Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 June 2007
A study of compressibility effects on structure and evolution of a sheared homogeneous turbulent flow is carried out using rapid distortion theory (RDT). The focus of this paper consists in validating RDT code by considering the direct numerical simulation (DNS) and RDT results of Simone [Simone, Coleman and Cambon, Fluid Mech. 330, 307 (1997)]. We will use this theory to clarify the physics of the compressible turbulent flows. An analysis of the behavior of different terms appearing in the turbulent kinetic energy and the Reynolds stress equations permit to well identify compressibility effects which allow us to analyze performance of the compressible model of Fujiwara and Arakawa concerning the pressure-dilatation correlation. The evaluation of this model stays in the field of RDT validity.