Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Experimental Investigation of Secondary Flow Structures Downstream of a Model Type IV Stent Failure in a 180° Curved Artery Test Section
Published on: July 19, 2016
Coherent structure phenomena in drift wave-zonal flow turbulence
1Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5E2 Canada.
Abstract:
Zonal flows are azimuthally symmetric plasma potential perturbations spontaneously generated from small-scale drift-wave fluctuations via the action of Reynolds stresses. We show that, after initial linear growth, zonal flows can undergo further nonlinear evolution leading to the formation of long-lived coherent structures which consist of self-bound wave packets supporting stationary shear layers. Such coherent zonal flow structures constitute dynamical paradigms for intermittency in drift-wave turbulence that manifests itself by the intermittent distribution of regions with a reduced level of anomalous transport.
Related Concept Videos
Laminar and Turbulent Flow
Irrotational Flow
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Turbulent Flow
General External Flow Characteristics
Boundary Layer Characteristics

