Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Creating homogeneous and isotropic turbulence without a mean flow

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel method of creating homogeneous and isotropic turbulence with small mean flow has been developed. Eight synthetic jet actuators on the corners of a cubic chamber can create energetic turbulence with root-mean-square (rms) velocities as large as 0.87 m/s, corresponding to a Taylor microscale Reynolds number, Re λ , of 218. Stationary turbulence results show that the turbulence was isotropic, with the rms velocity ratio equal to 1.03, and also homogeneous within the region of interest. Natural decaying turbulence measurements confirmed the power-law decay of the turbulent kinetic energy, with the decay exponent n equal to 1.86 for an initial Re λ of 224.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrews GE, Bradley D, Lwakabamba SB (1975) Measurement of turbulent burning velocity for large turbulent Reynolds numbers. Proc Combust Inst 15:655−664

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Batchelor GK (1953) The theory of homogeneous turbulence. Cambridge University Press, London

  • Birouk M, Chauveau C, Sarh B, Quilgars A, Gökalp I (1996) Turbulence effects on the vaporization of monocomponent single droplets. Combust Sci Technol 113−114:413−428

  • Comte-Bellot G, Corrsin S (1966) The use of a contraction to improve the isotropy of grid-generated turbulence. J Fluid Mech 25:657−682

    Google Scholar 

  • De Silva IPD, Fernando HJS (1994) Oscillating grids as a source of nearly isotropic turbulence. Phys Fluids 6:2455−2464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Druzhinin OA, Elghobashi S (1999) On the decay rate of isotropic turbulence laden with microparticles. Phys Fluids 11:602−610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fallon T, Rogers CB (2002) Turbulence-induced preferential concentration of solid particles in microgravity conditions. Exp Fluids 33:233−241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George WK (1992) The decay of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Phys Fluids A 4:1492−1509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gotoh T, Fukayama D, Nakano T (2002) Velocity statistics in homogeneous steady turbulence obtained using a high-resolution direct numerical simulation. Phys Fluids 14:1065−1081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han D (2001) Study of turbulent nonpremixed jet flames using simultaneous measurements of velocity and CH distribution. PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

  • Hasselbrink EF, Mungal MG (2001) Transverse jets and jet flames. Part 2. Velocity and OH field imaging. J Fluid Mech 443:27−68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinze JO (1975) Turbulence. McGraw-Hill, New York

  • Hopfinger EJ, Toly JA (1976) Spatially decaying turbulence and its relation to mixing across density interfaces. J Fluid Mech 78:155−175

    Google Scholar 

  • Ling SC, Huang TT (1970) Decay of weak turbulence. Phys Fluids 13:2912−2924

    Google Scholar 

  • Ling SC, Wan CA (1972) Decay of isotropic turbulence generated by a mechanically agitated grid. Phys Fluids 15:1363−1369

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Meneveau C, Katz J (1994) On the properties of similarity subgird-scale models as deduced from measurements in a turbulent jet. J Fluid Mech 275:83−119

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Katz J, Meneveau C (1999) Evolution and modelling of subgrid scales during rapid straining of turbulence. J Fluid Mech 387:281−320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansour NN, Wray AA (1994) Decay of isotropic turbulence at low Reynolds number. Phys Fluids 6:808−814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monin A, Yaglom A (1971) Statistical fluid mechanics. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

  • Mydlarski L, Warhoft Z (1996) On the onset of high-Reynolds-number grid-generated wind tunnel turbulence. J Fluid Mech 320:331−368

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley JJ, Patterson GS (1974) Diffusion experiments with numerically integrated isotropic turbulence. Phys Fluids 17:292−297

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth GI, Katz J (2001) Five techniques for increasing the speed and accuracy of PIV interrogation. Meas Sci Technol 12:238−245

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheng J, Meng H, Fox RO (2000) A large eddy PIV method for turbulence dissipation rate estimation. Chem Eng Sci 55:4423−4434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Squires KD, Eaton JK (1990) Particle response and turbulence modification in isotropic turbulence. Phys Fluids A 2:1191−1203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srdic A, Fernando HJS, Montenegro L (1996) Generation of nearly isotropic turbulence using two oscillating grids. Exp Fluids 20:395−397

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundaram S, Collins LR (1999) A numerical study of the modulation of isotropic turbulence by suspended particles. J Fluid Mech 379:105−143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor GI (1921) Diffusion by continuous movements. Proc Lond Math Soc 20:196−212

    Google Scholar 

  • Uberoi MS, Wallis S (1967) Effect of grid geometry on turbulence decay. Phys Fluids 10:1216−1223

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L-P, Maxey MR (1993) Settling velocity and concentration distribution of heavy particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. J Fluid Mech 256:27−68

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by NASA grants NCC3-640 and NAG3-2738. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Phast Corporation for generously donating the PLB-Amp8, and Dr. Donghee Han for providing the PIV code.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 488 Escondido Mall, Bldg 500, Stanford, CA, 94305-3030, USA

    W. Hwang & J. K. Eaton

Authors
  1. W. Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. K. Eaton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. Hwang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hwang, W., Eaton, J.K. Creating homogeneous and isotropic turbulence without a mean flow. Exp Fluids 36, 444–454 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-003-0742-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-003-0742-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation