Mean-Momentum Balance: Implications for Wall-Turbulence Control

Abstract

Mean flow structure commonly constitutes the foundational origin of efforts seeking to describe the instantaneous mechanisms of wall turbulence. As it pertains to flow control, these mean flow-based interpretations are significant since they often suggest the nature of potentially promising control strategies, including the locations in the layer where, for example, imparting control actuations are likely to be most effective. Recent results relating to the structure of the mean-momentum balance in turbulent wall flows reveal a physical layer structure whose associated dynamics and Reynolds number scaling behaviors are quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from the existing predominant v..