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Simulation of strongly stratified fluids

  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Stably and strongly stratified turbulent flows have been studied by employing scaling analysis of the governing equations along the lines of [1], [2] and [3]. The scaling analysis suggests the existence of two different dynamical states. The parameter determining the state is R = ReF h 2, where Re and Fh are the Reynolds number and horizontal Froude number, respectively. If R≫1, viscous forces are negligible and the turbulence is strongly anisotropic but three-dimensional and causes a forward energy cascade. The vertical length scale lv scales as l v ∼ U/N (U is a horizontal velocity scale and N is the Brunt-Väisälä frequency). If R≪1, horizontal inertial forces are balanced by vertical viscous shearing and lv ∼ l hRe -1/2 (l h is a horizontal length scale). The scaling analysis has been confirmed by direct numerical simulations of homogeneous stratified turbulence. Spectra have been studied as well.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIUTAM Symposium on Computational Physics and New Perspectives in Turbulence - Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on Computational Physics and New Perspectives in Turbulence
Pages373-378
Number of pages6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2008
EventIUTAM Symposium on Computational Physics and New Perspectives in Turbulence - Nagoya, Japan
Duration: 11 Sept 200614 Sept 2006

Publication series

NameSolid Mechanics and its Applications
Volume4
ISSN (Print)1875-3507

Conference

ConferenceIUTAM Symposium on Computational Physics and New Perspectives in Turbulence
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityNagoya
Period11/09/0614/09/06

Keywords

  • DNS
  • Geophysical flows
  • Stratification
  • Turbulence

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