On the existence of self-similar structures in turbulent pipe flow

Leo H.O. Hellström, Tyler Van Buren, John C. Vaccaro, Alexander J. Smits

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Townsend's attached eddy hypothesis forms the basis for one of the most far-reaching concepts in the analysis of the logarithmic layer in wall-bounded turbulent flows. The hypothesis proposes that the eddying motions in the inertially dominated region are energetic and geometrically self-similar eddies that scale with the distance from their eddy center to the wall, implying that these three-dimensional eddies can be completely scaled using a single length scale. The attached eddy hypothesis has been used successfully to predict turbulence statistics and the spectral behavior in wall-bounded flows. Here, we experimentally investigate the existence of selfsimilar flow structures in fully-developed turbulent pipe flow at Reτ ≈ 2390. The data is simultaneously acquired at two pipe crosssections using two stereo PIV systems, where the streamwise separation ranges from 0 to 9.97R. The structures are unconditionally sorted by their spanwise length scale through an azimuthal Fourier decomposition. The sorted structures are thereafter investigated using two-point correlations, and the resulting correlation maps are shown to exhibit self-similar behaviour with respect to its spanwise length scale. This single length scale provides a complete description of the shape of the self-similar eddies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication10th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP 2017
PublisherInternational Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP10
ISBN (Electronic)9780000000002
StatePublished - 2017
Event10th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP 2017 - Chicago, United States
Duration: Jul 6 2017Jul 9 2017

Publication series

Name10th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP 2017
Volume3

Other

Other10th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChicago
Period7/6/177/9/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atmospheric Science
  • Aerospace Engineering

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