Intermittency, the second-order structure function, and the turbulent energy-dissipation rate

In the context of an interpolation formula for a second-order structure function, Grossmann [Phys. Rev. E 51, 6275 (1995)] considered various implications of the asymptotic behavior of the energy dissipation rate for inertial range intermittency. We reconsider the issue and show that the tendency of the nondimensional dissipation rate to asymptotically approach a constant is consistent with finite intermittency corrections. By extending Lohse’s ideas [Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 3223 (1994)] put forth in a nonintermittent setting, we compute for intermittent turbulence the Reynolds number dependence of the nondimensional dissipation rate and show that the result compares favorably with experimental data.