On the structure of hypersonic turbulent boundary layers

Abstract

Extensive hot-wire auto- and cross-correlation measurements obtained in a fully developed compressible turbulent boundary layer are presented. A tentative mechanism of turbulence production and growth in hypersonic flow suggested by these measurements is developed. This flow model is consistent with previous observations in incompressible flows. Detailed measurements of the mean properties of the hypersonic turbulent boundary layer are also presented and compared with results from various transformation and finite-difference prediction methods. It is shown that none of the theories predict all the properties of the hypersonic turbulent boundary layer and that additional measurements are needed to provide more adequate physics of turbulent processes for use in the various theories.