3-dimensional particle image velocimetry based evaluation of turbulent skin-friction reduction by spanwise wall oscillation

The reduction of turbulent skin-friction drag and the response of vortical structures in a zero-pressure gradient, turbulent boundary layer subjected to spanwise wall oscillation is investigated using planar and tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV). The experiments are conducted at a momentum based Reynolds number of 1000, while the range of spanwise oscillation amplitude and frequency is chosen around the optimum reported in previous studies. A high-resolution planar PIV measurement is employed to determine the drag reduction directly from wall shear measurements and to analyze the accompanying modifications in the turbulent vortical structures. Drag reduction of up to 15% is quantified, with variations following the trends reported in the literature. The analysis of the turbulence structure of the flow is made in terms of Reynolds shear stresses, turbulence production, and vortex visualization. A pronounced drop of turbulence production is observed up to a height of 100 wall units from the wall. The vorticity analysis, both in the streamwise wall-normal plane and in the volumetric results, indicates a reduction of vorticity fluctuations in the near-wall domain. A distortion of the hairpin-packet arrangement is hypothesized, suggesting that the drag-reduction mechanism lies in the inhibition of the hairpin auto-generation by the spanwise wall oscillations. Published under license by AIP Publishing.