Turbulent boundary layers up to Reθ=2500 studied through simulation and experiment

Abstract

Direct numerical simulations (DNSs) and experiments of a spatially developing zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer are presented up to Reynolds number Reθ=2500, based on momentum thickness θ and free-stream velocity. For the first time direct comparisons of DNS and experiments of turbulent boundary layers at the same (computationally high and experimentally low) Reθ are given, showing excellent agreement in skin friction, mean velocity, and turbulent fluctuations. These results allow for a substantial reduction of the uncertainty of boundary-layer data, and cross validate the numerical setup and experimental technique. The additional insight into the flow provided by DNS clearly shows large-scale turbulent structures, which scale in outer units growing with Reθ, spanning the whole boundary-layer height.