Model for propagation speed in turbulent channel flows

The propagation speed Vc of the streamwise velocity fluctuations u' in turbulent channel flows is calculated using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data at four Mach numbers (M=0, 0.8, 2.0, and 3.0). The profiles of Vc are shown to display remarkable similarity at different M. Quantitative models are developed based on a statistical structure called Velocity-Vorticity Correlation Structure (VVCS), defined as the vorticity region most correlated to velocity fluctuations at a fixed location. Good agreement with DNS-measured propagation velocities is obtained throughout the channel and for all M. The result confirms earlier speculation that the near-wall propagation is due to an advection by coherent vortex structures, and validates the concept of the VVCS.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000309658000005&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701SCI(E)EIPubMed34 Pt 20463078