Heavy Particle Concentration in Turbulence at Dissipative and Inertial Scales

J. Bec, L. Biferale, M. Cencini, A. Lanotte, S. Musacchio, and F. Toschi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 084502 – Published 21 February 2007

Abstract

Spatial distributions of heavy particles suspended in an incompressible isotropic and homogeneous turbulent flow are investigated by means of high resolution direct numerical simulations. In the dissipative range, it is shown that particles form fractal clusters with properties independent of the Reynolds number. Clustering is there optimal when the particle response time is of the order of the Kolmogorov time scale τη. In the inertial range, the particle distribution is no longer scale invariant. It is, however, shown that deviations from uniformity depend on a rescaled contraction rate, which is different from the local Stokes number given by dimensional analysis. Particle distribution is characterized by voids spanning all scales of the turbulent flow; their signature in the coarse-grained mass probability distribution is an algebraic behavior at small densities.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 18 August 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.084502

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Bec1, L. Biferale2, M. Cencini3, A. Lanotte4, S. Musacchio5, and F. Toschi6

  • 1CNRS UMR6202, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, BP4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, France
  • 2Dipartimento di Fisica and INFN, Università “Tor Vergata,” Via Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
  • 3INFM-CNR, SMC Department of Physics, Università “La Sapienza,” Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy, and CNR-ISC, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Roma, Italy
  • 4CNR-ISAC and INFN, Sezione di Lecce, Strada Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
  • 5Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Physics of Complex Systems, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
  • 6CNR-IAC, Viale del Policlinico 137, 00161 Roma, Italy, and INFN, Sezione di Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 1, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 98, Iss. 8 — 23 February 2007

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×