A study of velocity profile models and wall shear stress for two and three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer flows

A review of the existing, more prominent velocity profile models for two and three-dimensional incompressible flows was presented, with emphasis placed on those that had previously shown their ability to correlate experimental data taken under various conditions. This review included velocity profile models that seemingly could represent flows in which the cross flow velocity vector reverses direction.

The various methods of determining a wall shearing stress by semi-empirical considerations for two and three-dimensional flows was discussed. A direct measurement of the wall shearing stress in a three-dimensional flow field was used to infer the most accurate method of applying two-dimensional techniques to three-dimensional conditions in order to obtain reasonable values for the friction losses in a boundary layer.

A discussion of the error in the determination of the skin friction coefficient by use of the Glauser Chart was presented. The experimental constants in the law of the wall formulation are shown to be the basis for an error which may be in excess of 15 per cent in the determination of the skin friction coefficient.

Finally, a thorough comparison of the previously reviewed two and three-dimensional velocity profile models was made with some of the most complete sets of experimental data available to date.