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

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 full...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fluid mechanics 2016-04, Vol.792, Article R1
Main Authors: Hellström, Leo H. O., Marusic, Ivan, Smits, Alexander J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Eddies
Fluid mechanics
Pipe flow
Pipes
Rapids
Turbulent flow
Velocity
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0022-1120
1469-7645
DOI:10.1017/jfm.2016.100