The structure of the turbulence in transient pipe flows.

Abstract

The dynamic structure of turbulence in transient pipe flows was studied experimentally. Two types of stepwise change in the flow rate of a fully developed pipe flow showed apparently different behaviours in this turbulence. With a stepwise increase in the flow rate, the dominant feature was the generation and propagation of a new turbulence. With a stepwise decrease in the flow rate the dominant feature was the decay of an old turbulence. However, a comparison of these two types of stepwise change indicates a coherent structure in the propagation of a new turbulence in both transient pipe flows. The propagation time of new turbulence is determined by the condition at its generation. Moreover, this coherent character is also applicable to the propagation of an old turbulence, and the beginning of the decay of the old turbulence is predicted by the propagation time in initial steady state. On the basis of these facts the dynamic behaviours of turbulence in both these types of transient flow are interpreted consistently. For the decay of the old turbulence, the ''linear'' decay law is applicable and the decay rate is governed by the flow condition during decay, although the propagation time is not affected by the transient flow.