Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
A method is described for predicting the two-dimensional incompressible turbulent boundary layer on a semi-infinite flat plate under small harmonic progressive oscillations of the free-stream volocity for arbitrary frequency and wave speed. The free stream considered consists of a constant mean on which an oscillating amplitude varying with downstream distance is superimposed. The Reynolds shear stress is modelled by a new single-layer eddy viscosity formulation and.a differential-difference technique is used to solve the governing equations numerically. The oscillatory eddy viscosity formulated is complex, allowing a phase difference between the Reynolds stress and the velocity oscillations. Comparisons between the calculated results and those obtained by other existing methods and measurements show that the method and the turbulence model are satisfactory for a full range of frequencies and wave convection speeds. It is also found that a change in the wave speed has a drastic effect on the boundary layer response.