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TURBULENCE IN FLUIDS
MSc in Mechanical/Aerospace/… Engineering

Novembro 2021

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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HOMOGENEOUS ISOTROPIC TURBULENCE
x/d

March 2023
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
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SUMMARY

• Homogeneous and isotropic turbulence

• Two point statistics
• Correlations and spectra
• Three-dimensional energy spectrum
• One-dimensional energy spectrum
• Scaling of the energy spectrum, K41
• Taylor scale
• Turbulent Reynolds number

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS x/d

Two point correlation:

𝑅!" (𝑟, ⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑢!# 𝑥,

⃗ 𝑥, ⃗ 𝑡 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡)

Two point correlation (homogeneous field - statistics are

invariant to translation)
⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑢!# 𝑥,
𝑅!" (𝑟, ⃗ 𝑡 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡)

Two point correlation (isotropic field - statistics are invariant

to translations and rotations)

𝑅!" (𝑟, 𝑡) = 𝑢!# 𝑥,

⃗ 𝑡 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡) 𝑟 = |𝑟|
⃗
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS x/d

Two point correlation:

𝑅!" (𝑟, ⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑢!# 𝑥,

⃗ 𝑥, ⃗ 𝑡 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡)

𝑅!" 0 = 𝑢!# 𝑢" ′

𝑅!" 𝑟⃗ = 𝑅!" −𝑟⃗

𝑅!" 𝑟⃗ → ∞ = 0

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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ISOTROPIC TURBULENCE x/d

All statistics are independent of rotations, thus

𝑢#$ = 𝑣 #$ = 𝑤 #$

𝑢# 𝑣′ = 𝑢# 𝑤′ = 𝑣 # 𝑤 # = 0

2
𝑢!# 𝑢" ′ = 𝑘𝛿!"
3
1 # 1 #$
𝑘 = 𝑢! 𝑢! ′ = 𝑢 + 𝑣 #$ + 𝑤 #$
2 2

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS x/d

Two point correlation:

𝑅!" (𝑟, ⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑢!# 𝑥,

⃗ 𝑥, ⃗ 𝑡 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡)

Longitudinal correlation Transverse correlation

130 6 Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence
𝑅%% (𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑢′ 𝑥,
⃗ 𝑡 𝑢′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡) 𝑅$$ (𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑣′ 𝑥,
⃗ 𝑡 𝑣′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡)
u1

B
u1 u1
r = (0, r, 0)
A B
x2 u1
r = (r, 0, 0)
A
x1

Fig. 6.1 Example of correlation functions at two points A and B separated by vector r, at left
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
R11 (r, 0, 0) and at right, R11 (0, r, 0)
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SPATIAL
190 CORRELATIONS x/d
9 Correlation Function and Spectrum

1.0 z/H=
0.8 1.0
R 11(0,r,0) 0.44
0.6 0.11
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
r (cm)
1.0 1.0
0.8 R 33(0,r,0) 0.8 R 22 (0,r,0)
0.6 0.6
0.4 0.4
0.2 0.2
0.0 0.0
-0.2 -0.2
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8
r (cm) r (cm)

Fig. 9.4 Longitudinal and transversal

Prof. Carlos spatial correlations
Bettencourt dainSilva
a channel flow. Measurements by G.
Comte-Bellot using hot-wire anemometers. (Note that the distance from the wall is taken as the
 y/d

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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS x/d

Longitudinal and transverse correlation functions:

< 𝑢! 𝑥 𝑢! 𝑥 + 𝑟 > < 𝑣! 𝑥 𝑣! 𝑥 + 𝑟 >

𝑓(𝑟) = ! 𝑔(𝑟) = !
144 < 𝑢! 𝑥 > 6 < 𝑣 !Turbulence
Homogeneous and Isotropic 𝑥 >
Fig. 6.6 Sketch of the
functions f (r ) et g(r ) for an 1
incompressible and isotropic
turbulence in 3-D, and
relative position of the
Taylor length scale λ2

f (r)

0 λ2 r r
g(r)

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

The g function curve is expected to cross the abscissa axis. The curves of functions
mponent u #α of velocity at point x in direction β is used,
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# #
∂u # # r 2 ∂2u# #
+ r x0β ) = u #α (x) + r20 α ## + 40 α ## + · · · 60 80 100 120
SPATIAL CORRELATIONS
∂xβ x
x
2
2 ∂xβ # x/d

# and applying the average operator,

xpression by uIntegral
α length scales:
' '
2 1
#2 𝐿 %%#
(r x β ) = u α + r u α =
∂u #
α
+
r
uα#
∂ 2 u #α: 𝑅%% 𝑒% 𝑟, 𝑥,
+ · · · ⃗𝑡 𝑑𝑟 = : 𝑓(𝑟)𝑑𝑟
∂xβ𝑅%% 2 0, 𝑥, ⃗ ∂x𝑡 β2 & &
' '
1
𝐿$$ = : 𝑅$$ 𝑒% 𝑟, 𝑥,
⃗ 𝑡 𝑑𝑟 = : 𝑔(𝑟)𝑑𝑟
𝑅$$ 0, 𝑥,
⃗𝑡 & &
1
d its
h
gth
R11 (r, 0, 0)

0 λ1 L1 rx1
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0
The 202nd order
40
structure
60
x/d
function
80
and 100 120

correlation function
• Measure of kinetic energy of eddies of size r (or smaller)

𝑆"(𝑟) =< 𝑢! 𝑥 − 𝑢! 𝑥 + 𝑟 " >

< 𝑢! 𝑥 𝑢! 𝑥 + 𝑟 >
𝑓(𝑟) = !
< 𝑢! 𝑥 >
Relation between the two:

𝑆"(𝑟) = 2𝑢!"[1 − 𝑓(𝑟)]

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS AND SPECTRA x/d

Fourier transform of the velocity field:

'
1134 )i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑥 6 Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence
𝑢? ! (𝑘, 𝑡) = ( A 𝑢! 𝑥,
⃗ 𝑡 𝑒 ⃗
2𝜋Fig. 6.3 Basic
)'frame k3
(k1 , k2 , k3 ) and local frame
'
(k̃1 , k̃2 , k̃3 ) in the Fourier

⃗ 𝑡 = A 𝑢? (𝑘, 𝑡)𝑒 i ⃗
space. The Fourier . *.-
𝑢! 𝑥, !
contribution û(k) is in the 𝑑𝑘 k̃3
plane (k̃1 , k̃2 ). The
)'
orthonormal local frame,
also known as the θ
Craya-Herring frame, is k̃2
defined by analogy with
spherical coordinates, k̃3 is k k̃1
along the wavenumber k, k̃1
is tangent to the meridian k2
circle with increasing θ, k̃2 is ϕ
tangent to the parallel circle
with increasing ϕ

k1

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS AND SPECTRA x/d

Fourier transform pair: the spectrum tensor

'
1 )i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑟⃗
Φ!" (𝑘, 𝑡) = (
A 134
𝑅!" 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡 𝑒 6 Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence

2𝜋 )'
Fig. 6.3 Basic frame k3
(k , k , k ) and local frame
1 2 3
(k̃1 , k̃2 , k̃3 ) in the Fourier
' space. The Fourier

⃗ 𝑡) = A Φ!" (𝑘, 𝑡)𝑒 i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑘

𝑅!" (𝑟, contribution û(k) is in the
plane (k̃1 , k̃2 ). The
k̃3
orthonormal local frame,
)' also known as the θ
Craya-Herring frame, is k̃2
' defined by analogy with
k
𝑢! ′𝑢"#
spherical coordinates, k̃3 is
𝑅!" 0, 𝑡 = = A Φ!" (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘
along the wavenumber k, k̃1
is tangent to the meridian
k̃1
k2
)' circle with increasing θ, k̃2 is ϕ
tangent to the parallel circle

One example, with increasing ϕ

' k1

𝑅%% 0, 𝑡 = 𝑢# $ = A Φ%% (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘

)'
 %
1
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da
 Silva
φij (k) = 3
Rij (r) e−i k·r d r
(2π)
% (6.10)

 i k·r
 cubic domain which has a special property: whatever is happening at one face of the
y/d
ppens at the opposite face. Of course, a freely evolving cloud of turbulence is, in reality,
g but periodic, and so this artificial periodicity must be enforced as a rather strange kind
dary 0condition on the calculation.
20 Periodic cubes
40 are popular because 60 they lend them-80 100 120
EXERCISE: x/d
particularly efficient (fast) numerical algorithms for solving the Navier–Stokes equations.
eless, even in this particularly simple geometry it is difficult to achieve values of Re (based
ntegral scale) much above 105 . (Most flows of interest to the engineer are in the range
Show that,
and those of interest to the geophysicist or astrophysicist are often much larger.)
dic cubes lend themselves to efficient
% simulations. However, there is a price
% to pay.
ed periodicity of the1 turbulence is quite
i &$& " .)⃗
unphysical. 1 that the turbulence
It ensures $i &$& is " .)⃗
4 𝑒 𝑑 𝑥
⃗ =
# of the box (consult Chapter 7).134It2𝜋 4 𝑒
also#enforces unphysical, 𝑑6 𝑥⃗Homogeneous 𝑘 !)Turbulence
= 𝛿(𝑘and+Isotropic
2𝜋
lly anisotropic at the scale
$%
ge statistical correlations on the scale LBOX . (What is happening on one side $%of the box
Fig. 6.3 Basic frame k3
(k1 , k2 , k3 ) and local frame
(k̃1 , k̃2 , k̃3 ) in the Fourier
space. The Fourier
contribution û(k) is in the
plane (k̃1 , k̃2 ). The
k̃3

𝑘
orthonormal local frame,
also known as the θ
Craya-Herring frame, is k̃2
defined by analogy with
spherical coordinates, k̃3 is k k̃1
along the wavenumber k, k̃1
is tangent to the meridian k2
circle with increasing θ, k̃2 is ϕ
tangent to the parallel circle
with increasing ϕ

LLBO
BOXX
𝑘 # = −𝑘 k1

𝐿/01 = 2𝜋  1
%
.26 Flow in a periodic cube. Space is divided up into an infinite number of cubes
φij (k) and
= 3
Rij (r) e−i k·r d r
(2π)
nged for the flow in each box to be identical at Prof. Carlos
any instant. WeBettencourt da
focus attention
 onSilva %
just (6.10)
 Rij (r) = φij (k)ei k·r d k
e and study the evolution of the turbulence within it. The dynamics in any one cube are
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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS AND SPECTRA x/d

Correlation function and spectrum tensor

1 1 % %
; ∗ ; !
𝑢* ′ (𝑘)𝑢, ′(𝑘 ) = 4 4 𝑢 ! 𝑥⃗ 𝑢,! 𝑥′
⃗ 𝑒 $i&.)⃗ 𝑒 $i& " .)⃗ "
𝑑𝑥⃗ 𝑑𝑥⃗ !
# # *
2𝜋 2𝜋 $% $%

1 %
$i&.-⃗ 𝑒 $i.(&0& ).)⃗ 𝑑𝑥 " "
= . 4 𝑅*, (𝑟)𝑒
⃗ ⃗ 𝑑𝑟⃗ 𝑥⃗ = 𝑥⃗ ! + 𝑟⃗
2𝜋 $%
%
1 $i&.-⃗ 𝛿(𝑘 + 𝑘 ! ) 𝑑𝑟⃗
= # 4 𝑅*, (𝑟)𝑒
⃗
2𝜋 $%

𝑢D! ′∗ (𝑘, 𝑡)𝑢D

" ′(𝑘 # , 𝑡) = Φ 𝑘, 𝑡 𝛿(𝑘 + 𝑘′)
!"

% 1 %
1 i &0&" .)⃗ 𝑑𝑥
𝑢= * (𝑘) = # 4 𝑢* 𝑥⃗ 𝑒 $i&.-⃗ 𝑑𝑥⃗ 2𝜋 # 4 𝑒 ⃗ = 𝛿(𝑘 + 𝑘 !)
2𝜋 $% $%
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
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SPATIAL CORRELATIONS AND SPECTRA x/d

Correlation function and spectrum tensor

𝑢D! ′∗ (𝑘, 𝑡)𝑢D #

" ′(𝑘 , 𝑡) = Φ!" 𝑘′, 𝑡 𝛿(𝑘 + 𝑘′)

𝑢!# 𝑥,
⃗ 𝑡 𝑢"# 𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡 = 𝑅!" 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑥,
⃗𝑡

Represent velocity correlations in the Fourier and

Physical space

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

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ENERGY SPECTRUM x/d

'
𝑅!" (𝑟, ⃗ = 𝑢!# 𝑥⃗ 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟)
⃗ 𝑥) ⃗ ⃗ = A Φ!" (𝑘)𝑒 i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑘
𝑅!" (𝑟)
)'
'
1 1 1 1
𝑘 = 𝑢! ′𝑢!# = 𝑢# $ + 𝑣 #$ + 𝑤 #$ = 𝑅!! 0 = A Φ!! (𝑘)𝑒 & 𝑑𝑘
2 2 2 2 )'

Definition: Three-dimensional Energy spectrum function:

1 '
𝐸 |𝑘| = 𝐸 𝑘 = F Φ!! 𝑘 𝑑𝑆 𝑘
2 )'
'
1
𝑘 = 𝑢! ′𝑢!# = : 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘 Sphere of radius k
2 &
𝑑𝑆 𝑘 = 𝑑𝑆 𝑘

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

 spectrum represents the microstructure. The region in between describes the energy
y/d cascade process. We return to the shape of the spectrum in this intermediate region
in one of the following sections of this chapter.
0 20 The second 40 simplification 60 tensor φij (κ) is
of the spectral 80 100the so-called
120one-
ENERGY SPECTRUM
dimensional spectrum, wherex/d the separation vector r only varies along a given line.
For example, if we take for this the x1 -axis, so that: r = (r1 , 0, 0), it follows for
(9.17) that:
Three-dimensional energy spectrum:

*.3* ~ 4
isotropic range
: 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
5/3
* anisotropic range ~
E( )
dissipation
energy range
containing inertial subrange
eddies

( e) ( d)

Fig. 9.5 The three-dimensional energy spectrum. The inertial subrange occurs roughly between
κe = 2π/L and κd = 2π/η and scales with κ−5/3 ; see Sect. 9.5. The κ4 -scaling for κ → 0 is
described in Problem Prof.
6 ofCarlos Bettencourt
Sect. 9.6. The scaling da
for Silva
the dissipative range is discussed in Problem 12
of Sect. 9.6; see also Fig. 9.14
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0
SPECTRUM
20
TENSOR
40
IN 60
x/d
ISOTROPIC
80 100 120

TURBULENCE
Isotropy and incompressibility lead to (second order
tensor):
𝑘! 𝑘"
Φ!" 𝑘 = 𝛼 𝑘 𝑘! 𝑘" + 𝛽 𝑘 𝛿!" = 𝛽 𝑘 𝛿!" − $
𝑘
Three-dimensional Energy spectrum function:
1 '
𝐸 |𝑘| = 𝐸 𝑘 = F Φ!! 𝑘 𝑑𝑆 𝑘 = 2𝜋𝑘 $ Φ!! |𝑘|
2 )'

Then, Area of a sphere of radius k:

𝐸 𝑘 𝑘! 𝑘"
Φ!" (𝑘) = 𝛿!" − $ 𝑆 𝑘 = : 𝑑𝑆 = 4𝜋𝑘 $
4𝜋𝑘 $ 𝑘 *

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

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EXERCISE: x/d

Show that in isotropic turbulence,

$
#
𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢! ′ 1 𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢" ′
𝜀̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" ′𝑠!" =𝜈 = 𝜈 − = 𝜈Ω#!" Ω!" ′ = 𝜈𝜔!#$
𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥" 2 𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥!

𝜕𝑢! 1 𝜕𝑢! 𝜕𝑢" 1 𝜕𝑢! 𝜕𝑢"

= 𝑆!" + Ω!" = + + −
𝜕𝑥" 2 𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥! 2 𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥!
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

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DISSIPATION SPECTRUM x/d

Enstrophy and dissipation:

'
⃗ 𝑡) = A Φ!" (𝑘, 𝑡)𝑒 i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑘
𝑅!" (𝑟,
)'
𝜕 $ 𝑅!" '
R = − A 𝑘* 𝑘4 Φ!" (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘
𝜕𝑟* 𝜕𝑟4 -5& )'

𝑅!" (𝑟, ⃗ 𝑡) = 𝑢!# 𝑥,

⃗ 𝑥, ⃗ 𝑡 𝑢" ′(𝑥⃗ + 𝑟,
⃗ 𝑡)
𝜕 $ 𝑅!" 𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢" ′ 𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢! ′ '
R =− = A 𝑘" 𝑘" Φ!! (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘
𝜕𝑟* 𝜕𝑟4 -5& 𝜕𝑥* 𝜕𝑥4 𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥" )'
'
𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢" ′
= A 𝑘* 𝑘4 Φ!" (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘
𝜕𝑥* 𝜕𝑥4 )'
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

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DISSIPATION SPECTRUM x/d

Enstrophy and dissipation:

'
𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢! ′
= A 𝑘" 𝑘" Φ!! (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘
𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥" )'

'
#
𝜕𝑢! ′ 𝜕𝑢! ′
𝜀 ̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" ′𝑠!" =𝜈 = A 𝑘" 𝑘" Φ!! (𝑘, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑘
𝜕𝑥" 𝜕𝑥" )'
' '
= 𝜈 A 𝑘 $ Φ!! 𝑘 𝑑𝑘 = 2𝜈 : 𝑘 $ 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘 '
)' & 𝜔!#$ = : 𝑘 $ 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
' &
#
𝜀 ̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" ′𝑠!" = 2𝜈 : 𝑘 $ 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘 𝐷 𝑘 = 𝑘$𝐸 𝑘
&
Enstrophy spectrum
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

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ENERGY AND DISSIPATION SPECTRUM x/d

Kinetic energy and viscous dissipation:

'
1
𝑘 = 𝑢! ′𝑢!# = : 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
2 &

'
#
𝜀 ̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" ′𝑠!" = 𝜈𝜔!#$ = : 𝑘 $ 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
&

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

 y/d

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ENERGY AND DISSIPATION SPECTRUM x/d

energy enstrophy

Large
energy-containing
eddies Dissipation
scales

ℓ–1 η–1 log (wavenumber)

𝜂)%
igure 3.6 The distribution of energy and enstrophy in fully developed turbulence.
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

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1D SPECTRUM x/d

One-dimensional energy spectrum:

'
(%)
𝐸!" (𝑘% ) = F Φ!" 𝑘 𝑑𝑘$ 𝑑𝑘(
)'
' '
𝑢#$ = : 𝐸!"% 𝑘% 𝑑𝑘% 𝑢′𝑣′ = : 𝐸%$% 𝑘% 𝑑𝑘%
148 ' ' Turbulence
6 Homogeneous and Isotropic

Fig. 6.8 Polar coordinates

introduced to obtain
expression (6.32) k2

ϕ
k
σ
O k1

k3

P
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1D SPECTRUM x/d

One-dimensional energy spectrum:

for 𝑟⃗ = 𝑟% , 0,0 : 𝑘. 𝑟⃗ = 𝑘% 𝑟% , 0,0
' '
𝑅!" (𝑟% , 0,0) = A Φ!" 𝑘 𝑒 i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑘 = A Φ!" 𝑘 𝑒 i*!-! 𝑑𝑘 =
)' )'
' ' '
148 = : 𝑒 i*!-! F Φ !" 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
6 Homogeneous 𝑑𝑘
$ Isotropic
and 𝑑𝑘 =
( Turbulence
% : 𝑒 i*!-! 𝐸% (𝑘 )𝑑𝑘
!" % %
)' )' )'
Fig. 6.8 Polar coordinates
introduced to obtain
expression (6.32) k2

ϕ
k
σ
O k1

k3

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt

P da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1D SPECTRUM x/d

Fourier transform pair: the 1D spectrum tensor

1 '
𝐸!" 𝑘% = : 𝑅!" 𝑟% , 0,0 𝑒 )i*!-! 𝑑𝑟%
2𝜋 )'
'
𝑅!" (𝑟% , 0,0) = : 𝐸!" (𝑘% )𝑒 i*!-! 𝑑𝑘%
)'

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
EXERCISE: x/d

Show that the longitudinal integral scale can be

computed by,
𝜋𝐸%% 0
𝐿%% =
𝑢#$

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
x/d
The turbulence theory of Kolmogorov (K41)

𝒌𝟎 = 𝟐𝝅/𝑳 Anisotropic/non-universal
(flow dependant)

(Inertial
subrange)
Isotropic/universal
(no viscous equilibrium range
effects) (flow independent)

(viscous
Effects)
𝒌𝜼 = Prof.
𝟐𝝅/𝜼 Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
x/d
The turbulence theory of Kolmogorov (K41)
Eddies containing energy:
𝐿 = 𝐿"" 𝑘 ∼ 𝑢'&
𝑈 = 𝑢' = √𝑢'& 𝑢'!
𝑇 = 𝐿"" /𝑢′ 𝜀=Π∼
𝐿""
Inertial range:
&/!
𝐿 = 𝑟 𝑇 = 𝑈/𝐿 𝑘 ∼ 𝜀𝑟
!
𝑈 = 𝑢 𝑟 ∼ 𝜀𝑟 "/!𝜀 𝑟 = Π ∼ 𝑢 𝑟
! "/$ 𝑟
𝐿 = 𝜂 = 𝜈 /𝜀
"/$ 𝑢% 𝜂
𝑈 = 𝑢% = 𝜈𝜀 𝑅% = =1
"/& 𝜈
𝑇 = 𝜏% = 𝜈/𝜀
Smallest dissipative eddies:
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
KINETIC ENERGY SPECTRUM x/d

Scaling law in the inertial range region

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
KINETIC ENERGY SPECTRUM x/d

Scaling law in the inertial range region

𝑘8 ≪ 𝑘 ≪ 𝑘9 Π 𝑘 ∼𝜀

Length, velocity and time scales

𝑘, 𝑢? 𝑘 , 𝜏 ∼ 1/[𝑘𝑢(𝑘)]
?
Energy flux across scale k
Π 𝑘 ∼ 𝑢? 𝑘 $ /𝜏

Energy spectrum at scale k

E 𝑘 ∼ 𝑢? 𝑘 $ /𝑘
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
x/d
The turbulence theory of Kolmogorov (K41)
Kinetic energy spectrum for very high Reynolds
𝐸(𝑘) = 𝐸(𝑘, 𝜀, 𝜈) 𝒌 ≫ 𝒌𝟎 (Inertial range)

𝐸(𝑘) = 𝐸(𝑘, 𝜀) 𝒌𝜼 ≪ 𝒌 ≪ 𝒌𝟎 (Inertial subrange)

Dimensional analysis, 𝐸 = 𝐿#𝑇 $" k = 𝐿$6

𝐸(𝑘) ∼ 𝜀 4 𝑘5 𝑑𝑘 𝐿𝑇 $6 "
𝜀 = = = 𝐿"𝑇 $#
𝐿#𝑇 $" ∼ (𝐿"𝑇 $#)4 (𝐿$6)5 𝑑𝑡 𝑇

𝐿# ∼ 𝐿"4$5 𝛼 = 2/3 " 7

Q $" Q
𝛽 = −5/3 𝐸(𝑘) ∼ 𝜀 #𝑘 $#
𝑇 ∼ 𝑇 $#4
(Kolmogorov-Obukhov law)
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
 The turbulence scales adapted to small structures can be used to normalize the spectra.
y/d Thus, E(k)/(lη u 2η ) is represented as a function of the dimensionless wavenumber klη .
A single curve limited to klη ! 1 is found for the small structures, whatever the type of
flow and the Reynolds number is, provided that it is large enough. Figure 7.3 obtained
0 20 40 60 by Chapman [173] and80Saddoughi and Veeravalli
from data 120
100[668, 669] synthesizes
KINETIC ENERGY SPECTRUM
x/d
8
10

Inertial range region

6
10

Π 𝑘 ∼𝜀
4
10
Energy spectrum

2 × E11 (k1 )/(lη uη2 )

E 𝑘 ∼ 𝜀 $/( 𝑘 );/( 10
2
Re g
23 boundary layer (Tielman, 1967)

(1)
23 cylinder wake (Uberoi & Freymuth, 1969)
37 grid turbulence (Comte Bellot & Corrsin, 1971)

E 𝑘 = 𝐶< 𝜀 $/( 𝑘 );/( 0

72 grid turbulence (Comte Bellot & Corrsin, 1971)
130 homogeneous shear (Champagne et al., 1970)
∼ k− 5/3
10 + 170 pipe flow (Laufer, 1954) 1
282 boundary layer (Tielman, 1969)
);/(
F%% 𝑘% = 𝛼𝜀 $/( 𝑘% +
308 cylinder wake (Uberoi & Freymuth, 1969)
401 boundary layer (Sanborn & Marshall, 1965)
540 grid turbulence (Kistler & Vrebalovich, 1966)
−2 . 600 boundary layer (Saddoughi, 1994)
10 . 780 round jet (Gibson, 1963)
Kolmogorov constant. 850 boundary layer (Coantic & Favre, 1974)
. 1500 boundary layer (Saddoughi, 1994)
⊕ 2000 tidal channel (Grant et al., 1962)
𝐶< ≈ 1.5 10
−4 ♦ 3180 return channel (CAHI Moscow, 1991)

−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt
10 10da Silva
10 10 10 10 10
k1 lη
 y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

7.1
ENERGY
Kolmogorov Theory
AND DISSIPATION SPECTRUM
x/d

E(k)
2/3 −5/3
E(k) = CK k

Dν (k)

0 kLf ∼ 1 kλ g ∼ 1 klη ∼ 1 k

Fig. 7.4 Sketch of the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum E(k) and of the dissipation spect
Dν (k) = 2νk 2 E(k) for high Reynolds number isotropic turbulence. The inertial subrange t
place between these two spectra Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale x/d

• Scaling laws for the large-scale and small-scale velocity

derivatives
𝜕𝑢( 𝑈 𝑢#
𝑆!" ∼ ∼ ∼
𝜕𝑥 𝐿 𝐿
# 𝑢$
#
𝜕𝑢
𝑠!" ∼ ∼
𝜕𝑥 𝜂
• The scale of the fluctuating velocity gradients
#
#
𝜕𝑢 𝑢′
𝑠!" ∼ ∼
𝜕𝑥 𝜆

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale x/d

• Definition
% # %
𝜕𝑢 # 𝑢#% 𝜕𝑢 𝑢#%
= = %
𝜕𝑥 𝜆&% 𝜕𝑦 𝜆'
i.e.
# % # %
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝜆&% = 𝑢#% / 𝜆'% = 𝑢#% /
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜂 ≪ 𝜆& , 𝜆' ≪ 𝐿

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale x/d

• Relation to the curvature of the longitudinal correlation function

< 𝑢! 𝑥 𝑢! 𝑥 + 𝑟 >
𝑓(𝑟) = !
< 𝑢! 𝑥 >

Properties of f(r):
𝜕𝑓
𝑓! 0 = 0 =0
𝜕𝑟
𝜕 "𝑓
𝑓 !! 0 = " 0 < 0
𝜕𝑟
𝑓 𝑟 = 𝑓(−𝑟) Taylor expansion:
1 !! 𝑟 "
𝑓 𝑟 = 1 + 𝑓 𝑟 𝑟" + ⋯ ≈ 1 − "
2 2𝜆8
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale x/d

• Relation to144the curvature of the transverse correlation function

6 Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence

< 𝑣 ! Fig.𝑥6.6𝑣 !Sketch

𝑥 +of 𝑟the >
𝑔(𝑟) = functions
! ! f (r ) et g(r ) for an 1
< 𝑣 𝑥 and
incompressible >isotropic
turbulence in 3-D, and
relative position of the
Properties of f(r):Taylor length scale λ2

f (r)
!
𝜕𝑔
𝑔 0 = 0 =0
𝜕𝑟
𝜕 "𝑔 0 λ2 r
g(r)
r

𝑔!! 0 = " 0 < 0

𝜕𝑟
𝑔 𝑟 = 𝑔(−𝑟) Taylor expansion:
The g function curve is expected to cross the abscissa axis. The curves of functions
f and g are shown in Fig. 6.6. To take this negative loop into consideration,
" the
1 !!
following substitute integral scale can be defined "
𝑟
𝑔 𝑟 =1+ 𝑔 𝑟 𝑟 +⋯≈1− "
" !# 2 2𝜆9
! r!
!
L̃ 2 = g(r )dr, with g r = 0, and g(r ) > 0 on [0, r [.
Prof.
0 Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale x/d

• If turbulence is isotropic:
𝑢#% = 𝑣 #% = 𝑤 #%
# % # % # %
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤
= =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
# % # %
𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑢
=
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦

Therefore, # %
# #
𝜕𝑢
𝜀 ̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" 𝑠!" = 15𝜈 = 15𝜈𝑢#% /𝜆%
𝜕𝑥
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale x/d

• Scaling laws for the large-scale and small-scale velocity

derivatives
𝜕𝑢( 𝑈 𝑢#
𝑆!" ∼ ∼ ∼
𝜕𝑥 𝐿 𝐿
# 𝑢$
#
𝜕𝑢
𝑠!" ∼ ∼
𝜕𝑥 𝜂
• The scale of the fluctuating velocity gradients
#
#
𝜕𝑢 𝑢′
𝑠!" ∼ ∼
𝜕𝑥 𝜆
#(
𝑢$ % # %
# #
𝑢 𝑢
𝜀̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" 𝑠!" ∼ ∼𝜈 ∼𝜈
𝐿 𝜂 𝜆
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The Taylor micro-scale: useful relations
x/d

• It is easy to show that,

𝑢# 𝐿 𝑢# 𝜆
𝑅𝑒) = 𝑅𝑒* =
𝜈 𝜈
+
40 %
𝑅𝑒* ≈ 𝑅𝑒)
3
𝜆 ,+/%
∼ 15𝑅𝑒)
𝐿
𝜂 1 ,+/.
∼ 𝑅𝑒)
𝜆 15
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
 0.64 1286 5,500
y/d 2.54 643 11,000
0.4 1.27 1286 11,000
2.54 1286 22,100
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
The non-dimensional dissipation0.2
20x/d 40 60 80
x/M
100 120 140 160 180
du2 u3
The empirical relation =–A .
(b) dt l
2.0

𝑢 #(
#
𝜀 ̅ = 2𝜈𝑠!" 𝑠!" ′ ∼
𝐿 1.5

𝑢#(
𝜀 ̅ = 𝐶/ 𝐶/ 1.0
3A/2

𝐿
0.5

0.0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Rλ

Figure 5.2 TheProf.

rate Carlos
of loss of energy in grid
Bettencourt turbulence from (a) Batchelor (1953) and (b)
da Silva
et al. (2004). In (b) the circles are experiments, the crosses DNS, and Rλ the Reynolds
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Some useful relations: x/d

• It can be show that,

1𝐸 𝑘 1
3𝜋 ∫0 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
𝐿= 𝜀 ̅ = 30𝜈 K 𝑘+% 𝐸++
+
𝑘+ 𝑑𝑘+
4 ∫1 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘 0
0
1
2 sin 𝑘𝑟 cos 𝑘𝑟
𝑓(𝑟) = K ( (
− % % 𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
𝑢 #%
0 𝑘 𝑟 𝑘 𝑟

𝑢#% 1 % %
sin 𝑘𝑟
𝐸(𝑘) = K 𝑓 𝑟 𝑘 𝑟 − cos 𝑘𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝜋 0 𝑘𝑟

Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva

y/d

0
IN TODAY’s LECTURE
20 40 60
x/d
80 100 120

Homogeneous and isotropic turbulence

Two point statistics
Correlations and spectra
Three-dimensional energy spectrum
One-dimensional energy spectrum
Scaling of the energy spectrum, K41
Taylor scale
Turbulent Reynolds number

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
- F. Nieuwstadt, Turbulence: 4.3
- P. Davidson, Turbulence: 1.9;7.1.1
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
 y/d ! ! "2
igure 3.4 u!x (t), and hence
ux (t), is a highly irregular function of time in any one realizati
! ! "2
However, the ensemble average of ux is a smooth
0 20 40 60 function
80of time. 100 120
KINETIC ENERGY SPECTRUM x/d

(a) (b) (c)

log (KE) log (KE) log (KE)

large eddies

small eddies
t

log (wavenumber) ℓ–1 η–1 log (wavenumber)

initial state Fully developed Freely decaying
turbulence turbulence
[Stage (i)] [Stage (ii)] [Stages (ii)–(iii)]
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva
igure 3.5 The variation of energy with eddy size at different times in the decay of g
y/d

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
DISSIPATION SPECTRUM (alternative) x/d

Enstrophy and dissipation: (𝑒 .i*.-⃗ )∗ = 𝑒 )i*.-⃗

'
'
𝑢! 𝑥⃗ = A 𝑢? ! (𝑘)𝑒 .i*.-⃗ 𝑑𝑘 𝜕𝑢!
= i A 𝑘" 𝑢? ! (𝑘)𝑒 .i*.1⃗ 𝑑𝑘
)' 𝜕𝑥" )'
'
= ∗
−i A 𝑘" 𝑢? ! (𝑘′)𝑒 )i* " .1⃗
𝑑𝑘′
)'

𝜕𝑢* ′ 𝜕𝑢* ′ % %
⃗ ∗ ⃗# !. %&% ! .(⃗ ⃗
𝜀̅ = 𝜈 = 𝜈 4 4 𝑘, 𝑘, ′ 𝑢!! 𝑘 𝑢!! 𝑘 𝑒 𝑑 𝑘𝑑𝑘 #
𝜕𝑥, 𝜕𝑥, $% $%
% %
⃗ 𝛿(𝑘⃗ + 𝑘′)𝑒
⃗ !. %&% ! .(⃗ ⃗ #
= 𝜈 4 4 𝑘, 𝑘, ′ Φ!! 𝑘′ 𝑑 𝑘𝑑𝑘
$% $%
% %
= 𝜈 4 𝑘 "Φ!! 𝑘⃗ 𝑑 𝑘⃗ = 2𝜈 \ 𝑘 "𝐸 𝑘 𝑑𝑘
$% :
Prof. Carlos Bettencourt da Silva