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Direct numerical simulation of turbulent channel flow up to $\mathit{Re}_{{\it\tau}}\approx 5200$

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2015

Myoungkyu Lee  and
Robert D. Moser
Myoungkyu Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA
Robert D. Moser*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences, Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: rmoser@ices.utexas.edu
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Abstract

A direct numerical simulation of incompressible channel flow at a friction Reynolds number ($\mathit{Re}_{{\it\tau}}$) of 5186 has been performed, and the flow exhibits a number of the characteristics of high-Reynolds-number wall-bounded turbulent flows. For example, a region where the mean velocity has a logarithmic variation is observed, with von Kármán constant ${\it\kappa}=0.384\pm 0.004$. There is also a logarithmic dependence of the variance of the spanwise velocity component, though not the streamwise component. A distinct separation of scales exists between the large outer-layer structures and small inner-layer structures. At intermediate distances from the wall, the one-dimensional spectrum of the streamwise velocity fluctuation in both the streamwise and spanwise directions exhibits $k^{-1}$ dependence over a short range in wavenumber $(k)$. Further, consistent with previous experimental observations, when these spectra are multiplied by $k$ (premultiplied spectra), they have a bimodal structure with local peaks located at wavenumbers on either side of the $k^{-1}$ range.

JFM classification

Turbulent Flows: Turbulence simulation Turbulent Flows: Turbulent boundary layers Turbulent Flows: Turbulent Flows
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 774 , 10 July 2015 , pp. 395 - 415
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© 2015 Cambridge University Press 

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