Mixing in turbulent flows

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In both nature and the man-made world, turbulent flows are the norm (whereas laminar flows are the exception). The research to be undertaken involves the study of mixing within turbulent flows - a phenomenon that underlies a wide range of processes, including aerodynamics, meteorology, combustion, and environmental pollutant dispersion. My main goal is to improve the understanding of turbulent mixing by means of innovative experiments, and related analysis. To this end, my four long-term objectives are: 1) maintaining a solid program of hot-wire anemometry, cold-wire thermometry, and laser-induced fluorescence based experiments, 2) development of new experimental methods and data-analysis techniques, 3) extension of my research program into new areas, and 4) continuing to train students at all levels. To achieve these long-term goals, the present application proposes five complementary research projects that deal with: 1) the mixing of temperature or chemical species in turbulent jets released into turbulent flows, 2) the development of algorithms to locate (biological, chemical, or radioactive) releases in turbulent surroundings, 3) the development of models of the probability density function of temperature or chemical species concentration in turbulent flows, 4) molecular effects in flows involving the mixing of two or more chemical species, and 5) the suppression of mixing that occurs downstream of the confluence of two shallow rivers. The results of the above studies will advance our understanding of turbulent flows by answering important questions that were previously unresolved. The knowledge obtained can then be applied to technological improvements in disciplines related to energy and the environment (e.g. increased combustor efficiencies, revision of improved governmental impact assessment models of environmental pollutant dispersion).