On the logarithmic-law constants and the turbulent boundary layer at low Reynolds numbers

Abstract

It is shown that a family of formally derived similarity solutions describe to leading order the outer region of a turbulent boundary layer for all Reynolds numbers for which the layer satisfies the logarithmic law-of-the-wall. The family includes Coles' [1] hypothesis. For consistency with this hypothesis and the logarithmic law-of-the-wall, it is further shown that the constants in the latter form the product κC=2+O(ε), suggesting the logarithmic law of the wall be written

$${U \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {U {U_\tau = \kappa ^{ - 1} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {U_\tau = \kappa ^{ - 1} }}\ln \left( {e^2 U_\tau {y \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {y \nu }} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} \nu }} \right) + O\left( \in \right).$$

A range of data are reprocessed to determine the skin friction coefficientC _f using κC = 2 and these collapse well when plotted against momentum thickness Reynolds number, Re _θ . It is also shown that the form parameter, Π, in Coles hypothesis is not unique but is determined by history effects peculiar to the boundary layer. Expressions are derived forC _f (Re _θ ) and the shape factorH (Re _θ ); both agree closely with the data and are valid over all Reynolds numbers for which the logarithmic law of the wall is satisfied.