On the wall structure of the turbulent boundary layer

Abstract

The wall structure of the turbulent boundary layer was examined using hot-wire rakes and conditional sampling techniques. Instantaneous velocity measurements indicate a high degree of coherence over a considerable area in the direction normal to the wall. At y + = 15, there is some evidence of large-scale correlation in the spanwise direction, but almost no indication of the streamwise streaks that exist in the lower regions of the boundary layer. Conditional sampling showed that the normal velocity is directed outwards in regions of strong stream-wise-momentum deficit, and inwards when the streamwise velocity exceeds its mean value. The conditionally averaged Reynolds shear stress was approximately an order of magnitude greater than its conventionally averaged value and decayed slowly downstream.