Transient growth and nonlinear breakdown of wavelet-based resolvent modes in turbulent channel flow (Q6935528)

This study examines time-localised principal resolvent forcing as a means to actuate the near-wall turbulence cycle. A wavelet-based resolvent mode is used to generate transient amplification, producing streamwise rolls that induce streaks which initially follow the optimal linear response but decay early due to nonlinear effects. Despite this, the principal forcing mode outperforms random and suboptimal forcings, achieving significant near-wall energy amplification and revealing consistent nonlinear breakdown mechanisms dominated by spanwise energy transfer. As example, a channel flow of minimal size with Reynolds number \(\mathrm{Re}_\tau=186\) is considered.