Direct simulation of turbulent spots in plane Couette flow

Abstract

The development of turbulent spots in plane Couette flow was studied by means of direct numerical simulation. The Reynolds number was varied between 300 and 1500 (based on half the velocity difference between the two surfaces and half the gap width) in order to determine the lowest possible Reynolds number for which localized turbulent regions can persist, i.e. a critical Reynolds number, and to determine basic characteristics of the spot in plane Couette flow. It was found that spots can be sustained for Reynolds numbers above approximately 375 and that the shape is elliptical with a streamwise elongation that is more accentuated for high Reynolds numbers. At large times though there appears to be a slow approach towards a circular spot shape. Various other features of this spot suggest that it may be classified as an interesting intermediate case between the Poiseuille and boundary-layer spots. In the absence of experiments for this case the present results represent a true prediction of the physical situation.