Computational Study of Turbulent-Laminar Patterns in Couette Flow

Dwight Barkley, Laurette S. Tuckerman

Published 2004-03-30Version 1

Turbulent-laminar patterns near transition are simulated in plane Couette flow using an extension of the minimal flow unit methodology. Computational domains are of minimal size in two directions but large in the third. The long direction can be tilted at any prescribed angle to the streamwise direction. Three types of patterned states are found and studied: periodic, localized, and intermittent. These correspond closely to observations in large aspect ratio experiments.