Generating the Log Law of the Wall with Superposition of Standing Waves

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that superposing fixed-end standing waves with even harmonics can reproduce the log-law velocity profile in wall-bounded turbulence, offering a new wave-based perspective on turbulence mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel wave superposition approach using harmonic modes to model the log-law MVP, linking simple harmonic waves to complex turbulent flow structures.

Findings

Superposition of harmonic waves reproduces the log-law MVP.

Wave envelope simulates mean shear stress profile.

Reduced harmonic modes relate to flow transition understanding.

Abstract

Turbulence remains an unsolved multidisciplinary science problem. As one of the most well-known examples in turbulent flows, knowledge of the logarithmic mean velocity profile (MVP), so called the log law of the wall, plays an important role everywhere turbulent flow meets the solid wall, such as fluids in any kind of channels, skin friction of all types of transportations, the atmospheric wind on a planetary ground, and the oceanic current on the seabed. However, the mechanism of how this log-law MVP is formed under the multiscale nature of turbulent shears remains one of the greatest interests of turbulence puzzles. To untangle the multiscale coupling of turbulent shear stresses, we explore for a known fundamental tool in physics. Here we present how to reproduce the log-law MVP with the even harmonic modes of fixed-end standing waves. We find that when these harmonic waves of same magnitude are considered as the multiscale turbulent shear stresses, the wave envelope of their superposition simulates the mean shear stress profile of the wall-bounded flow. It implies that the log-law MVP is not expectedly related to the turbulent scales in the inertial subrange associated with the Kolmogorov energy cascade, revealing the dissipative nature of all scales involved. The MVP with reduced harmonic modes also shows promising connection to the understanding of flow transition to turbulence. The finding here suggests the simple harmonic waves as good agents to help unravel the complex turbulent dynamics in wall-bounded flow.