Characteristics of ejections in turbulent channel flow

Abstract

Quantitative measurements of the structure of ejections from the wall region have been made using conditional-sampling techniques. Discrete ejections from a burst event were identified using fluorescent-dye flow visualization simultaneously with streamwise, u, and normal, v, velocity measurements. These velocity measurements, at y+ = 15, were conditionally sampled based on different phases of the ejection event. Features of the ejection which were educed from the conditional sampling were found to be very sensitive to the phase alignment. Results showed that ejections were characterized by a rapid deceleration at the leading edge followed by a strong positive velocity gradient at the trailing edge. An intense second-quadrant uv spike occurred immediately following the leading edge. This uv peak was highly correlated with a positive peak in the v velocity. The first ejection which occurred in a burst was found to be significantly more intense than the following ejections. Many characteristics of bursts which have been obtained from previous conditional-sampling studies were found to correspond to different phases of the ejection event.