An experimental study on turbulent-stripe structure in transitional channel flow

Abstract: Turbulent stripe, which would occur in turbulent channel flows at transitional Reynolds numbers, was studied experimentally by flow visualization using reflective flake particles. In a range of bulk mean Reynolds number Re = 1700-2000, the turbulent stripe was observed to be inclined at angles of 20-30 degree against the streamwise direction, and its streamwise wave length was about 60 times of the channel half width ($\delta$). The longitudinal streaks with the spanwise spacing of 1.6$\delta$ were found in the quasi-laminar regions. The critical Reynolds number was Re = 1300. Time traces of the streamwise velocity were measured by laser Doppler velocimetry, revealing similarity to the equilibrium turbulent puff in the transitional pipe flow.