Viscous Fluid Flow

Prof. Amaresh Dalal

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Module - 02
Steady One-dimensional Rectilinear Flows
Lecture - 02
Plane Poiseuille Flow

Hello everyone, so today we will study Plane Poiseuille Flow. What is plane Poiseuille
flow? Plane Poiseuille flow is the flow when a fluid is forced to flow between 2 infinite
parallel stationary flat plates under constant pressure gradient and 0 gravity. In the last
class we have already studied plane Coquette flow and we know how we get the fully
developed flow.

So, we will have the assumptions of fully developed flow in the case of plane Poiseuille
flow and we will derive the velocity distribution, shear stress distribution and volume flow
rate per unit width.

(Refer Slide Time: 01:20)

So, let us consider two parallel plates these are stationary, which means velocity is 0 and
the distance between two parallel plates is 2H, we have taken the axis in the mid of this
plane so this is your center line and x is measured in the axial direction and y is measured
from the center line.
We have taken this coordinate here for convenient, because we know that the velocity
distribution is symmetric about the center line. So, what are the assumptions we are taking?
We are assuming laminar steady incompressible flow with constant fluid properties, fully
∂u
developed flow that means ∂x is 0, pressure gradient is constant gravitational acceleration

in x direction is 0 and we are taking width of the plates along the z direction to be infinitely
large as compared to its height 2 H.

So, that there are no gradients of flow variables along the z direction. That means, in z
∂()
direction W velocity is 0 and of any flow variables is 0, so obviously as z direction is
∂z

infinite. So, end effects are neglected and we know for the fully developed flow condition
∂u
that from continuity equation putting is 0 and W as 0; you can so that b is equal to 0
∂x

everywhere.

So, with these assumptions you can write the Navier Stokes equations, specially the x
momentum equation as

𝜕 2 𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
=
𝜕𝑦 2 µ 𝜕𝑥

So, we know that u is a function of y only right. So, it is one-dimensional flow because
we are considering fully developed flow and u is a function of y only.

So, if you integrate twice you will be able to find the velocity distribution with proper
boundary conditions. What are the boundary conditions? So, you can see from here that at
y is called to H as well as at minus H you have velocity 0.
(Refer Slide Time: 04:12)

So, let us find the velocity distribution from starting from this ordinary differential
equation. So, our ordinary differential equation is

𝜕 2 𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
=
𝜕𝑦 2 µ 𝜕𝑥

So, if you integrate this equation you will get

𝑑𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
= 𝑦 + 𝐶1
𝑑𝑦 µ 𝜕𝑥

Again if you integrate then you will get

1 𝜕𝑝 2
𝑢(𝑦) = 𝑦 + 𝐶1 𝑦 + 𝐶2
2µ 𝜕𝑥

So now, let us invoke those 2 boundary conditions because there are 2 unknowns so we
need 2 boundary conditions and find the integration constants C1 and C2.

So, boundary conditions are at y is equal to H. So, you can see this will be 0 right velocity
is 0, u is 0, so you will get

1 𝜕𝑝 2
0= 𝐻 + 𝐶1 𝐻 + 𝐶2
2µ 𝜕𝑥
And if you invoke the other boundary condition at the rate of y is equal to –H, u is equal
to 0. So, you will get

1 𝜕𝑝 2
0= 𝐻 − 𝐶1 𝐻 + 𝐶2
2µ 𝜕𝑥

So if this equation is 1 and if this equation is 2. So, if you subtract these two equations.
So, if you subtract equation 2 from 1 then you will get, so subtracting equation 2 from
equation 1. So, if you subtract you can see so these two1 terms are same, so it will get
cancelled C 2 will get cancelled you will get 2𝐶1 𝐻 is equal to 0, that means 𝐶1 is equal to
0. If you add these 2 equations so you will get adding equation 1 and equation 2. What you
will get? So, you can see you will get

1 𝜕𝑝 2
2[ 𝐻 + 𝐶2 ] = 0
2µ 𝜕𝑥

(Refer Slide Time: 07:29)

Now, let us put these two integration constants C1, C2 in this equation and get the velocity
profile, so your velocity distribution. What is your velocity distribution after invoking the
constants? So,

1 𝜕𝑝 2 1 𝜕𝑝 2
𝑢(𝑦) = 𝑦 − 𝐻
2µ 𝜕𝑥 2µ 𝜕𝑥

So, if you rearrange you will get

 𝐻2 𝜕𝑝 𝑦2
= (− ) (1 − 2 )
2µ 𝜕𝑥 𝐻

𝜕𝑝
So, this is your velocity distribution. So, you know that in this particular case 𝜕𝑥 is constant

and we have favourable pressure gradient. So, if it is favourable pressure gradient, then
your flow will occur in the positive x direction.

𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝
So, in this case − 𝜕𝑥 is a positive quantity right. So, in this case − 𝜕𝑥 is a positive quantity

for favourable pressure gradient. So now we can see this velocity distribution is parabolic
ok. Now, if you want to calculate the mean velocity, so first we will calculate the
volumetric flow rate.

(Refer Slide Time: 09:22)

So, first, let us calculate the volumetric flow rate per unit width. So, if we consider in the
z-direction the width is W, then we will calculate the volumetric flow rate Q/W. And how
we will calculate? So obviously, at any section, you need to calculate the flow area and
this flow area into the mean velocity will give you the volumetric flow rate.

So, in this case if you see that at a distance y we have taken one infinitesimal distance dy
and in z-direction if the width is W, then you will get the flow area as Wdy. So, in this
particular case now volumetric flow rate Q will be

𝑄 = ∫𝐴 𝑢(𝑦) 𝑑𝐴
And now if you integrate from -H to H, then you will get

𝐻
= ∫ 𝑢(𝑦)𝑊𝑑𝑦
−𝐻

𝐻
𝑄 1 𝜕𝑝
= ∫ (− ) (𝐻 2 − 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑦
𝑊 −𝐻 2µ 𝜕𝑥

𝐻 𝐻
1 𝜕𝑝 𝑦3
= ∫ (− ) [𝐻 2 𝑦 − ]
−𝐻 2µ 𝜕𝑥 3 −𝐻

1 𝜕𝑝 𝐻3 𝐻3
= (− ) [𝐻 3 − + 𝐻3 − ]
2µ 𝜕𝑥 3 3

2 𝜕𝑝
= (− ) 𝐻 3
3µ 𝜕𝑥

So, this is the volumetric flow rate. So, you can see that the volumetric flow rate is
proportional to the pressure gradient and inversely proportional to the viscosity. In most
application the mean velocity is provided in the channel and we are interested to find what
is the pressure gradient. So, if we want to calculate the mean velocity we will be able to
calculate from the expression of this volumetric flow rate.

(Refer Slide Time: 13:17)

So, what is mean velocity? The mean or average velocity is physically an equivalent
uniform velocity field that could have given rise to the same volume flow rate as that
induced by the variable velocity field under consideration.

So, you know that we have already calculated the volume flow rate and this will be your
mean velocity into the flow area. So, in this case you can see what is the flow area? So,
flow area is your 2HW. So, it will be

𝑄 = 𝑢𝑚 𝐴 = 𝑢𝑚 2𝐻𝑊

𝑄 1
𝑢𝑚 = .
𝑊 2𝐻

So, if you rearrange it you will get

2 𝜕𝑝 1
= (− ) 𝐻 3
3µ 𝜕𝑥 2𝐻

𝐻2 𝜕𝑝
= (− )
3µ 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑝 3µ𝑢𝑚
− =
𝜕𝑥 𝐻2

So, you can see in the right hand side µ is constant and positive quantity um is also positive
it is a mean velocity H is also dimension. So obviously, right side term is positive hence
𝜕𝑝
− 𝜕𝑥 is positive.

Now, let us calculate the maximum velocity. Where we will get the maximum velocity
you can see it is a parabolic profile; obviously, due to symmetry at the center line you will
get the maximum velocity. You can also see that du/dy will be 0 if you put 0, then
obviously at y is equal to 0 you will get the maximum velocity.
(Refer Slide Time: 15:56)

So, maximum velocity you will get at y is equal to 0 at y is equal to 0 and you will get
umax. So, what is the velocity profile your velocity profile

𝐻2 𝜕𝑝 𝑦2
𝑢(𝑦) = (− ) (1 − 2 )
2µ 𝜕𝑥 𝐻

𝐻2 𝜕𝑝
𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑢(𝑦)|𝑦=0 = (− )
2µ 𝜕𝑥

𝐻2 𝜕𝑝
𝑢𝑚 = (− )
2µ 𝜕𝑥

𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 3
=
𝑢𝑚 2

𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.5𝑢𝑚

So, if you consider plane Poiseuille flow; that means, flow between two infinite parallel
plates.

Then you will get maximum velocity as 1.5 times the mean velocity. So, let us calculate
the ratio 𝑢(𝑦)/𝑢𝑚 . So, you can see this is your mean velocity and this is your velocity
expression. So, if you divide then you will get
 𝑢(𝑦) 3 𝑦2
= (1 − 2 )
𝑢𝑚 2 𝐻

3
And from here you can see that your umax is 2 𝑢𝑚 ; that means, also you can write the

velocity distribution

𝑦2
𝑢(𝑦) = 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 2 )
𝐻

So, now we want to find what is the shear stress distribution inside the flow domain as
well as what is the wall shear stress. So, you know in the case of fully developed flow your
shear stress τyx will be just µdu/dy.

(Refer Slide Time: 18:58)

𝑑𝑢
So, shear stress τyx you will get only 𝜇 𝑑𝑦 . So, you know the velocity distribution. So, if
𝜕𝑝
you put the values you will get actually this as 𝑦 and we have already found that
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑝 3µ𝑢𝑚
− =
𝜕𝑥 𝐻2

So, you are going to get

3µ𝑢𝑚
𝜏𝑦𝑥 = − 𝑦
𝐻2
So, you can see from this expression that τyx will vary inside the flow domain linearly from
y is equal to -H to H, because it is a function of y, so linear function of y.

So if you want to find the wall shear stress τW, so obviously this will be

3µ𝑢𝑚 3µ𝑢𝑚
𝜏𝑤 = −𝜏𝑦𝑥 |𝑦=𝐻 = 𝐻 =
𝐻2 𝐻

So, you can see the how your velocity distribution will look like as we have seen that

3 𝑦2
𝑢(𝑦) = 𝑢𝑚 (1 − 2 )
2 𝐻

So obviously at y is equal to -H you can see this will be 0, y is equal to plus H velocity
will be 0 and we have seen that at y is equal to 0 you will get maximum velocity and it is
a parabolic in nature and shear stress distribution linearly it varies.

So now, we will find the skin friction coefficient, so the skin friction coefficient is the
dimension less representation of wall shear stress.

(Refer Slide Time: 21:40)

So, you can see that we can define skin friction coefficient Cf as

|𝜏𝑤 | 3µ𝑢𝑚 2
𝐶𝑓 = =
1 2 𝐻 𝜌𝑢𝑚2
2 𝜌𝑢𝑚
So, if you rearrange it you will get

12µ
𝐶𝑓 =
𝜌𝑢𝑚 (2𝐻)

So now, we will define Reynolds number based on 2H. So, you know Reynolds number is
the ratio of inertia force to the viscous force. So, Reynolds number based on twice H we
are writing as

𝜌𝑢𝑚 (2𝐻)
𝑅𝑒2𝐻 =
µ

ρ into mean velocity into twice H divided by µ. So, you can see you can write

12
𝐶𝑓 =
𝑅𝑒2𝐻

(Refer Slide Time: 23:11)

Similarly, we can represent the dimensionless pressure gradient in terms of Friction factor.
So, we can define friction factor as

𝜕𝑝
(− ) (2𝐻)
𝜕𝑥
𝑓=
1 2
2 𝜌𝑢𝑚
So, this is the expression in terms of mean velocity.

3µ𝑢𝑚 2
𝑓= 2𝐻 2
𝐻 𝜌𝑢𝑚

24µ
=
𝜌𝑢𝑚 (2𝐻)

24
=
𝑅𝑒2𝐻

So, hence you can write

𝑓 = 2𝐶𝑓

Now, we will consider another case that is your plane Poiseuille flow between inclined
plates.

(Refer Slide Time: 25:28)

So, we let us consider two parallel plates which are inclined with the horizontal with angle
θ. In this case the plates separated by a distance 2H and along the center line we are
measuring x and y is measured from the center line. So, these are stationary plates now
you can see in this particular case your gravity g is acting in this direction. It will have two
components one is in this direction and other is in this direction.
So obviously, you can see this is your θ, so you will get gcosθ in this direction and gsinθ
in axial direction x

So, when we will write the governing equation you can see obviously in the x-direction x
momentum equation the gravity factor will be gsinθ and in y component of the momentum
equation, your gravity will be gcosθ. That means, gx is your gsinθ and this is in the positive
x direction. However, gy will be -gcosθ ok.

So, when you are considering Poiseuille flow between two inclined parallel plates, then
obviously as you have considered x as the axial direction. So, our governing equation will
remain same only we are not neglecting the gravitational acceleration ok.

So, we can write the governing equation

𝜕 2 𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
= ( − 𝜌𝑔𝑥 )
𝜕𝑦 2 µ 𝜕𝑥

𝜕 2 𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝
= ( − 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃)
𝜕𝑦 2 µ 𝜕𝑥

S So obviously you can see if we integrate twice then you will get the velocity distribution.
So, the velocity distribution u which is a function of y you can write it as

1 𝜕𝑝
𝑢(𝑦) = ( − 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃) 𝑦 2 + 𝐶1 𝑦 + 𝐶2
2µ 𝜕𝑥

So, you can see the boundary conditions. So, boundary conditions are at y is equal to H
and -H your u is equal to 0. So, if u is equal to 0 you put it here and you will get the
constants C1 and C2. So, C1 you will get as 0 as earlier and C2 you will get

1 𝜕𝑝
𝐶2 = − ( − 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃) 𝐻 2
2µ 𝜕𝑥

So, if you put this C2 and C1 values here you will get the velocity distribution,

𝐻2 𝜕𝑝 𝑦2
𝑢(𝑦) = (− + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃) (1 − 2 )
2µ 𝜕𝑥 𝐻
(Refer Slide Time: 29:51)

And now if you want to calculate the volumetric flow rate and the shear stress it will be
𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝
similar to the plane Poiseuille flow except your − 𝜕𝑥 will be replaced with − 𝜕𝑥 + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃.

So, your volumetric flow rate will be

𝑄 2𝐻 3 𝜕𝑝
= (− + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃)
𝑊 3µ 𝜕𝑥

Here you can see that 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃 is constant; because ρ is density and it is constant for
incompressible flow g is the gravitational acceleration. So, all these quantities are constant.
𝜕𝑝
So, − 𝜕𝑥 is also constant. So, these two terms actually are constant. So, you will get the

similar expression .

𝜕𝑝
In place of − 𝜕𝑥 for in case of plane Poiseuille flow we are substituting here. So, in this
𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝
particular case we are writing − 𝜕𝑥 + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃 in place of − 𝜕𝑥 for this plane Poiseuille

flow. So, similarly you can find the mean velocity um as

𝐻2 𝜕𝑝
𝑢𝑚 = (− + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃)
3µ 𝜕𝑥
And the shear stress distribution you will get

𝜕𝑝
𝜏𝑦𝑥 = ( − 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃) 𝑦
𝜕𝑥

And you can see here also you will get the linear profile and if you put the expression of
𝜕𝑝
− 𝜕𝑥 + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃, then you can write

3µ𝑢𝑚
𝜏𝑦𝑥 = − 𝑦
𝐻2

And this is the same expression as in case of plane Poiseuille flow. So, you can write the
velocity distribution

3𝑢𝑚 𝑦2
𝑢(𝑦) = (1 − 2 )
2 𝐻

And in this case also you will get

𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.5𝑢𝑚

So obviously

𝑦2
𝑢(𝑦) = 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − )
𝐻2

(Refer Slide Time: 33:12)

So, if you put the gravitational acceleration in the y momentum equation, then obviously
you know that v is equal to 0, y momentum equation will boils down to

𝜕𝑝
= −𝜌𝑔 cos 𝜃
𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑝
So obviously 𝜕𝑦 you can see this is your constant and this is nothing but the hydrostatic

pressure right. We know that p is function of x y and z, so we can write

𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝
𝑑𝑝 = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

𝜕()
So, you can see that of any flow variable is 0 because we consider z direction is infinite.
𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑝
So, this will be 0 and is constant this is the expression and also is constant for
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

Poiseuille flow.

So, you can see that dp will be

𝜕𝑝
𝑑𝑝 = 𝑑𝑥 − 𝜌𝑔 cos 𝜃𝑑𝑦
𝜕𝑥

So, if we integrate it you will get the pressure distribution as

𝜕𝑝
𝑝(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 − 𝜌𝑔 cos 𝜃 𝑦 + 𝐶
𝜕𝑥

So, this integration constant can be found just by putting a value of pressure at any location
you can find the constant C. So, in today’s class we considered plane Poiseuille flow which
is the flow between 2 parallel plates and with a constant pressure gradient.

So, in that case we have found the velocity distribution and we have shown that it is
parabolic. Then we calculated the volumetric flow rate and we have seen that Q is
proportional to the pressure gradient and inversely proportional to the viscosity of the fluid.
𝜕𝑝
Then we calculated the mean velocity and we have shown that your pressure gradient − 𝜕𝑥

is a positive quantity.

And we have represented in terms of mean velocity then we have shown that your
maximum velocity will occur at center line and this is equal to 1.5 times the mean velocity.
Then we calculated the shear stress and shear stress distribution is linear inside the flow
domain.

And from there we have expressed the dimensionless shear stress which is your skin
friction coefficient and we have also expressed the pressure gradient in terms of non
dimensional quantity and that is known as friction factor. And we have shown that friction
factor is twice the skin friction coefficient. Later we considered Poiseuille flow inside
inclined parallel plates and in this case your gravity in the x direction is ρgsinθ.

𝜕𝑝
So, in this case your pressure gradient will be − 𝜕𝑥 + 𝜌𝑔 cos 𝜃 will be added. And velocity

distribution is again parabolic in this particular case and it will be the similar profile which
𝜕𝑝
you get in the plane Poiseuille flow, only the pressure will differ because − 𝜕𝑥 is replaced
𝜕𝑝
with − 𝜕𝑥 + 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝜃 ok.

So, but your velocity distribution will be similar as the horizontal case, where θ is equal to
0. And then we have expressed the mean velocity and the shear stress distribution and also
we have calculated the pressure distribution inside the flow domain.

Thank you.