Development of Three-Dimensional Turbulent Boundary Layer in an Axially Rotating Pipe

Abstract

The time-mean velocities and turbulent fluctuations inside the turbulent boundary layers which developed in an axially rotating pipe were measured in the case where an undeveloped flow with a rectangular axial velocity distribution was introduced in the pipe. The pipe rotation gives two counter effects on the flow: one is a destabilizing effect due to a large shear caused by the rotating pipe wall and the other is a stabilizing effect due to the centrifugal force of the swirling velocity component of the flow. The destabilizing effect prevails in the inlet region, but the stabilizing effect becomes dominant in the downstream sections. The intensity of turbulence in the rotating pipe decreases ultimately below that in a stationary state of the pipe. Using the experimental results, the relationship between the mixing length and Richardson number proposed by Bradshaw was examined for the turbulent boundary layer that develops in the rotating pipe.