p.

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MECHANICAL SIMILITUDE AND TURBULENCE

By Th. v. Karman

Reprint from Nachrichten von d e r G e s e l l s c h a f t

d e r Wissenschaften zu Gottingen, 1930

Washington
i March, 1931
" j'
,. .
1

NATIONAL TECHNICAL I\

INFORMATION SERVICE ~

US D e p e h s n t of Commerce
S p r w l t d d . VA. 22151
4 . .

..
.r

3 y Th. v . 'kczrilian

The development of hjjdi'oclyxanics v i t h i n t h e l a s t decade

has shown t'nat s k i l l f u l a p p l i c a t i o n of the equations from t h e
d y m a i c s of i d e a l f l u i d s q u i t e o f t e n S r i n p c l a r i t y i n t o such
phenovnena svhich i n theiiiselves a r e n o t independent o f ' t h e v i s -
cosity. The v o r t e x equations, i n p a r t i c u l a r , proved themselves
very useful. 1 may be a l l o v r b d t o mention t h e theory of t h e
v o r t e x s t r e e t by Fjhich we %re a b l e t o reproduce t h e i,iechanisn
o f t h e form r e s i s t a n c e w i t h s u i t a b l e approximation under stated
c o n d i t i o n s , alt'iiough siich.a r e s i s t a n c e i s precluded i n a f l u i d
which i s p e r f e c t l y iizviscid. 5isregardin.z f o r t h e p r e s e n t t h e
o r i g i n a t i o n of the v o r t e x , t h e strean a t t i t u d e i:i t'ire Fake o f
t h e body nay be d e s c r i b e d approximately c o r r e c t by t h e repre-
senta-tior. of i-ndividuitl v o r t i c e s , without t r a n s g z e s s i n g t h e law
governing t h e ;notion of such v o r t i c e s i i l ai1 i d e a l fluid. A-a-
o t h e r s t r i k i x g . exenple i s She theory o f the induced drag o f
wings, which l i k e w i s e shows t h e exte:ilt o f npp1yi:lg the' v o r t e x
equatio-rn iJ5.thout overotepping t h e bo-xlds or" t h a dynaJicS o f
I
.. ideal fluids.
t -
h
.
Y
 n , , '

2 B.A.C.A. Technical Xemora-ndum Xo. 611 r .

l e n t f l u i d motion. I t n a t u r a l l y 5,s c l e a r f r o m t h e beginning

t h a t t h e balance between f r i c t i o n a l and i n e r t i a f o r c e s prepon- ,

d e r a t e s i n the problem of nascent turbulence, s o that t h e c i t e d

method does n o t e n t e r i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n a t a l l i n t h i s c a s e .
.
But t h e r e remains t h e t o p i c of t n e ' ! f u l l y developed turbulence,If
t h e problem according t o th'e theory of Ithydraulic stream a t t i -
t u d e , " which i s perhaps of s t i l l g r e a t e r importance f o r t h e
practice. S t i l l t h e r e a r e some i n d i c a t i o n s which hold a t l e a s t
some promise of success i n an a t t a c k on t h e problem when d i s r e -
garding t h e f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e s , o r b e t t e r expressed, w i t h t h e
f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e s confined t o a d e f i n i t e zone, f o r i n s t a n c e ,
d i r e c t l y adjacent t o t h e w a l l . Some time ago W . F r i t s & * meas-
u r e d i n the Aachen Aerodynamic I n s t i t u t e t h e v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u -
t i o n i n grooves between two p a r a l l e l . wails by, c o n s t a n t wall d i s -
t a n c e and f o r varying degrees o f w a l l roughness. The r e s u l t s
showed t h a t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n curves - apart from t h e immediate
neighborhood of t h e w a l l - a r e alinost e x a c t l y superiniposed as
soon as the shearing s t r e s s at t h e w a l l assumes t h e same v a l u e ,
r e g a r d i e s s of whether t h e f l u i d p a s s e s by a p o l i s h e d , smooth
w a l l o r , w i t h correspondingly lower v e l o c i t y , p a s t a rough w a l l ,
o r even a w a l l being saw-like i n p r o f i l e . The f l o w r e s i s t a n c e
i n t h e s e grooves w i t h very rough w a l l s follows t h e so-called
I1squarettl a w , i.e., it; i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e f l u i d d e n s i t y and
t o t h e square of t h e v e l o c i t y , but u n a f f e c t e d by t h e degree o f
fluid viscosity.
--
Is i t n o t f e a s i b l e therefrom t o surmise t h a t
*W. F r i t s c h , Zeitsch. f . angew. Math. u. Nech., 1928, p. 215.
 9 .

.. c

t h e v i s c o s i t y i s without predominating e f f e c t on t h e developnent

of the velocity distribution? The p r e s e n t paper r e p r e s e n t s a
method o f attack i n t h i s sense, and endeavors an attempt t o nake
t b e laws of t u r b u l e n t f l o w i n grooves amenable f o r c a l c u l a t i o n
w i t h a mininum of a r b i t r a r y a s s m p t i o n s .
We are indebted t o 0. iieynalds* f o r h i s explanation of t h e
existeilce o f turbulence a f i ' o s c i l l a t o r y motion, which - i n con-
t r a s t t o molecular u n r e s t , responsible f o r the laxinary fric-
t i o n phenomena. - he designated as molal f l u c t u a t i n g motion.
Segregating t h e v e l o c i t y components dependent on t h e time (Ve

* - c a l l them f l u c t u a t i n g , o r o s c i l l a t o r y components) f u r t h e r the

p r e s s u r e v a r i a t i o n s from t h e inetin v a l u e s which correspond t o
.
. A
'*
t h e basic flow, t h e g e n e r a l hydrodynarnic e q u a t i o n s r e v e a l t h e
. . nomentum conponents t r a n s n i t t e d by t h e o s c i l l a t o r y motion as
supplementary stresses from the s t a n d p o i n t of the basic n o t i o n ,
which a r e d e f i n e d by mean valueg of productt3 from the o s c i l l a -
tory velocities.
I c o n f i n e z y s e l f t o t h e case o f two-dimensional flow and
express t h e nean of v e l o c i t y x i n t h e ;;iean f l o w d i r e c t i o n by
U, that of v e l o c i t y y by V, and t h e o s c i l l a t o r y components
by u and'v. Then t h e supp1eme;ltary s-tress components read. as
8

- ,
-
0X = - P u2
?.

."
\
--_
7 = - P us
*O. R e p o l d s , P h i l . Tr'ans. A , Vol. 186, 1894, p . 123.
* c
1 .
 . -
*
4 I< . A . C . A . Technical. Xmorandurn No ,. .ell 8

d . -:
These components a r e conformal t o t h e so-called 1ar;inar
s t r e s s comgonents o r i g i n a t i n g . , i n an u-r?steady, visoous f l u i d due
t o the molecular motion as given by
TU
Ox=2CL&

.ay = 2 p - au
w (2)

7 =+(=+a!.
3y ax/

The analogy becomes p a r t i c u l a r l y apparent when we i n c l u d e

t h e d e r i v a t i o n of t h e c o e f f i c i e of v i , s c o s i t y p, wllich i
defined up t o a numerical f a c t o r , t h e produc;t. P = 12 h c , N
_ ..
L .
where P = d e n s i t y , h = c = molecular .'
.
I

v e l o c i ty
Take, f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e case of p a r a l l e l flow i n d i r e c t i o i i #

x, that is, U = U(y), Y(y) = 0, and consider t h e d e r i v a t i o n

o f the shear s t r e s s - f i r s t , conformal t o
'F=--Puv

and then, according t o !:

T = P - p h dU
(I-.
dy = dY
. .
I A s o s c i l l a t o r y cornpo6cnts i n 'thc molecular motion, we have
t

I u=,tc,t I -

I u = + c - z - dU
dY '
i s coupled w i t h ,
-
v = c?, .a,rAd u = c + -
2 dU
dv
Y

with v = - c Z -
c. Obviously,. uv =dy -
d'J , which ?roves t h e
analogy between t h e two expressions;
* * \
AV
T A n
. n .u . A .
A
Technical Xemol-andum Xo. 611 5

The next s t e p t o rer^der the turbuleilt shear s t r e s s calcu-

l a b l e i s t o formally introduce a "turbul-ent f r i c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t , "
as proposed by Boussinesq* and notably, by Stanton.** The l a t -
t e r , a p p r e c i a t i n g t h e v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n developed from t h e
c e n t e r i n a smooth p i p e , d i s c l o s e d t h e r e l a t i o n

(3)

where To = shearing s t r e s s t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e w a l l , r = pipe

diameter, and y = d i s t a x c e from mid&le of t h e p i p e . This l a w

o f s i m i l i t u d e i s summarily adhered t o by t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f an
average t u r b u l e n t f r i c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t pt, which i s proportion-
*
a1 t o t h e q u a n t i t y U,, r.***
A

- . PI. F . Treer**** r e c e n t l y attempted t o f i t Stantoil's' theorem

I

t o t h e nore up-to-date t e s t m a t e r i a l by haviiilg r e s o r t t o addi-

t i o n a l erqpirical assui;lptions. I t i s , hovrevep, evident t h a t t h e
equation i s c a r r i e d t o o f a r i n forming t h e nean v a l u e and i s ,
on t h e f a c e o f i t , i n a p p r o p r i a t e f o r i n t e r p r e t i n g actual veloc-
i t y distribution. S t a n t o n t s a p p l i c a t i o n nay be adjudged as a
summary aveTaging examination of s i m i l i t u d e ; t o conceive t h e

?
mechanism
I__ .-___ of____
t u r b u l e n t f l o w a t t i t-.-___
u d e , t h e -__--study
- of similitude
-
*
*
*J. V. Boussinesq, I k m . p e s . p a r div. sav., P a r i s 23, 1877;
24, 1377.
h **T. E . S t s a t o n , Proc. Roy, SOC., T70 ' 1. 85, 1911, p . 366.
*** To b e nore exact p t = const. pT
r; s i n c e , however, - a t
-P- .*
1
c l e a s t , f o r l a r g e index f i g u r e s - -Ti2
i; i s p r a c t i c a l l y p r o p a r t i o n a l
L

c t o Umaxz, t h e above i s likewise approximately c o r r e c t .

e .
****Id. F. W e e r , Phys. Z e i t s c h r . , 1929, Vol. 30, p. 542.
 be =rorded s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t .
Sir.iilitude of C s G i l l a t o r y Xotion

Let u s check t h e following asswaption 'Tith: t h e i x a n flow

t o be a p a r a l l e l f l o w i n d i r e c t i o n x; ,"clile o s c i l l a t o r y flow t o
c o n s i s t i n d i s t u r b a n c e s of r e l a t i v e l y , l i m i t e d e x t e a t i2 direc-
tion y and - a t l e a s t , w i t h i n a c e r t a i n t i a e i n t e r v a l - t o 5 e
c a r r i e d aloilg -by the m i n flow a p p r o x i m t e l y as steady flow con-
figurations: Our p r o b l e n shall b e t o f i n d uiider r.iiiat cond-i-
t i o n s t h e s e flows can becoxe sizilar aziong each o t h e r , s o th2i.t
.(.
t h e Eoiv a t t i t u d e s neigliboTi~i7,gtwo p o i i i t s , which conform t o a

diffezeilt y values, vasy only by a i i u l t i 2 l i c a t i v e f a c t o r of L

-, w
t k e o s c i l l a t o r y v e l o c i t y e:ic! i n t k e 1e;igth :leasure o f t h e field
of flow. In o t h e r words, we -a--.-s- s x e siixilit-cd-9 of t h e o s c i -
llz-
tory a t t i t u d e , i r y e s p e c t i v e o f t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e poiilt i n
----
whose v i c i n i t y t h e o s c i l l a t i o c i s exmiined.
-

We s o p l a c e t h e c o o r d i n a t e s t k a t t h i s pertiileililt p o i n t f d l s
ox a x i s y = 0, azd develops t h e xean v e l o c i t y according t o y:

u = Utoy + Tjll 0 ;+ ...

Then we w r i t e t h e stream f u x t i o n a d j a c e n t t o ' t h e p o i n t

* (x,y) = UTo -
..
Y" +
.2
V I o
73
- +
6
... + l$ (x,y),

where \c, (x,ya) becomes tiye stream f u i x t i o n of t h e o s c i l l a t o r y

ino t i o12.
ifoVT i t is d e s i r e d t h a t o n l y 1 ai2d A 'ae a f f e c t e d by t h e
 * L

I? . A . C . A . T e c h n i c d ?demorandmi
. ,
No. 611 7
..
e .

b e u n a f f e c t e d when
x = 2 4
y ' = 2r)

$ ' = A f (4,71)

The hydrodynamic equations f o r plane steady flow may be

combined i n t h e so-called v o r t e x t r a n s f e r equation

where

* .

.L
i s t k e v o r t e x i n t e n s i t y , and u t h e kinematic v i s c o s i t y . Dis-
0 .'

r e g a r d i n g t h e f r i c t i o n terms and l i m i t i n g o u r s e l v e s , i n accord

with t h e assumed defi-ilitioh o f the f i e l d of o s c i l l a t i o n i n t h e

v i c i n i t y of a x i s y = 0,.t o the f i r s t dig2ts i n .the t e r m s i n -

duced by t h e p r i n c i p a l motion, ne ob3ai.n

I n t r o d u c i n g ( 6 ) , we have '

where syrr;Dol A now p e r t a i n s t o t h e v a r i a S l e s t and q. This

equation i s r e s o l v a b l e independently o f A, I an& U t o , Uf10,
'1 providing
f
 > -

8 N.A.C.A. Technical ?denora.iidum No. 611

U"() 1 z 'A!
i:

U'rO , --t 3
-= A
or

and

To denote t h e s i g n i f i c a n o e of these r e l a t i o n s , we nom

p u t e the s h e a r i n g s t r e s s 7:

The c o n d i t i o n s of simili,tudte may then be combined as follows:

a) The f i e l d of q s c i l l a t i o n r e t a i n ' s a l e n g t h i n d i c a t i v e
of t h e l e n g t h measure of t h e d i s t . u b a n c e s , deTined by

b) The shearing f o r c e i s gropor%ional t o t h e d e n s i t y , t o

t h e square o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c l e n g t h E anc! t o t h e square of
the velocity gradient -.
dU
dY :,

Having defined l e n g t h 2 t o only one f a c t o r , we m i t e

T = z2 (3" (14)
\ dy/
 iJ

and (15)

vhere k i s a nondinensional c o n s t m t , dependent only upon t h e

n a t u r e o f t h e f l u c t u a t i r g mechanism, and upon t h e s o l u t i o n o f
t h e equation for f( e,?). It i s .the s o l e c o n s t a n t e n t e r i n g t h e
h e r e developed theory of' t u r b u l c m c .

F r m d t l s Theory o f IfE.:ixing Length"

, ~ ! f o r t h e oresent s c r v c as c o r r o b o r a t i o n o f t h e
Our c l ~ ~ t may
sugges-tive equation p u t f o r t h by P r o f e s s o r L.' Fraildtl* t o denon-
s t r a t e t h e laws o f turhuleiit f l o w . He proceeded w i t h t h e Tor-
n u l a f o r the shearing s t r e s s

and e v a l u a t e 6 u = 2 ddyu ai?alogous o f t h e equations of t h e molec-

u l a r 'iheory, by i n t r o d u c i n g the !.ei?gth 1 a8 t h e Iiixine; l e n g t h

o r d i s t a n c e (analogous t o -the i d e a o f t h e mean f r e e p a t h ii1 the

kinetic theory). On the preiiiises t h a t a paT-ticle i n t h e o s c i l -
l a t o r y motion t r a v e l s t h e d i s t a n c e 1 , perpendicula,r t o t h e b a s i c
flow without moinentum i n t e r c h a r g e p 2 dU
becones, i n f a c t , t h e
dY
momenturn which the p a r t i c l e traY2sfers t o " t h e l a y e r into which i t
..
was d i s p l a c e d by t h e mixing r,iotion. Fr,r,r3tl t h e n assuaed t h e
f l u c t u a t i n c component v p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e n i x i n g length 1

and t o t h e a b s o l u t e value
that ii? agreement w i t 3 (13),
la 7 =
of t h e v e l o c i t y g r a d i e n t , s o
P 1" d'J \"
idy.1'
Viewir,,c; the n:atter f r o x t h e vievvpoint o f t h e o s c i l l a t i o n
-I--__
_ ____I-
,- __ ---I_---.------ -- ..--- .---.
*Cornpai'e, f o r example, page 62 o f l l P z o c e e d i n p o f t h e Secoi?d In-
t e r n a t i o n a l Congzess l o r Teclnische :kchanilr, 1 9 2 7 .
 10 Y.A.C.A. T e c h i ~ i c dKemorazd.Lu;i Yo. 611
-

theory, t h i s assumption s i g n i f i e s that t h e c o r r e l a t i o n between

u and v i s supposedly u n a f f e c t e d by t h e l o c a t i o n . miis hypoth-
e s i s i s s o oSviously l i k e OUT assumption o f s i m i l a r i t y , t h a t . i t
i s not s u r p r i s i n g t o f i n d t h e e q u a t i o n confirmed.
b

But n0V.v o u r study o f s i m i l i t u d e r e v e a l s decidedly ;;?ore, f o r

i t y i e l d s an equation d e f i n i n g tlie z i s i n g d i s t a x c e vhich i:i
f i r s t approxinlation appears as r a t i o of t h e f i r s t two d i f f e r e n -
t i a l q u o t i e x t s of t h e b a s i c v e l o c i t y .

Flow betvzen P a r a l l e l Walls

Consider t h e b a s i c f l o w i n d i r e c t i o n x between tvo p a r d -

. l e 1 walls y = *h (Fig. 1). With T~ 8s s h e a r i n g st;ress a t

t h e wall, i t equals
I

at y d i s t a n c e away from the c;iaimel c e n t e r , s o t h a t t 3 e veloc- 6

i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n becomes

To $ = k" P ut4
5 5

or

One i n t e g c a t i o n y i e l d s
I

1 I/ 'h
_.

U'
2 k f i +c o n s t .

o r (a = a constant)
 N.A.C.A. Technical 1:;emorandum Eo. 611 11

ut =
1
--
G 1 (18)
2k l/h a - f i

?"ne c o n s t a n t a , i s t o be d e f i n e d from t h e r e l a t i o n w i t h
t h e coilditions at t h e w a l l . For g r e a t Reynolds Numbers -
dU
dY
as-
sumes a h i g h value near t h e wall and f i n a l l y approaches t h e l i m -
i t i n g value E
dY
= k, which, due
p
t o t h e smallness of p r e -
ferred t o -
dU a t a d i s t a n c e away from t h e w a l l , i s very high.
dY
A s a r e s u l t t h e value y, a t which d3 becomes i n f i n i t e , may
be allowed t o coincide w i t h y = h, s o that
K

. -
vnerefron integration y i e l d s the velocity d i s t r i b u t i o n .
maximuri Umax i s reached at y 0. Then
. =

-u= J dy
Umax 0
1-
or

? T'nis foniiula was coupared w i t h two measurements of 38nch

I _
. - 'U
Kikuradse." 50th d e f i n e d t h e v a l u e s 7,leaving k as s o l e
Ir
c o n s t a n t t o be determined, whick appears t o have a value of

x *F. Donch, Forschungsarbeiten, No. 282, 1926.

,
J . IJikuradse Forschungsarbeiten, Xo. 289, 1929.
 i --

I .

12 P.A.C.A. Tech-nical G;er;zora;idun 3 0 . 611

: -
k = 0.38,
* ."
Figure 2 i l l u s t r a t e s the comparison, v h i c h i s f o m d t o be
good. One more word about the' behavior o f n i x i n g l e n g t h 1 ,.
The c a l c u l a t i o n y i e l a s

Sear t o t h e wal1,we may w.rite .

.,, y = h - y

s o that
I -
.-

correspoi-d t o D h c h and Kiikuradse s da*a ( d o t t e d l i n e ) , which

they a r r i v e d at w i t h formula
.
. . .. . .. .. ..
(.. '
.
I . .

Their c h i e f contentior, 3.s' that q u a 2 t i t y k-ssurnes a c o n s t a n t

- I

value i-il t h e channel c e c t e r , whereas i t a t t a i n s a naxir.ium a t

yl = 3 h and drops t o zerg f o r yx = 5, -ac,c-ordEng t o o u r calcu-

lation. Cur cofiments a r e :

a
In t h e f i r s t p l a c e , i s excee f i c u l t t o deter-
mine O;I account of t h e 'Lincer rentiation of c

t h e point-by-point recorde ';? they compute

t h e mixir,g l e n g t h i n the, caanneJ cey, d i f i e d fori-iiula, I

t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y of which i s n o t qui ues'don. It i s

 assumed f o r t h w i t h t h a t dU = 0 for y = 0, that i s , the veloc-
r-ty
i t y i s smoothed o u t a t t.he 2pex. Cur formula shows a hump for
y = 0, a s u r e s i g n t h a t t h e degree o f approximation i n t h e c a l -
c u l a t i o x i s i n s u f f i c i e n t a t t h i s p o i n t , but i t i s s t r a n g e t h a t
t'ne u-nsmoothened v e l o c i t y curve also shows a d e f i n i t e bend. .

I b e l i e v e t h e o b s e r v a t i o n m a t e r i a l w a s n o t e x t e n s i v e enough t o
d e f i n e t h e behavior of 1 i n t h e channel c e n t e r conclusively.

The Resistance Law

3 y a, h i g h v e l o c i t y g r a d i e n t d'J'
as Rear t o the wall, o u r
dY'
s i m i l i t u d e c o n s i d e r a t i o n no longer holds t r u e , because t h e omis-
s i o n of t h e v i s c o s i t y appears t o 5 e no longer j u s t i f i e d . It is
a q u e s t i o n o f whether 1-1 d'J can be d i s r e g a r d e d o r not a l o n g
- . dY -
, s i d e of t h e kinematic shearing s t r e s s - P u v. It has been
proved experimentally that ilea31 t o t h e wall something l i k e a
"lamiilar l a y e r " e x i s t s and, i n order t o d e f i n e t h e r e s i s t a n c e
law, i . e . , the U- value corresponding t o a c e r t a i n v a l u e o f
7
0,tire connection from t h e v e l o c i t y curve t o t h e laminar layer
P
must b e e s t a b l i s h e d .
Before d i s c u s s i n g a more exact theory o f t h e o s c i l l a t o r y
f i e l d , tve attempt two d i f f e r e n t a p p l i c a t i o a s which, however,
y i e l d t h e same p l a u s i b l e r e s u l t s :
*
. a) We assune t h e x i x i n g l e n g t h I t o diminish below zero
t o a value p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e t k i c k n e s s of t h e lzminar layer.
*
T h i s iniilir,zunz I s supposedly reached a t t h e boundary o f t h e l a m i -
14 .
:*

c?pt.io:l, who a r r i v e d a t t h e . conclusion that. t -h e- v- o r t e x d i v i s i o n

. ' .. .
( i . e . , the mixing l e n g t h 1 . ) of t h e turbulence a t t h e wall can
. - r _
I

only 3 e a f f e c t e d by t h e sheaxipG
. ,
stress.
I . To, and t h a, t. i t must
* '

L ..
r
-
Then
. .
we e s t i m a t e t h e d i f f e r e,n ,c. e i n v e l o c i t y
I
Uee betwee;?
both Soxndaries of t 3 e l m i n a r l a y e r , ' i . e . ,
. . - 7

o ~ i d a r y . Siilce +;!_letkickiiess 03 o
nd we can p u t Ue e o t h e r , we o b t a i n .
T* = clT
the
. .

7 (24)
 15

i s h t o z e r o and the v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n near t o t h e wall be-

cones

This i s t h e sane equation used by B. Wada* i n f o r m u l a t i n g

t h e r e s i s t a n c e lam, but which, otving t o having been published
in a11 inconspicuous p l e c e , has not received s u f f i c i e n t a t t e n t i o n .
TJnfortunately, YE. Wada h e l d t h e equation v a l i d f o r t h e whole
chaznel whick EaJe h i s for;i?ul,as a l i t t l e t o o comglicated, al-
though the r e s - ~ l t ai ~ this
i p a z g r q ~ hzre r e a l l y contained i n
h i s r e p o r t i n an implied form.
* To d e r i v e t h e r e s i s t a n c e law, I s l i g h t l y d e v i a t e f r o m t h e
conventional p a r x i e t e r s and ixtroduce t h e f a c t o r s

Iil p l a c e of the aean v e l o c i t y t h e azxirnm v e l o c i t y appeaxs

as r e f e r e n c e q u a n t i t y , s o t h a t ( 2 4 ) y i e l d s

I
or

We-derived t h e r e l a t i o n 'cetveen Uzla, and 3/ f o r plane f l o w .

E, __-_
L_ -. ___
--_. ._-_--

*Journal o f Japanese SOC. Xaval Arch. 41, 1 9 2 7 , p . 103.

16 Z' . A . C . A . TechEicd Mmiora-tldw Yo. 611

S u t i t can a l s o be proved. a p p l i c x b l e t o c i r c u l a r p i p e s , vhere

even c o n s t a n t k r e t a i n s t h e sa.:fie value and VJhere c o n s t a n t C
alone i s differe:it. I n our d e r i v a t i o n we used t h e mixing d i s -
tance k x mall d i s t a n c e axd e s t i n a - t e d t h e t h i c k n e s s o f t h e
lariinax l a y e r . But i t may be z s s w e d that t h i s i s v a l i d f o r a
c i r c u l a r p i p e a l s o , f o r t h e f u r t h e r course of t h e mixing d i s -
tance comes i n evidence only i n t h e C consta-ilt.
Figure 4 shons soilze o b s e r v a t i o n s o f -
d 1T and log,, R, fi
%iax r
(9rn= A-
V
, r = p i p e 'diameter).* I t w i l l be noted t h a t t h e r e
i s a l i n e a r r e l a t i o n between b o t h q u a n t i t i e s , extending f r o m
A, = 200C to Rill = 1,630,330. Conptaat

k = 0.38
(29)
C = 1.83

t h e f i r s t b e i n g p2ihxps u n i g e r s a l , thc: seconc? applying particu-

larl$ t o circular pipes.

The So-called Power Laws

I t i s known t h a t t h e r e s i s t a n c e law w i t h i n l a r g e ranges

of Reynolds Numbers can be adequately expressed 3y t h e i n t e r p o -
l a t i o n formula
const.
3, = -.-_
Rrn

Upon t h i s p r e n i s e i t can be proved by a l i n e of reasoiling

advanced by D r . P r a n d t l t h a t t h e v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n (figldred
as begiiiniiig a t tlie -vall) i s given by f o r i m l a--- -----
*The data 05 very l a r g e Reynolds Ilurfi-Jers were supplied by Lfilr.
IITikuradse, who placed h i s , as y e t unpublished- m a t e r i s l , a t my
disposal:
 M.A.C.A. Technical Meuorandum No. 611 17

U = const.

The v a l i d i t y o f t h i s power formula c e a s e s i n t h e immediate neigh-

borhood o f t h e w a l l ( e f f e c t o f laminar l a y e r } , but extends i n
s u r p r i s i n g iiianner t o t h e o t h e r s i d e n e a r l y t o t h e channel ceii-
ter. The exponent n drops as t h e Reynolds Nurnber i n c r e a s e s
( w i t h i n about
7 to -1
9.5 i n t h e range examined thus far).
This puzzle i s simple t o explain. S l i g h t l y transformed, o u r
d e r i v e d formulas express the

So when we make n =
2 -m m' equations (30) and (31) can be
w r i t t e n as

Resistance l a w :
r -- ( R f i I n
const.

Velocity d i s t r i b u t i o n : -u , const. (=
n
(33)
J-3
P

The decrease i n exponent n w i t h t h e Reynolds Xumber becomes

r e a d i l y apparent f r o m t h e .following:
Comparing flow a t t i t u d e s i n t h e same channel which c o m e -
spolld t o ail i d e n t i c a l v a l u e o€ To, and p e r m i t t i n g t h e v i s c o s -
i t y t o vary, f o r instance, v t o decrease g r a d u a l l y ; t h e veloo-
 . ..
, . _. .
-.
.
..
. . . . ..
.- .
..,.
.
.

18
*. 1 .

i t y d i s $ r i b u t i o n i s djviorlsly t h e s m e up t o t h e p o i n t !There
t h e infl-qeilpe .of" t h e - v i s c o s i t ybe,cones n o t i c e a b l e . Elere a k i n d

s h i f t along t h e v e l o c i t y distribukion,.,c7mve
- _. as. the v i s c o s i t y de-
c r e a s e s , i , e . , a s - t k e Reynolds ii:ur;iber r i s e s . -' Th,e c o n j o i n t e d
distribution cmve I . . . I .
. I
., . .

x 7:f (Vn13x:- -u>, ' . .

which i s , aside from t h e chaimel c e n t e r , 'exponential ( F i g . 5 ) ,

i s t o b e approximated t o .y = U by a s e r i e s of pover curves
. .
w9ici.1 touch t h e a x i s y = 0, inducing t h e c o n t a c t p o i n t t o grad-
i

t toward t h e r i g h t ; acc r6ing-y l/n iiicreases ?,nd

. - . , .. . * ? @
I .
4

n decreases. < *
1

_.
e
I t has %een r e p e a t e d l y e q l i a s i z e d t h a t t h e ratio- betiveen
t h e thickness of the laminar- l a y e and- t h e EieaF. pro;tu5eiazce
I
of t h e roughness predominates t h e pheiionena 011 rough malls. I
c a l l a w a l l ' ~ o u g hwhen t i. o_n s a r e l a r g e r e f e r r e d to. t h e
laminar l a y e r thickness. I
i v?-,fue of t h e ixdxing
.~ Length 1 is not conditioned by
t h e thickness, but by t h e s f the roughess ele
if E .is uh.c mea2 roughmss 8
<
l e n g t h measure o f t h e roughi2ess) *\
t h e iLiinimurilvalue
made propoqtional t o E, which d i e c l o s e s as r e l a t i 1
. I

v e l o c i t y i n c k a x i e l ceilter Urn, and t h e s h e a r i n g f o r c e a t t h e ?

r
.
 I
IT . A . S . A . Techi2ical 1.iernorandu.m 30. 611 19

wall I-=
I

,,u = 3
k
J Ps ( i o g + const.)

or f o r t b e r e s i s t a n c e c o e f f i c i e n t

k r n h
= log + const.
dT-

I n o t h e r words, t h e flow resista-nce f o l l o w s t h e " s q u a e f f

l a w , and t h e r e s i s t a n c e c o e f f i c i e n t i s dependent o n the rela-
t i v e roughness according t o ( 3 5 ) . This equation a d n i t s of a
check when cornpzxing experiments ii1 grooves, vhere the d i s t a n c e
of t h e malls (2h) v a r i e s , but where t h e n a t u r e o f t 3 e ~ ~ 1 1 s
(quantity C) i s t o re-r,aiii c o n s t a n t . This, hoaever, i s t o be

treated i n a future report.

T r a n s l a t i o n by J. Vanier,
National Ad-visory Gomiittee
f o r Aeroaactics.
 Figs. 1,2
Fig. 1
0 0.5
y/h
Fig. 2
 Figs. 3 , 4 , 5

~ / h
Fig. 3

4 5
Log (R~~$F)
Fig. 4

Fig. 5