A new look on turbulent shear flow
Abstract
Recent mathematical theory suggests that fluid turbulence is deterministically represented by the discrete, chaotic solutions of the N-S equations. This is constructively demonstrated with a computational simulation of the development of large disturbances into turbulent spots at Re = 3000. The propagating turbulent front appears to be the only universal feature of the intermittent, turbulent shear flows with 'organized' structures. In this light, the premises of the statistical theory of turbulence and the secondary instability theory of transition are examined. The physical nature of such turbulent fronts is then explained as the coalesced wave fronts of the propagating pressure disturbance pairs generated to restore the solenoidal velocity field of an incompressible fluid. Such turbulent fronts mark the local solution bifurcations on the way to ultimate chaos. Implications of the physical model are briefly explored.
- Publication:
-
4th Symposium on Turbulent Shear Flows
- Pub Date:
- 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984stsf.procR...9C
- Keywords:
-
- Computational Fluid Dynamics;
- Flow Theory;
- Shear Flow;
- Turbulent Flow;
- Continuum Mechanics;
- Couette Flow;
- Flow Velocity;
- Statistical Mechanics;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer