y+ wall distance calculator
When meshing geometry for a CFD analysis, it is often useful to estimate the wall distance to obtain a certain y+. With the calculator below you can calculate this wall distance.
Formulas used to calculate the wall distance from y+
The Reynolds number for a given free stream velocity U∞ is:
$${Re = \frac{\rho \cdot U_{\infty} \cdot L_{boundary\,layer}}{\mu}}$$
The Schlichting formula to obtain the skin friction coefficient Cf is used in this calculator and is valid for Rex < 109:
$${C_f = [ 2 \cdot log_{10}(Re_x) - 0.65 ] ^{-2.3} \quad \mbox{voor} \quad Re_x < \; 10^9}$$
The wall shear stress is calculated from the skin friction coefficient Cf:
$${\tau_w = C_f \cdot \frac{1}{2} \, \rho \, U_{\infty}^2}$$
The friction velocity u* is a function of the fluid density and the wall shear stress:
$${u^* = \sqrt{\frac{\tau_w}{\rho}}}$$
And eventually the wall distance for a desired y+ is:
$${y = \frac{y^+ \mu}{\rho \, u^*}}$$
y+ wall distance calculator
The predefined values for density and dynamic viscosity in the calculator are for air at p = 1 atm and T = 20°C.
The density and dynamic viscosity for water at the same conditions are respectively 998.21 kg/m3 and 1.002e-3 Pa.s.