Parallel Flow in a Straight Channel

Parallel Flow in a Straight Channel Consider steady flow between two infinitely broad parallel plates as shown in Fig. 25.2. Flow is independent of any variation in z direction, hence, z dependence is gotten rid of and Eq. (25.11) becomes FIG 25.2 Parallel flow in a straight channel (25.12) The boundary conditions are at y = b, u = 0; and y = -b, u = O. From Eq. (25.12), we can write or  Applying the boundary conditions, the constants are evaluated as    and  So, the solution is          (25.13)           which implies that the velocity profile is parabolic. Average Velocity and Maximum Velocity To establish the relationship between the maximum velocity and average velocity in the channel, we analyze as follows  At y = 0,                           ; this yields (25.14a) On the other hand, the average velocity, or  Finally,        (25.14b)  So,    or      (25.14c)  The shearing stress at the wall for the parallel flow in a channel can be determined from the velocity gradient as Since the upper plate is a "minus y surface", a negative stress acts in the positive x direction, i.e. to the right. The local friction coefficient, Cf is defined by (25.14d) where  is the Reynolds number of flow based on average velocity and the channel height (2b). Experiments show that Eq. (25.14d) is valid in the laminar regime of the channel flow. The maximum Reynolds number value corresponding to fully developed laminar flow, for which a stable motion will persist, is 2300. In a reasonably careful experiment, laminar flow can be observed up to even Re = 10,000. But the value below which the flow will always remain laminar, i.e. the critical value of Re is 2300.