Scaling of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface in boundary layers

Scaling of the interface that demarcates a turbulent boundary layer from the non-turbulent free stream is sought using theoretical reasoning and experimental evidence in a zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer. The data-analysis, utilising particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements at four different Reynolds numbers ($\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\delta u_{\tau }/\nu =1200\mbox{--}14\, 500$), indicates the presence of a viscosity dominated interface at all Reynolds numbers. It is found that the mean normal velocity across the interface and the tangential velocity jump scale with the skin-friction velocity$u_{\tau }$and are approximately$u_{\tau }/10$and$u_{\tau }$, respectively. The width of the superlayer is characterised by the local vorticity thickness$\delta _{\omega }$and scales with the viscous length scale$\nu /u_{\tau }$. An order of magnitude analysis of the tangential momentum balance within the superlayer suggests that the turbulent motions also scale with inner velocity and length scales$u_{\tau }$and$\nu /u_{\tau }$, respectively. The influence of the wall on the dynamics in the superlayer is considered via Townsend’s similarity hypothesis, which can be extended to account for the viscous influence at the turbulent/non-turbulent interface. Similar to a turbulent far-wake the turbulent motions in the superlayer are of the same order as the mean velocity deficit, which lends to a physical explanation for the emergence of the wake profile in the outer part of the boundary layer.