R. Manceau et al., Inhomogeneity and anisotropy effects on the redistribution term in Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes modelling, J FLUID MEC, 438, 2001, pp. 307-338
A channel flow DNS database at Re-tau = 590 is used to assess the validity
of modelling the redistribution term in the Reynolds stress transport equat
ions by elliptic relaxation. The model assumptions are found to be globally
consistent with the data. However, the correlation function between the fl
uctuating velocity and the Laplacian of the pressure gradient, which enters
the integral equation of the redistribution term, is shown to be anisotrop
ic. It is elongated in the streamwise direction and strongly asymmetric in
the direction normal to the wall, in contrast to the isotropic, exponential
model representation used in the original elliptic relaxation model. This
discrepancy is the main cause of the slight amplification of the energy red
istribution in the log layer as predicted by the elliptic relaxation equati
on. New formulations of the model are proposed in order to correct this spu
rious behaviour, by accounting for the rapid variations of the length scale
and the asymmetrical shape of the correlation function. These formulations
do not rely on the use of so-called 'wall echo' correction terms to damp t
he redistribution. The belief that the damping is due to the wall echo effe
ct is called into question through the present DNS analysis.