Measurements in a zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer over a mesh-screen rough wall indicate several differences, in both inner and outer regions, in comparison to a smooth-wall boundary layer. The mean velocity distribution indicates that, apart from the expected k-type roughness function shift in the inner region, the strength of the rough-wall outer region ‘wake’ is larger than on a smooth wall. Normalizing on the wall shear stress, there is a significant increase in the normal turbulence intensity and a moderate increase in the Reynolds shear stress over the rough wall. The longitudinal turbulence intensity distribution is essentially the same for both surfaces. Normalized contributions to the Reynolds shear stress from the second (Q2) and fourth (Q4) quadrants are greater over the rough wall. The data indicate that not only are Q2 and Q4 events stronger on the rough wall but their frequency of occurrence is nearly twice as large for the rough wall as for the smooth wall. Comparison between smooth- and rough-wall spectra of the normal velocity fluctuation suggests that the strength of the active motion may depend on the nature of the surface.

LONG-TERM GOALS We are focused on understanding small-scale processes that influence the ocean's thermodynamic and dynamic properties on the sub-mesoscale (scales less than 10 km). This includes the turbulent evolution of cold wakes caused by typhoons, and the subsequent mixing processes the restore the upper ocean stratification after a storm event. OBJECTIVES I propose to investigate the energy dissipation properties of the mixed layer and mixed-layer base / thermocline transition layer during direct forcing by a typhoon. It is hypothesized that inertial energy loss occurs not only through dissipative processes in the mixed layer, but also through dissipation occurring well into the transition layer between the mixed-layer base and the thermocline, where shear is enhanced. Energy is also lost to the thermocline by conversion of inertial energy into near-inertial wave radiation. The turbulence generated at in the transition layer is tied to shear instability occurring below the mixed-layer base, which appears to be a key mechanism in parameterizations for mixed-layer response to strong wind forcing. Energy dissipation will be measured using a glider equipped with turbulence probes. A Slocum glider system from Webb Research will be adapted for this purpose. This is a novel instrument system, which will allow for turbulence measurements in a manner not previously possible. APPROACH To overcome the limitations of conventional microstructure profiling, we will use the recently developed turbulence glider system developed between the co-PI (St. Laurent), Rockland Scientific, 1

The fine-scale structure of turbulence in a fully developed turbulent duct flow is examined by considering the three-dimensional velocity derivative field obtained from direct numerical simulations at two relatively small Reynolds numbers. The magnitudes of all mean-square derivatives (normalized by wall variables) increase with the Reynolds number, the increase being largest at the wall. These magnitudes are not consistent with the assumption of local isotropy except perhaps near the duct centre-line. When the assumption of local isotropy is relaxed to one of local axisymmetry, or invariance with respect to rotation about a coordinate axis (here chosen in the streamwise direction), satisfactory agreement is indicated by the data outside the wall region. Support for axisymmetry is demonstrated by anisotropy invariant maps of the dissipation and vorticity tensors. The departure from axisymmetry does not appear to be affected by the Reynolds number. Expressions are proposed for approximations to the average energy dissipation and components of the mean-square vorticity. These proposals should allow these quantities to be measured accurately, at least in the present flow.

Low-Reynolds-number effects are observed in the inner region of a fully developed turbulent channel flow, using data obtained either from experiments or by direct numerical simulations. The Reynolds-number influence is observed on the turbulence intensities and to a lesser degree on the average production and dissipation of the turbulent energy. In the near-wall region, the data confirm Wei & Willmarth's (1989) conclusion that the Reynolds stresses do not scale on wall variables. One of the reasons proposed by these authors to account for this behaviour, namely the ‘geometry’ effect or direct interaction between inner regions on opposite walls, was investigated in some detail by introducing temperature at one of the walls, both in experiment and simulation. Although the extent of penetration of thermal excursions into the opposite side of the channel can be significant at low Reynolds numbers, the contribution these excursions make to the Reynolds shear stress and the spanwise vorticity in the opposite wall region is negligible. In the inner region, spectra and co-spectra of the velocity fluctuations u and v change rapidly with the Reynolds number, the variations being mainly confined to low wavenumbers in the u spectrum. These spectra, and the corresponding variances, are discussed in the context of the active/inactive motion concept and the possibility of increased vortex stretching at the wall. A comparison is made between the channel and the boundary layer at low Reynolds numbers.

Measurements of space–time correlations of longitudinal and normal velocity fluctuations and of temperature fluctuations support the existence of counter-rotating spanwise structures appearing alternately on opposite sides of the jet centreline in the self-preserving region of the flow. The frequency of these structures closely satisfies self-preservation. The asymmetric arrangement of the structures is first observed downstream of the position where the jet mixing layers nominally merge but upstream of the onset of self-preservation. Closer to the jet exit, the space–time correlations indicate the existence of spanwise structures that are symmetrical about the centreline.