This paper reports the investigation of mean and turbulent flow characteristics of a two-dimensional plane diffuser. Both experimental and theoretical details are considered. The experimental investigation consists of the measurement of mean velocity profiles, wall static pressure and turbulence stresses. Theoretical study involves the prediction of downstream velocity profiles and the distribution of turbulence kinetic energy using a well tested finite difference procedure. Two models, viz., Prandtl's mixing length hypothesis and k-e{open} model of turbulence, have been used and compared. The nondimensional static pressure distribution, the longitudinal pressure gradient, the pressure recovery coefficient, percentage recovery of static pressure, the variation of Umax/Ubar along the length of the diffuser and the blockage factor have been valuated from the predicted results and compared with the experimental data. Further, the predicted and the measured value of kinetic energy of turbulence have also been compared. It is seen that for the prediction of mean flow characteristics and to evaluate the performance of the diffuser, a simple turbulence model like Prandtl's mixing length hypothesis is quite adequate. © 1991 Springer-Verlag.