CFD Investigation of Boundary Layer Development in Laminar Flow over Flat Plates

This study investigates the hydrodynamics and thermal characteristics of air and water flow over a flat plate using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. In the modelling the two-dimensional, laminar model is used. The challenge of accurately modelling fluid behaviour in engineering applications is addressed by employing the finite volume method to solve the Navier-Stokes equations, focusing on the flow and heat transfer phenomena over a flat plate. The study determines that using fine meshes significantly improves the accuracy of these calculations, emphasizing their importance in CFD simulations and showing an agreement with the analytical solution. The results show the significant effect of fluid properties on thermal gradients and boundary layer characteristics, where water shows a pronounced thermal gradient and a thinner boundary layer due to its superior thermal conductivity and density. In contrast, air exhibits a broader thermal boundary layer with a gentler temperature gradient. The study recommends incorporating advanced turbulence models to enhance the accuracy of simulating complex flow behaviours. Sophisticated models will provide insight into the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, improving the overall reliability of the simulations in capturing intricate flow dynamics.