Investigation of the small-scale statistics of turbulence in the Modane S1MA wind tunnel

Abstract

This article describes the planning, set-up, turbulence characterization and analysis of measurements of a passive grid turbulence experiment that was carried out in the S1MA wind-tunnel from ONERA in Modane, in the context of the ESWIRP European project. This experiment aims at a detailed investigation of the statistical properties of turbulent flows at large Reynolds numbers. The primary goal is to take advantage of the unequaled large-scale dimensions of the ONERA S1MA wind-tunnel facility, to make available to the broad turbulence community high-quality experimental turbulence data with unprecendented resolution (both spatial and temporal) and accuracy (in terms of statistical convergence). With this goal, we designed the largest grid-generated turbulence experiment planned and performed to date. Grid turbulence is a canonical flow known to produce almost perfectly homogeneous and isotropic turbulence (HIT) which remains a unique framework to investigate fundamental physics of turbulent flows. Here, we present a brief description of the measurements, in particular those based on hot-wire diagnosis. By comparing results from classical hot-wires and from a nano-fabricated wire (developed at Princeton University), we show that our goal of resolving down to the smallest dissipative scales of the flow has been achieved. We also present the full characterization of the turbulence here, in terms of turbulent energy dissipation rate, injection and dissipation scales (both spatial and temporal) and Reynolds number.