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Self-similarity of the large-scale motions in turbulent pipe flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2016

Leo H. O. Hellström ,
Ivan Marusic  and
Alexander J. Smits
Leo H. O. Hellström*
Affiliation:
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
Ivan Marusic
Affiliation:
Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
Alexander J. Smits
Affiliation:
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia
*
†Email address for correspondence: lhellstr@Princeton.EDU
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Abstract

Townsend’s attached eddy hypothesis assumes the existence of a set of energetic and geometrically self-similar eddies in the logarithmic layer in wall-bounded turbulent flows, which can be scaled with their distance to the wall. To examine the possible self-similarity of the energetic eddies in fully developed turbulent pipe flow, we performed stereo particle image velocimetry measurements together with a proper orthogonal decomposition analysis. For two Reynolds numbers, $Re_{{\it\tau}}=1330$ and 2460, the resulting modes/eddies were shown to exhibit self-similar behaviour for eddies with wall-normal length scales spanning a decade. This single length scale provides a complete description of the cross-sectional shape of the self-similar eddies.

JFM classification

Boundary Layers: Boundary layer structure Boundary Layers: Pipe flow boundary layer Turbulent Flows: Turbulence modelling
Type
Rapids
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 792 , 10 April 2016 , R1
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Copyright
© 2016 Cambridge University Press 

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