Prediction of turbulent free shear flow statistics using a simple stochastic model

Abstract

One-dimensional turbulence, a stochastic simulation of turbulent flow evolution based on application of a mixing-length-type hypothesis to individual turbulent eddies, is used to predict transverse profiles of single-point statistics up to third order for two time-developing planar free shear flows, a mixing layer and a wake. Comparison of computed results to statistics obtained from direct numerical simulations of these flows indicates that the model, despite its simplicity, captures important features of turbulent free shear flow structure. Implications concerning the possible universality of some aspects of turbulent shear flow are discussed.