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Turbulent Flow

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Turbulent flow is characterized by unpredictable fluctuations in velocity and pressure, which result in a chaotic fluid movement distinct from the orderly patterns of laminar flow. While laminar flow is governed by smooth, parallel layers with minimal mixing, turbulent flow exhibits highly irregular, three-dimensional patterns. This behavior arises due to instabilities in the fluid's velocity profile, and amplifies as the flow velocity increases. Minor disturbances, known as turbulent spots,...

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Experimental Investigation of Secondary Flow Structures Downstream of a Model Type IV Stent Failure in a 180° Curved Artery Test Section

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Coherent structures in localized and global pipe turbulence.

Ashley P Willis¹, Rich R Kerswell

¹Department of Mathematics, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TW, United Kingdom. A.Willis@bris.ac.uk

Physical Review Letters

|June 4, 2008

Summary

Unstable traveling waves (TWs) in pipe flow were found in localized turbulence, not fully turbulent states. New fast streak states, not TWs, likely populate the turbulent attractor.

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Area of Science:

Fluid dynamics
Turbulence research
Nonlinear dynamics

Background:

Unstable traveling waves (TWs) in pipe flow represent a significant discovery.
There is a prevailing hypothesis that TWs populate the turbulent attractor.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the occurrence of TWs in different turbulent states.
To determine if TWs are embedded within the turbulent attractor.

Main Methods:

Numerical simulations in a long pipe.
Analysis of coherent states in pipe flow turbulence at various Reynolds numbers (Re).

Main Results:

Confirmed existence of coherent states resembling TWs in localized "puff" turbulence (Re=2000-2400).
TWs were absent in homogeneous "slug" turbulence (Re=2800).
Identified new coherent fast streak states populating the turbulent attractor.

Conclusions:

Currently known TWs reside in an intermediate phase space between laminar and turbulent states.
TWs are not embedded within the turbulent attractor.
Fast streak states, not TWs, likely represent the turbulent attractor in pipe flow.