Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T05:44:46.248Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Three-dimensional large-eddy motions and fine-scale activity in a plane turbulent wake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

J. A. Ferré
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyeria Química i Bioquímica, Divisió VII, Universitat de Barcelona, 43005 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
J. C. Mumford
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK.
A. M. Savill
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK.
Francesc Giralt
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyeria Química i Bioquímica, Divisió VII, Universitat de Barcelona, 43005 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain

Abstract

A pattern recognition technique has been applied to simultaneously sampled multipoint hot-wire anemometry data obtained in the far wake of a circular cylinder. Data from both the streamwise fluctuating velocity field and the temperature field have been analysed employing a computer code that uses a correlation approach to automatically detect and ensemble average flow patterns and patterns for mean-square fluctuations. Statistical tests then allow the significance and contribution to the turbulence intensity of the detected structures to be evaluated. This procedure has been used to infer the three-dimensional topology of the double-roller eddies previously identified in the far-wake region and to relate these to the motions responsible for entrainment. It appears that the two types of motion are not independent, but are linked together, forming parts of horseshoe vortex structures which account for at least 40% of the total turbulence energy. These structures originate near the centre of the flow, may extend across the centreline and typically occur in groups of about three. The resulting picture of the flow dynamics is related to the conclusions drawn from similar data by other workers and a possible regeneration mechanism is presented. The addition to the code of a fine-scale activity indicator, the choice of which is discussed in some detail, has allowed the relationship between these energetic large-scale motions and smaller eddies to be investigated. It seems that the most intense fine-scale activity is associated with the vortical cores of the double-roller eddies. It is shown that this observation is consistent with the concepts of ‘isotropy’ and ‘spotiness’ of the dissipative scales. It also suggests that the horseshoe vortices loose energy both to their own secondary instabilities and to smaller scales resulting from the breakup of other highly strained large eddies.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1990 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antonia, R. A., Browne, L. W. B., Bisset, D. K. & Fulachier, L. 1987 J. Fluid Mech. 184, 423444.
Antonia, R. A., Chambers, A. J., Britz, D. & Browne, L. W. B. 1986 J. Fluid Mech. 172, 211229.
Browne, L. W. B., Antonia, R. A. & Bisset, D. K. 1986 Phys. Fluids 29, 36123617.
Chen, C.-T. 1979 One-Dimensional Digital Signal Processing. Marcel Dekker Inc.
Cimbala, J. M., Nagib, H. M. & Roshko, A. 1988 J. Fluid Mech. 190, 265298.
Fabris, G. 1979 J. Fluid Mech. 94, 673709.
Ferré, J. A. Application of an artificial intelligence algorithm to the recognition of coherent structures in turbulent flows. 1986 Doctoral thesis, University of Barcelona (in Catalan).
Ferré, J. A. & Giralt, F. 1989a J. Fluid Mech. 198, 2764 (referred to as FG1).
Ferré, J. A. & Giralt, F. 1989b J. Fluid Mech. 198, 6578 (referred to as FG2).
Ferré, J. A., Giralt, F. & Antonia, R. A. 1989 Proc. 7th Symp. on Turbulent Shear Flows, Stanford, California, USA.
Grant, H. L. 1958 J. Fluid Mech. 4, 149190.
Jimenez, J., Cogollos, M. & Bernal, L. P. 1985 J. Fluid Mech. 152, 125143.
Laufer, J. 1983 Trans. ASME E: J. Appl. Mech. 50, 10791085.Google Scholar
Muck, K.-C. 1980 Imperial College Aero Rep. 80-03.
Müller, U. R. & Wu, J. 1987 Proc. 6th Symp. on Turbulent Shear Flows, Toulouse, France, 2.4.12.4.4.
Mumford, J. C. 1982 J. Fluid Mech. 118, 241268.
Mumford, J. C. 1983 J. Fluid Mech. 137, 447456.
Payne, F. R. & Lumley, J. L. 1967 Phys: Fluids 10, S194-S196.
Savill, A. M. Effects on turbulence of curved or distorting mean flow. 1979 Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cambridge.
Sreenivassan, K. R. 1985 J. Fluid Mech. 151, 81103.
Tennekes, H. & Lumley, J. L. 1972 A First Course in Turbulence. MIT Press.
Townsend, A. A. 1956 The Structure of Turbulent Shear Flow, 1st edn. Cambridge University Press.
Townsend, A. A. 1976 The Structure of Turbulent Shear Flow, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press.
Wygnansky, I., Champagne, F. & Marasli, B. 1986 J. Fluid Mech. 168, 3171.