Turbulent/non-turbulent interface of the turbulent boundary-layer over a spanwise-heterogeneous converging/diverging riblets rough wall

Turbulent boundary layer (TBL) flows over various spanwise-heterogeneous rough walls exhibit spanwise variations in turbulence statistics, implying modifications of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface (T/NTI). In this work, based on the datasets of TBL flows over a spanwise-alternating converging/diverging riblets wall, we investigate behavior of T/NTI, properties of ‘bubble’ and ‘drop’ that are associated with T/NTI, as well as connections between T/NTI and large-scale structures within the boundary layer. The flow datasets were obtained through stereoscopic particle image velocimetry measurements on the cross-stream plane of the TBL flow at a Reynolds number Reθ = 1.3 × 10⁴. The T/NTI and associated ‘bubble’ and ‘drop’ are identified using a kinetic energy criterion, while the large-scale structures by a streak detection algorithm. It is observed that the T/NTI height and the occurrence of ‘bubble’ and ‘drop’ display a spanwise-heterogeneous feature, with lower T/NTI height and higher occurrence probability of ‘bubble’ over the diverging section of riblets than over the converging section of riblets. Results of conditional average show that the ‘bubble’ is associated with positive streamwise fluctuations, common-down flow and a pair of counter-rotating streamwise vortices, while the ‘drop’ with negative streamwise fluctuation, common-up flow and a pair of counter-rotating streamwise vortices. Probability density functions of the ‘bubble’ size and fractal dimensions of the T/NTI are found similar for both the riblets and smooth wall flows. Furthermore, it is observed that the large-scale low-speed structures occurring preferentially over the converging section of riblets play a role in elevating T/NTI while the large-scale high-speed ones over the diverging section of riblets lowering down T/NTI.