paper

Anisotropy in Turbulent Flows and in Turbulent Transport

arXiv:nlin/0404014 · doi:10.1016/j.physrep.2005.04.001

Abstract

We discuss the problem of anisotropy and intermittency in statistical theory of high Reynolds-number turbulence (and turbulent transport). We present a detailed description of the new tools that allow effective data analysis and systematic theoretical studies such as to separate isotropic from anisotropic aspects of turbulent statistical fluctuations. Employing the invariance of the equations of fluid mechanics to all rotations, we show how to decompose the (tensorial) statistical objects in terms of the irreducible representation of the SO(3) symmetry group. For the case of turbulent advection of passive scalar or vector fields, this decomposition allows rigorous statements to be made: (i) the scaling exponents are universal, (ii) the isotropic scaling exponents are always leading, (iii) the anisotropic scaling exponents form a discrete spectrum which is strictly increasing as a function of the anisotropic degree. Next we explain how to apply the SO(3) decomposition to the statistical Navier-Stokes theory. We show how to extract information about the scaling behavior in the isotropic sector. Doing so furnishes a systematic way to assess the universality of the scaling exponents in this sector, clarifying the anisotropic origin of the many measurements that claimed the opposite. A systematic analysis of Direct Numerical Simulations and of experiments provides a strong support to the proposition that also for the non-linear problem there exists foliation of the statistical theory into sectors of the symmetry group. The exponents appear universal in each sector, and again strictly increasing as a function of the anisotropic degreee.

150 pages, 26 figures, submitted to Phys. Rep

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