Hairpin vortex organization in wall turbulence

TLDR

Coherent structures in wall turbulence, such as hairpin vortices, transport momentum, generate turbulent kinetic energy, and can self‑assemble into packets that occupy a large portion of the boundary layer even at high Reynolds numbers. The study investigates how hairpin packets form and how their organization into larger structures influences wall‑turbulence dynamics. Visualization and simulation confirm the hairpin vortex paradigm above the viscous layer, and evidence indicates that packet organization may extend to outer‑layer scales comparable to or exceeding the boundary‑layer thickness.

Abstract

Coherent structures in wall turbulence transport momentum and provide a means of producing turbulent kinetic energy. Above the viscous wall layer, the hairpin vortex paradigm of Theodorsen coupled with the quasistreamwise vortex paradigm have gained considerable support from multidimensional visualization using particle image velocimetry and direct numerical simulation experiments. Hairpins can autogenerate to form packets that populate a significant fraction of the boundary layer, even at very high Reynolds numbers. The dynamics of packet formation and the ramifications of organization of coherent structures (hairpins or packets) into larger-scale structures are discussed. Evidence for a large-scale mechanism in the outer layer suggests that further organization of packets may occur on scales equal to and larger than the boundary layer thickness.