The mechanics of an organized wave in turbulent shear flow. Part 2. Experimental results

Results on the behaviour of controlled wave disturbances introduced artificially into turbulent channel flow are reported. Weak plane-wave disturbances are introduced by vibrating ribbons near each wall. The amplitude and relative phase of the streamwise component of the induced wave is educed from a hot-wire signal, allowing the wave speed, the attenuation characteristics and the wave shape to be traced downstream. These results form a basis for evaluation of closure models for the dynamical equations describing wave components in shear-flow turbulence.