Predicting vortex merging and ensuing turbulence characteristics in shear layers from initial conditions

DOI10.1017/JFM.2019.721zbMATH Open1430.76218arXiv1906.06756OpenAlexW3099369613WikidataQ127228625 ScholiaQ127228625MaRDI QIDQ5235705FDOQ5235705

Authors: Anirban Guha, Mona Rahmani 

Publication date: 14 October 2019

Published in: Journal of Fluid Mechanics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Unstable shear layers in environmental and industrial flows roll up into a series of vortices, which often form complex nonlinear merging patterns like pairs and triplets. These patterns crucially determine the subsequent turbulence, mixing and scalar transport. We show that the late-time, highly nonlinear merging patterns are predictable from the linearized initial state. The initial asymmetry between consecutive wavelengths of the vertical velocity field provides an effective measure of the strength and pattern of vortex merging. The predictions of this measure are substantiated using direct numerical simulations. We also show that this measure has significant implications in determining the route to turbulence and the ensuing turbulence characteristics.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1906.06756

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zbMATH Keywords

transition to turbulencevortex interactionsshear layer turbulence

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Transition to turbulence (76F06) Shear flows and turbulence (76F10) Turbulent transport, mixing (76F25)

Cites Work

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Cited In (3)

• Low-dimensional model for vortex merging in the two-dimensional temporal mixing layer
• The effects of boundary proximity on Kelvin–Helmholtz instability and turbulence
• The butterfly effect and the transition to turbulence in a stratified shear layer

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