Example1 Laminar Flow between Parallel Plates

General

• The steady-state analysis is applied to the fluid which is flowing at the constant velocity between the parallel plates.
   

• The fluid velocity distribution, the temperature distribution and the fluid velocity vectors are solved.
   

• Unless specified in the list below, the default conditions will be applied.
   

• Obtain this session's project file. (Save the project file before open)

Analysis Space

Show Results

Model

The material of Air (000_Air) is set to a rectangular sheet body. The boundary conditions of inlet and outlet are set on the left edge and the right edge respectively.

The solid wall outer boundary condition is automatically applied to the top and bottom edges where the boundary condition is not set.

Body Attributes and Materials

* Available from the material DB

Boundary Condition

The Reynolds number calculated from this model form, material property, and fluid velocity is about 66. It is small enough to analyze the laminar flow.

Generally, the laminar flow transitions to turbulent flow at the Reynolds number in the order of 1000.

Viscosity μ=1.82e-5[Pa s]

Density ρ: 1.205[kg/m3]

Kinematic viscosity v=μ/ρ=1.82e-5/1.205=1.510e-5[m2/s]

Fluid velocity V=0.1[m/s]

Distance between plates L=0.01[m]

Reynolds number Re = V*L/ν=0.1*0.01/1.510e-5 = 66

Results

The distribution of the fluid velocities is shown below.

A graph below is given by selecting [Graph on edge] after right-clicking an edge near the outlet.

The laminar flow is known to show parabolic distribution of fluid velocities. From the graph, it can be confirmed that the distribution is parabolic.

The maximum velocity in the center is said to be around 1.5 times the average fluid velocity. It also can be confirmed from the graph that the maximum value is about 1.5 times the inflow velocity of 0.1 [m/s].