Turbulence
Chaotic fluid motion with vortices, mixing, and unresolved physics.
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Turbulence is a chaotic fluid motion characterized by irregular changes in pressure and flow velocity, contrasting with smooth laminar flow.[1] It is commonly observed in natural phenomena like surf, storm clouds, and fast rivers, and most engineering fluid flows are turbulent.[2]
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Key facts and history
The Reynolds number, the ratio of inertial to viscous forces, guides whether flow will become turbulent.[3] Flows with Reynolds numbers above 5000 are typically turbulent, while low Reynolds number flows usually remain laminar.[4] In pipe flow, turbulence can be sustained above a critical Reynolds number of about 2040.[4] The Kolmogorov five-thirds law, describing energy transport across scales, was first observed in a tidal channel.[5]
The initial statistical theory of turbulence, which relied on energy cascade and self-similarity concepts, was put forward by mathematician Andrey Kolmogorov.[6] Current understanding indicates that self-similarity is not maintained, leading to ongoing revisions of the statistical description.[6]
References
- Wikipedia, "Turbulence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Batchelor, "Introduction to Fluid Mechanics", 2000 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Turbulence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ting, "Dynamics of surf-zone turbulence in a spilling breaker", Coastal Engineering, 1996, p. 131–160; Tennekes, "A First Course in Turbulence", MIT Press, 1972 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Turbulence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Falkovich, "Fluid Mechanics", Cambridge University Press, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Turbulence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Avila, "The Onset of Turbulence in Pipe Flow", Science, July 2011, p. 192–196 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Turbulence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Grant, "Turbulence spectra from a tidal channel", Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1962, p. 241–268; Frisch, "Turbulence: The Legacy of A. N. Kolmogorov", Cambridge University Press, 1995 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Turbulence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Falkovich, "Lessons from hydrodynamic turbulence", Physics Today, April 2006, p. 43–49 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Turbulence (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Turbulence (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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