This article is concerned with the mean velocity distributions of two-dimensional fully developed turbulent plane-channel flows. To yield reliable information, the authors performed detailed hot-wire measurements for more than 12 Reynolds numbers. The experimental investigations covered a wide range of the Reynolds numbers up to Reτ≈5×103, where Reτ is based on the wall friction velocity and the channel half-height. From the distribution of the mean velocity gradient (dU+/dy+)=f(y+) the entire flow field was analyzed, resulting in a logarithmic region for the mean velocity profile in the inertial sublayer, extending almost up to the center of the channel at higher Reynolds numbers. The analysis of the experimental results yield a value of the von Kármán constant, κ, close to 0.37(≈1/e) independent of the Reynolds number and the additive constant B=3.70, which is close to 10/e, i.e., U+=e ln y++10/e=(1/0.37)ln y++3.70.
The present paper reports observations on some aspects regarding the dependence of the transition Reynolds number and flow development on the inlet flow conditions and the entrance length in circular and rectangular ducts for Rem≤106×103, where Rem is the Reynolds number based on the bulk flow velocity (U¯b) and the duct integral length scale (D). The hot-wire anemometer was used to carry out measurements close to the circular duct exit; however, the laser-Doppler anemometry was utilized for the rectangular duct measurements. Particular considerations were given to the bulk flow velocity, the mean-velocity profile, the centerline-average-velocity, and the centerline turbulence statistics to the fourth order. Transition criteria in both ducts were discussed, reflecting effects of flow geometry, entrance flow conditions, and entrance length on the transition Reynolds number. A laminar behavior was maintained up to Rem≈15.4×103 and Rem≈2×103 in the circular and rectangular ducts, respectively, and the transition was observed to take place at different downstream positions as the inlet flow velocity varied.
The CoLaPipe is a novel test facility at the Department of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg), set up to investigate fully developed pipe flow at high Reynolds numbers (Re(m) ⩽ 1.5 × 10(6)). The design of the CoLaPipe is closed-return with two available test sections providing a length-to-diameter ratio of L/D = 148 and L/D = 79. Within this work, we introduce the CoLaPipe and describe the various components in detail, i.e., the settling chamber, the inlet contraction, the blower, bends, and diffusers as well as the cooling system. A special feature is the numerically optimized contraction design. The applications of different measuring techniques such as hot-wire anemometry and static pressure measurements to quantitatively evaluate the mean flow characteristics and turbulence statistics are discussed as well. In addition, capabilities and limitations of available and new pipe flow facilities are presented and reconsidered based on their length-to-diameter ratio, the achieved Reynolds numbers, and the resulting spatial resolution. Here, the focus is on the facility design, the presentation of some basic characteristics, and its contribution to a reviewed list of specific questions still arising, e.g., scaling and structural behavior of turbulent pipe flow as well as the influence of the development length on turbulence investigations.
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