Geometry of Lagrangian dispersion in turbulence

Citation
A. Pumir et al., Geometry of Lagrangian dispersion in turbulence, PHYS REV L, 85(25), 2000, pp. 5324-5327
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
85
Issue
25
Year of publication
2000
Pages
5324 - 5327
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(200012)85:25<5324:GOLDIT>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
Turbulent flows disperse Lagrangian particles resulting in the growth of pa irwise separations and, for sets of three or more particles, in a nontrivia l dynamics of their configuration. The shape of such clusters is controlled by the competition between coherent straining of the cluster and the indep endent random motion of the particles due to small scale velocity fluctuati ons. We introduce a statistical description of the geometry of the Lagrangi an clusters and predict a self-similar distribution of shapes, which should be observable in the inertial range of scales in high Reynolds numbers flo ws.