Universal Model of Finite-Reynolds Number Turbulent Flow in Channels and Pipes

In this Letter we suggest a simple and physically transparent analytical model of the pressure driven turbulent wall-bounded flows at high but finite Reynolds numbers Re. The model gives accurate qualitative description of the profiles of the mean-velocity and Reynolds-stresses (second order correlations of velocity fluctuations) throughout the entire channel or pipe in the wide range of Re, using only three Re-independent parameters. The model sheds light on the long-standing controversy between supporters of the century-old log-law theory of von-K\`arm\`an and Prandtl and proposers of a newer theory promoting power laws to describe the intermediate region of the mean velocity profile.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figs, re-submitted PRL according to referees comment

Phenomenology of Wall Bounded Newtonian Turbulence

We construct a simple analytic model for wall-bounded turbulence, containing only four adjustable parameters. Two of these parameters characterize the viscous dissipation of the components of the Reynolds stress-tensor and other two parameters characterize their nonlinear relaxation. The model offers an analytic description of the profiles of the mean velocity and the correlation functions of velocity fluctuations in the entire boundary region, from the viscous sub-layer, through the buffer layer and further into the log-layer. As a first approximation, we employ the traditional return-to-isotropy hypothesis, which yields a very simple distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy between the velocity components in the log-layer: the streamwise component contains a half of the total energy whereas the wall-normal and the cross-stream components contain a quarter each. In addition, the model predicts a very simple relation between the von-K\'arm\'an slope $\kappa$ and the turbulent velocity in the log-law region $v^+$ (in wall units): $v^+=6 \kappa$. These predictions are in excellent agreement with DNS data and with recent laboratory experiments.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figs, included, PRE, submitte

The Scaling Structure of the Velocity Statistics in Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The statistical objects characterizing turbulence in real turbulent flows differ from those of the ideal homogeneous isotropic model.They containcontributions from various 2d and 3d aspects, and from the superposition ofinhomogeneous and anisotropic contributions. We employ the recently introduceddecomposition of statistical tensor objects into irreducible representations of theSO(3) symmetry group (characterized by $j$ and $m$ indices), to disentangle someof these contributions, separating the universal and the asymptotic from the specific aspects of the flow. The different $j$ contributions transform differently under rotations and so form a complete basis in which to represent the tensor objects under study. The experimental data arerecorded with hot-wire probes placed at various heights in the atmospheric surfacelayer. Time series data from single probes and from pairs of probes are analyzed to compute the amplitudes and exponents of different contributions to the second order statistical objects characterized by $j=0$, $j=1$ and $j=2$. The analysis shows the need to make a careful distinction between long-lived quasi 2d turbulent motions (close to the ground) and relatively short-lived 3d motions. We demonstrate that the leading scaling exponents in the three leading sectors ($j = 0, 1, 2$) appear to be different butuniversal, independent of the positions of the probe, and the large scaleproperties. The measured values of the exponent are $\zeta^{(j=0)}_2=0.68 \pm 0.01$, $\zeta^{(j=1)}_2=1.0\pm 0.15$ and $\zeta^{(j=2)}_2=1.38 \pm 0.10$. We present theoretical arguments for the values of these exponents usingthe Clebsch representation of the Euler equations; neglecting anomalous corrections, the values obtained are 2/3, 1 and 4/3 respectively.Comment: PRE, submitted. RevTex, 38 pages, 8 figures included . Online (HTML) version of this paper is avaliable at http://lvov.weizmann.ac.il

Correlation functions in isotropic and anisotropic turbulence: the role of the symmetry group

The theory of fully developed turbulence is usually considered in an idealized homogeneous and isotropic state. Real turbulent flows exhibit the effects of anisotropic forcing. The analysis of correlation functions and structure functions in isotropic and anisotropic situations is facilitated and made rational when performed in terms of the irreducible representations of the relevant symmetry group which is the group of all rotations SO(3). In this paper we firstly consider the needed general theory and explain why we expect different (universal) scaling exponents in the different sectors of the symmetry group. We exemplify the theory context of isotropic turbulence (for third order tensorial structure functions) and in weakly anisotropic turbulence (for the second order structure function). The utility of the resulting expressions for the analysis of experimental data is demonstrated in the context of high Reynolds number measurements of turbulence in the atmosphere.Comment: 35 pages, REVTEX, 1 figure, Phys. Rev. E, submitte

Identification and Calculation of the Universal Maximum Drag Reduction Asymptote by Polymers in Wall Bounded Turbulence

Drag reduction by polymers in wall turbulence is bounded from above by a universal maximal drag reduction (MDR) velocity profile that is a log-law, estimated experimentally by Virk as $V^+(y^+)\approx 11.7 \log y^+ -17$. Here $V^+(y)$ and $y^+$ are the mean streamwise velocity and the distance from the wall in "wall" units. In this Letter we propose that this MDR profile is an edge solution of the Navier-Stokes equations (with an effective viscosity profile) beyond which no turbulent solutions exist. This insight rationalizes the universality of the MDR and provides a maximum principle which allows an ab-initio calculation of the parameters in this law without any viscoelastic experimental input.Comment: 4 pages, 1 fig. Phys. Rev. Letts., submitte

Drag Reduction by Bubble Oscillations

Drag reduction in stationary turbulent flows by bubbles is sensitive to the dynamics of bubble oscillations. Without this dynamical effect the bubbles only renormalize the fluid density and viscosity, an effect that by itself can only lead to a small percentage of drag reduction. We show in this paper that the dynamics of bubbles and their effect on the compressibility of the mixture can lead to a much higher drag reduction.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Symmetries and Interaction coefficients of Kelvin waves

We considered symmetry restriction on the interaction coefficients of Kelvin waves and demonstrated that linear in small wave vector asymptotic is not forbidden, as one can expect by naive reasoning.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to J. of Low Temp. Phy

A Model of Intra-seasonal Oscillations in the Earth atmosphere

We suggest a way of rationalizing an intra-seasonal oscillations (IOs) of the Earth atmospheric flow as four meteorological relevant triads of interacting planetary waves, isolated from the system of all the rest planetary waves. Our model is independent of the topography (mountains, etc.) and gives a natural explanation of IOs both in the North and South Hemispheres. Spherical planetary waves are an example of a wave mesoscopic system obeying discrete resonances that also appears in other areas of physics.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figs, Submitted to PR

Finite-Dimensional Turbulence of Planetary Waves

Finite-dimensional wave turbulence refers to the chaotic dynamics of interacting wave `clusters' consisting of finite number of connected wave triads with exact three-wave resonances. We examine this phenomenon using the example of atmospheric planetary (Rossby) waves. It is shown that the dynamics of the clusters is determined by the types of connections between neighboring triads within a cluster; these correspond to substantially different scenarios of energy flux between different triads. All the possible cases of the energy cascade termination are classified. Free and forced chaotic dynamics in the clusters are investigated: due to the huge fluctuations of the energy exchange between resonant triads these two types of evolution have a lot in common. It is confirmed that finite-dimensional wave turbulence in finite wave systems is fundamentally different from kinetic wave turbulence in infinite systems; the latter is described by wave kinetic equations that account for interactions with overlapping quasi-resonances of finite amplitude waves. The present results are directly applicable to finite-dimensional wave turbulence in any wave system in finite domains with 3-mode interactions as encountered in hydrodynamics, astronomy, plasma physics, chemistry, medicine, etc.Comment: 29 pages, 21 figures, submitted to PR

Energy Spectra of Quantum Turbulence: Large-scale Simulation and Modeling

In $2048^3$ simulation of quantum turbulence within the Gross-Pitaevskii equation we demonstrate that the large scale motions have a classical Kolmogorov-1941 energy spectrum E(k) ~ k^{-5/3}, followed by an energy accumulation with E(k) ~ const at k about the reciprocal mean intervortex distance. This behavior was predicted by the L'vov-Nazarenko-Rudenko bottleneck model of gradual eddy-wave crossover [J. Low Temp. Phys. 153, 140-161 (2008)], further developed in the paper.Comment: (re)submitted to PRB: 5.5 pages, 4 figure