Spanwise domain effects on the evolution of the plane turbulent mixing layer

Large Eddy Simulation is used to simulate a series of plane mixing layers. The influence of the spanwise domain on the development of the mixing layer, and the evolution of the coherent structures, are considered. The mixing layers originate from laminar conditions, and an idealised inflow condition is found to produce accurate flow predictions when the spanwise computational domain extent is sufficient to avoid confinement effects. Spanwise domain confinement of the flow occurs when the ratio of spanwise domain extent to local momentum thickness reaches a value of ten. Flow confinement results in changes to both the growth mechanism of the turbulent coherent structures, and the nature of the interactions that occur between them. The results demonstrate that simulations of the two-dimensional mixing layer flow requires a three-dimensional computational domain in order that the flow will evolve in a manner that is free from restraints imposed by the spanwise domain.