skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Comparing local energy cascade rates in isotropic turbulence using structure-function and filtering formulations
Two common definitions of the spatially local rate of kinetic energy cascade at some scale$$\ell$$in turbulent flows are (i) the cubic velocity difference term appearing in the ‘scale-integrated local Kolmogorov–Hill’ equation (structure-function approach), and (ii) the subfilter-scale energy flux term in the transport equation for subgrid-scale kinetic energy (filtering approach). We perform a comparative study of both quantities based on direct numerical simulation data of isotropic turbulence at Taylor-scale Reynolds number 1250. While in the past observations of negative subfilter-scale energy flux (backscatter) have led to debates regarding interpretation and relevance of such observations, we argue that the interpretation of the local structure-function-based cascade rate definition is unambiguous since it arises from a divergence term in scale space. Conditional averaging is used to explore the relationship between the local cascade rate and the local filtered viscous dissipation rate as well as filtered velocity gradient tensor properties such as its invariants. We find statistically robust evidence of inverse cascade when both the large-scale rotation rate is strong and the large-scale strain rate is weak. Even stronger net inverse cascading is observed in the ‘vortex compression’$$R>0$$,$$Q>0$$quadrant, where$$R$$and$$Q$$are velocity gradient invariants. Qualitatively similar but quantitatively much weaker trends are observed for the conditionally averaged subfilter-scale energy flux. Flow visualizations show consistent trends, namely that spatially, the inverse cascade events appear to be located within large-scale vortices, specifically in subregions when$$R$$is large.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2103874
PAR ID:
10511089
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
CUP
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume:
980
ISSN:
0022-1120
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract For a smooth projective surface$$X$$satisfying$$H_1(X,\mathbb{Z}) = 0$$and$$w \in H^2(X,\mu _r)$$, we study deformation invariants of the pair$$(X,w)$$. Choosing a Brauer–Severi variety$$Y$$(or, equivalently, Azumaya algebra$$\mathcal{A}$$) over$$X$$with Stiefel–Whitney class$$w$$, the invariants are defined as virtual intersection numbers on suitable moduli spaces of stable twisted sheaves on$$Y$$constructed by Yoshioka (or, equivalently, moduli spaces of$$\mathcal{A}$$-modules of Hoffmann–Stuhler). We show that the invariants do not depend on the choice of$$Y$$. Using a result of de Jong, we observe that they are deformation invariants of the pair$$(X,w)$$. For surfaces with$$h^{2,0}(X) \gt 0$$, we show that the invariants can often be expressed as virtual intersection numbers on Gieseker–Maruyama–Simpson moduli spaces of stable sheaves on$$X$$. This can be seen as a$${\rm PGL}_r$$–$${\rm SL}_r$$correspondence. As an application, we express$${\rm SU}(r) / \mu _r$$Vafa–Witten invariants of$$X$$in terms of$${\rm SU}(r)$$Vafa–Witten invariants of$$X$$. We also show how formulae from Donaldson theory can be used to obtain upper bounds for the minimal second Chern class of Azumaya algebras on$$X$$with given division algebra at the generic point. 
    more » « less
  2. Based on a generalized local Kolmogorov–Hill equation expressing the evolution of kinetic energy integrated over spheres of size$$\ell$$in the inertial range of fluid turbulence, we examine a possible definition of entropy and entropy generation for turbulence. Its measurement from direct numerical simulations in isotropic turbulence leads to confirmation of the validity of the fluctuation relation (FR) from non-equilibrium thermodynamics in the inertial range of turbulent flows. Specifically, the ratio of probability densities of forward and inverse cascade at scale$$\ell$$is shown to follow exponential behaviour with the entropy generation rate if the latter is defined by including an appropriately defined notion of ‘temperature of turbulence’ proportional to the kinetic energy at scale$$\ell$$. 
    more » « less
  3. The extensional rheology of dilute suspensions of spheres in viscoelastic/polymeric liquids is studied computationally. At low polymer concentration$$c$$and Deborah number$$\textit{De}$$(imposed extension rate times polymer relaxation time), a wake of highly stretched polymers forms downstream of the particles due to larger local velocity gradients than the imposed flow, indicated by$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}}\gt 0$$. This increases the suspension’s extensional viscosity with time and$$\textit{De}$$for$$De \lt 0.5$$. When$$\textit{De}$$exceeds 0.5, the coil-stretch transition value, the fully stretched polymers from the far-field collapse in regions with$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}} \lt 0$$(lower velocity gradient) around the particle’s stagnation points, reducing suspension viscosity relative to the particle-free liquid. The interaction between local flow and polymers intensifies with increasing$$c$$. Highly stretched polymers impede local flow, reducing$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}}$$, while$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}}$$increases in regions with collapsed polymers. Initially, increasing$$c$$aligns$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}}$$and local polymer stretch with far-field values, diminishing particle–polymer interaction effects. However, beyond a certain$$c$$, a new mechanism emerges. At low$$c$$, fluid three particle radii upstream exhibits$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}} \gt 0$$, stretching polymers beyond their undisturbed state. As$$c$$increases, however,$$\Delta \textit{De}_{\textit{local}}$$in this region becomes negative, collapsing polymers and resulting in increasingly negative stress from particle–polymer interactions at large$$\textit{De}$$and time. At high$$c$$, this negative interaction stress scales as$$c^2$$, surpassing the linear increase of particle-free polymer stress, making dilute sphere concentrations more effective at reducing the viscosity of viscoelastic liquids at larger$$\textit{De}$$and$$c$$. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract A result of Gyárfás [12] exactly determines the size of a largest monochromatic component in an arbitrary$$r$$-colouring of the complete$$k$$-uniform hypergraph$$K_n^k$$when$$k\geq 2$$and$$k\in \{r-1,r\}$$. We prove a result which says that if one replaces$$K_n^k$$in Gyárfás’ theorem by any ‘expansive’$$k$$-uniform hypergraph on$$n$$vertices (that is, a$$k$$-uniform hypergraph$$G$$on$$n$$vertices in which$$e(V_1, \ldots, V_k)\gt 0$$for all disjoint sets$$V_1, \ldots, V_k\subseteq V(G)$$with$$|V_i|\gt \alpha$$for all$$i\in [k]$$), then one gets a largest monochromatic component of essentially the same size (within a small error term depending on$$r$$and$$\alpha$$). As corollaries we recover a number of known results about large monochromatic components in random hypergraphs and random Steiner triple systems, often with drastically improved bounds on the error terms. Gyárfás’ result is equivalent to the dual problem of determining the smallest possible maximum degree of an arbitrary$$r$$-partite$$r$$-uniform hypergraph$$H$$with$$n$$edges in which every set of$$k$$edges has a common intersection. In this language, our result says that if one replaces the condition that every set of$$k$$edges has a common intersection with the condition that for every collection of$$k$$disjoint sets$$E_1, \ldots, E_k\subseteq E(H)$$with$$|E_i|\gt \alpha$$, there exists$$(e_1, \ldots, e_k)\in E_1\times \cdots \times E_k$$such that$$e_1\cap \cdots \cap e_k\neq \emptyset$$, then the smallest possible maximum degree of$$H$$is essentially the same (within a small error term depending on$$r$$and$$\alpha$$). We prove our results in this dual setting. 
    more » « less
  5. We explored the settling dynamics of vertically aligned particles in a quiescent, stratified two-layer fluid using particle tracking velocimetry. Glass spheres of$$d=4\,{\rm mm}$$diameter were released at frequencies of 4, 6 and 8 Hz near the free surface, traversing through an upper ethanol layer ($$H_1$$), whereHis height or layer thickess, varying from$$10d$$to$$40d$$and a lower oil layer. Results reveal pronounced lateral particle motion in the ethanol layer, attributed to a higher Galileo number ($$Ga = 976$$, ratio of buoyancy–gravity to viscous effects), compared with the less active behaviour in the oil layer ($$Ga = 16$$). The ensemble vertical velocity of particles exhibited a minimum just past the density interface, becoming more pronounced with increasing$$H_1$$, and suggesting that enhanced entrainment from ethanol to oil resulted in an additional buoyancy force. This produced distinct patterns of particle acceleration near the density interface, which were marked by significant deceleration, indicating substantial resistance to particle motion. An increased drag coefficient occurred for$$H_1/d = 40$$compared with a single particle settling in oil; drag reduced as the particle-release frequency ($$\,f_p$$) increased, likely due to enhanced particle interactions at closer proximity. Particle pair dispersions, lateral ($$R^2_L$$) and vertical ($$R^2_z$$), were modulated by$$H_1$$, initial separation$$r_0$$and$$f_p$$. The$$R^2_L$$dispersion displayed ballistic scaling initially, Taylor scaling for$$r_0 < H_1$$and Richardson scaling for$$r_0 > H_1$$. In contrast,$$R^2_z$$followed a$$R^2_z \sim t^{5.5}$$scaling under$$r_0 < H_1$$. Both$$R^2_L$$and$$R^2_z$$plateaued at a distance from the interface, depending on$$H_1$$and$$f_p$$. 
    more » « less