12.6
12.6
12.6
12.8
13.0
13.2

2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.9

29.44
29.44
29.44
29.44
29.44
32.00
34.56
37.12

19.91
19.91
19.91
19.91
19.91
20.75
21.56
22.35

0.84
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.87
0.91

0.1344
0.1344
0.1344
0.1344
0.1344
0.1131
0.0819
0.0564

2.00

10.3

13.2

2.9

37.12

22.35

2.25

10.3

13.3

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.50

10.3

13.3

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.75

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

3.00

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

3.25

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

3.50

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

3.75

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

4.00

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

4.25

10.3

13.5

3.2

40.96

23.48

0.9
4
0.9
4
0.9
6
0.9
6
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9

*Note that from the manometer reading, 5 mBar is equal to 64 mm; please convert your experimental reading
correspondingly.

Free stream velocity, U (m/s) = 23.72 m/s

Reynolds number, Ux/ = 312974.03 (laminar)

0.0564
0.0384
0.0384
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099

c) Test 3 (Rough Plate)

Distance from leading edge, x (m) = 0.05m
Micrometer
Reading, y
(mm)

Static
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Pitot tube
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Differential
manometer
height,
(mBar)

Differential
Manometer
height,
h (mm)

u
(m/s)

u
U

u
u
1
U
U

0.00
0.25

10.6
10.6

12.8
13.0

2.2
2.4

28.16
30.72

19.47

0.85
0.89

0.1275

0.50

10.6

13.2

2.6

33.28

0.92

0.0736

0.75

10.6

13.2

2.6

33.28

0.92

0.0736

1.00

10.6

13.4

2.8

35.84

0.96

0.0384

1.25

10.6

13.4

2.8

35.84

0.96

0.0384

1.50

10.6

13.4

2.8

35.84

0.96

0.0384

1.75

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

0.0099

2.00

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.25

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.50

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.75

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

3.00

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

3.25

10.6

13.6

3.0

38.40

22.73

0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9

20.3
3
21.1
6
21.1
6
21.9
6
21.9
6
21.9
6

*Note that from the manometer reading, 5 mBar is equal to 64 mm; please convert your experimental reading
correspondingly.

0.0979

0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099

Free stream velocity, U (m/s) = 22.96 m/s

Reynolds number, Ux/ = 75736.55 (laminar)

d) Test 4 (Rough Plate)

Distance from leading edge, x (m) = 0.2m
Micrometer
Reading, y
(mm)

Static
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Pitot tube
pressure
manometer,
(mBar)

Differential
manometer
height,
(mBar)

Differential
Manometer
height,
h (mm)

u
(m/s)

u
U

u
U

0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75

10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3

12.3
12.3
12.3
12.4

2.0
2.0
2.0
2.1

25.60
25.60
25.60
26.88

18.56
18.56
18.56

0.80
0.80
0.80
0.81

0.1600
0.1600
0.1600

1.00

10.3

12.7

2.4

30.72

0.87

0.1131

1.25

10.3

13.0

2.7

34.56

21.57

0.0736

1.50

10.3

13.2

2.9

37.12

22.35

1.75

10.3

13.3

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.00

10.3

13.3

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.25

10.3

13.3

3.0

38.40

22.73

2.50

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

23.1

0.9
2
0.9
6
0.9
7
0.9
7
0.9
7
0.9

19.0
2
20.3
3

0.1539

0.0384

0.0291
0.0291
0.0291
0.0099

2.75

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

3.00

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

3.25

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

3.50

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

3.75

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

4.00

10.3

13.4

3.1

39.68

1
23.1
1
23.1
1
23.1
1
23.1
1
23.1
1
23.1
1

9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9
0.9
9

0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099
0.0099

*Note that from the manometer reading, 5 mBar is equal to 64 mm; please convert your experimental reading
correspondingly.

Free stream velocity, U (m/s) = 23.34 m/s

Reynolds number, Ux/ = 307960.11 (laminar)

Table of comparison between theoretical and experimental value of flat plate boundary layer
according to surface.
Boundary

Displacement

Momentum

thickness,
9.25x10-4

thickness, *
3.18x10-4

thickness,
1.25x10-4

9.08x10-4

3.12x10-4

1.21x10-4

1.84

1.88

3.2

Test 2 theoretical

1.76x10-3

6.05x10-4

2.34x10-4

Test 2 experimental

1.79x10-3

6.15x10-4

2.37x10-4

Test 1 theoretical
Test 1 experimental
Percentage of Error (%)

Percentage of Error (%)

1.70

1.65

1.28

Test 3 theoretical

9.96x10-4

3.43x10-4

1.32x10-4

Test 3 experimental

9.08x10-4

3.12x10-4

1.21x10-4

8.84

9.04

8.33

Test 4 theoretical

1.76x10-3

6.05x10-4

2.34x10-4

Test 4 experimental

1.80x10-3

6.19x10-4

2.39x10-4

2.27

2.31

2.14

Percentage of Error (%)

Percentage of Error (%)

Graph results for distance from leading edge, x : 0.05 m for smooth and rough plate.

Graph of y against (u/U)

3.5

3.25

3
2.5
2
y (mm)

Rough Plate
Smooth Plate

1.5
1
0.5
0
0.8 0.82 0.84 0.86 0.88 0.9 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.98

(u/U)

Graph of y against u/U(1-u/U)

3.5
3.25
3
2.5
2

y (mm)

Rough Plate

1.5

Smooth Plate

1
0.5
0
0

0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18

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

Graph results for distance from leading edge, x : 0.2 m for smooth and rough plate.

Graph of y against (u/U)

4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5

y (mm)

Rough Plate
Smooth Plate

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
18

19

20

21

22

23

24

(u/U)

Graph of y against u/U(1-u/U)

4.5
4

3.5
3
2.5

y (mm)

Rough Plate
Smooth Plate

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18

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

Sample of Calculations
Test 1 is used as a sample of calculation:
a) Differential manometer height, h (mBar)
i)

When micrometer reading (0 mm)

= Pitot tube pressure manometer (mBar) Static pressure manometer (mBar)

= 12.6 mBar 10.6 mBar
Where 1mBar = 12.8mm
= 2.0 mBar = 25.6 mm

u
U
b) Calculation of velocity u (m/s),

u
u
(1 )
U
U
,

2( oi lg h
air
u=
Where,

oil = 826 kg/m3

g = 9.81 m/s2

air = 1.204 kg/m3

i)

When micrometer reading (0 mm)

2(826 x 9.81x 0.0256)

1.204
u=
= 18.56 m/s

Boundary layer thickness supposed to be occur at y when u is 0.99 Us

u
0.99
U s=
i)

, so take u = 22.73 m/s (constant value of u) therefore, Us = 22.96 m/s

When micrometer reading (0 mm)

u
U

18.56
22.96
=

= 0.81

Thus,

i)

When micrometer reading (0 mm)

u
u
18.56
18.56
(1 )
(1
) 0.1539
U
U
22.96
22.96

Based on test 1, the value of

, and are as follows;

5.0 x
5.0(0.05)

9.08 10 4
Re x
75736.55

1.72 x 1.72(0.05)

3.12 10 4
Re x
75736.55

0.664 x 0.664(0.05)

1.21 10 4
Re x
75736.55