Wall Shear Stress Inference for Three-Dimensional Turbulent Boundary-Layer Velocity Profiles

Abstract

Based on flow similarity in the near-wall region of three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers, three methods have been developed for the prediction of the wall shear stress components, their resultant and its direction. The results from all the methods agree with one another and with available experimental results. It is found that the direction of the wall shear stress vector is not the same as the direction of the limiting wall streamline, except for small crossflows. A simplified procedure for estimating skin friction is also given, by which graphical work, as in the Clauser scheme, is eliminated.