Coherent organization of a passive scalar from a point-source in a turbulent boundary layer*

The spatial organization of a passive scalar plume originating from a point source in a boundary layer is studied to understand its meandering characteristics. We focus shortly downstream of the isokinetic injection (1.5 ≤ x/δ ≤ 3, δ being boundary layer thickness) where the scalar concentration is highly intermittent, the plume rapidly meanders, and breaks-up into concentrated scalar pockets due to the action of turbulent structures. Two injection locations were considered: the center of logarithmic-region and the wake-region of the boundary layer. Simultaneous quantitative planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle-image velocimetry (PIV) were performed in a wind-tunnel, using acetone vapors to measure scalar mixture fraction and velocity fields. Single- and multi-point statistics were compared to established works to validate the diagnostic novelties. Additionally, the spatial characteristics of the plume intermittency were quantified using `blob' size, shape, orientation and mean concentration. It was observed that straining and break up were the primary plume-evolution modes in this region, with little small-scale homogenization. Further, the dominant role of coherent vortex motions in meandering and break-up of the plume was evident. Their action is found to be the primary mechanism by which the scalar injected within the log-region is transported away from the wall (`large meander events'). Strong spatial correlation was observed in both instantaneous and conditional fields between the high scalar concentration regions and the individual vortex heads. This coherent transport was weaker for wake-injection case, where the plume only interacts with outer vortex motions. A coherent-structure based mechanism is suggested to explain these transport mechanisms.