Velocity profiles in turbulent compressible boundary layers.

In order to assess the correctness of point-to-poin t mapping of compressible, turbulent, boundary-layer flows into constant density flows as suggested by Coles' transformation theory, a correlation of velocity profiles in high-speed flows is carried out. It appears that a variety of profiles in flows with nominally constant pressure, and with or without heat transfer, and with Mach number up to roughly 6, are well correlated by the law of the wall. However, in relating velocity defects to corresponding incompressible form, there is found a systematic degradation of the correlation with increasing Mach number. The possible reasons and implications of this discrepancy are discussed. Nomenclature