A comparison of the turbulence structure of subsonic and supersonic boundary layers

A. J. Smits, E. F. Spina, A. E. Alving, R. W. Smith, E. M. Fernando, J. F. Donovan

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Abstract

A comparison of the turbulence structure of subsonic and supersonic boundary layers reveals that, despite broad similarities, significant differences exist. The length scales derived from space-time correlations indicate that the spanwise scales are almost identical but that the streamwise scales in the supersonic flow are about half the size of those in subsonic flow. The large-scale structures in the subsonic boundary layer appear to move slightly slower, and lean more toward the wall than those observed in supersonic flows, and their shear stress content is distributed differently among the four quadrants. These observations should have a strong impact on deriving turbulence models for high Reynolds number supersonic flows.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1865-1875
Number of pages11
JournalPhysics of Fluids A
Volume1
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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