The role of coherent structures in subgrid-scale energy transfer within the log layer of wall turbulence

Abstract

The present effort documents the relationship between dominant subgrid-scale energy transfer events and coherent motions within the log layer of wall turbulence. Instantaneous velocity fields in the streamwise–wall-normal plane of a zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer acquired by particle-image velocimetry at Reτ≡u*δ∕ν=2350 are spatially filtered to generate an ensemble of resolved-scale velocity fields in the spirit of large-eddy simulation. The relationship between subgrid-scale dissipation and embedded coherent structures is then studied using instantaneous realizations and conditional averaging techniques. This analysis reveals that strong forward- and backward-scatter events occur spatially coincident to individual hairpin vortices and their larger-scale organization into vortex packets. In particular, large-scale regions of forward scatter are observed along the inclined interface of the packets, coincident with strong ejections induced by the individual vortices. The most intense forward-scatter events are found to occur when these ejections are opposed by sweep motions. Strong backward scatter of energy is observed at the trailing edge of the vortex packets and weaker backscatter is also noted locally around the individual heads of the hairpin structures. The collective observations presented herein demonstrate that hairpin vortices and their organization into larger-scale packets are important contributors to interscale energy transfer in the log layer of wall turbulence.