Comparison of turbulence profiles in high Reynolds number turbulent boundary layers and validation of a predictive model

TL;DR

This paper compares turbulence profiles in high Reynolds number turbulent boundary layers and validates a modified Townsend-Perry model, demonstrating its predictive capability across different flow conditions and extremely high Reynolds numbers.

Contribution

The study extends the validation of the modified Townsend-Perry model to boundary layer flows and high Reynolds numbers, confirming its predictive accuracy across multiple facilities.

Findings

The model accurately describes turbulence profiles in boundary layers.

It matches high Reynolds number data from various facilities.

Extrapolation to extreme Reynolds numbers shows good agreement.

Abstract

The modified Townsend-Perry attached eddy model of Vassilicos et al (2015) combines the outer peak/plateau behaviour of rms streamwise turbulence velocity profiles and the Townsend-Perry log-decay of these profiles at higher distances from the wall. This model was validated by these authors for high Reynolds number tur- bulent pipe flow data and is shown here to describe equally well and with about the same parameter values turbulent boundary layer flow data from four different facilities and a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The model has predictive value as, when extrapolated to the extremely high Reynolds numbers of the SLTEST data obtained at the Great Salt Lake Desert atmospheric test facility, it matches these data quite well.