The Essence of Turbulence as a Physical Phenomenon

The Essence of Turbulence as a Physical Phenomenon: 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and a comparative analysis of the key developments, their evolution and failures, along with key misconceptions and outdated paradigms.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.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Phenomenon and the Problem of Turbulence
Chapter 1: The Phenomenon of Turbulence as Distinct from the Problem of Turbulence
Chapter 2: The Problem of Turbulence as Distinct from the Phenomenon of Turbulence
Chapter 3: What Equations Describe Turbulence Adequately?

Part II: Issues of Paradigmatic Nature I: Origins and Nature of Turbulence
Chapter 4: Origins of Turbulence
Chapter 5: Nature of Turbulence
Chapter 6: Additional Issues of Importance Related to the Use of Statistical Methods

Part III: Issues of Paradigmatic Nature II: Specific Features
Chapter 7: The N’s of Turbulence
Chapter 8: Large Reynolds Number Behavior, Symmetries, Universality
Chapter 9: Intermittency and Structure(s) of and/in Turbulence

Part IV: Epilogue
Chapter 10: On the Status
Chapter 11: Appendix. Essential Quotations