The Essence of Turbulence as a Physical Phenomenon, 2014 With Emphasis on Issues of Paradigmatic Nature

This book critically reexamines what turbulence really is, from a fundamental point of view and based on observations from nature, laboratories, and direct numerical simulations. It includes critical assessments and a comparative analysis of the key developments, their evolution and failures, along with key misconceptions and outdated paradigms. The main emphasis is on conceptual and problematic aspects, physical phenomena, observations, misconceptions and unresolved issues rather than on conventional formalistic aspects, models, etc. Apart from the obvious fundamental importance of turbulent flows, this emphasis stems from the basic premise that without corresponding progress in fundamental aspects there is little chance for progress in applications such as drag reduction, mixing, control and modeling of turbulence. More generally, there is also a desperate need to grasp the physical fundamentals of the technological processes in which turbulence plays a central role.

PART 1 — INTRODUCTION - The phenomenon and the problem of turbulence
1 The phenomenon of turbulence
2 The problem of turbulence
3 What equations describe turbulence adequately?

PART 2 — ISSUES OF PARADIGMATIC NATURE I - Origins and nature of turbulence
4 Origins of turbulence
5 Nature of turbulence
6 Additional issues of importance related to the use of statistical methods

PART 3 — ISSUES OF PARADIGMATIC NATURE II - Specific features
7 The N’s of turbulence
8 Large Reynolds number behavior, Symmetries, Universality
9 Intermittency and Structure(s) of and/in turbulence

10 Epiloque

11 Apendix - Essential quotations

Bibliography

Author index

Subject index

First book of this kind outlining the essence of turbulence: short, clear and comprehensive

Includes critical assessments and a comparative analysis of the key developments, their evolution and failures, along with key misconceptions and outdated paradigms

Written by an Author with records in physics, mathematics and engineering

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras