Similarity and self-preservation in isotropic turbulence

Abstract Measurements of the double and triple velocity correlation functions and of the energy spectrum function have been made in the uniform mean flow behind turbulence-producing grids of several shapes at mesh Reynolds numbers between 2000 and 100000. These results have been used to assess the validity of the various theories which postulate greater or less degrees of similarity or self-preservation between decaying fields of isotropic turbulence. It is shown that the conditions for the existence of the local similarity considered by Kolmogoroff and others are only fulfilled for extremely small eddies at ordinary Reynolds numbers, and that the inertial subrange in which the spectrum function varies as k -35 ( k is the wave-number) is non-existent under laboratory conditions. Within the range of local similarity, the spectrum function is best represented by an empirical function such as k-a log k, and it is concluded that all suggested forms for the inertial transfer term in the spectrum equation are in error. Similarity of the large scale structure of flows of differing Reynolds numbers at corresponding times of decay has been confirmed, and approximate measurements of the Loitsianski invariant in the initial period have been made. Its value, expressed non-dimensionally, decreases slowly with grid Reynolds number within the range of observation. Turbulence-producing grids of widely different shapes are found to produce flows identical in energy decay and in structure of the smaller eddies. The largest eddies depend markedly on the grid shape and are, in general, significantly anisotropic. Within the initial period of decay, the greater part of the energy spectrum function is self-preserving, and this part has a shape independent of the shape of the turbulence-producing grid. The part that is not self-preserving contains at least one-third of the total energy, and it is concluded that theories postulating quasi-equilibrium during decay must be considered with great caution.