Finite Amplitude Scaling in Transitional Pipe Flows

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vishnu, Ravindran, Chola, Kalale
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866929735360053248
author Vishnu, Ravindran
Chola, Kalale
author_facet Vishnu, Ravindran
Chola, Kalale
contents Studies on the finite amplitude stability of pipe flows identified a range of different scaling exponents between $β\approx -1 $ and $β\approx-1.5$, relating $A\sim Re^β$, where $A$ is the minimum amplitude of disturbance to cause a transition to turbulence and $Re$ is the Reynolds number. The circumstance under which a particular scaling exponent manifests itself is still not clear. Understanding this can shed light on the different routes to turbulence \citep{willis2008experimental} and the mechanisms involved. The exponents observed in previous experiments and simulations were explained based on the spatial localization of initial disturbances. In this paper, through direct numerical simulations (DNS), we classify the exponent, $β$ into two ranges; a steeper exponent with $β\lessapprox-1.3$ and a shallower exponent with $β\gtrapprox-1$. We then determine the nature of the disturbance to produce a specific exponent. Our results clearly show that the two ranges of the scaling exponents are related to the radial distribution of the initial disturbance, where $β\lessapprox -1.3$ exists for a disturbance at the boundary, and $ β\gtrapprox -1$ exits otherwise. We also compare the previous experiments and simulations on injection-type and push-pull-type initial disturbances. This study clarifies the nature of the initial disturbance that can result in either of the two different scaling exponents observed so far.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_20720
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Finite Amplitude Scaling in Transitional Pipe Flows
Vishnu, Ravindran
Chola, Kalale
Fluid Dynamics
Studies on the finite amplitude stability of pipe flows identified a range of different scaling exponents between $β\approx -1 $ and $β\approx-1.5$, relating $A\sim Re^β$, where $A$ is the minimum amplitude of disturbance to cause a transition to turbulence and $Re$ is the Reynolds number. The circumstance under which a particular scaling exponent manifests itself is still not clear. Understanding this can shed light on the different routes to turbulence \citep{willis2008experimental} and the mechanisms involved. The exponents observed in previous experiments and simulations were explained based on the spatial localization of initial disturbances. In this paper, through direct numerical simulations (DNS), we classify the exponent, $β$ into two ranges; a steeper exponent with $β\lessapprox-1.3$ and a shallower exponent with $β\gtrapprox-1$. We then determine the nature of the disturbance to produce a specific exponent. Our results clearly show that the two ranges of the scaling exponents are related to the radial distribution of the initial disturbance, where $β\lessapprox -1.3$ exists for a disturbance at the boundary, and $ β\gtrapprox -1$ exits otherwise. We also compare the previous experiments and simulations on injection-type and push-pull-type initial disturbances. This study clarifies the nature of the initial disturbance that can result in either of the two different scaling exponents observed so far.
title Finite Amplitude Scaling in Transitional Pipe Flows
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.20720