The effect of pressure gradient on the law of the wall in turbulent flow

Abstract

The effect of a streamwise pressure gradient on the velocity profile in the viscous sublayer of a turbulent flow along a smooth wall in two-dimensional flow is estimated. In the analysis, a similarity argument is used and the necessary empirical information obtained from a constant pressure flow. An allowance is made for the departure from the wall value of the gradient of total shear stress normal to the wall. The results of analysis were used to generate new additive constants for use with Townsend's modified law of the wall velocity profile and subsequently Townsend's profile is found to be in good agreement with the measured velocity profiles in an adverse pressure gradient.