Wall turbulence closure based on classical similarity laws and the attached eddy hypothesis

Published by the American Institute of Physics. The definitive version is found in Physics of Fluids, 6(2), 1024-1035.http://pof.aip.org/A new look at the closure problem of turbulent boundary layers is taken here using recently derived analytical expressions for the shear stress distributions. These expressions are based on logarithmic law of the wall and law of the wake formulation of Coles [J. Fluid Mech. 1, 191 (1956)] with the mean continuity and the mean momentum differential and integral equations. The concept of equilibrium layers of Clauser [Adv. Mech. 4, 1 (1956)] is extended and using similar ideas as Rotta [Prog. Aeronaut. Sci. 2, 1(1962)] for self-similarity, a closure scheme is proposed for layers developing in arbitrary pressure gradients for the case where the streamwise derivative of the Coles wake factor is not too large. For a given flow case, this Coles wake condition can be tested with internal consistency checks. The mathematical framework is most suitable for incorporating Townsend’s attached eddy hypothesis as recently developed by Perry, Li, and Marusic [Phils. Trans. R. Soc. London. Ser. A 336, 67 (1991)] for closure. This gives an opportunity to incorporate coherent structure concepts into closure schemes. Possible ways of handling the difficult case where the streamwise derivative of the Coles wake factor is significant are discussed