Chapter 2, Problem 34P

The velocity distribution for laminar flow between parallel plates is given by

$\frac{\mu }{u_{\max }}=1-{\left(\frac{2y}{h}\right)}^2$

where h is the distance separating the plates and the origin is placed midway between the plates. Consider a flow of water at 15°C, with u_max = 0.10 m/s and h = 0.1 mm. Calculate the shear stress on the upper plate and give its direction. Sketch the variation of shear stress across the channel.