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The characteristics of low-speed streaks in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

C. R. Smith  and
S. P. Metzler
C. R. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
S. P. Metzler
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
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Abstract

Employing a high-speed video system and hydrogen bubble-wire flow visualization, the characteristics of the low-speed streaks which occur in the near-wall region of turbulent boundary layers have been examined for a Reynolds-number range of 740 [les ] Reθ < 5830. The results indicate that the statistics of non-dimensional spanwise streak spacing are essentially invariant with Reynolds number, exhibiting consistent values of $\overline{\lambda^{+}} \approx 100$ and remarkably similar probability distributions conforming to lognormal behaviour. Further studies show that streak spacing increases with distance from the wall owing to a merging and intermittency process which occurs for y+ [simg ] 5. An additional observation is that, although low-speed streaks are not fixed in time and space, they demonstrate a tremendous persistence, often maintaining their integrity and reinforcing themselves for time periods up to an order of magnitude longer than the observed bursting times associated with wall region turbulence production. A mechanism for the formation of low-speed streaks is suggested which may explain both the observed merging behaviour and the streak persistence.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 129 , April 1983 , pp. 27 - 54
Copyright
© 1983 Cambridge University Press

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