Analysis of turbulence power spectra and velocity correlations in a pipeline with obstructions

Abstract

We calculate the power spectral density and velocity correlations for a turbulent flow of a fluid inside a duct. Turbulence is induced by obstructions placed near the entrance of the flow. The power spectral density is obtained for several points at cross-sections along the duct axis, and an analysis is made on the way the spectra changes according to the distance to the obstruction. We show that the differences on the power spectral density are important in the lower frequency range, while in the higher frequency range, the spectra are very similar to each other. Our results suggest the use of the changes on the low frequency power spectral density to identify the occurrence of obstructions in pipelines. Our results show some frequency regions where the power spectral density behaves according to the Kolmogorov hypothesis. At the same time, the calculation of the power spectral densities at increasing distances from the obstructions indicates an energy cascade where the spectra evolves in frequency space by spreading the frequency amplitude.