Boundary Layer Velocity Profile

z

z
U
Viscous sublayer
Buffer zone
Logarithmic
turbulent zone
Ekman Layer, or
Outer region
(velocity defect layer)
But first.. a definition:
2
*
u
b
t =
1. Viscous Sublayer - velocities are low, shear stress
controlled by molecular processes
As in the plate example, laminar flow dominates,

z
u
b
c
c
= t
Put in terms of u
*

integrating,

boundary conditions,
When do we see a viscous sublayer?
o
v
= f (u
*
, v , k
s
)
where k
s
== characteristic height of bed
roughness

Roughness Re:

R
*
> 70 rough turbulent
no viscous sublayer
R
*
< 5 smooth turbulent
yes, viscous sublayer

v
s
k u
R
*
*
=
2. Log Layer:
Turbulent case, A
z
is NOT constant in z
A
z
is a property of the flow, not just the fluid
To describe the velocity profile we need to develop a
profile of A
z
.
Mixing Length formulation Prandtl (1925) which is
a qualitative argument discussed in more detail
Boundary Layer Analysis by Shetz, 1993
Assume that water masses act independently over a
distance, l
Within l a change in momentum causes a fluctuation
to adjacent fluid parcels.
At l,

Make assumption of isotropic turbulence:
|u| ~ |v| ~ |w|
Therefore, |u| ~ |w| ~

Through the Reynolds Stress formulation,
dz
u d
u
l
'
~
dz
u d
l
dz
u d
l
2
2
~
' '
|
.
|

\
|
=
dz
u d
l
w u
zx
zx
t
t
Prandtl Mixing Length
Formulation
Von Karmen (1930) hypothesized that close to a boundary,
the turbulent exchange is related to distance from the
boundary.
l z
l = Kz
where K is a universal turbulent momentum exchange
coefficient == von Karmens constant.
K has been found to be 0.41

Near the bed,
dz
u d
Kz u
dz
u d
z K
zx
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
*
2
2 2
t
in terms of u
*

Solving for the velocity profile:
ln z

Intercept, b, depends on roughness of the
bed - f (R
*
)
Rename b, based on boundary condition:
z = z
o
at = 0
Karmen-Prandtl Eq.
or Law of the Wall
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
o
z
z
z
K u
u
ln
1
*
Hydraulic Roughness Length, z
o

z
o
is the vertical intercept at which
z
= 0
z
o
= f ( viscous sublayer,
grain roughness,
ripples & other bedforms,
stratification)


This leads to two forms of the Karmen-Prandtl Equation
1) with viscous sublayer HSF
2) without viscous sublayer HRF

Can evaluate which case to use with R
*



where k
s
== roughness length scale
in glued sand, pipe flow experiments
k
s
= D
in real seabeds with no bedforms,
k
s
= D
75

in bedforms, characteristic bedform scale
k
s
~ height of ripples
v
s
k u
R
*
*
=
1. Hydraulically Smooth Flow (HSF)
5 0
*
*
< <
v
S
k u
R
** boundary layer is
turbulent, but there is
a viscous sublayer
z
o
is a fraction of the
viscous sublayer
thickness:
Karmen-Prandtl equation
becomes:
For turbulent flow over a
hydraulically smooth boundary
2. Hydraulically Rough Flow (HRF)
70
*
*
>
v
S
k u
R
** no viscous sublayer
z
o
is a function of the
roughness elements
Nikaradze pipe flow
experiments:
Karmen-Prandtl equation
becomes:
For turbulent flow over a
hydraulically rough boundary with
no bedforms, no stratification, etc.
Notes on z
o
in HRF
Grain Roughness:
Nikuradze (1930s) - glued sand grains on pipe flow
z
o
= D/30
Kamphius (1974) - channel flow experiments
z
o
= D/15
Bedforms:
Wooding (1973)
where H is the ripple height
and is the ripple wavelength
Suspended Sediment:
Smith (1977)
z
o
= f (excess shear stress, and z
o
from ripples)
4 . 1
20
|
.
|

\
|
=

H
H z
o
3. Hydraulically Transitional Flow (HTF)
70 5
*
*
< <
v
S
k u
R
z
o
is both fraction of the viscous sublayer thickness and a
function of bed roughness.
Karmen-Prandtl equation is
defined as:
Bed Roughness is never well known or characterized, but fortunately
not necessary to determine u
*
If you only have one velocity measurement (at a single elevation), use
the formulations above.
If you can avoid it.. do so.
With multiple velocity measurements, use the Law of the Wall to
get u
*


|
|
.
|

\
|
=
o
z
z
z
K u
u
ln
1
*
ln z

z

To determine t
b
(or u
*
) from a velocity profile:
1. Fit line to data
2. Find slope -

3. Evaluate
) (
ln ln
1 2
1 2
u u
z z
m

=
m
u
K
=
*