Local transport of passive scalar released from a point source in a turbulent boundary layer

Abstract

Simultaneous measurements of streamwise velocity ($\tilde{U}$) and concentration ($\tilde{C}$) for a horizontal plume released at eight different vertical locations within a turbulent boundary layer are discussed in this paper. These are supplemented by limited simultaneous three-component velocity and concentration measurements. Results of the integral time scale ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{c}$) of concentration fluctuations across the width of the plume are presented here for the first time. It is found that$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{c}$has two distinct peaks: one closer to the plume centreline and the other at a vertical distance of plume half-width above the centreline. The time-averaged streamwise concentration flux is found to be positive and negative, respectively, below and above the plume centreline. This behaviour is a resultant of wall-normal velocity fluctuations ($w$) and Reynolds shear stress ($\overline{uw}$). Confirmation of these observations is found in the results of joint probability density functions of$u$(streamwise velocity fluctuations) and$\tilde{C}$as well as that of$w$and$\tilde{C}$. Results of cross-correlation coefficient show that high- and low-momentum regions have a distinctive role in the transport of passive scalar. Above the plume centreline, low-speed structures have a lead over the meandering plume, while high-momentum regions are seen to lag behind the plume below its centreline. Further examination of the phase relationship between time-varying$u$and$c$(concentration fluctuations) via cross-spectrum analysis is consistent with this observation. Based on these observations, a phenomenological model is presented for the relative arrangement of a passive scalar plume with respect to large-scale velocity structures in the flow.