Turbulent structures in a statistically three-dimensional boundary layer

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Author
Kevin; Monty, J; Hutchins, NDate
2019-01-25Source Title
Journal of Fluid MechanicsPublisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)Affiliation
Mechanical EngineeringMetadata
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Journal ArticleCitations
Kevin, Monty, J. & Hutchins, N. (2019). Turbulent structures in a statistically three-dimensional boundary layer. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 859, pp.543-565. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2018.814.Access Status
Open AccessARC Grant code
ARC/DP160102279Abstract
We investigate the behaviour of large-scale coherent structures in a spanwise-heterogeneous turbulent boundary layer, using particle image velocimetry on multiple orthogonal planes. The statistical three-dimensionality is imposed by a herringbone riblet surface, although the key results presented here will be common to many cases of wall turbulence with embedded secondary flows in the form of mean streamwise vortices. Instantaneous velocity fields in the logarithmic layer reveal elongated low-momentum streaks located over the upwash-flow region, where their spanwise spacing is forced by the 2δ periodicity of the herringbone pattern. These streaks largely resemble the turbulence structures that occur naturally (and randomly located) in spanwise-homogeneous smooth-/rough-wall boundary layers, although here they are directly formed by the roughness pattern. In the far outer region, the large spanwise spacing permits the streaks to aggressively meander. The mean secondary flows are the time-averaged artefact of the unsteady and spanwise asymmetric large-scale roll modes that accompany these meandering streaks. Interestingly, this meandering, or instability, gives rise to a pronounced streamwise periodicity (i.e. an alternating coherent pattern) in the spatial statistics, at wavelengths of approximately 4.5 δ . Overall, the observed behaviours largely resemble the streak-instability model that has been proposed for the buffer region, only here at a much larger scale and at a forced spanwise spacing. This observation further confirms recent observations that such features may occur at an entire hierarchy of scales throughout the turbulent boundary layer.
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