Scaling laws for turbulent boundary layer flows in favorable and adverse pressure gradient

An analytical theory is proposed to describe incompressible plane and axisymmetric turbulent boundary layer flows in favorable and adverse pressure gradients for near-equilibrium conditions. Scaling laws for the mean velocity, the Reynolds stress components, and the skin friction have been established. A universal friction law makes it possible to represent the skin friction distributions corresponding to different Reynolds numbers and pressure gradients in terms of a function of one variable. The theory is based on general physical assumptions and does not involve any special hypotheses on the nature of the turbulent motion. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)