Abstract
A core attribute of any turbulent flow is the rate at which it dissipates energy . In his classic study from 1935, Taylor invoked rotational symmetry to transform the original cumbersome expression for into a remarkably simple formula but for which it would be practically impossible to compute in most experiments. Taylor's analysis, though ingenious, leaves it unclear if the formula truly conforms with rotational symmetry. We use the rigorous approach of Lie groups and show that Taylor's formula indeed holds for rotational symmetry. Further, we find that the formula is surprisingly robust—it holds, as is, for a distinctly different symmetry: reflectional symmetry. Additionally, we highlight that the widely used tests for identifying flow symmetries can yield misleading results. With rigor, precision, and clarity, the machinery of Lie groups delineates the underlying symmetries that dictate turbulent flows.
- Received 14 March 2021
- Accepted 22 July 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.6.L082602
Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
Published by the American Physical Society