Nearly singular two-dimensional Kolmogorov flows for large Reynolds numbers (Q1916000)

The convergence of two-dimensional stationary Kolmogorov flows as the Reynolds number increases to infinity is studied through observation and comparison of a series of patterns based on numerical results. From the abstract of the author: ``Since the flows considered are stationary solutions of Navier-Stokes equations, they are smooth whatever the Reynolds number may be. However, in the limit of an infinite Reynolds number, they can, at least theoretically, converge to a smooth function. Through numerical experiments, we show that, under a certain condition, some smooth solutions of Navier-Stokes equations converge to a nonsmooth solution of Euler equations and develop interval layers. Therefore the Navier-Stokes flows are `nearly singular' for large Reynolds numbers.'' According to the author's opinion, the dimension of the attractor seems to be the only clue to the spatially complicated structure appearing in a strong turbulence, while the notion of singularity plays no role in dynamical systems theory of two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. Moreover, the knowledge of nearly singular solutions presented for the Navier-Stokes equations may widen the applicability of dynamical systems theory to turbulence.