Influence of uniform momentum zones on frictional drag within the turbulent boundary layer

Based on a set of experimental databases of turbulent boundary layers obtained from particle image velocimetry in the streamwise-wall-normal plane at friction-velocity-based Reynolds number Re_τ = 612, the influence of uniform momentum zones (UMZs) on the skin-friction drag is investigated. The skin-friction drag is measured by the single-pixel ensemble correlation method. The results show that the velocity fields with the number of UMZs larger than the mean value have a relatively low skin-friction drag, while the velocity fields with the number of UMZs less than the mean value have a relatively high skin-friction drag. By analyzing the statistical characteristics of UMZs, the dynamic correlation between the UMZs and skin-friction drag is explored. The velocity fields with a low number of UMZs present a sweep event. These sweep motions intensify the small-scale Reynolds shear stress in the near-wall region by modulation effects. The enhancement of small-scale Reynolds shear stress is the direct reason for the high skin-friction drag. Increasing the proportion of velocity fields with high UMZs amount may be a direction to reduce the skin-friction drag within the TBL. (paper)