Effects of Magnetic Field on Turbulence Structure in MHD Channel Flow

Abstract

Direct numerical simulations of MHD turbulent channel flow with a uniform magnetic field in the transverse direction are conducted to investigate the effects of the magnetic field on the turbulence structure and drag. By applying the magnetic field, turbulence intensity and the number of fine scale eddies decrease. Drag increases for the case of intense magnetic field, whereas drag does not increase for the moderate magnetic field case. In the moderate magnetic field case, the fine scale eddies near the wall are sustained even though their rotating motions are weakened by Lorentz force.