Visualizing the very-large-scale motions in turbulent pipe flow

Abstract

Time-resolved stereoscopic particle image velocimetry is used to investigate the structure of the very-large-scale motions (VLSMs) in fully developed turbulent pipe flow. The motions are visualized using snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition. It is shown that the structures can be reconstructed using a small number of the most energetic modes. The results strongly suggest a possible connection between the origin of the VLSM and linear stability analysis. The structures are seen to be highly three-dimensional, meandering azimuthally and radially. At this Reynolds number (ReD=12 500), they occasionally extend from the near-wall region to the wake region of the pipe.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2011
Source ID
10.1063/1.3533016

Entities

People

  • Alexander Smits
  • Aman Sinha
  • Leo H. O. Hellström

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Princeton University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Computer Vision.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.