The Onset of Turbulence in Pipe Flow
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization · University of Warwick · +3 more institutions
Abstract
Shear flows undergo a sudden transition from laminar to turbulent motion as the velocity increases, and the onset of turbulence radically changes transport efficiency and mixing properties. Even for the well-studied case of pipe flow, it has not been possible to determine at what Reynolds number the motion will be either persistently turbulent or ultimately laminar. We show that in pipes, turbulence that is transient at low Reynolds numbers becomes sustained at a distinct critical point. Through extensive experiments and computer simulations, we were able to identify and characterize the processes ultimately responsible for sustaining turbulence. In contrast to the classical Landau-Ruelle-Takens view that…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 40.49
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 41
Authors
6- KAKerstin AvilaCorresponding
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
- DMDavid Moxey
University of Warwick
- ADAlberto de Lózar
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
- MAMarc Avila
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
- DBDwight Barkley
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Warwick, Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, ESPCI Paris
Topics & keywords
- Turbulence
- Laminar flow
- K-epsilon turbulence model
- Mechanics
- Reynolds number
- Physics
- Open-channel flow
- K-omega turbulence model
- Clean water and sanitation