Self-Organization in Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Turbulence Self-Organization in Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Turbulence

1990 ◽  
Vol 45 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1059-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Knorr ◽  
J. P. Lynov ◽  
H. L. Pécseli

Abstract The three-dimensional incompressible Euler equations are expanded in eigenflows of the curl operator, which represent positive and negative helicity flows in a particularly simple and convenient way. Four different basic types of interactions between eigenflows are found. Two represent an "inverse cascade", the interaction familiar from the two-dimensional Euler equations, in which only modes of the same sign of the helicity interact. The other two interactions mix positive and negative helicity modes. Only these interactions can transport all of the available energy to higher wave numbers. Initial conditions, which lead to the appearance of structures and self-organization, are discussed.

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (228) ◽  
pp. 702-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Zhang ◽  
Lili Ju ◽  
Wei Leng ◽  
Stephen Price ◽  
Max Gunzburger

AbstractFor many regions, glacier inaccessibility results in sparse geometric datasets for use as model initial conditions (e.g. along the central flowline only). In these cases, two-dimensional (2-D) flowline models are often used to study glacier dynamics. Here we systematically investigate the applicability of a 2-D, first-order Stokes approximation flowline model (FLM), modified by shape factors, for the simulation of land-terminating glaciers by comparing it with a 3-D, ‘full’-Stokes ice-flow model (FSM). Based on steady-state and transient, thermomechanically uncoupled and coupled computational experiments, we explore the sensitivities of the FLM and FSM to ice geometry, temperature and forward model integration time. We find that, compared to the FSM, the FLM generally produces slower horizontal velocities, due to simplifications inherent to the FLM and to the underestimation of the shape factor. For polythermal glaciers, those with temperate ice zones, or when basal sliding is important, we find significant differences between simulation results when using the FLM versus the FSM. Over time, initially small differences between the FLM and FSM become much larger, particularly near cold/temperate ice transition surfaces. Long time integrations further increase small initial differences between the two models. We conclude that the FLM should be applied with caution when modelling glacier changes under a warming climate or over long periods of time.


1979 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Orszag ◽  
Cha-Mei Tang

The formation of singularities in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow is investigated by direct numerical simulation. It is shown that two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is not as singular as three-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence (in the sense that it has a less highly excited small-scale structure) but that it is more singular than two-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence.


2002 ◽  
Vol 455 ◽  
pp. 83-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID G. DRITSCHEL

This paper describes the interaction of symmetric vortices in a three-dimensional quasi-geostrophic fluid. The initial vortices are taken to be uniform-potential-vorticity ellipsoids, of height 2h and width 2R, and with centres at (±d/2; 0, 0), embedded within a background flow having constant background rotational and buoyancy frequencies, f/2 and N respectively. This problem was previously studied by von Hardenburg et al. (2000), who determined the dimensionless critical merger distance d/R as a function of the height-to-width aspect ratio h/R (scaled by f/N). Their study, however, was limited to small to moderate values of h/R, as it was anticipated that merger at large h/R would reduce to that for two columnar two-dimensional vortices, i.e. d/R ≈ 3.31. Here, it is shown that no such two-dimensional limit exists; merger is found to occur at any aspect ratio, with d ∼ h for h/R [Gt ] 1.New results are also found for small to moderate values of h/R. In particular, our numerical simulations reveal that asymmetric merger is predominant, despite the initial conditions, if one includes a small amount of random noise. For small to moderate h/R, decreasing the initial separation distance d first results in a weak exchange of material, with one vortex growing at the expense of the other. As d decreases further, this exchange increases and leads to two dominant but strongly asymmetric vortices. Finally, for yet smaller d, rapid merger into a single dominant vortex occurs – in effect the initial vortices exchange nearly all of their material with one another in a nearly symmetrical fashion.


2015 ◽  
Vol 786 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K. Newton

The paper by Dritschel et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 783, 2015, pp. 1–22) describes the long-time behaviour of inviscid two-dimensional fluid dynamics on the surface of a sphere. At issue is whether the flow settles down to an equilibrium or whether, for generic (random) initial conditions, the long-time solution is periodic, quasi-periodic or chaotic. While it might be surprising that this issue is not settled in the literature, it is important to keep in mind that the Euler equations form a dissipationless Hamiltonian system, hence the set of equations only redistributes the initial vorticity, generating smaller and smaller scales, while keeping kinetic energy, angular impulse and an infinite family of vorticity moments (Casimirs) intact. While special solutions that never settle down to an equilibrium state can be constructed using point vortices, vortex patches and other distributions, the fate of random initial conditions is a trickier problem. Previous statistical theories indicate that the long-time state should be a stationary large-scale distribution of vorticity. By carrying out careful numerical simulations using two different methods, the authors make a compelling case that the generic long-time state resembles a large-scale oscillating quadrupolar vorticity field, surrounded by persistent small-scale vortices. While numerical simulations can never conclusively settle this issue, the results might help guide future theories that seek to prove the existence of such an interesting dynamical long-time state.


2009 ◽  
Vol 06 (04) ◽  
pp. 645-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANIRVAN DASGUPTA ◽  
HEMWATI NANDAN ◽  
SAYAN KAR

Kinematics of geodesic flows on specific, two-dimensional, curved surfaces (the sphere, hyperbolic space and the torus) are investigated by explicitly solving the evolution (Raychaudhuri) equations for the expansion, shear and rotation, for a variety of initial conditions. For flows on the sphere and on hyperbolic space, we show the existence of singular (within a finite value of the time parameter) as well as non-singular solutions. We illustrate our results through a phase diagram which demonstrates under which initial conditions (or combinations thereof) we end up with a singularity in the congruence and when, if at all, we can obtain non-singular solutions for the kinematic variables. Our analysis portrays the differences which arise due to positive or negative curvature and also explores the role of rotation in controlling singular behavior. Subsequently, we move on to geodesic flows on two-dimensional spaces with varying curvature. As an example, we discuss flows on a torus. Characteristic oscillatory features, dependent on the ratio of the two radii of the torus, emerge in the solutions for the expansion, shear and rotation. Singular (within a finite time) and non-singular behavior of the solutions are also discussed. Finally, we conclude with a generalization to three-dimensional spaces of constant curvature, a summary of some of the generic features obtained and a comparison of our results with those for flows in flat space.


2012 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 597-600
Author(s):  
V.A. Ignatchenko ◽  
A.V. Pozdnyakov

Waves in superlattice (SL) contained inhomogeneities with anisotropic correlation properties are considered. The anisotropy of the correlation during the transition from 3D to 2D disorder is characterized by the parameter , where and are the correlation wave numbers along the axis of the SL and in the plane of the its layers, respectively ( and are the correlation radii). Dependencies of both the dynamic susceptibility and density of states at the continuous transition from the isotropic three-dimensional inhomogeneities () to the two-dimensional ones () have been obtained.


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