The Structure of Turbulent Plane Couette Flow

Abstract

Measurements of time-mean velocity, of longitudinal, normal and lateral velocity fluctuation intensities (u′ , v′ , w′ ) and of shear stress have been made for four cases of pure shear flow in a flat channel, one of whose walls is stationary while the second moves. Both walls are effectively smooth. General expressions for the mean velocity profile and a prediction of the friction coefficient are developed. Comparisons of the experimental results with existing data are made. The profiles of v′ , w′ , turbulence kinetic energy and production of turbulence energy across the channel are the first to be published.