The effects of large scales on the inertial range in high-Reynolds-number turbulence

Abstract

The effects of removing large scales external to the inertial range on the properties of scales within the inertial range are studied in a high-Reynolds-number turbulent flow. Structure functions of both even and odd orders are strongly affected across the entire inertial range, but odd-order moments are affected to a greater degree. In particular, the skewness of velocity increments shows a significant reduction whereas the flatness changes comparatively little. The reduction in skewness is counterbalanced essentially by the interaction between the small-scale energy and the large-scale rate of strain. The implications of these results for the conventional cascade picture are examined briefly.