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Skin friction coefficient

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The skin friction coefficient, C_f, is defined by:

C_f \equiv \frac{\tau_w}{\frac{1}{2} \, \rho \, U_\infty^2}

Where \tau_w is the local wall shear stress, \rho is the fluid density and U_\infty is the free-stream velocity (usually taken ouside of the boundary layer or at the inlet).

For a turbulent boundary layer several approximation formulas for the local skin friction can be used:

1/7 power law:

C_f = 0.0576 Re_x^{-1/5} \quad \mbox{for} \quad 5 \cdot 10^5 < Re_x < 10^7

1/7 power law with experimental calibration (equation 21.12 in [1]):

C_f = 0.0592 \, Re_x^{-1/5} \quad \mbox{for} \quad 5 \cdot 10^5 < Re_x < 10^7 (equation 21.12 in [1])

Schlichting (equation 21.16 footnote in [1])

C_f = [ 2 \, log(Re_x) - 0.65 ] ^{-2.3} \quad \mbox{for} \quad 5 \cdot Re_x < 10^9

Schultz-Grunov (equation 21.19a in [1]):

C_f = 0.370 \, [ log(Re_x) ]^{-2.584}

References

  1. Schlichting, Hermann (1979), Boundary Layer Theory, ISBN 0-07-055334-3, 7th Edition.

To do

Someone should add more data about total skin friction approximations, Prandtl-Schlichting skin-friction formula, and the Karman-Schoenherr equation.


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