Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 January 2016
The generation of a fully turbulent boundary layerprofile is investigated using analytical andnumerical methods over the Reynolds number range 422≤ Reθ ≤ 31,000. The numerical method usesa new mixing length blending function. Thepredictions are validated against reference windtunnel measurements under zero streamwise pressuregradient. The methods are then tested for low andmoderate adverse pressure gradients. Comparisonagainst experiment and DNS data show a goodpredictive ability under zero pressure gradient andmoderate adverse pressure gradient, with bothmethods providing a complete velocity profilethrough the viscous sub-layer down to the wall.These methods are useful computational fluid dynamictools for generating an equilibrium thick turbulentboundary layer at the computational domaininflow.