Interactive boundary layers in turbulent flow

An asymptotic analysis of the structure of the flow at high Reynolds number around a streamlined body is presented. The boundary layer is turbulent. This question is studied with the successive complementary expansion method, SCEM. The starting point is to look for a uniformly valid approximation (UVA) of the velocity field, including the boundary layer and the external flow. Thanks to the use of generalized expansions, SCEM leads to the theory of interactive boundary layer, IBL. For many years, IBL model has been used successfully to calculate aerodynamic flows. Here, the IBL model is fully justified with rational mathematical arguments. The construction of a UVA of the velocity profile in the boundary layer is also studied. To cite this article: J. Cousteix, J. Mauss, C. R. Mecanique 335 (2007).