The influence of suction on the structure of turbulence in fully developed pipe flow

Abstract

The effect of uniform wall suction on the structure of turbulence in a fully established turbulent pipe flow has been measured, with special attention to the critical layers close to the wall. Uniform suction was introduced into a pipe flow with a Reynolds number of 17250 by means of a porous-walled section 2·2 diameters in length with very fine perforations. The effect of suction on the turbulent energy balance was then measured over the entire cross-section at four axial locations. The results indicate the following.The amplitudes of the three principal velocity fluctuation components are reduced by suction, but to differing degrees. Moreover, the effects of suction on the amplitudes of these fluctuations develop at differing rates such that thex-wise components are first affected, then ther-wise and lastly the ϕ-wise components.The suction-induced perturbation in the turbulent structure propagates from the wall to the pipe centre-line with a velocity approximately equal to the friction velocityUτ.Even with very small rates of fluid extraction the maxima of the terms in the turbulent energy balance occurring close to the wall are drastically reduced. Nevertheless there is no tendency for the location of these maxima to move towards the wall.The general reduction of the level of turbulent energy across the entire section is due to transport of this energy by the augmented mean radial velocity towards the wall, where it is dissipated since the boundary condition inhibits the passage of turbulent energy through the wall.