The development of turbulent thermal layers on flat plates

Abstract

Measurements of mean velocity and temperature are presented for a turbulent boundary layer developing on a uniform temperature flat smooth plate. An analysis for determining the virtual origins of the aerodynamic and thermal layers is presented. Using this analysis, the virtual origins of the aerodynamic and thermal layers were made coincident. A thermal defect law and thermal law of the wall were found to be applicable. Mean temperature measurements were made for the case of an internal thermal layer originating at a step change in wall temperature downstream of the origin of the aerodynamic layer. It was found that the thermal law of the wall became applicable, for the case studied, a small streamwise distance after the step.