The following contains what will hopefully become a long list of [ideally] interesting posts pertaining to the experimental measurement and numerical simulation of fluids (gases and liquids), aero- and hydrodynamics and turbulence. I will endeavour to keep theory to a minimum and instead provide a glimpse into various aspects of these flows, visually interesting fluid features, and the numerous approaches that can be used to gain some insight into these chaotic flows.
What sort of world would we live in without turbulence?
When trying to understand the role and influence of turbulence in our day to day lives, it is useful to imagine what life would be like without it. Some of the most striking examples relate to how the world around us would be completely different in the absence of turbulent mixing. Let’s consider the mean surface velocity of the Yarra river in Melbourne, Australia, if there were no turbulence. Continue Reading →
What is Fluid Turbulence?
Turbulence is more than just the phenomena that leaves airline passengers with a queazy feeling in their stomachs. The rapid fluctuations in wind velocity that causes an aircraft to suddenly lift or drop, are a fundamental property of turbulent flows, however such flows are not restricted to the Earth’s atmosphere and actually have a far more significant effect on our everyday lives. Continue Reading →