Kinetic energy in grid turbulence: comparison between data and theory

The properties of turbulence induced in a viscous fluid by oscillating a grid within it are investigated. Vertical and horizontal components of fluctuating velocities are measured using the Digital Particle Image Velocimetry technique (DPIV). Vertical profiles of turbulent kinetic energy k, obtained from the fluctuating velocities, are presented and compared with theoretical predictions obtained using the k-*e turbulence model.