Turbulent Flows

Stephen B. Pope
Cambridge University Press (2000)

Solution to Exercise 5.18

Prepared by: Marco Quattrore Date: 20/02/2006

It suffices to recall that (for incompressible flow)

DE ∂E
= + ∇ · (UE) (1)
Dt ∂t
For the mean of this equation is simply
* +
DE ∂E
  D E
= + [∇ · (UE)]
Dt ∂t
DE ∂ hE i
 
= = ∇ · h UE i (2)
Dt ∂t
Then, substituting the Reynolds decomposition for U ( i.e. U = hUi + u )
the Eq. 2 becomes

DE ∂ hE i
  D  E
+∇·
= hUi + u E
Dt ∂t
∂ hE i D E
= +∇· hUiE + uE
∂t
DE ∂ hE i
   
= + ∇ · hUihE i + huE i (3)
Dt ∂t
or
DE ∂ hE i
   
= + ∇ · hUihE i + ∇ · huE i (4)
Dt ∂t
The product rule gives

DE ∂ hE i
   
= + hUi · ∇ hE i + hE i ∇ · hUi +∇ · huE i (5)
Dt ∂t | {z }
∇ · hUi = 0

1
Because of incompressibility the Eq. 5 can be rewritten as
" #
DE ∂ hE i
 
= + hUi · ∇ hE i + ∇ · huE i (6)
Dt ∂t
The previous result can be usefully re-expressed by defining the mean sub-
stantial derivative of E
DE D hE i
 
= + ∇ · huE i (7)
Dt Dt
The mean of Eq. 5.114 results
DE
 
+ ∇ · h T i = −2ν hSij Sij i (8)
Dt
Substituting the result of the Eq. 7 into Eq. 8 we obtain
D hE i
+ ∇ · huE i + ∇ · h T i = −2ν hSij Sij i (9)
Dt
The Reynolds decomposition for the symmetric, deviatoric rate-of-strain ten-
sor Sij is given by

Sij = S ij + sij (10)

where S ij and sij are the mean and fluctuating rates of strain:
!
1 ∂ hUi i ∂ hUj i
S ij = hSij i = + (11)
2 ∂xj ∂xi
!
1 ∂ui ∂uj
sij = Sij − hSij i = + (12)
2 ∂xj ∂xi
Because of this decomposition the term hSij Sij i can be easily re-expressed
by
D  E
hSij Sij i = S ij + sij S ij + sij
D E
= S ij S ij + 2sij S ij + sij sij
= S ij S ij + 2S ij hsij i + hsij sij i
| {z }
hsij i = 0
hSij Sij i = S ij S ij + hsij sij i (13)

2
Substituting the result of the Eq. 13 into Eq. 9 we obtain

D hE i  
+ ∇ · huE i + h T i = − 2ν S ij S ij − 2ν hsij sij i (14)
Dt
The two terms on the right-hand side are the dissipation due to the mean
flow and the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy

ε ≡ 2ν S ij S ij (15)
ε ≡ 2ν hsij sij i (16)

Substituting definitions of ε and ε into Eq. 14 we finally obtain

D hE i  
+ ∇ · huE i + h T i = − ε − ε (17)
Dt

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