Energy storage and exchange mechanisms in turbulent media (Q1182997)

In this study modes of excitation are investigated that could be part of the internal energy, and the energy transfer mechanisms are described that likely contribute to the establishment of equilibrium in fully developed turbulence. We treat turbulence as a thermodynamic system in which equilibrium is mainly achieved through binary encounters between its constituents. The constituents in a turbulent flow are divided in this study into (i) structures that carry random translational kinetic only, and (ii) structures, called eddies or vortices, which carry mainly random rotational kinetic energy. While the eddy energies make up the turbulent energy spectrum, their local interactions must be governed by the Navier Stokes equations. In order to gain initial physical insight into the mechanisms of resonances, mode coupling and energy storage in a turbulent medium we treat the eddies as elastic objects and develop simple analytical model for their excitation and for their long range interactions. The results should be confirmed by more rigorous analytical studies or by detailed numerical integrations.