US-Japan Cooperative Research: Vortex Dynamics and Organized Structures in Turbulent Shear Flows

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This award will support a joint cooperative research project entitled "Vortex Dynamics and Organized Structures in Turbulent Shear Flows" between Professor Fazle Hussain and colleagues at the University of Houston and Professor Masaru Kiya of Hokkaido University in Japan and other Japanese investigators. The researchers note that fluid turbulence is one of the most intriguing yet difficult-to-understand physical phenomena facing scientists and engineers. The inherent nonlinearity of the governing equations of fluid motion and the resulting (apparently) random turbulence are largely responsible for this difficulty. Turbulent shear flows are characterized by coherent structures, but knowledge about the detailed topological characteristics of these structures and their dynamical behavior is scarce. To provide insight into this area the researchers will study several shear flows such as jets, wakes, mixing layers, and Taylor-Couette flows. Coherent structure topology and dynamics will be studied experimentaly in these flows using two computerized measuring techniques. Models will then be developed and analyzed to predict chaotic evolutions of coherent structures in turbulent shear flows. This research could lead to a further understanding of turbulence management (manipulation of technologically important phenomena such as transports of heat, mass, and momentum; entrainment; mixing and chemical reaction, including combustion; and generation of drag and aerodynamic noise). Both the U.S. and Japanese principal investigators are highly respected engineers. Each has established a record of significant contributions in his respective area. This award will expand and sustain their productive cooperation, which should prove beneficial to the entire turbulent flow community.