Turbulent fluid motion is characterized by a large range of physical and temporal scales, so that the smallest eddies are typically many orders of magnitude smaller than the largest eddies, and the time scales encompass many orders of magnitude. This complexity makes turbulent flows extremely difficult to predict and so experiments become crucial in any effort to model the flow behavior. It is the same complexity, however, that makes turbulence measurements very difficult, and current methods often suffer from inadequate spatial and temporal resolution to capture the full range of scales present in the flow. We describe a new nano-scale anemometry probe that dramatically extends the range of possible turbulence measurements, and we demonstrate its impact by presenting turbulence measurements in a pipe flow over an unprecedented range of conditions. The results reveal a previously unknown universal distribution for the streamwise turbulence intensity.
BIO
Dr. Smits is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton and Chair of his department. His research interests are centered on fundamental, experimental research in turbulence and fluid mechanics. In 2004, Dr. Smits received the Fluid Dynamics Award of the AIAA. In 2007, Dr. Smits received the Fluids Engineering Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Pendray Aerospace Literature Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the President's Award for Distinguished Teaching from Princeton University. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a Member of the National Academy of Engineering.
]]>
Abstract
Turbulent fluid motion is characterized by a large range of physical and temporal scales, so that the smallest eddies are typically many orders of magnitude smaller than the largest eddies, and the time scales encompass many orders of magnitude. This complexity makes turbulent flows extremely difficult to predict and so experiments become crucial in any effort to model the flow behavior. It is the same complexity, however, that makes turbulence measurements very difficult, and current methods often suffer from inadequate spatial and temporal resolution to capture the full range of scales present in the flow. We describe a new nano-scale anemometry probe that dramatically extends the range of possible turbulence measurements, and we demonstrate its impact by presenting turbulence measurements in a pipe flow over an unprecedented range of conditions. The results reveal a previously unknown universal distribution for the streamwise turbulence intensity.
BIO
Dr. Smits is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton and Chair of his department. His research interests are centered on fundamental, experimental research in turbulence and fluid mechanics. In 2004, Dr. Smits received the Fluid Dynamics Award of the AIAA. In 2007, Dr. Smits received the Fluids Engineering Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Pendray Aerospace Literature Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the President's Award for Distinguished Teaching from Princeton University. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a Member of the National Academy of Engineering.
]]>404-894-3032
]]>