Skip to main content
Log in

Turbulence wavenumber spectra in fully-developed smooth pipe flow

  • Originals
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The structure of fully-developed turbulence in a smooth pipe has been studied via wavenumber spectra for various friction velocities, namely, u τ,=0.61 and 1.2 m/s (the corresponding Reynolds numbers based on centerline velocity and pipe radius being respectively 134,000 and 268,000) at various distances from the wall, namely y + = 70, 200,400 and 1,000. For each distance from the wall, correlations of the longitudinal component of turbulence were obtained simultaneously in seven narrow frequency bands by using an automated data acquisition system which jointly varied the longitudinal (x) and transverse (z) separations of two hot-wire probes. The centre frequencies of the bandpass filters used correspond to a range of nondimensional frequencies ω + from 0.005 to 0.21. By taking Fourier transforms of these correlations, three-dimensional power spectral density functions and hence wavenumber spectra have been obtained at each y + with nondimensional frequency ω + and nondimensional longitudinal and transverse wavenumbers k +x and k +z as the independent variables. The data presented in this form show the distribution of turbulence intensity among waves of different size and inclination. The data reported here cover a wave size range of over 100, spanning a range of wave angles from 2° to 84°. The effects of friction velocity and Reynolds number on the distribution of waves, their lifetimes and convection velocities are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

wave strength function

C x :

streamwise phase velocity

C z :

circumferential phase velocity

f :

wave intensity function

k :

resultant wave number = [k 2x + k 2z ]1/2

k x , k z :

longitudinal (x) and transverse (z) wavenumber respectively

P(k + x , k +z , ω+):

power spectral density function in u

R :

radius of pipe

Re :

Reynolds number (based on centerline velocity and pipe radius)

R uu (Δx +, Δz+, τ):

normalized correlation function in u

R unu (Δx +, Δz+,¦ω+¦):

normalized filtered correlation function in u, as defined in equation (1)

t :

time

U :

mean velocity in the x-direction

u, v, w :

turbulent velocities in the cartesian x, y and z directions respectively

û, v, ŵ :

turbulent velocities in the wave coordinate x, ŷ and ž directions respectively

u τ :

friction velocity

x, y, z :

cartesian coordinates in the longitudinal (along the pipe axis), normal (to the pipe wall) and transverse (along the circumference of the pipe) directions respectively, as defined in Fig. 1

α :

wave angle

Δ :

difference between two quantities

v :

kinematic viscosity

τ :

time delay

ω :

circular frequency (radians/s)

+:

quantity nondimensionalized using u τand v

overbar:

time average

References

  • Aubry, N.; Holmes, P.; Lumley, J. L.; Stone, E. 1988: The dynamics of coherent structures in the wall region of a turbulent boundary layer. J. Fluid Mech. 192, 115–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Bark, F. H. 1975: On the wave structure of the wall region of a turbulent boundary layer. J. Fluid Mech. 70, 229–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, P. 1990: Progress in turbulence research. AIAA paper no. 90-1480, AIAA 21st Fluid Dynamics, Plasmadynamics and Lasers Conference, June 18–20, 1990, Seattle, Washington

  • Bullock, K. I; Cooper, R. E.; Abernathy, F. H. 1978: Structural similarity in radical correlations and spectra of longitudinal velocity fluctuations in pipe flow. J. Fluid Mech. 88, 585–608

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullock, K. J.; Cooper, R. E.; Kronauer, R. E.; Lai, J. C. S. 1987: Structural similarity and lifetimes of turbulence structures in fully-developed smooth pipe flow. Phys. Fluids 30, 3006–3018

    Google Scholar 

  • Favre, A. J; Gaviglio, J. I; Dumas, R. J. 1957: Space time double correlations and spectra in a turbulent boundary layer. J. Fluid Mech. 2, 313–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Haritonidis, J. H. 1989: A model for near-wall turbulence. Phys. Fluids A1, 302–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, Y. A.; Jones, B. G.; Adrian, R. J. 1980: Measurements and axisymmetric model of spatial correlations in turbulent pipe flow. AIAA J. 18, 914–920

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain, A. K. M. F. 1986: Coherent structures and turbulence. J. Fluid Mech. 173, 303–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai, J. C. S.; Bullock, K. J.; Kronauer, R. E. 1989: Structural similarity of turbulence in fully-developed smooth pipe flow. AIAA J. 27, 283–292

    Google Scholar 

  • McConachie, P. J. 1981: The distribution of convection velocities in turbulent pipe flow. J. Fluid Mech. 103, 65–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, W. R. B.; Kronauer, R. E. 1969: Structural similarity of fully developed turbulence in smooth tubes. J. Fluid Mech. 39, 117–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, A. E.; Abell, C. J. 1975: Scaling laws for pipe-flow turbulence. J. Fluid Mech. 67, 257–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, A. E.; Lim, K. L.; Henbest, S. M. 1987: An experimental study of the turbulence structure in smooth- and rough-wall boundary layers. J. Fluid Mech. 177, 437–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabot, J.; Renault, J.; Comte-Bellot, G. 1973: Space time correlations of the transverse velocity components in pipe flow. Phys. Fluids 16, 1403–1405

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J. D. A.; Abbott, D. E.; Scharnhorst, R. K.; Weigand, G. G. 1989: Wall-layer model for the velocity profile in turbulent flows. AIAA J. 27, 140–149

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lai, J.C.S., Bullock, K.J. & Hollis, P.G. Turbulence wavenumber spectra in fully-developed smooth pipe flow. Experiments in Fluids 12, 369–376 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193883

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193883

Keywords

Navigation