Near Surface Velocity Distributions for Intermittent Separation of Turbulent Boundary Layers

Abstract

At the location of intermittent turbulent boundary layer separation a finite positive mean surface shear stress still exists. It is demonstrated that viscous coordinates and a mixing length turbulent model may still be used at the location of intermittent separation. The large scale turbulent mixing in the separation region appears to require the universal mixing constant, K, increases with Reynolds number. Once true zero-mean-surface-shear-stress separation occurs, the mixing length model for the turbulent flow near the surface is no longer valid and a constant eddy viscosity is indicated.