871 research outputs found
Logarithmic scaling in the near-dissipation range of turbulence
A logarithmic scaling for structure functions, in the form , where is the Kolmogorov dissipation scale and
are the scaling exponents, is suggested for the statistical
description of the near-dissipation range for which classical power-law scaling
does not apply. From experimental data at moderate Reynolds numbers, it is
shown that the logarithmic scaling, deduced from general considerations for the
near-dissipation range, covers almost the entire range of scales (about two
decades) of structure functions, for both velocity and passive scalar fields.
This new scaling requires two empirical constants, just as the classical
scaling does, and can be considered the basis for extended self-similarity
Sign-symmetry of temperature structure functions
New scalar structure functions with different sign-symmetry properties are
defined. These structure functions possess different scaling exponents even
when their order is the same. Their scaling properties are investigated for
second and third orders, using data from high-Reynolds-number atmospheric
boundary layer. It is only when structure functions with disparate
sign-symmetry properties are compared can the extended self-similarity detect
two different scaling ranges that may exist, as in the example of convective
turbulence.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review
Beyond scaling and locality in turbulence
An analytic perturbation theory is suggested in order to find finite-size
corrections to the scaling power laws. In the frame of this theory it is shown
that the first order finite-size correction to the scaling power laws has
following form , where
is a finite-size scale (in particular for turbulence, it can be the Kolmogorov
dissipation scale). Using data of laboratory experiments and numerical
simulations it is shown shown that a degenerate case with can
describe turbulence statistics in the near-dissipation range , where
the ordinary (power-law) scaling does not apply. For moderate Reynolds numbers
the degenerate scaling range covers almost the entire range of scales of
velocity structure functions (the log-corrections apply to finite Reynolds
number). Interplay between local and non-local regimes has been considered as a
possible hydrodynamic mechanism providing the basis for the degenerate scaling
of structure functions and extended self-similarity. These results have been
also expanded on passive scalar mixing in turbulence. Overlapping phenomenon
between local and non-local regimes and a relation between position of maximum
of the generalized energy input rate and the actual crossover scale between
these regimes are briefly discussed.Comment: extended versio
Fluctuations of temperature gradients in turbulent thermal convection
Broad theoretical arguments are proposed to show, formally, that the
magnitude G of the temperature gradients in turbulent thermal convection at
high Rayleigh numbers obeys the same advection-diffusion equation that governs
the temperature fluctuation T, except that the velocity field in the new
equation is substantially smoothed. This smoothed field leads to a -1 scaling
of the spectrum of G in the same range of scales for which the spectral
exponent of T lies between -7/5 and -5/3. This result is confirmed by
measurements in a confined container with cryogenic helium gas as the working
fluid for Rayleigh number Ra=1.5x10^{11}. Also confirmed is the logarithmic
form of the autocorrelation function of G. The anomalous scaling of
dissipation-like quantities of T and G are identical in the inertial range,
showing that the analogy between the two fields is quite deep
Mean- Field Approximation and Extended Self-Similarity in Turbulence
Recent experimental discovery of extended self-similarity (ESS) was one of
the most interesting developments, enabling precise determination of the
scaling exponents of fully developed turbulence. Here we show that the ESS is
consistent with the Navier-Stokes equations, provided the pressure -gradient
contributions are expressed in terms of velocity differences in the mean field
approximation (Yakhot, Phys.Rev. E{\bf 63}, 026307, (2001)). A sufficient
condition for extended self-similarity in a general dynamical systemComment: 8 pages, no figure
A Minimalist Turbulent Boundary Layer Model
We introduce an elementary model of a turbulent boundary layer over a flat
surface, given as a vertical random distribution of spanwise Lamb-Oseen vortex
configurations placed over a non-slip boundary condition line. We are able to
reproduce several important features of realistic flows, such as the viscous
and logarithmic boundary sublayers, and the general behavior of the first
statistical moments (turbulent intensity, skewness and flatness) of the
streamwise velocity fluctuations. As an application, we advance some heuristic
considerations on the boundary layer underlying kinematics that could be
associated with the phenomenon of drag reduction by polymers, finding a
suggestive support from its experimental signatures.Comment: 5 pages, 10 figure
Critical Fluctuation of Wind Reversals in Convective Turbulence
The irregular reversals of wind direction in convective turbulence are found
to have fluctuating intervals that can be related to critical behavior. It is
shown that the net magnetization of a 2D Ising lattice of finite size
fluctuates in the same way. Detrended fluctuation analysis of the wind reversal
time series results in a scaling behavior that agrees with that of the Ising
problem. The properties found suggest that the wind reversal phenomenon
exhibits signs of self-organized criticality.Comment: 4 RevTeX pages + 3 figures in ep
Local properties of extended self-similarity in 3D turbulence
Using a generalization of extended self-similarity we have studied local
scaling properties of 3D turbulence in a direct numerical simulation. We have
found that these properties are consistent with lognormal-like behavior of
energy dissipation fluctuations with moderate amplitudes for space scales
beginning from Kolmogorov length up to the largest scales, and in the
whole range of the Reynolds numbers: . The
locally determined intermittency exponent varies with ; it has a
maximum at scale , independent of .Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
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