Calculation of friction factors and Nusselt numbers for laminar flow in rectangular ducts using finite elements

摘要

A finite-element technique is described to determine the wall shear stresses and heat fluxes for fully developed laminar flow at the wall of a rectangular duct. It is shown that these values are accurate and that they can in some instances be independent of the grid resolution. These values are then used to obtain the friction factors and Nusselt numbers for Poiseuille-Brinkman flow in various rectangular ducts. The results are found to be in good agreement with the values quoted in a number of well-known textbooks. Some small discrepancies in some of the quoted values are also pointed out. [References: 17]