A mixing‐length model for magnetohydrodynamic flows in channels and ducts with wall‐parallel magnetic field

Abstract

A spanwise magnetic field leads to turbulent drag reduction in channel flow of a conducting liquid due to the selective Joule damping of certain flow structures. This effect can be captured by a simple modification of Prandtl's classical mixing-length idea. The mixing length over which a turbulent fluctuation loses its momentum is not only constrained geometrically but also by magnetic damping. We therefore introduce a magnetic damping length that is proportional to friction velocity and the Joule damping time. The limitation of mixing length is implemented by using the harmonic mean between wall distance and this damping length. By combining this ansatz with the van-Driest model for turbulent stresses in channel flow we obtain a satisfactory prediction for the mean velocity distribution in magnetohydrodynamic channel flow with spanwise field for different Reynolds and Hartmann numbers.