A Calculation Method for Three-Dimensional Turbulent Boundary Layers

Abstract

A method for the calculation of three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers is given. It depends on the assumptions that the component of the velocity in the boundary layer parallel to the external streamlines follows a power law, and that the angle the direction of flow in the boundary layer makes with the external streamlines is small. The external flow is expressed in streamline co-ordinates and the calculations follow a streamline in the external flow. The momentum thickness is determined by a quadrature and the angle the limiting streamlines make with the external streamlines is determined from a linear differential equation. Only slight experimental checks are available; they suggest that the method is adequate, but more experimental results are needed in order to refine the method.