Project Theme: Turbulence and Multiphase Flows
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The Navier-Stokes equations in a rotating frame lead to solutions characterized by interactions between wave modes. In asymptotic and weak-turbulence theories, resonant and near-resonant interactions between those modes are expected to be dominant. It is imperative to sufficiently resolve the near- resonant interactions that are thought to be important in the strong rotation limit. When… more
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Rotating homogeneous turbulence in a finite domain is studied using numerical simulations, with a particular emphasis on the interactions between the wave and zero-frequency modes. Numerical simulations of decaying homogeneous turbulence subject to a wide range of background rotation rates are presented. The effect of rotation is examined in two finite periodic domains in order… more
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The purpose of this study is to examine the strongly rotating limit of a turbulent flow theoretically and numerically. The goal is to verify the predictions of asymptotic theories. Given the limitations of experimental and dissipative numerical approaches to this problem, we use classical equilibrium statistical mechanics. We apply the statistical mechanics approach to the… more
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Rotating turbulence is characterized by the nondimensional Rossby number Ro, which is a measure of the strength of the Coriolis term relative to that of the nonlinear term. For rapid rotation (Ro→0), nonlinear interactions between inertial waves are weak, and the theoretical approaches used for other weak (wave) turbulence problems can be applied. The important… more
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The Rossby number, Ro=U/L2Ω, is the non-dimensional number characterizing rotating flows. Here U is the characteristic velocity, L the characteristic length scale, and 2Ω is the Coriolis parameter. When Ro → 0 the nonlinearity of the equations of motion becomes weak, and the theories of weak wave interactions apply. The normal modes of the flow can be decomposed… more
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Turbulent flows subject to solid-body rotation are known to generate steep energy spectra and two-dimensional columnar vortices. The localness of the dominant energy transfers responsible for the accumulation of the energy in the two-dimensional columnar vortices of large horizontal scale remains undetermined. Here, we investigate the scale-locality of the energy transfers directly contributing to the… more
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Violent respiratory events such as coughs and sneezes play a key role in transferring respiratory diseases between infectious and susceptible individuals. We present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the fluid dynamics of such violent expiratory events. Direct observation of sneezing and coughing events reveals that such flows are multiphase turbulent… more