The Structure of Turbulent Plane Couette Flow

Abstract

Measurements of time-mean velocity, of longitudinal, normal and lateral velocity fluctuation intensities (u′, v′, w′) and of shear stress have been made for four cases of pure shear flow in a flat channel, one of whose walls is stationary while the second moves. Both walls are effectively smooth. General expressions for the mean velocity profile and a prediction of the friction coefficient are developed. Comparisons of the experimental results with existing data are made. The profiles of v′, w′, turbulence kinetic energy and production of turbulence energy across the channel are the first to be published.