A boundary layer developing in an increasingly adverse pressure gradient

Abstract

This paper deals with a survey of mean flow and fluctuating quantities in a turbulent boundary layer developing on a smooth wall in a pressure domain P(x), where both dP/dx and d2P/dx2 are positive (increasingly adverse). The two-dimensional nature of the flow field was checked by momentum balance, as well as velocity traverses either side of the working section centre-line. Using the integrated form of the momentum integral equation, it was found that the skinfriction term and the summed momentum and pressure terms differed by at most 19%; but for the majority of measuring points they differed by less than 14%. The off-centre-line velocity profiles were indistinguishable from those taken on the centre-line. The flow field was also surveyed for fluctuating components $(\overline{u^2_1})^{\frac{1}{2}}, (\overline{u^2_2})^{\frac{1}{2}}, (\overline{u^2_3})^{\frac{1}{2}}$, and $\overline{u_1u_2}$, as well as for u1 spectra. Wherever possible, the results were compared with existing models of boundary-layer development. These comparisons indicated that the only all-embracing model for boundary-layer development is the law of the wall.