The Boundary Layer on a Plane of Symmetry

Abstract

Summary For the turbulent boundary layer it is shown that, if an initial velocity profile is given, along with the local pressure gradient and shear-stress distribution through the layer, then the shape of the velocity profile a short distance downstream is unaffected by flow convergence or divergence, provided this is constant through the layer. For flow approaching an obstacle, increased divergence close to the surface is shown to account for the marked changes in profile shape that have been observed.