Application of the visual boundary recurrence plots to magnetohydrodynamic turbulence channel flow

Abstract

The visual boundary recurrence plot (VBRP) method is used in this analysis to study time series of fluctuating velocities in turbulent magnetohydrodynamic channel flow that were studied in our previous study using the theory of the recurrence plots. The VBRP is a new graphical tool, which visualizes each point of the recurrence plot with colors depending on whether the neighboring points are recurrent or not and enhances, thus, the study of the stability of the textures of the recurrence plots, viewing them as geometrical shapes. We calculate the VBRPs of the turbulent velocity time series of a simulated channel flow monitored at constant streamwise and spanwise positions and at a number of positions along the wall-normal direction. We further estimate the visual boundary recurrence plot rates to indicate the change of the dynamics of the flow. The results highlight the flow dynamics under the influence of the magnetic field and identify additional correlations/similarities between the flow point positions within the channel. In this study, we show that these areas correspond to perturbations due to strikes that are created close to the boundary and move toward the centerline. It also seems that we have more often creation of streaks in the case of absence of magnetic field.