Flow Development in a Parallel Plate Channel

The paper presents a study of the flow that occurs in a finite, parallel plate channel. The experimental work consists of velocity profile measurements upstream of and inside the channel of a belt-type apparatus. Theoretical prediction of velocity profile development is made via numerical methods in both laminar and turbulent situations. In the laminar flow case analytical solution of a linearized form of the momentum equation was also possible. Good agreement is shown between prediction and experimental results for all Reynolds numbers tested; in turbulent flow this occurs particularly when employing Reichardt’s eddy viscosity model. For laminar flow the entrance length is estimated to be 0.008–0.01 times the Reynolds number, while in turbulent flow no essential difference was found between an entrance and the corresponding asymptotic profile. Upstream from the entrance the similar laminar profiles of Sakiadis were observed experimentally.