Further experiments in nearly homogeneous turbulent shear flow

Abstract

The experiment of Champagne, Harris & Corrsin in generating and studying a nearly homogeneous turbulent shear flow has been extended to larger values of the dimensionless downstream time or strain by the use of a larger mean velocity gradient in the same wind tunnel. The system appears to reach an asymptotic state in which scales and turbulent energy grow monotonically. Two-point covariances and tensor structure of one-point ‘Reynolds stress’ and ‘pressure/strain-rate covariance’ agree with the earlier case. However, the linear intercomponent energy exchange hypothesis due to Rotta, very roughly confirmed by the earlier experiment, is contradicted by the present data.