New Insights into Temperature Profiles in Turbulent Flows

Recent research by Sergio Pirozzoli and Davide Modesti has focused on the mean temperature profiles in turbulent internal flows, as detailed in their paper titled "Mean temperature profiles in turbulent internal flows" (arXiv:2403.17689). The authors derived explicit formulas for the mean temperature profiles, treating temperature as a passive scalar in forced turbulent convection. This work is significant as it highlights the universality of thermal eddy diffusivity across different Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, which are key parameters in fluid dynamics.

The study found that by matching the inner- and outer-layer expressions, a smooth compound mean temperature profile can be established. The analytical profiles developed in this research showed excellent agreement with data obtained from direct numerical simulations of pipe and channel flows under various thermal forcing conditions. This agreement spans a wide range of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, indicating the robustness of the findings.

The implications of this research are substantial for the field of fluid dynamics, particularly in applications involving turbulent flows. Understanding temperature profiles in such flows can enhance the design and efficiency of systems ranging from industrial processes to environmental studies. The findings could lead to improved predictive models for heat transfer in turbulent systems, which is crucial for optimizing energy use and managing thermal environments effectively.