Topology and transport properties of large‐scale organized motion in a slightly heated rough wall boundary layer

Large‐scale temperature discontinuities are detected in a high Reynolds number boundary layer over a slightly heated rough wall. In the streamwise and normal plane of the measurements, the discontinuities form (as for smooth wall boundary layers) the boundaries between successive spanwise vortexlike structures, flattened against the wall. The regions immediately downstream from the discontinuities are particularly important for the transport of heated, low‐momentum fluid away from the wall. The proportions contributed by the detected organized motion to the velocity and temperature variances are similar to those in smooth wall boundary layers. The proportions contributed to mean products, especially to the Reynolds shear stress, are significantly higher than over smooth walls at similar Reynolds numbers. The detected organized motion in the rough wall boundary layer resembles that in a smooth wall boundary layer of similar skin friction coefficient (and hence much lower Reynolds number).