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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
13:02
Three-dimensional Particle Tracking Velocimetry for Turbulence Applications: Case of a Jet Flow
Published on: February 27, 2016
Transient turbulence in plane Couette flow.
Tobias M Schneider1, Filippo De Lillo, Juergen Buehrle
1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Summary
Turbulence in plane Couette flow is transient, with lifetimes increasing with Reynolds number. This study finds no evidence of a transition to persistent turbulence, even at high Reynolds numbers.
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Turbulence Studies
Background:
- Plane Couette flow is a shear flow prone to turbulence.
- Turbulence in this flow is typically transient at intermediate Reynolds numbers.
- Previous studies were inconclusive about a critical Reynolds number for persistent turbulence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior of turbulence lifetimes in plane Couette flow.
- To determine if a transition to persistent turbulence occurs at higher Reynolds numbers.
Main Methods:
- Extensive numerical simulations of plane Couette flow.
- Analysis of turbulence lifetimes over extended observation times (up to 12,000 units).
Main Results:
- Turbulence lifetimes increase rapidly with increasing Reynolds number.
- No divergence in turbulence lifetimes was observed.
- The results do not support a transition to persistent turbulence.
Conclusions:
- Turbulence in plane Couette flow remains transient across the studied range.
- A critical Reynolds number for persistent turbulence was not identified in this study.
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