Interaction of localised packets of vorticity with turbulence

Abstract

The evolution of initially weak structures of vorticity as they evolve in an incompressible turbulent flow is investigated. Such objects are candidates for important structures in the inertial range and in the dissipation range of scales. As these structures are strained by the flow, fine-scales of vorticity are produced along the direction of maximum compression with a consequent flow of energy to the high wavenumbers. It is shown that, under certain circumstances, the self-energy spectrum of such a structure may be time-averaged, producing a fractional power law. The exponent of the power law depends on the ratio of the first two Lyapunov exponents of the strain tensor.

Additional details