Turbulence Homogeneity and Isotropy : Mean-field and Fluctuations in the Taylor-Green vortex
Résumé
We have performed medium resolution numerical simulations over very long times of the stationary turbulent flow that develops from a static constant in time Taylor-Green forcing. By averaging over thousands of large-scale eddy turnover times, we separate the turbulent fluctuations from the inhomogeneous anisotropic mean flow induced by the forcing. We show that the turbulent velocity fluctuations are only slightly more isotropic than the total flow and still display significant deviations from isotropy and homogeneity. Also, the fluctuations and the mean flow are not independent, and their energies are locally anticorrelated. The energy transfer laws of Kolmogorov, Yaglom and Monin and their corresponding finite Reynolds number corrections are also checked for different positions and orientations in the flow, and it is found that Kolmogorov and Yaglom laws are not completely satisfied due to the imperfect return to isotropy and homogeneity of the flow. Monin's relation is verified because it averages dissipation over the different directions and in a volume such that homogeneity is restored, and also only for the total fluid velocity and not for the velocity fluctuations as these do not obey Navier-Stokes equations. These results suggest that the hypothesis of small scale homogeneous and isotropic turbulence should be clarified in the presence of an inhomogeneous anisotropic mean flow induced by forcing. We have performed medium resolution numerical simulations over very long times of the stationary turbulent flow that develops from a static constant in time Taylor-Green forcing. By averaging over thousands of large-scale eddy turnover times, we separate the turbulent fluctuations from the inhomogeneous anisotropic mean flow induced by the forcing. We show that the turbulent velocity fluctuations are only slightly more isotropic than the total flow and still display significant deviations from isotropy and homogeneity. Also, the fluctuations and the mean flow are not independent, and their energies are locally anticorrelated. The energy transfer laws of Kolmogorov, Yaglom and Monin and their corresponding finite Reynolds number corrections are also checked for different positions and orientations in the flow, and it is found that Kolmogorov and Yaglom laws are not completely satisfied due to the imperfect return to isotropy and homogeneity of the flow. Monin's relation is verified because it averages dissipation over the different directions and in a volume such that homogeneity is restored, and also only for the total fluid velocity and not for the velocity fluctuations as these do not obey Navier-Stokes equations. These results suggest that the hypothesis of small scale homogeneous and isotropic turbulence should be clarified in the presence of an inhomogeneous anisotropic mean flow induced by forcing.
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