DNS of a Turbulent Channel Flow with Streamwise Rotation ‐ Study of the Reverse Effect of the Cross Flow

Modeling of rotating turbulent flows is a major issue in engineering applications. In this work a turbulent channel flow rotating about the streamwise direction is presented. The theory is based on the investigations of [3] employing Lie group analysis. It was found that a cross flow in spanwise direction is induced. A series of direct numerical simulations (DNS) has been conducted for both different rotation rates and different Reynolds numbers to validate the cross flow. In addition some new interesting effects were observed. The averaged profile ū3 of the cross flow is formed like a ‘S’ that means it exhibits a triple zero‐crossing which denotes regions of reverse flow. Alaso a reverse effect is seen which means that for small rotation rates up to Ro=10 the spanwise mean velocity profiles increase and at rotation number Ro=14 this effect appears to reverse. Both effects were observed at two different Reynolds numbers Re = 180 and Re = 270. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)