Simplifying the complexity of pipe flow
Abstract
Transitional pipe flow is modeled as a one-dimensional excitable and bistable medium. Models are presented in two variables, turbulence intensity and mean shear, that evolve according to established properties of transitional turbulence. A continuous model captures the essence of the puff-slug transition as a change from excitability to bistability. A discrete model, that additionally incorporates turbulence locally as a chaotic repeller, reproduces almost all large-scale features of transitional pipe flow. In particular it captures metastable localized puffs, puff splitting, slugs, a continuous transition to sustained turbulence via spatiotemporal intermittency (directed percolation), and a subsequent increase in turbulence fraction towards uniform, featureless turbulence.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1101.4125,
title = {Simplifying the complexity of pipe flow},
author = {Dwight Barkley},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1101.4125},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
8 pages, 12 figures