Direct Numerical Simulation of a Turbulent Channel Flow with Forchheimer Drag

We characterize the turbulent flow, using direct numerical simulations (DNS), within a closed channel between two parallel walls with a canopy of constant areal density profile on the lower wall. The canopy is modelled using different formulations of the Forchheimer drag, and the characteristic properties of the turbulent flows are compared. In particular, we examine the influence of the added drag on the mean profiles of the flow and the balance equations of the turbulent kinetic energy. We find that the different formulations of the drag strongly affect the mean and the turbulent profiles close to the canopy. We also observe the changes in the local anisotropy of the turbulent flow in the presence of the canopy. We find that there is an equal transfer of energy from the streamwise component to both the transverse components outside the canopy by the pressure and velocity-gradient correlation; inside the canopy, this correlation removes energy from both the streamwise and the wall-normal fluctuations and injects into the spanwise component. As a result, the energy content of the spanwise fluctuations is comparable to that of the streamwise components inside the canopy. Inside the canopy, we observe that the turbulent transport of Reynolds stresses acts as an important source of turbulent kinetic energy. The pressure-fluctuation transport plays a significant role inside the canopy close to the wall and is comparable to turbulent transport.