Method of Assumed Profiles

Here are the basic steps:

1. Assume some basic boundary velocity profile for ) , ( y x u . For example, this is a
crude approach but illustrates the ideas:

, 0 ( )
( , )
( )
( )
1, ( )
e
y
y x
u x y
x
u x
y x

<

where ) (x is the single unknown describing the velocity distribution.

2. Calculate ) ( ,
*
H or , and
f
C for the assumed profile:

2
*
0 0
0
1
1 1
2
e
u y y
dy dy y
u

| | | |
| |
= = =
| | |
\ .
\ . \ .

*
1
2
=

2 3
2
0 0 0
1 1
1 1
2 3
e e
u u y y y y
dy dy
u u

| | | |
| |
= = =
| | |
\ .
\ . \ .

1
6
=

Note:
*
1
2
3
1
6
H

= = =

Finally, to find
f
C we need
0
w
y
u
y

=

, for 0
e
e
u y u
u y
y y



| |
= = <
|

\ .

Method of Assumed Profiles
16.100 2002 2

2 2
2
1 1
2 2
e
w
f
e e
e e e e
u
C
u
u u

= = =

3. Plug results from step 2 into integral b.l. equation:


dx
du
H
u dx
d
C
e
e
f
) 2 (
2
+ + =



So, for our assumed linear profile:


1 5
6 6
e
e e e
d du
u dx u dx


= + (1)

where ) (x is the only unknown. We can solve this by specifying ) (x u
e
, setting
an initial value for at 0 = x (i.e. the leading edge) and then integrate in x .
Note: in many cases, this integration will need to be done numerically.

Example: Flat Plate

Since

= u x u
e
) ( is a constant, the governing equation (1) becomes:


dx
d
u



6
1
=



Re-arrange and integrate:

x
y
U

8
8
*(x)

e
=
8 U
e
(x)=U
8
Method of Assumed Profiles
16.100 2002 3

2
2
0 0
2 2
6
6 1 ( )
2
6 1 ( )
2
6 1
( ) (0)
2
x x
d
U dx
d
U dx
d
dx dx
U dx
x x
U

=
=
=
( =




But, our initial condition is 0 ) 0 ( = .


2
6 1
( )
2
x x
U

=


12 2 3 3.464
Re Re
x x
x U x

= = =


x
x x
Re
3 2
2
1
2
1
*
= =




x x
x
Re
732 . 1
Re
3
*
= =

and
f
C :

Re 2 2
2 3
1
3 Re
x
f
e e
f
x
C
u u x
C



= =
=


0.577
Re
f
x
C =
Method of Assumed Profiles
16.100 2002 4
Comparison with Blasius solution:


Blasius Int. Method with linear velocity

x
x
Re
*

1.720 1.732

x f
C Re 0.664 0.577