A new method for probing the turbulence scalar spectrum by ultrasonic sonar scanning

 A new method is proposed to obtain a turbulent scalar spectrum and the energy dissipation rate in turbulent flow from ultrasonic frequency scanning data. A scanning sonar with frequency varying from 0.5 MHz to 5 MHz has been used to directly probe the energy dissipation rate ɛ and the three-dimensional scalar spectrum E _θ(k). Experiments were conducted in a laboratory open-channel flow in clear water with Reynolds numbers varying from 1.2×10⁵ to 6.9×10⁵. Good agreement is found between measured spectra and those predicted by the Batchelor theory. The energy dissipation rates compare favourably with those obtained from acoustic Doppler velocimeter measurements. Received: 20 March 1997/Accepted: 27 September 1997