Refined Similarity Hypothesis for Transverse Structure Functions in Fluid Turbulence

Shiyi Chen; Katepalli R. Sreenivasan; Mark Nelkin; Nianzheng Cao

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.2253

Refined Similarity Hypothesis for Transverse Structure Functions in Fluid Turbulence

Shiyi Chen, Katepalli R. Sreenivasan, Mark Nelkin, and Nianzheng Cao

Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 2253 – Published 22 September 1997

Abstract

We argue on the basis of empirical data that Kolmogorov's refined similarity hypothesis (RSH) needs to be modified for transverse velocity increments, and propose an alternative. In this new form, transverse velocity increments bear the same relation to locally averaged enstrophy (squared vorticity) as longitudinal velocity increments bear in RSH to locally averaged dissipation. We support this hypothesis by analyzing high-resolution numerical simulation data for isotropic turbulence. RSH and its proposed modification for transverse velocity increments appear to represent two independent scaling groups.

Received 4 April 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.2253

Authors & Affiliations

Shiyi Chen^1,2, Katepalli R. Sreenivasan³, Mark Nelkin⁴, and Nianzheng Cao¹

¹IBM Research Division, T. J. Watson Research Center, P.O. Box 218, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598
²Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
³Mason Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286
⁴Physics Department, New York University, New York, New York 10003, and Levich Institute, CCNY, New York, New York 10031