PRESSURE-DROP AND HEAT-TRANSFER IN TURBULENT DUCT FLOW - A 2-PARAMETER VARIATIONAL METHOD

A two-parameter variational method is introduced to calculate pressure drop and heat transfer for turbulent flow in ducts. The variational m ethod leads to: a Galerkin-type solution for the momentum and energy e quations. The method uses the Prandtl mixing length theory to describe turbulent shear stress. The Van Driest model is compared with experim ental data and incorporated in the numerical calculations. The compute d velocity profiles, pressure drop, and heat transfer coefficient are compared with,the experimental data of various investigators for fully developed turbulent flow in parallel plate ducts and pipes. This anal ysis leads to development of a Green's function useful for solving a v ariety of conjugate heat transfer problems.