Turbulent flows at very large Reynolds numbers: new lessons learned

G.I. Barenblatt^a, b, c, A.J. Chorin^b, c, V.M. Prostokishin^a, d, b
^aP.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Krasikova 23, Moscow, 117218, Russian Federation
^bLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
^cUniversity of California, Berkeley, California, USA
^dNational Research Nuclear University ‘MEPhI’, Kashirskoe shosse 31, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation

The universal (Reynolds number independent) von Kármán—Prandtl logarithmic law for the velocity distribution in the basic intermediate region of turbulent shear flow is generally considered to be one of the fundamental laws of engineering science and is taught universally in fluid mechanics and hydraulics courses. In the present review it is shown that this law is based on an assumption which cannot be considered as a correct one and which does not correspond to experiment. Nor is L.D. Landau’s derivation of this law quite correct. In this paper, an alternative scaling law explicitly incorporating the influence of the Reynolds number is discussed, as well as the corresponding drag law. The study uses the concept of intermediate asymptotics and that of incomplete similarity in the similarity parameter. In the formation of these ideas Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich played an outstanding role. This work is a tribute to his glowing memory.

PACS: 47.10.−g, 47.27.−i, 47.27.Ak, 47.27.Gs (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0184.201403d.0265
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2014/3/e/
Web of Science

000337360600004
Scopus

2-s2.0-84924386658
ADS NASA

2014PhyU...57..250B
Citation: Barenblatt G I, Chorin A J, Prostokishin V M "Turbulent flows at very large Reynolds numbers: new lessons learned" Phys. Usp. 57 250–256 (2014)

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Received: 5th, November 2013, accepted: 5th, November 2013

Оригинал: Баренблатт Г И, Корин А Дж, Простокишин В М «Турбулентные течения при очень больших числах Рейнольдса: уроки новых исследований» УФН 184 265–272 (2014); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0184.201403d.0265

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