The incompressible zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer: An assessment of the data

The available data describing the incompressible zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer are reviewed in association with a range of studies which are either new or, to date, not very generally available. The new data cover a Reynolds number range 2.5 < Reδ2 × 10−3 < 58 and include measurements of all three turbulence perlurbations and the Reynolds shear stress. They are assessed in relation to data in the range 0.4 < Reδ2 × 10−3 < 211 using established scaling laws. In common with other investigators we find that while scaling the mean flow leads to a high degree of apparent similarity, scaling of the turbulence quantities is in general not so satisfactory.