On predicting the transition to turbulence in stably stratified fluids
The development of turbulence in stratified fluids has historically been studied using the flux, Ri{sub f}, and the gradient Richardson no., Ri, whereas the simpler shear flow transition in homogeneous fluids has been studied using the Reynolds no. A complete dimensional analysis dimensional analysis of the relevant linearized conservation equations in the Boussinesq approximation predicts that the physical processes in stably stratified boundary layers should depend on as many as five dimensionless parameters, namely, the Rayleigh no, Ra, the Reynolds no., Re, the Taylor no., Ta, the Prandtl no., Pr, and the Radiation no., Rd. The Radiation no. is very similar to Pr, but includes thermal radiative transfer instead of molecular heat conduction.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 519140
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-97-1315; CONF-970760-5; ON: DE97007197; TRN: 97:004982
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. symposium on boundary layers and turbulence, Vancouver (Canada), 28 Jul - 1 Aug 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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