Interacting Scales and Energy Transfer in Isotropic Turbulence
Abstract
The dependence of the energy transfer process on the disparity of the interacting scales is investigated in the inertial and far-dissipation ranges of isotropic turbulence. The strategy for generating the simulated flow fields and the choice of a disparity parameter to characterize the scaling of the interactions is discussed. The inertial range is found to be dominated by relatively local interactions, in agreement with the Kolmogorov assumption. The far-dissipation is found to be dominated by relatively non-local interactions, supporting the classical notion that the far-dissipation range is slaved to the Kolinogorov scales. The measured energy transfer is compared with the classical models of Heisenberg and the more detailed analysis of Tennekes and Lumley. The energy transfer statistics measured in the numerically simulated flows are found to be nearly self-similar for wavenumbers in the inertial range. Using the self- similar form measured within the limited scale range of the simulation, we construct an 'ideal' energy transfer function and the corresponding energy flux rate for an inertial range of infinite extent. From this flux rate we calculate the Kolmogorov constant to be 1.5, in excellent agreement with experiments. Isotropic turbulence, Interacting scales, Energy transfer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA269062
Entities
People
- Ye Zhou