Evidence for instability-waves in the velocity-field of a fully developed turbulent channel-flow

The results from hot film measurements and quantitative visual investigations, performed in the turbulent flow of an oil-channel at a low Reynolds number (Re = 8000), are discussed. The main result of the hot film measurements is the power spectrum of the v-component of the fluctuating velocity. The power spectrum has regular maxima and minima. The frequencies corresponding to the maxima of the power spectrum are plotted as a function of the order n of the maxima. This graph demonstrates that the frequencies of the maxima are the harmonics of a fundamental frequency which are determined to be about 0.15 Hz. An estimation shows that the fundamental frequency is of the same order of magnitude as the roughly calculated unstable Tollmien-Schlichting frequencies of the mean turbulent velocity profile. This fundamental frequency is interpreted as the most excited frequency of Tollmien-Schlichting-like instability waves. The harmonics are believed to be due to a nonlinear amplification of the primarily excited instability waves. The evidence of regular oscillations in the near-wall region of the fully developed turbulent flow from the visual studies is examined.