# Blasius Equation

by carpediem85
Tags: blasius, equation
 P: 2 hi I am trying to write a Fortran 77 code to solve the Blasius equation numerically: blasius equation: F''' + (1/2)*F*F'' = 0 boundary conditions: f(0)=0.0, F'(0)=0, and limit of F'(eta) as eta approaches infinity is 1.0. This differential equation represents the velocity profile for an incompressible and laminar flow over a flat plate. So far I know this about how to do it: 1. I need to take this 3rd order ode and build asystem of of 1st order odes. I do not how many, probably 3 or 2, I am not sure at this points. 2. i need to use the shooting method to approximate the last boudnary condition and find f''(0) that I can use to continue to implement Runge-Kutta march. If anyone please knows or has already solved this problem , i would really appreciate that you write to me or post here your advice. i am confused and cannt get tarted..once i know the differential equations and the initial conditions properly, i can write the runge kutta algorithm in no time. thanks.
PF Gold
P: 1,479
 Quote by carpediem85 I need to take this 3rd order ode and build asystem of of 1st order odes. I do not how many, probably 3 or 2, I am not sure at this points.
What?? Don't you know how many first order equations can you write with a third order DE? Just three, man.

 2. i need to use the shooting method to approximate the last boudnary condition and find f''(0) that I can use to continue to implement Runge-Kutta march.
Yeah, you're right. The only funny thing here is that the equation is non linear, and so the shooting method you should employ. In total, you should end up with three first order equations coming from the third order original equation plus three more first order equations which helps you to calculate the next value of the shooting parameter using a Newton-Raphson approximation.
 P: 2 Hallo! I also have a question. In the blasius equation, since you don't know the value of f(η) in every point, how can you compute the value for the point f(x+h/2,y+k1/2) it's needed in order to compute the vlaue o k2 and so on... Any suggestions are welcome!
P: 117
Blasius Equation

 Quote by carpediem85 hi I am trying to write a Fortran 77 code to solve the Blasius equation numerically: blasius equation: F''' + (1/2)*F*F'' = 0 boundary conditions: f(0)=0.0, F'(0)=0, and limit of F'(eta) as eta approaches infinity is 1.0. This differential equation represents the velocity profile for an incompressible and laminar flow over a flat plate. So far I know this about how to do it: 1. I need to take this 3rd order ode and build asystem of of 1st order odes. I do not how many, probably 3 or 2, I am not sure at this points. 2. i need to use the shooting method to approximate the last boudnary condition and find f''(0) that I can use to continue to implement Runge-Kutta march. If anyone please knows or has already solved this problem , i would really appreciate that you write to me or post here your advice. i am confused and cannt get tarted..once i know the differential equations and the initial conditions properly, i can write the runge kutta algorithm in no time. thanks.
This is how it goes. First, consider that F is a function of an aditional parameter, representing F'' at 0, that is, $$F(x,\alpha)$$. The system, written for variables $$\vec{x}\equiv [F,F',F'',F_{,\alpha},F'_{,\alpha},F''_{\alpha}]$$ reads:
$$x'=[x_{2},x_{3},-1/2x_{1}{x_{3},x_{4},x_{5},-1/2(x_{1}x_{6}+x_{4}x_{3})]$$
with boundary conditions:
$$x_{0}\equiv [0,0,\alpha,0,0,0]$$
why including $$F_{,\alpha}$$? because at each step, your error is $$F(L,\alpha)-1$$, so that next alpha is calculated via a Newton Raphson method:
$$\Delta \alpha= -F(L,\alpha)/F_{,\alpha}(L,\alpha)$$
 P: 2 thanks gato! quite helpful!:)
P: 69
 Quote by gato_ This is how it goes. First, consider that F is a function of an aditional parameter, representing F'' at 0, that is, $$F(x,\alpha)$$. The system, written for variables $$\vec{x}\equiv [F,F',F'',F_{,\alpha},F'_{,\alpha},F''_{\alpha}]$$ reads: $$x'=[x_{2},x_{3},-1/2x_{1}{x_{3},x_{4},x_{5},-1/2(x_{1}x_{6}+x_{4}x_{3})]$$ with boundary conditions: $$x_{0}\equiv [0,0,\alpha,0,0,0]$$ why including $$F_{,\alpha}$$? because at each step, your error is $$F(L,\alpha)-1$$, so that next alpha is calculated via a Newton Raphson method: $$\Delta \alpha= -F(L,\alpha)/F_{,\alpha}(L,\alpha)$$
Hello...can anyone make me clear what exactly and how the 'alpha' factor here helps in calculating the value of f''(0) for next iteration..
I also don't get how to solve this equation by making the marching process (f''(0)) automatically ..
I know what Newton Raphson method is and used ..but not why F(x,alpha) is assumed ..and how to solve those 6 equation..
also what does
can anyone plz xplain to me that..
 P: 117 The $$\alpha$$ parameter is included just because you are solving an initial value problem of third order without the information required (in this case, the value $$F''(0)$$). The procedure involves making some guess ($$F''(0)=\alpha$$), then advancing the solution form x=0 to a reasonable length (with a Runge Kutta scheme, for instance), then taking $$F(L)-1\equiv F(\infty)-1$$ as the error of your calculation. You use a Newton Raphson method to iteratively minimize that error as much as you need. The variable $$F_{,\alpha}$$ is included so that you have the derivative of the error for the Newton Raphson. Hope this helps.